August 3 / Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Morning and Evening

Day 215 of 366 Morning - Day 215 "Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." Our belief in God's wisdom supposes and necessitates that he has a settled purpose and plan in the work of salvation. What would creation have been without his design? Is there a fish in the sea, or a fowl in the air, which was left to chance for its formation? Nay, in every bone, joint, and muscle, sinew, gland, and blood-vessel, you mark the presence of a God working everything according to the design of infinite wisdom. And shall God be present in creation, ruling over all, and not in grace? Shall the new creation have the fickle genius of free will to preside over it when divine counsel rules the old creation? Look at Providence! Who knoweth not that not a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father? Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. God weighs the mountains of our grief in scales, and the hills of our tribulation in balances. And shall there be a God in providence and not in grace? Shall the shell be ordained by wisdom and the kernel be left to blind chance? No; he knows the end from the beginning. He sees in its appointed place, not merely the corner-stone which he has laid in fair colours, in the blood of his dear Son, but he beholds in their ordained position each of the chosen stones taken out of the quarry of nature, and polished by his grace; he sees the whole from corner to cornice, from base to roof, from foundation to pinnacle. He hath in his mind a clear knowledge of every stone which shall be laid in its prepared space, and how vast the edifice shall be, and when the top-stone shall be brought forth with shoutings of "Grace! Grace! unto it." At the last it shall be clearly seen that in every chosen vessel of mercy, Jehovah did as he willed with his own; and that in every part of the work of grace he accomplished his purpose, and glorified his own name. Evening - Day 215 "So she gleaned in the field until even." Let me learn from Ruth, the gleaner. As she went out to gather the ears of corn, so must I go forth into the fields of prayer, meditation, the ordinances, and hearing the word to gather spiritual food. The gleaner gathers her portion ear by ear; her gains are little by little: so must I be content to search for single truths, if there be no greater plenty of them. Every ear helps to make a bundle, and every gospel lesson assists in making us wise unto salvation. The gleaner keeps her eyes open: if she stumbled among the stubble in a dream, she would have no load to carry home rejoicingly at eventide. I must be watchful in religious exercises lest they become unprofitable to me; I fear I have lost much already--O that I may rightly estimate my opportunities, and glean with greater diligence. The gleaner stoops for all she finds, and so must I. High spirits criticize and object, but lowly minds glean and receive benefit. A humble heart is a great help towards profitably hearing the gospel. The engrafted soul-saving word is not received except with meekness. A stiff back makes a bad gleaner; down, master pride, thou art a vile robber, not to be endured for a moment. What the gleaner gathers she holds: if she dropped one ear to find another, the result of her day's work would be but scant; she is as careful to retain as to obtain, and so at last her gains are great. How often do I forget all that I hear; the second truth pushes the first out of my head, and so my reading and hearing end in much ado about nothing! Do I feel duly the importance of storing up the truth? A hungry belly makes the gleaner wise; if there be no corn in her hand, there will be no bread on her table; she labours under the sense of necessity, and hence her tread is nimble and her grasp is firm; I have even a greater necessity, Lord, help me to feel it, that it may urge me onward to glean in fields which yield so plenteous a reward to diligence. Ephesians 1:11 NASB 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, Ruth 2:17 NASB 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

Day By Day With Billy Graham / The Soul's Demands

Day By Day With Billy Graham

Day 215 of 366 The Soul's Demands The soul demands as much attention as the body. It demands fellowship and communion with God. It demands worship, quietness, and meditation. Unless the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes weak and shriveled. It remains discontented, confused, restless. Many people turn to alcohol to try to drown the cryings and longings of the soul. Some turn to a new sex experience. Others attempt to quiet the longings of their souls in other ways. Nothing but God ever completely satisfies, because the soul is made for God, and without God it is restless and in secret torment. The first step to God is a realization of your spiritual poverty. The poor in spirit do not measure the worth of life in earthly possessions, which fade away, but in terms of eternal realities, which endure forever. Wise is the man who openly confesses his lack of spiritual wealth and in humilty of heart cries, "God, be merciful unto me, a sinner." Daily Prayer As I look to You, my Lord and my Redeemer, the strivings of my soul will be satisfied. You alone bring lasting joy. Isaiah 58:11 NASB 11 "And the L ord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

NKJV 365 / What kind of relationship did Job have with God?

