Day 1
FALL OF MAN
And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)
Behold, I [am] according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. (Job 33:6)
Man was not a helper in the creation of the world. What did God have in mind? And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
It is the soul of man that bears God's image. God is a Person, and personality exists where there is intelligence, mind, will, reason, individuality, self-consciousness and self-determination. With these faculties man was taken and placed into a beautiful garden. God appointed employment to man. And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
God placed man into the garden with a commandment as well. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.
We do not know how long a time element elapsed between chapter two and chapter three of Genesis; but we do have the account of man's fall.
The real sin was the fact that they, Adam and Eve disobeyed and doubted God's word. Satan was very subtle. Craftily he created doubt. Eve listened to his suggestion, looked at the fruit and lusted after it. And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6)
The moment they ate, they knew they had sinned. They hid themselves from the presence of God. Man has been hiding ever since! When God came to them in the garden and called for them, they began to make excuses. Here it was; through the disobedience of one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, so death passed upon all.[Romans 5:12]
God came to the rescue! He gave a promise-Genesis 3:15. Then He made coats of skins, and clothed them.
The promise is fulfilled in Jesus.
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Day 2
SENT FROM THE GARDEN
SIN SEPARATES!
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)
We have here, in figure, the great doctrine of divine righteousness. The robe which God provided was an effectual covering, because He provided it. God's apron was founded on the shedding of blood. Fig leaves are not enough! Today, God's righteousness is set forth in the cross; man's righteousness is set forth in the works of his hands.
Man was banished from the garden to go to work for a living. A sad moment in our history. Basically, sin separates! But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.
Dr.Bob Jones is to have said,"You can't win playing the game of sin." Sin leaves it's marks. Sin prevents man from being happy. What happens around us is an eloquent witness to the fact that sin fills our world. All the sorrow, bitterness, violence, tragedy, heartache and shame of man's history are summed up in that little word-SIN.
People don't like to be told they are sinners. The Bible declares that every person on earth is a sinner in the sight of God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
A visiting minister was asked not to preach on sin. He was to say it was just a mistake. The minister walked over and took down a bottle of poison from a high shelf. The bottle was plainly marked in big red letter-POISON, DO NOT TOUCH. The minister said,"Do you feel it would be wise for me to remove the label and put one on that read-ESSENCE OF PEPPERMINT? Do you not see that the milder you make the label the more dangerous you make the poison?
Sin, plain old fashioned sin; the self-same sin that caused Adam's downfall is what we are all suffering from today. It will do us far more harm than good to try and dress it up with a fancy, more attractive label.
Man's salvation from sin stands on a lonely, barren, skull-shaped hill called Calvary. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
The word for us to today is, But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on His name:
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Day 3
CAIN AND ABEL
The book of Genesis is the 'seed plot' of the whole Bible and man's entire history. In the persons of Cain and Abel we have the first examples of a religious man and a man of faith. Born as they were, outside of Eden, and being the sons of fallen Adam, they could have nothing, naturally, to distinguish them one from the other. They were both sinners, both had a fallen nature, neither was innocent. Both were the sons of fallen Adam. They came into the world as the partakers of the nature of their father; fallen ruined nature.
The life of Cain and Abel furnish a fair opportunity for the distinctive qualities, capacities, resources and tendencies of nature to manifest themselves. David declares: Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psalms 51:5)
Abel was not distinguished from his brother Cain by anything natural. The difference was not in themselves, in their nature or their circumstances; it lay entirely in their sacrifices. It was not a question as to the offerer, but to his offering.
Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock. An offering where the blood of an innocent animal was shed. Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, an offering without the shedding of blood. God had established a divine principle; "without the shedding of blood there is no remission."
The shedding of blood affords the acceptance of a sinner before God. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
(Hebrews 11:4 NIV]
Cain has millions of followers today! They believe in their own works. They want to come in their own way. God's way is through Jesus Christ. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Day 4
ABEL'S SACRIFICE
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Able entered by faith into the glorious truth that God could be approached by sacrifice; that there was such a thing as a sinner placing the death of another between himself and the consequences of his sin. The claims of God could be met by the blood of an innocent animal offered to meet God's demands and the sinner's deep need of forgiveness. This in short is the doctrine of the cross.
In the cross the convicted sinner has divine provision for all his guilt and all his need. Christ has cleared the prospect of death and judgement for the one who believes. It has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Timothy 1:10)
Christ has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. This is in type set forth in Able's "more excellent sacrifice."
