"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
As part of The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that those who really seriously sought after God's righteousness would receive it. According to John Mac Arthur, they will have a right relationship with God. Thomas Nelson says that they will enjoy a complete satisfaction which only God can give them.
The Word of God is powerful, it can do what nothing else can do. The Word of God caused the heavens, and the earth, and everything therein to come into existence. We must recognize only God is truly righteous, and for us to be righteous we must share His righteousness. To those who diligently study His Word, God will share His power. To those who truly seek His righteousness, like a hungry person seeks food and a thirsty person seeks a drink, they will be satisfied.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
God Encourages Us With His Word
"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." Psalms 10:17-18 (NIV)
The psalmist begins by questioning God for allowing hostility and trouble in the world, especially on the poor. After asking God to punish the wicked, he then glorifies God and acknowledges His goodness.
God knows the desires of the afflicted. He hears their prayers and their cry. He knows when we are suffering and why. His Word offers encouragement to us, whether it is spoken by the preacher or read from the Bible. His Word offers us words of advice, comfort, consolation, encouragement, direction, guidance, and help for any and every situation. God hears us, we just need to prayerfully read His Word to hear what He has to say to us.
The psalmist begins by questioning God for allowing hostility and trouble in the world, especially on the poor. After asking God to punish the wicked, he then glorifies God and acknowledges His goodness.
God knows the desires of the afflicted. He hears their prayers and their cry. He knows when we are suffering and why. His Word offers encouragement to us, whether it is spoken by the preacher or read from the Bible. His Word offers us words of advice, comfort, consolation, encouragement, direction, guidance, and help for any and every situation. God hears us, we just need to prayerfully read His Word to hear what He has to say to us.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
God Knows All About Us And Still Loves Us
"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.' The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.' He told her, 'Go, call your husband and come back.' 'I have no husband,' she replied. Jesus said to her, 'You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.' 'Sir,' the woman said, 'I can see that you are a prophet' " John 4:10-26 (NIV)
When Jesus left Judea heading to Galilee, He went through Samaria. There He met the Samaritan woman by a well and asked her for a drink of water. She questioned Him and during their conversation He told her that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for the living water that He could give her. Even though she did not fully understand she asked for that water. Jesus told her to go and get her husband and return. When she said I have no husband, Jesus told her about her past five husbands and her current situation.
Jesus knew all about the Samaritan woman's past and that she was living with a man to whom she was not married. He still offered her the living water of salvation. He also knows all about our past, including all of our sins, and still loves us enough to offer us salvation and eternal life. He had to tell the woman about herself before she believed. Sometimes He allows things to happen to us so that He can show us who He is and what He can do for us. He loves us and He wants us to be with Him, but we have to accept Him.
When Jesus left Judea heading to Galilee, He went through Samaria. There He met the Samaritan woman by a well and asked her for a drink of water. She questioned Him and during their conversation He told her that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for the living water that He could give her. Even though she did not fully understand she asked for that water. Jesus told her to go and get her husband and return. When she said I have no husband, Jesus told her about her past five husbands and her current situation.
Jesus knew all about the Samaritan woman's past and that she was living with a man to whom she was not married. He still offered her the living water of salvation. He also knows all about our past, including all of our sins, and still loves us enough to offer us salvation and eternal life. He had to tell the woman about herself before she believed. Sometimes He allows things to happen to us so that He can show us who He is and what He can do for us. He loves us and He wants us to be with Him, but we have to accept Him.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Being Content Is Learned Behavior
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
In thanking the Philippians for their gifts, the Apostle Paul stated that he was not needy. He has learned to be content "... whatever the circumstances ..." and "... in any and every situation ..." He states "... for I have learned to be content ..." and then repeats himself with slightly different words saying "I have learned the secret of being content ..." His contentment is not based upon his circumstances of his situation, but upon his belief, faith, and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ, who gives him the strength to handle everything that comes his way.
We need to understand that joy and contentment come from God. The world can't give it to us, and the world can't take it away from us. Contentment, like joy, is a gift from God. (Ecclesiastes 2:26) When we truly believe that all things work together for good for them that love The Lord (Romans 8:28), then we too can be content in every circumstance and situation. We must learn that God gives us the strength to handle everything that He allows to come our way. We must learn to believe in Him, have faith in Him, and to trust in Him.