NKJV 365 Day Reading Plan

Day 215 of 365 What kind of relationship did Job have with God? Job's biography begins with a 4-part description of his character: "blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil" (1:1). He prayed for his children and was concerned about their relationship with God (v. 5) He was successful and wealthy - the stereotype of a blessed man. In fact, God adds His own glowing approval of Job, using the same traits that open the book (v. 8). Faced with the sudden crushing loss of everything - children, servants, herds - Job's initial response was to grieve and recognize God's sovereignty. "'The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong" (vv. 21b,22). Under the harsh judgments of his friends, Job eventually struggled to understand why God seemed unwilling to settle matters. Once God did speak, at least part of Job's problem becomes clear - he confused a relationship with God with familiarity with God. The Lord did not rebuke Job's faith or sincerity; instead, God questioned Job's insistence on an answer for his difficulties. By allowing Job to hear just a little of the extent of his ignorance, God showed Job that there was a great deal of knowledge he would never understand. As a creature, Job simply had no right to demand an answer from his Creator. Job's final words are filled with humility and repentance: "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (42:5,6). Job spent his last days enjoying the same kind of relationship he had earlier with God. He prayed for his friends and raised another family of Godly children. He lived a full life. Taken from The MacArthur Daily Bible Job 1:1-8 NASB 1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the L ord , and Satan also came among them. 7The L ord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the L ord and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it." 8 The L ord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / RIGHTEOUSNESS

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 214 of 365 RIGHTEOUSNESS Job's three friends were convinced that Job's sufferings were the result of some sin he must have committed. They were wrong. God was not punishing Job - instead, God was displaying his glory to Satan and the entire world by sustaining Job's faith in the midst of suffering. Yet, through the process of enduring suffering, Job was tempted to sin; he was tempted to justify himself (Job 32:2). It seems that Job revealed some pride and self-righteousness. Righteousness means being right with God. Righteousness is not something people can earn or claim for themselves; it is a title and name that God grants through his grace. Deep down inside, Job knew that his trial was not the result of some specific sin he committed. But he could easily drift into the thinking that he had no sin at all - and that would be a terrible mistake. The Bible is clear that Jesus is the only person who ever lived who can claim a perfect life (Heb 4:15). Jesus is the standard, and from God's perspective, everyone has fallen short of the standard (Ro 3:9 - 18). Becoming right with God is never based on what people do, or how good or kind they are or how they compare with others. Becoming righteous begins by agreeing with God in his assessment of humanity's sinful nature and looking to the only perfect person, Jesus Christ, to be the perfect One on behalf of sinful humanity. Jesus' righteousness is credited to his people when they call upon him in faith (1Co 1:30). Jesus, protect me from the dangers of self-righteousness. Help me to remember that my best efforts are still like filthy rags and that my only righteousness comes from you. Amen. Job 27:6 NASB 6 "I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go. My heart does not reproach any of my days. Hebrews 4:15 NASB 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Romans 3:9-18 NASB 9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, "T here is none righteous , not even one ; 11 T here is none who understands , T here is none who seeks for G od ; 12 A ll have turned aside , together they have become useless ; T here is none who does good , T here is not even one ." 13 "T heir throat is an open grave , W ith their tongues they keep deceiving ," "T he poison of asps is under their lips "; 14 "W hose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness "; 15 "T heir feet are swift to shed blood , 16D estruction and misery are in their paths , 17 A nd the path of peace they have not known ." 18 "T here is no fear of G od before their eyes ." 1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

Knowing Whom to Trust by David Jeremiah

Thursday, August 3

Knowing Whom to Trust 

There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines. 
1 Samuel 27:1 

Recommended Reading Psalm 20

Last year when British politicians needed training in self-defense from stalkers, political extremists, and terrorists, they turned to the Israeli Mossad for lessons in security techniques. No one wants to mess with Israeli security forces. That was true 3,000 years ago too, which is why the shepherd-boy David sought refuge among the Philistines when being chased by the armies of Israel under the command of King Saul. According to the story in 1 Samuel 27, David was tired and terrified; and he sought safety in the wrong place.

He learned his lesson. In Psalm 20, he later wrote: “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble…. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Regardless of the level of fear and danger we feel, our ultimate help comes from the Lord, not from horses, chariots, or the Philistines. Perhaps the Lord will use others to help us; but we must always keep our eyes focused on Him. Jesus said, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). The Bible assures us, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).