There was no attempt on the part of Abel to set aside the truth as to his own condition; he found a substitute. Thus it is with every poor lost sinner, Christ is his substitute, his ransom, his "most excellent sacrifice." Nothing but the perfect sacrifice of the Son of God can give ease to the heart and conscience. It is faith which puts the soul in present possession of peace. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1)
It is not a question of feeling. Feeling is not faith! Faith justifies the soul, purifies the heart, works by love and overcomes the world. Faith believes God when He speaks, and takes Him at His word. This life has God as its source, a risen Christ its channel, the Holy Spirit its power, heaven its sphere and eternity its duration. There is life for a look at the crucified One. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
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Day 5
THE WICKEDNESS OF THE WORLD [NOAH]
When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. (Proverbs 29:16)
As in the days of Noah sin increased, man multiplied and so did wickedness. The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
How like Noah's time it is today; wickedness is rampant. Sin is sin, it was in Noah's time, so it is today. Sin is a spreading leprosy.
Wickedness is great when great men are wicked. Man is totally depraved, he is naturally corrupt. This is what God says. As it is written: ``There is no-one righteous, not even one;
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
Notice, The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
He was sorry that man chose to do evil. You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offences.
Sin must be punished!
Now notice,
But Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD.
Noah was distinguished from the rest of the world. Noah did not find favour in the eyes of men, but he did in the eyes of God. When the rest of the world was corrupt and wicked, Noah kept his integrity. Noah was a just man. Noah walked with God. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.
We are only what we are and where we are by the grace of God. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, (Romans 5:20)
Grace means that God gives us what we do not deserve.
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Day 6
THE WORD OF GOD AND FAITH [NOAH]
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Nature is governed by what it sees and senses. Faith is governed by the pure word of God. When God spoke to Noah of pending judgement, there was no sign of it, but the word of God made it a present reality to the heart that was enabled to mix that word with faith. Faith does not wait to see a thing before it believes. All that the man of faith needs is to know that God has spoken. A single line of scripture is an abundant answer to all the reasoning and all the imaginations of the human mind.
It was the word of God which sustained the heart of Noah during his long course of service. The word of God was the ground on which he stood when scoffers sneered at him while building the ark.
How do we stand in an evil day? Through God's pure, incorruptible and eternal Word. God's word was the simple resting place of Noah's heart, when all around the thoughts of the hearts of men were only evil continually. The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.(Genesis 6:5)
In this account we find God's judgement of nature with all its evil and at the same time we see the revelation of His saving grace in all its fullness.
At Calvary we see the fountains of the great deep broken up and the windows of heaven opened. The Lord Jesus has met all that could be against us. He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. The triumphant language of Romans 8:31-32 is "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? The Lord shut Noah in. The family of Noah were safe. Are you in the ark of salvation? Take Christ and be shut in ready for heaven.
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Day 7
BABEL--LANGUAGE
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, ``Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly.'' They used brick instead of stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, ``Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.''(Genesis 11:1-4)
We have here a revelation of human ambition and a manifestation of Divine displeasure. Isn't this just like human nature? The human heart ever seeks a name, a portion and a centre in the world. Left to self it will ever find its objects in this lower world. Man is indeed allied to this earth.
To make a name for himself was man's object on the plain of Shinar; and such has been his object ever since. Man is a self-seeking, self-exalting creature who ever seeks to leave God out of his plan. Looking at this Babel confederacy, we also notice man's marked tendency to organize. This organization left God out! Notice: But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said ``If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.'' (Genesis 11:5-7)
Such was the end of man's first organization.
God's word to mankind was to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. In order to spread them out God confounded [mixed] up their language. It was God's method to scatter them. Languages come in families today. Have you ever sensed how closely related they are? For example: Take the word "school; in German its "schule"; in Dutch its "schol".
In conclusion today: Three scriptures may be read in an interesting and profitable connection. In Genesis 11,God gives various tongues as an expression of His judgment; in Acts 2, He gives various tongues as an expression of His grace; and in Revelations 7, we see all those tongues gathered round the Lamb in glory.
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Day 8
ABRAHAM CALLED!
The life of Abraham, like the course of a river has a few turns. A life of faith in God will always be fragrant. The LORD had said to Abram, ``Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. ``I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:1-2)
God had spoken and Abraham believed and obeyed the call. He was to be a special instrument in the hand of God. This speaks of separation. The call was very personal. He alone could answer it.
I borrow the phrase,"I being in the way the Lord led me." You cannot lead anything that does not move. Many of us are far too settled. Considering the tent-dwellers of Abraham's time, we are really settled down.
The Christian life is not one of standing still. The hymn writer encourages us to plant our feet on higher ground. This life is a life of faith in God and fellowship with God. God promises to instruct us and to guide us [Psa.32:8]. The word is so precious. There has not failed one word of His good promise.
