Thou alone art the Lord …. Thou dost give Life to all….and the heavenly host bows Down before Thee. NEHEMIAH 9;6 NAS Lord, when I think how you hold heaven And earth in your hand, I wonder that my Trials seem but trifling….hardly anything To you at all. Then I remember…..even the Hairs of my head are numbered. December 6, 2014 Better Than Before By Jennifer Benson Schuldt Read: 2 Kings 5:1-15 [Naaman’s] flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child. —2 Kings 5:14 Bible in a Year: Daniel 3-4; 1 John 5 As infants, my children had nearly perfect skin. Their flesh was soft—they had no dry elbows or rough patches on their feet. Smooth and new, it contrasted with mine, which was marked by years of various scars and callouses. As a mighty warrior and the commander of the Syrian army, Naaman may have had scuffed skin and battle scars, but he also had a serious skin disease—leprosy. When a servant suggested that the prophet Elisha could heal him, Naaman visited him. He followed Elisha’s instructions, and his diseased flesh became “like the flesh of a little child” (2 Kings 5:14). This cure left Naaman better off both physically and spiritually. After being healed, he proclaimed, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel” (v.15). Through this miraculous experience, he learned that there is only one true God (1 Cor. 8:6). Like Naaman, we can learn important lessons about God as a result of our life experiences. Receiving a blessing may show us about His mercy and goodness (Matt. 7:11). Surviving or enduring a trial may help us see God’s sufficiency and care. Growing in knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18) will always leave us better off spiritually than we were before. Father, help me to learn more about You as I travel through this world. Let this knowledge inspire fresh praise in my heart and a desire to become more like You. Lessons about God are embedded in life experiences. Insight Naaman’s journey of faith started with humility. It was only when he listened to his young slave girl (2 Kings 5:2-4), followed the instructions of Elisha’s servant and his own servants, and humbled himself by washing in the Jordan River that he received healing (vv.8-14). Bob Hoekstra :: Day By Day By Grace :: December 6th Once More on Continuing in the Word of His Grace I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able…All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (Acts 20:32 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17) Gods word (which is the word of His grace) is characterized by heavenly ability: which is able…and is profitable for. By Gods grace at work, the Scriptures take us into the wholeness that is ours in Christ, as well as fully equip us for service unto Christ. All of the word of Gods grace is divinely inspired. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. Although written through human instruments, the Bible message is what God wanted to say. Therefore, the word is able to bring great spiritual profit into our lives: and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Gods word is profitable for doctrine. The teaching ministry of the word reveals to us the path of godliness. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). Also, Gods word is profitable for… reproof. The admonishing ministry of the word tells us when we are drifting from Gods path. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11). Further, Gods word is profitable for… correction. The restoring ministry of the word calls us back to the straight and narrow path of godliness. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:7). Finally, Gods word is profitable for… instruction in righteousness. The transforming ministry of the word moves us on down the path of Christlikeness. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror [the mirror of the word] the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). As we allow Gods word to carry on this profitable, four-fold process, His grace is bringing us into a greater experience of the wholeness that is available to us in Christ: that the man of God may be complete. Additionally, this process is fully preparing us to serve the Lord in any manner that He desires: thoroughly equipped for every good work. Dear Lord, I need the word of Your grace at work in my life daily. Please impact my life by the supernatural ability of Your word. Teach me, reprove me, correct me, and instruct me in righteousness that I might walk in Your wholeness and serve for Your glory, Amen. ________________________________________ “My Rainbow in the Cloud” December 6, 2014 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. —Genesis 9:13 It is the will of God that human beings should get into a right-standing relationship with Him, and His covenants are designed for this purpose. Why doesn’t God save me? He has accomplished and provided for my salvation, but I have not yet entered into a relationship with Him. Why doesn’t God do everything we ask? He has done it. The point is— will I step into that covenant relationship? All the great blessings of God are finished and complete, but they are not mine until I enter into a relationship with Him on the basis of His covenant. Waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief. It means that I have no faith in Him. I wait for Him to do something in me so I may trust in that. But God won’t do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man must go beyond the physical body and feelings in his covenant with God, just as God goes beyond Himself in reaching out with His covenant to man. It is a question of faith in God— a very rare thing. We only have faith in our feelings. I don’t believe God until He puts something tangible in my hand, so that I know I have it. Then I say, “Now I believe.” There is no faith exhibited in that. God says, “Look to Me, and be saved…” (Isaiah 45:22). When I have really transacted business with God on the basis of His covenant, letting everything else go, there is no sense of personal achievement— no human ingredient in it at all. Instead, there is a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and my life is transformed and radiates peace and joy.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 02:45:57 +0000
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