In thanking the Philippians for their gifts, the Apostle Paul stated that he was not needy. He has learned to be content "... whatever the circumstances ..." and "... in any and every situation ..." He states "... for I have learned to be content ..." and then repeats himself with slightly different words saying "I have learned the secret of being content ..." His contentment is not based upon his circumstances of his situation, but upon his belief, faith, and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ, who gives him the strength to handle everything that comes his way.
We need to understand that joy and contentment come from God. The world can't give it to us, and the world can't take it away from us. Contentment, like joy, is a gift from God. (Ecclesiastes 2:26) When we truly believe that all things work together for good for them that love The Lord (Romans 8:28), then we too can be content in every circumstance and situation. We must learn that God gives us the strength to handle everything that He allows to come our way. We must learn to believe in Him, have faith in Him, and to trust in Him.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The Love Of God
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
In this chapter of Romans the Apostle Paul identifies what The Holy Spirit does for us. He frees us from sin and death, enables us to follow God's law, grants us victory over our unredeemed flesh, confirms our adoption as children of God, and guarantees us our ultimate glory with God. He writes from his personal experiences stating that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
We can all look back over our lives and see what God has brought us through and kept us from. The love of God is like a protective shield around us. We may be attacked by demons, but we will not be defeated. Trouble, hardship, and persecution may come our way, but we will get through them by the grace of God. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. God loves us and nothing can separate us from the love of God.
In this chapter of Romans the Apostle Paul identifies what The Holy Spirit does for us. He frees us from sin and death, enables us to follow God's law, grants us victory over our unredeemed flesh, confirms our adoption as children of God, and guarantees us our ultimate glory with God. He writes from his personal experiences stating that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
We can all look back over our lives and see what God has brought us through and kept us from. The love of God is like a protective shield around us. We may be attacked by demons, but we will not be defeated. Trouble, hardship, and persecution may come our way, but we will get through them by the grace of God. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. God loves us and nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
You Are My Help And My Deliverer
"Hasten, O God, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me ... may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace ... But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, 'Let God be exalted!' Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay." Psalms 70:1-5 (NIV)
David knew that there were those who would do him harm, if they could. He knew that he would need God's help to survive. He prayed that God would stop his enemies and protect him from them. And he also prayed that God would bless His fellow believers. He recognized that no matter what he had, that he was still poor and needy in God's sight, and that in his current situation, he needed God's help and deliverance. David wanted deliverance for himself and retribution for his enemies.
We need to recognize that whatever situation we find ourselves in, we need God's help. Some people think that when things are going good that they can handle it. But we need His help in good times and bad times, when we are up and when we are down. We need protection from all hurt, harm, and danger, seen and unseen. He is our help and our deliverer in every situation. When we pray, we should tell Him that, and thank Him for being so.
David knew that there were those who would do him harm, if they could. He knew that he would need God's help to survive. He prayed that God would stop his enemies and protect him from them. And he also prayed that God would bless His fellow believers. He recognized that no matter what he had, that he was still poor and needy in God's sight, and that in his current situation, he needed God's help and deliverance. David wanted deliverance for himself and retribution for his enemies.
We need to recognize that whatever situation we find ourselves in, we need God's help. Some people think that when things are going good that they can handle it. But we need His help in good times and bad times, when we are up and when we are down. We need protection from all hurt, harm, and danger, seen and unseen. He is our help and our deliverer in every situation. When we pray, we should tell Him that, and thank Him for being so.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Caught In The Act
"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, 'If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there." John 8:1-11 (NIV)
When the woman that was caught in the act of adultery was brought before Him, Jesus said let the one among them who was without sin throw the first stone at her. No one knows what Jesus wrote in the dirt when He bent down. Jesus did not condemn the woman, but it is possible that the men were convicted by what He wrote in the dirt.
Be careful when you set out to trick someone, you may end up being the one that is embarrassed. Jesus taught them and us that we should not be so quick to condemn. Before we condemn others, we should take a look at ourselves. When you live in a glass house, you should not throw stones at others. Don't focus on the sins of others, deal with your own sins.
When the woman that was caught in the act of adultery was brought before Him, Jesus said let the one among them who was without sin throw the first stone at her. No one knows what Jesus wrote in the dirt when He bent down. Jesus did not condemn the woman, but it is possible that the men were convicted by what He wrote in the dirt.
Be careful when you set out to trick someone, you may end up being the one that is embarrassed. Jesus taught them and us that we should not be so quick to condemn. Before we condemn others, we should take a look at ourselves. When you live in a glass house, you should not throw stones at others. Don't focus on the sins of others, deal with your own sins.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)