The promise of being made a blessing was given to Abraham. Messianic prophecies were going to be fulfilled. We can only be a blessing for God after we have been blessed by God.
Is God calling you to some specific task? Are you going to obey? Obey God's call...do as Abraham did! So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram travelled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, ``To your offspring I will give this land.'' So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he went on towards the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
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Day 9
ABRAHAM IN EGYPT
In the spiritual world of our Christian experience, as well as in the natural world, changes may come very suddenly. Who would have thought that a man with Abraham's faith would turn aside at the first temptation. At our best and strongest moment we are in danger of falling, if not kept by the power of God through faith. If faith is to triumph and grow it must be tested. Peter writes in his epistle," The trial of your faith is precious" [1 Peter 1:7] Trials make the promise sweet; there is no discipline of soul without them.
Faith has its trials as well as its answers. It is not to be imagined that the man of faith, having pushed out from the shore of circumstances, finds it all smooth and easy sailing. By no means. Again and again, he is called to encounter rough and stormy skies; but it is all graciously designed to lead him into deeper and more matured experience of what God is to the heart that confides in Him. Were the sky always without a cloud, and the ocean without a ripple, the believer would not know so well the God with whom we have to do.
We are frequently led to judge the rightness of a path by its exemption from trial; but the path of obedience may often be found most trying to the flesh.
Abraham's experience led to fear. He was afraid they would take his life. He was more concerned about his own safety than the honour and chastity of his wife. It led to hypocrisy! He pretended to be what he was not. Can you be said to believe in God when the presence of a human being is a greater restraint upon your actions than the fact of God's all-seeing eye? It is sad when a child of God has to be warned and corrected by the man of the world. Pharaoh knew that Abraham did not belong in Egypt. The world knows better at times and rebukes us. Oh, that our lives might be consistent!
Let us watch against the tendency to slip aside from the narrow way. Let us remember Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world [Titus 2:14]. Abraham returned! He came back to the place where he first got side tracked. Are you in fellowship with the Lord today?
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Day 10
ABRAHAM AND LOT SEPARATE
Abram went up from Egypt. Abram went back to the place where he first built an alter. Abram called on the name of the Lord.
This is the essential step to take when we ourselves have erred in our life. We need to go back to the place where our straying began. Abram renewed his fellowship with God. God renews His promise to Abram in Genesis 15
You will notice that Lot always goes along. Lot a righteous man, however, living for his own pleasure and profit. The well-watered plains were very attractive. Getting along with Abram was becoming more difficult. Both were rich. The conditions of the country would not permit them to live together. There was strife! Abram takes the aggressive and says, "Let's not have any quarrelling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. (Genesis 13:8)
Then he says, "Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.'' (Genesis 13:9)
The friend of God can easily afford to let others have the first choice. The servant of God must not strive!
Stop to look at the selfishness of the worldly minded. Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, towards Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) (Genesis 13:10)
He separated himself from the man of faith with a light heart. Abram and Lot are separated! Lot's mind is set on earthly prosperity. Self-seeking believers bear no testimony for God.
After the separation Abram receives this message, The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring for ever. Abram lifted up his eyes at the invitation of the Lord. Herein lies the great distinction between the worldly Christian and the faithful one. One is moved by self-interest, the other by the word of the Lord. Abram went on leaning on the promises of God. Wherever he went he set up an alter unto the Lord.
Are you concerned about living the separated life? Are you living for the Lord?
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Day 11
ABRAHAM'S CHARACTER
Abraham stands out in the episode of the captivity of Lot. The character on one might well be revealed when others are in trouble.
Lot had taken his abode in the plains of Sodom. Now we see him as a captive. Lot is a prisoner.
We see Abraham as a man of sympathy. He might have said, "He has himself to blame, serves him right; he should not have gone to Sodom." Instead, Abraham seeks his deliverance. Those who walk in fellowship with God cannot remain indifferent to the plight of others. It has been said, "The claims of a brothers trouble are answered by the affections of a brothers heart."
Genuine faith, while it always renders us independent, never renders us indifferent; it will never wrap itself up in its fleece while a brother shivers in the cold. How indifferent we are at times! We are only where we are and what we are by the grace of God ourselves. May we make it our business to go out of our way to lend a helping hand.
We see Abraham as a man of courage. With his handful of servants he goes against four kings. I'm sure he must have been in the minority. The man of faith attempts great things. Abraham's faith worked by love; he loved his nephew Lot and dared to do this great deed.
This reminds me of that touching story where a little girl was carrying her baby brother. A passer by remarked,"Isn't he heavy?" She replied,"No, he's my brother."
Abraham brought back his nephew Lot. Do we seek to help others to return to the fellowship of believers?
