God delivers according to our Faith

Today's Verse is II Samuel 21:22
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

If you remember, when David faced Goliath, he picked up five stones, not one, or three, or six, but five. We are not told then why he did such a thing, but here is the answer: Goliath had four brothers, and here we see that God honored David's foresight and David or one in service to David slew each and every one of Goliath's brothers. We can see here the importance of knowing the trouble we are facing, for then we can pray as we ought. Our God knows what we need, but often he demands that we be the ones to ask him, before he answers, and provides and/or delivers.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Even While Disiplining God Still Cares For His Own

Today's Verse is II Samuel 18:8
For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 

David's Servants here are fighting Absalom and those following him, and Absalom's rebellion here was the result of David's sin with Bathsheba. However, David is still beloved of God, and still on God's side. Therefore, as we see here, even though David is suffering the consequences of sin, God is still fighting for him. Let us therefore take heart, for even if we are being disciplined by God, he shall still have our backs, he shall still care for us as his children as we see he did here for David.

To God be the Glory
Scott

The Spirit Guides our Speech

Today's Verse is Luke 21:14
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 

I can testify, that this is very hard to do, to not play out one's speech when a momentous occasion is before us. But our God has promised that in the circumstance which we must testify because we have been accused of following Christ, it is upon him we must rely, for as Proverb 3:5 commands: "Lean not unto thy own understanding," because our understanding is faulty, and I have found that I am often wrong. Now, do not misuse this admonishment, we are not to go unprepared when we have opportunity to teach Christ, or any other subject, but if we are to give a defense for Christ, rely upon him alone.

To God be The Glory
Scott

Broken, or Ground

Today's Verse is Luke 20:18
      Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 

Why do the armed services--Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines--have boot camp? While I was there I was told that it was to tear me down, so that they could then rebuild me into that which would be of value to them. It is the same principle that we find here. In Jeremiah, God told Israel that he was going to tear down, pluck up and destroy them so that later he could plant, build up and establish them. This is what happens to those that fall upon Christ, and receive the forgiveness that he provided when he took our place upon the cross. However, those who refuse this gift, will not only be broken, but completely destroyed. Let us therefore, fall upon our Saviour Jesus Christ, and suffer being broken, because he shall build us up.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Do Things God's Way

Today's Verse is 2 Samuel 6:7
      And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

When doing what you know God wants done, do not forget to do it the way God wants it done. That is what happened here, David went about transporting the Ark of God, but he did not do it the way scripture directed, but tried to move it as any other piece of furniture.  When directed by God to do something, or even doing something that you think God wants done, do not forget to find out the way he wants it done as his Word commands. If you do whatever you do by the Word of God, you will not invite trouble to visit. So let us Obey his Word in all things, and his blessings will be upon us.

To God be the Glory
Scott
 

No One Is Beyond God's Grace

Today's Verse is Luke 18:26-27
     And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
     And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Salvation, the greatest miracle God will ever do, and he does it regularly. And it is for this reason we need not fear to proclaim the name of Jesus and what he as done for us as well as them. It is he that has saved us and not we ourselves. Our Saviour has said that if he be lifted up [die on the cross, and I also believe presented to others] that he would draw all men unto him. So let us Glorify God and Jesus Christ before men and see what God does in them.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Godly Council

Today's Verse is I Samuel 25:26
Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. 

Abigail, a woman known for the wisdom which he had here displayed. This event, and the request that Abigail here makes of David, shapes the rest of his life.  David has been known to often turn the other cheek, and to allow God to fight his battles, never avenging himself of those that rise up against him. I believe it is because of Abigail here that this is so, for here we see the core of her admonishment to David, is something that he lives by for the rest of his life. Let us therefore, when we find those in whose wisdom comes Godly council, to bring them close to us and abide by their council.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Uncertian Times

Today's Verse is I Samuel 22:3
      And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. 

David had been told by a Prophet of God, that he was to be King, but all he could see was trouble and strife, so he acted upon the trouble that he could see, but as we see here, he still looked to God, and waited upon him. Can we do less? Do you have an expectation that God will do something, but there is no evidence that you can see that he will do such a thing? Rest in God's Word, act according to the what is happening around you, but trust God to do what he said he would do.

To God be the Glory
Scott

"Unwanted Events"

Today's Verse is I Samuel 21:7
      Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul. 

We have here a statement, which later explains how Saul learned of how the Priest Ahimelech helped David, for David this was not helpful, but Samuel had said of Eli, that his seed would no longer be Priest, and this whole circumstance leads to the fulfillment of that prophecy. We are promised in Romans that all things work together for good to them that love God. . . according to his purpose. Now here we know and we can see that David's training was not yet complete, and God's Word needed to be fulfilled. David knows that he is to be King after Saul, but that is all he knows, but there is no sign of that coming to pass anywhere, but the story is not yet complete. Are you in a similar state? Take heart, keep your eyes upon his promises, for he will not fail, but all that God said, he will do.

To God be the Glory
Scott

What God Treasures

Today's Verse is Luke 15:10
      Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth

We have seen that the greatest treasure we can have is a relationship with our Heavenly Father, yet what does he treasure? We see that here, Our God treasures each and every one of us that come to him. I once told someone that religion (i.e. a relationship with God) while being very personal, is in no way private, and here is why, our God has a desire for every person born to know him and come to him, but they cannot unless someone tells them of his great gift, so the second greatest way we can please God is to declare the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.

To God be the Glory
Scott

What Do You Treasure

Today's Verse is Luke 12:34
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Where is your treasure today? Is it in the money you make? The things your money can buy? Is it entertainment? Or those that entertain you? What are these things, eternal, or temporal? What of your daily needs? Leading to this verse we are told that our Father in heaven will take care for us and our needs.  So what are your treasures, there is only one that we can have here on Earth, and take with us, and those are the relationships in which we can share the treasure of Heaven. The greatest treasure of all is our relationship with the God of Heaven, it is this that we are to treasure. And if we treasure that, he will see to all else.