Oh, the blessings of God that will come to you if you will learn to believe God. It is absolutely necessary that you learn how to believe God.
Adrian Rogers

Peace and Trust / Our Daily Bread

Peace and Trust August 3, 2017

Read: Isaiah 26:1– 9 Bible in a Year: Psalms 63–65; Romans 6 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.—John 14:27 When I was six years old I rode a roller coaster for the first time with my older brothers. As soon as we hit a turn at a high speed I started to yell: “Stop this thing right now! I want to get off!” Of course the roller coaster didn’t stop, and I had to “white knuckle” it, hanging on tight for the rest of the ride. Sometimes life can feel like an unwanted roller coaster ride, with “downhill” drops and hairpin curves we never see coming. When unexpected difficulties occur, the Bible reminds us that our best recourse is to place our trust in God. It was in a tumultuous time when invasion threatened his country that the prophet Isaiah, inspired by the Spirit, discerned this powerful promise from the Lord: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isa. 26:3). The peace our Savior gives us as we turn to Him “transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). I will never forget the words of a woman who was struggling with breast cancer. After a group from our church prayed for her one evening, she said, “I don’t know what will happen, but I know that I’ll be okay, because the Lord was here with us tonight.” Life will have its difficulties, but our Savior, who loves us more than life, is greater than them all. —James Banks Lord, help me to trust in You so that I may live in peace. For help, read Navigating the Storms of Life at discoveryseries.org/hp061. Jesus is our peace. INSIGHT: The peace Paul referenced in Philippians 4:7 closely parallels the rest that Jesus offers us in Matthew 11:28-29. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This gift of “soul rest” is the peace that every heart craves—a peace that comes from wholeness and rightness (Isa. 26:3). This peace is much more than the absence of conflict; it is the blessing that comes from resting in Christ and His strength. As we learn to rest in Him, we will experience the resulting peace of His presence and power. Are there specific struggles that are wearing you down? How might you become more intentional about drawing on Christ’s strength? Bill Crowder

The Teaching of Adversity by Oswald Chambers

The Teaching of Adversity

August 2, 2017

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. —John 16:33

 
 
 

The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling…” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.

If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.

God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life…” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

The great thing about faith in God is that it keeps a man undisturbed in the midst of disturbance. Notes on Isaiah, 1376 R

God’s Ways: Ordinary and Miraculous by Charles Stanley

God’s Ways: Ordinary and Miraculous

1 Kings 17:2-7

In Isaiah 55:8, God declared, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” And in fact, one of the biggest frustrations of the Christian life stems from a lack of understanding about God’s ways. There are times when we could really use a miracle, but He does not come through for us the way we think He should. Our unmet expectations lead to confusion, disappointment, and even anger. We might think, Why did the Lord let me down?

Some people don’t believe God performs big miracles at all, while others are convinced that if He’s not doing the miraculous every day, then something is wrong with their faith. Neither belief is true. We need a balanced perspective, which we find in the Bible.

God works in both supernatural and ordinary ways, and He determines the method. Elijah ate food miraculously delivered by ravens, but his water supply from a brook was completely natural. When the water dried up, the Lord could have made more spring from the ground, but He didn’t.

Sometimes God uses ordinary means to move us in a new direction. The curtailment of Elijah’s water supply opened the door for his next assignment. When the Lord withholds miraculous intervention and lets your brook dry up, He has something else planned for you.

Seeing the work of God in the miraculous is easy. But He’s just as involved in the everyday aspects of life as He is in any supernatural event. Look for His fingerprint in the day’s mundane activities. He is there, opening and closing doors, drying up one opportunity but initiating another.

August 2 / Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

Launch out into the deep (Luke 5:4).

How deep He does not say. The depth into which we launch will depend upon how perfectly we have given up the shore, and the greatness of our need, and the apprehension of our possibilities. The fish were to be found in the deep, not in the shallow water.

So with us; our needs are to be met in the deep things of God. We are to launch out into the deep of God's Word, which the Spirit can open up to us in such crystal fathomless meaning that the same words we have accepted in times past will have an ocean meaning in them, which renders their first meaning to us very shallow.

Into the deep of the Atonement, until Christ's precious blood is so illuminated by the Spirit that it becomes an omnipotent balm, and food and medicine for the soul and body.

Into the deep of the Father's will, until we apprehend it in its infinite minuteness and goodness, and its far-sweeping provision and care for us.

Into the deep of the Holy Spirit, until He becomes a bright, dazzling, sweet, fathomless summer sea, in which we bathe and bask and breathe, and lose ourselves and our sorrows  in the calmness and peace of His everlasting presence.

