A Daily Devotional – The Victory of Faith – The Eternal Word (32)

A Daily Devotional – The Victory of Faith – The Eternal Word

Comment: Solomon wrote Proverbs throughout his life, others gathered these together to make the book of Proverbs. So around 1000 BC, Solomon wrote “A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him, Proverbs 28:22.” The wisdom of this statement is large since the man who chases after riches is already in poverty, otherwise why would he chase after riches? We attach riches to silver and gold, when the truth is, poverty encamps on every avenue of life. A person who fails to trust the wisdom of God is in poverty to Truth, a person who willingly fails to study in human life is considered ignorant and needy.

Devotional: In our present time in history, we are no different than those in the days of Solomon. Children rob parents and neighbors, they willingly destroy places of business, they kill and are being killed, and they are friends with harlots, they willingly waste national resources in all areas of life. This is not the way of prosperity, need I say anymore?

Proverbs, mostly written by Solomon provide the man or woman of God with “skill in living life”, that is living life in accordance with God’s design for human life. If a man or woman is not satisfied with what they see with their eyes then the only thing they have to look forward to is “hell and destruction”, Proverbs 27:20 states clearly that, Sheol and Abaddon are never full. If we are not willing to look at the Living Word of God for skill in living, we are doomed to poverty.

For me, the deepest poverty I can imagine is to go into eternity without any skill in living a full life as designed by the Word of God. Therefore we should trust the words of the apostles and prophets who clearly reveal God’s Will for man and woman. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life”. John 3:16

A Daily Devotional – The Victory of Grace – The Eternal Word (31)

A Daily Devotional – The Victory of Grace – The Eternal Word

Comment: Sometimes we make an ‘issue’ out of ‘nonsense’’ truth is; I think that most of us are good at making a mole hill, a mountain, when the obstacle standing in our path is nothing more than a blemish on our human identity! The apostle Paul understood this well, we understand why he had a “thorn in the flesh” but we do not understand what the thorn was. For us to seek to know and speak of what we may guess would be conjecture. Also, if I were to seek to know what your thorn in the flesh is, I might just be revealing mine. All of us have a “thorn in the flesh” but sadly we do not allow the LORD Jesus and His strength to BE MADE PERFECT in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

Devotional: While we may have a thorn in the flesh, it is most likely not realized as being of a spiritual nature or revelation. I think this is an error in that if we belong to God as His child, why would we not consider that the grace of God would be excluded is some areas of life, but included in others. Should we be so naïve to believe that only apostles and clergy have thorns in the flesh and others do not?

Should we be human and practical in some areas of life and yet be spiritual and practical in other areas. Or more easily understood; are there times when we should apply ‘human wisdom’ and times when to apply ‘spiritual wisdom’ to life? We fall into various trials daily, most are repetitious by the default condition of our human nature, yet ALL of these trials, when tested by the grace of God will produce in your personal faith (if you are willing) patience (endurance), James 1:2-8.

If we lack wisdom, or if we fail to use the wisdom of God, should we not ‘ask God’? Sadly most of us will not ask Him and as a result, doubt and fear toss us back and forth like two people playing catch, this double mindedness does not glorify God, nor will it reveal to us that God’s grace is sufficient victory over any trial. The trials in our life are not different events, these are repetitious or reoccurring thorns. The problem; we know how to satisfy the thorns humanly, but we do not know how to solve them spiritually.

There is much evidence in the Word of God that all of God’s children are buffeted by thorns, “trials”, see Hebrews 12:1-2, like the saints before us, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run the race of faith with endurance. Why? Because the grace of Jesus Christ is made perfect through our weakness. Jesus was not ignorant of God’s Plan that He should endure the cross. The cross was His thorn in the flesh from His birth and for the joy that set before Him, He endured.

BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH – THE LAMB

Good Morning Everyone - May your Christmas Day Glorify the LORD and may your New Year be filled with Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit

The next Devotional will be on 12/27/2016 if the LORD tarries.

BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH – THE LAMB

Historical Truth

Matthew 1:18-25

Biblical Prophecy

Isaiah 7:14 @ 750 BC Isaiah gives us prophecy about the virgin birth of Messiah/Jesus and Matthew 1:23-25 reveals to his readers that the angel (probably Gabriel) quoted this prophesy to Joseph that the BABY in Mary’s was and is the Messiah and that His name would be JESUS.

Isaiah 9:6 Explains that the Name of Jesus has five Characteristics with one goal but duel purposes

As MESSIAH, the KING, His Name is:

WONDERFUL – The Messiah, although expected is a mystery of revelation that is WONDROUS to all who believe God through faith.

COUNSELOR – The Messiah is POWERFUL, He is coming again to DESTROY and to SAVE

THE MIGHTY GOD – The Messiah is ABOVE ALL gods, He is THE ALL POWERFUL ONE

EVERLASTING FATHER – The Messiah is the ETERNAL and ONLY GOD

THE PRINCE OF PEACE – The Messiah is the CAPTAIN, THE KEEPER OF PEACE.

Luke 2:1-7 and John 1:29 Explains that the Name of Jesus has five Characteristics with one goal but duel purposes

As JESUS, the LAMB, His Name is;

WONDERFUL – Jesus – The WONDROUS revealing of the BABE in a manger (a feeding trough for animals and to keep Him warm He was wrapped in narrow bands of cloth.

COUNCILOR – Jesus – all who will seek The LAMB by FAITH. He saves them to the UTTERMOST – Hebrews 7:25

MIGHTY GOD – Jesus – He is the Champion sacrifice (Author) of our Salvation; Acts 4:12 and Heb 12:1-2

EVERLASTING FATHER – Jesus – is The Father and the Son who are ONE; John 10:25-30 and Jhn 14:1-6.

PRINCE OF PEACE – Jesus – is the KEEPER OF PEACE, and to all who believe in Him by FAITH and He shares that PEACE with them – John 14:25-31 and Romans 5:1-5.

A Daily Devotional – The Battle is the LORD’S – The Eternal Word (30)

A Daily Devotional – The Battle is the LORD’S – The Eternal Word

Comment: Yesterday, on the phone my wife and I were discussing Proverbs 21:30-31; oddly we failed to read together that morning since we were running late. There is no way to describe the oneness of being ‘like-minded’ in our relationship with each other and in Christ our Savior. If you have this gift of grace from the LORD you understand what I am saying. Okay, by now you have read the two verses above and may be thinking! What have these verses to do with relationship between the three of us – Jesus, a husband and a wife? 

Devotional: The value of a friend is precious as Solomon explains in Ecclesiastes 4. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall (physically, spiritually or mentally) one will lift up his (or her) companion. But woe to him (or her) who is alone when he (or she) falls, for they have no one to help. Again, if two lie down they will keep warm; but how can they be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him (or her), and a ‘threefold cord is not easily broken’, verses 9-12.

“There is NO wisdom or understanding, or counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD”. For most who read the Holy Bible it is not to personalize the words for daily use, and if scripture is read at all, the reasons can be the number of rocks in a pile, just pick the rock that applies to you.

There are troubles in the world around us, if you do not know this then shame on you. The wisdom of the world that is not of God is to say the least ‘dangerous’, those who understand this wisdom are neighbors, companions at work and maybe a friend. These people know how to prepare their day of battle. They counsel one another with the information highway of the day so they are saddled up and ready for war against those who have a like-minded friend and a friend named Jesus – John 15:9-17.

All troubles in the world around us pale when the people of God are friends with Jesus. Jesus is the LORD, He is the LORD of Hosts (Armies) - (Isaiah 47:4 taken out of context). So, if God be for us (and He is) who can stand against us? In Ephesians 6:10-20 the apostle Paul reveals to us how to stand with the LORD Jesus in the heat of all battles of life.