To God be the Glory
Scott

There is an end

Today's Verse is I Samuel 3:12
In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end

We see here a pronouncement of judgment, but even in this we see a Word of hope. Is God doing a work in you, has that work left you in despair, wondering if you shall ever see another good day? Take heart in the rest of the message found in this verse, for what God starts, he shall also finish, as said here, "when I begin, I will also make an end." So too will your God finish what He has started in you, so again take heart, rather than hardening it, and you too will see the end of your current troubles, and "shall reap, if [ye] faint not."

To God be the Glory
Scott

In Due Time

Today's Verse is I Samuel 1:19
And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

One is tempted to say that God does not forget, but he says that he will, or even has, forgotten our sins, but God does not forget those that are his. So when the bible says that the Lord remembered something, we can trust that that time has come for him to act, that which he said he would do, will be done. Our God asks us to be patient, to wait on him, for he never acts early, and will never ever be late, but always in due time, or the right time he does what needs to be done. Therefore, let us wait on him, for what he said he will (or shall) do, always, always at the best time.

To God be the Glory
Scott

What Cost

Today's Verse is Judges 20:26-28
     Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
    And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
     And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

A terrible thing had been done in Israel, and eleven tribes faced the one tribe which had transgressed the law. The one tribe refused to deliver those which had done the evil, so Israel fought them twice, even asking the Lord if they should fight the second time, which brings us to the current text. When Israel fought the former inhabitants of the land, the only loss we are told about are the thirty six which died at Ai, here 30,000 fell as they faced a transgressing brother. There are times even though we are on God's side, that what we do will come at a cost, even a terrible cost, (consider Christ on the Cross,) but we need to do it anyway. In these times fail not to seek God's council, as the Children of Israel did here, for without him all would be in vain, but if he is present, all will "work together for good."

To God be the Glory
Scott

Why should we rejoice

Today's Verse is Luke 10:20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 Our heavenly Father, may or may not give us many things, but none of things should move us. What we need to be focused upon is none other than Jesus Christ and what he did for us on the Cross. It is this, and nothing else that matters, for by it we shall see heaven, and live forever in the presence of God our Father, and our Savior, Jesus Christ. So whether we be as Lazarus who had nothing in this world, or as Abraham, while not having his own place, was rich beyond count; both looked for that "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."  Let us therefore, rejoice and rest in that place the cross has provided us, and if we are given more, give God thanks for them but never lose sight in what we have received in Christ, a place by him in heaven

To God be the Glory
Scott

Take up the Cross

Today's Verse is Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

When the way we go as we follow our God seems to be too hard for us, too hard for us to bear, let us consider the cross by which our Lord endured as he took our place. Does what we are going through even remotely compare to that. For what Christ has done for us, is it unreasonable for  him to ask us to endure? One song writer considering the Thief on the cross next to Christ, deemed him to say that the pain and agony he suffered was "so small a price to die beside the Christ." Can we say any different?  Let us therefore, waver not, but endure looking to our Savior, knowing that what he asks he as already done for us, nor does he ask without purpose but will use it to his Glory, and will reward us in due time.

To God be the Glory
Scott

How to be used of God

Today's Verse is Judges 7:7
And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. 

Who is God most likely to use? He can and does use all, but with reward? The diligent or the slothful? We see here that he uses the diligent, those that are prepared, those that are vigilant. Let us therefore, be vigilant, be diligent about our ways, we are all in him capable, so put aside any excuse, and rise up and serve your God

To God be the Glory
Scott

God Will Be Triumpant

Today's Verse is Judges 5:31
     So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD:
      But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.
And the land had rest forty years

A prayer that is sure to be answered! The enemies of God cannot stand, but he let them for a time. Those that love God, cannot fail, though they may appear to be cast down. Those that follow after God shall see the his work, if they faint not. Let us therefore as commanded to Joshua, be strong and of good courage, for God will deliver in due time

To God be the Glory
Scott

Will you allow God to enable you

Today's verse is Judges 1:19
And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. 

Was it really the iron chariots that kept Judah from driving out the inhabitants of the valley, Manasseh, gave the same complaint and this is what Joshua said, "But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong." Peter sank into the water, was it because the water had no power to hold him up? No, it was because he lost sight of the one that did.  If we walk by sight, there are any number of ways that we stumble; if we keep our eyes and expectations on our Lord, Jesus Christ, there is nothing he can't do. Let us therefore, keep our eyes upon him and walk not by sight, but by the faith of him who has called us, and do has he has directed.

To God be the Glory
Scott

God Keeps his Promises

Today's Verse is Joshua 21:45
There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

 And so we can take comfort. First and foremost as Paul had told Titus, our salvation is based upon two immutable things, Our God made us a promise, and he cannot lie. So as God had promised Israel, it was done. Many a time obstacles were presented, sometimes they were made by the very recipients to the promise, but God still came through; the promise was still kept. Beside Salvation has your God made you a promise, rest in that promise, look not to the evidence that you can see, but rather to the God that made the promise, for what God has said, he will do.

To God be the Glory
Scott  

Persevere

Today's Verse is Luke 5:18-19
     And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
     And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

We see here men that were determined to get their friend to Jesus, they were not going to let anything stop them, and when they were done, their labor was not in vain. Whatsoever we do in Jesus name, will never be in vain. All that is done for him will bare fruit, some I am sorry to say to condemn those who have heard, but often that others may be enriched in Christ Jesus, built up and placed in him, to live eternally in his presence. Let us therefore not faint, but persevere and we shall see the fruit in due time

To God be the Glory
Scott