Into the deep of the Holy Spirit, until He becomes a bright, marvelous answer to prayer, the most careful and tender guidance, the most thoughtful anticipation of our needs, the most accurate and supernatural shaping of our events.

Into the deep of God's purposes and coming kingdom, until the Lord's coming and His millennial reign are opened up to us; and beyond these the bright entrancing ages on ages unfold themselves, until the mental eye is dazed with light, and the heart flutters with inexpressible anticipations of its joy with Jesus and the glory to be revealed.

Into all these things, Jesus bids us launch. He made us and He made the deep, and to its fathomless depths He has fitted our longings and capabilities.
--Soul Food

Its streams the whole creation reach,
So plenteous is the store;
Enough for all, enough for each;
Enough forevermore.

The deep waters of the Holy Spirit are always accessible, because they are always proceeding. Will you not this day claim afresh to be immersed and drenched in these waters of life? The waters in Ezekiel's vision first of all oozed from under the doors of the temple. Then the man with the measuring line measured and found the waters to the ankles. Still further measurement, and they were waters to the knees. Once again they were measured and the waters were to the loins. Then they became waters to swim in--a river that could not be passed over. (Read Ezekiel 47).

How far have we advanced into this river of life? The Holy Spirit would have a complete self effacement. Not merely ankle-deep, knee-deep, loin-deep, but self-deep. We ourselves hidden out of sight and bathed in this life-giving stream. Let go the shore-lines and launch out into the deep. Never forget, the Man with the measuring line is with us today.
--J.G.M.

Carrying Our Own Burdens by Adrian Rogers

August 2

Carrying Our Own Burdens

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” - Psalm 55:22

A man was carrying a heavy load of grain down a country road. Another man in a wagon being pulled by a horse saw the man walking and said to him, “Mister, you need a ride?” And so the man got in the wagon. But he kept the load of grain on his shoulder. The wagon driver said, “Man, put that down and relax!” The rider said, “Oh no. It’s enough for you to carry me without having you carry this too.”

Have you ever done that to the Lord? You say, “Lord, I’ll let You save me, but I’ll carry my own burdens.” How foolish we are to do this with the God who hung the stars and planets.

If you can trust God to save you from hell, don’t you think you can cast your burden upon the Lord right now?

---

The Right Attitude Toward Money by John MacArthur

The Right Attitude Toward Money “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). Believers should not have a self-centered preoccupation with money. With all the attention modern society gives to money, what it can buy, and the dividends it can earn, Christians are continually challenged to view it properly. But Scripture provides us with much help and guidance in this area. It is replete with warnings and admonitions about how we are to act and think concerning money and wealth. There are at least eight basic, biblical guidelines that when believed and followed will give us a God-centered view of money. First, having money in itself is not wrong (1 Sam. 2:7). Second, we ought to recognize that money is a gift from God and comes to us through His providence (Deut. 8:11-18). Third, we must be willing to lose our money, if that’s God’s will for us. Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21). Fourth, we must not be partial toward those who have lots of money (James 2:1-10). Fifth, we must not arrogantly seek security from money (Prov. 11:28; 1 Tim. 6:17). Sixth, money-making pursuits should never be our highest priorities in life (Matt. 6:33). Seventh, we ought to use money for eternal purposes, namely, leading others to the Lord (Luke 16:9). Finally, we must not selfishly hoard or foolishly spend money. On the contrary, true generosity should characterize every believer (Prov. 11:24-25; Luke 6:38). Just like a firearm, money can be used for good purposes and evil purposes, which means there is nothing inherently wrong with it. Therefore, the real issue does not concern money itself, but what our attitude is toward it. The Lord wants us to view money as He did and be content with what we have. Suggestions for Prayer Confess your sinful attitude in one or more of the eight areas mentioned today. Pray that God would replace those sinful attitudes toward money with His righteous attitudes. For Further Study Read Deuteronomy 8:11-18. What divine favors does God remind the Israelites of? What sin is sure to befall any believer who forgets that God is the One who makes wealth possible? From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

August 2 / Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Morning and Evening

Day 214 of 366 Morning - Day 214 "Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn." Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean today in the broad field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet thy wants. Take this one: "He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax." Doth not that suit thy case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, he will not break thee; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen thee. Thou art like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from thee; but he will not quench thee; he will blow with his sweet breath of mercy till he fans thee to a flame. Wouldst thou glean another ear? "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." What soft words! Thy heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore he speaketh so gently to thee. Wilt thou not obey him, and come to him even now? Take another ear of corn: "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." How canst thou fear with such a wonderful assurance as this? Thou mayest gather ten thousand such golden ears as these! "I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thy transgressions." Or this, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Or this, "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely." Our Master's field is very rich; behold the handfuls. See, there they lie before thee, poor timid believer! Gather them up, make them thine own, for Jesus bids thee take them. Be not afraid, only believe! Grasp these sweet promises, thresh them out by meditation and feed on them with joy. Evening - Day 214 "Thou crownest the year with thy goodness." All the year round, every hour of every day, God is richly blessing us; both when we sleep and when we wake his mercy waits upon us. The sun may leave us a legacy of darkness, but our God never ceases to shine upon his children with beams of love. Like a river, his lovingkindness is always flowing, with a fulness inexhaustible as his own nature. Like the atmosphere which constantly surrounds the earth, and is always ready to support the life of man, the benevolence of God surrounds all his creatures; in it, as in their element, they live, and move, and have their being. Yet as the sun on summer days gladdens us with beams more warm and bright than at other times, and as rivers are at certain seasons swollen by the rain, and as the atmosphere itself is sometimes fraught with more fresh, more bracing, or more balmy influences than heretofore, so is it with the mercy of God; it hath its golden hours; its days of overflow, when the Lord magnifieth his grace before the sons of men. Amongst the blessings of the nether springs, the joyous days of harvest are a special season of excessive favour. It is the glory of autumn that the ripe gifts of providence are then abundantly bestowed; it is the mellow season of realization, whereas all before was but hope and expectation. Great is the joy of harvest. Happy are the reapers who fill their arms with the liberality of heaven. The Psalmist tells us that the harvest is the crowning of the year. Surely these crowning mercies call for crowning thanksgiving! Let us render it by the inward emotions of gratitude. Let our hearts be warmed; let our spirits remember, meditate, and think upon this goodness of the Lord. Then let us praise him with our lips, and laud and magnify his name from whose bounty all this goodness flows. Let us glorify God by yielding our gifts to his cause. A practical proof of our gratitude is a special thank-offering to the Lord of the harvest. Ruth 2:2 NASB 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." Psalms 65:11 NASB 11 You have crowned the year with Your bounty, And Your paths drip with fatness.

NKJV 365

NKJV 365 Day Reading Plan

Day 214 of 365 God acted swiftly to remind everyone that His holiness is not to be trifled with. God will not allow His glory to be belittled. God has used swift divine judgment against disobedience at the beginning of each new era (think of Achan in Joshua 7, Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6, and Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5). God's judgment against Nadab and Abihu showed all future generations the seriousness and the sanctity of relating to a holy God. Philips Brooks, the great nineteenth century preacher, said, "No sin can be little, because there is no little God to sin against." Taken from Start! The Bible for New Believers Leviticus 10:1-3 NASB 1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the L ord , which He had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from the presence of the L ord and consumed them, and they died before the L ord . 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the L ord spoke, saying,

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / PRIDE VERSUS HUMILITY

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 213 of 365 PRIDE VERSUS HUMILITY It's not hard to see the irony in this turn of events. Haman was on his way to recommend that Mordecai be hanged, yet he unknowingly is recommending that Mordecai be honored and given the royal treatment. "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Pr 16:18). Exhibit A: Haman. Even after Mordecai saved the king's life, Mordecai was humble enough not to demand recognition or a reward. Jesus said, "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Mt 23:12). God's timing is perfect, and he knows where to find his followers when he is ready to honor them. Believers don't have to manipulate or force their position anywhere . . . at work . . . in the church . . . among friends and family. But "your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Mt 6:18). Jesus is the ultimate model and inspiration. Not only did Jesus model humility (Php 2:8), his followers also are to be marked by humility. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph 4:2 - 3). Jesus, I want to be more like Mordecai than Haman. Help me to follow your lead in acting in humility, and prevent me from seeking my own glory. Amen. Esther 6:4-10 NASB 4 So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him. 5 The king's servants said to him, "Behold, Haman is standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in." 6 So Haman came in and the king said to him, "What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?" 7 Then Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king desires to honor, 8 let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; 9 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, 'Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.'" Haman Must Honor Mordecai 10 Then the king said to Haman, "Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king's gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you have said."