We see Abraham as a man of power. He brought back all. Victory was complete. Abraham's power lay in his life of faith. Faith shares the omnipotence it dares to trust. The Lord was his portion, and he wanted to be to the honour and glory of God. He did not ascribe the victory to himself.
We are all making choices. Many make choices in this world for honour, fame, prestige, riches and pleasure; these have not brought real joy and happiness. Abraham was a man approved of God. God's blessing was upon him. Many a battle will need to be fought by the man of God who is fully separated. Thank God today for His presence! Some day soon we may hear his "well done".
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Day 12
ABRAHAM ENCOURAGED
How good is a timely word! A man finds joy in giving an apt reply-and how good is a timely word! (Proverbs 15:23)
God's words are always in season. His consolations are neither few nor small. Every now and again God encouraged Abraham.
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: ``Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.'' (Genesis 15:1)
God did not let Abraham down. Abraham was to find his present rest and peace in God.
1. This message contains a revelation of God's love. The "Do not be afraid" runs through the Bible. It is the language of love and grace. Jesus says it frequently in the gospels. Paul uses the phrase in his epistles.
2. This message contained a revelation of God's power. "I am your shield." The Omnipotent, personal God declares Himself as the protection of the man who walks by faith. It was infinitely better for Abraham to find himself hidden behind God's shield than to take refuge beneath the patronage of the King of Sodom. Many saints have found that God is a very present help in trouble. God is our refuge.
3. This message contains a revelation of God's fullness. "I am your very great reward." This promise was given after Abraham refused the unhallowed gifts of the King of Sodom. Abraham did not take that which might hinder him in his life. God had enriched him! It is still the desire and the delight of God that His people should be satisfied with Himself. The greatest reward God can give is a fuller acquaintance with Himself. These unsearchable riches are for us today in Christ.
How long have you known Jesus? Does He dwell in your heart by faith? It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Have you enjoyed all that is yours in Christ? God has given us all that He could when He gave us His Son!
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Day 13
ABRAHAM WALKING BEFORE GOD
Age may shut us out from the joys and companionships of youth, but through grace it may ripen our friendship with God.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, ``I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. (Genesis 17:1)
Faith alone can enable a man to walk before an Almighty God. This implies our having nothing whatever before our hearts save God Himself. If I am founding my expectation upon men and things, I am not walking before God. The only way in which to get above the world is to walk by faith, because faith so completely fills the scene with God that there is no room for the things of this world. If God fills up my entire range of vision, I can see nothing else. This revelation of God as our all-sufficiency, is made known to us in Jesus Christ. There is enough in Him to meet all our need.
Notice the commission. "Walk before me and be blameless." This call affected his life. He was to act as one who lived in the immediate presence of Almighty God. It has always been a real challenge to know that God sees and knows everything. Just to know that God sees me ought to put a check on my life. It should affect our character. The highest human perfection lies in a whole-hearted life before God. Of course all perfection comes from Him who alone is perfect. We have that in Jesus Christ!
Notice the submission. Abraham fell face down. He bowed his face to the dust, and God talked with Him. It is when man is in the dust that God can talk to him in grace. Abraham's posture is a beautiful expression of entire prostration in the presence of God. The best answer to God's high calling is a humble and broken spirit. God always talks to the heart of the self-abased.
Notice the transformation. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. (Genesis 17:5)
Abram, the exalted, is changed into Abraham, the fruitful. He has bowed with his whole heart to the will of God and his character is transformed. Complete surrender brings a complete change of nature. By yielding to the Holy Spirit we are transformed.
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Day 14
ABRAHAM RECEIVING AND SERVING
Many Old Testament incidents yield some New Testament truths. An obedient soul enjoys the communion of the Lord.
Obedience refreshes the Lord, as being the fruit of His own grace in our hearts. The life of Abraham bears out some practical lessons. The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. (Genesis 18:1,2)
1. There is a gracious visit. The Lord appeared. Three men stood nearby. Jehovah manifests Himself in the form of three. Does this suggest the Trinity of God? The Trinity is interested and exercised in seeking to bless and save man. The Trinity is active in the salvation of man. God's gracious visit was visible to Abraham.
2. There is a hearty reception. Abraham hurried to meet them and bowed low to the ground. There is a humble spirit. He is ready to extend some hospitality. This led to fellowship with His Lord. The soul that has discovered the Lord yearns to abide in His presence. In His presence is fullness of joy. Is this fellowship still yours today?
3. There is the readiness to serve. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way-now that you have come to your servant.'' ``Very well,'' they answered, ``do as you say.'' (Genesis 18) Love lends swiftness to the willing feet.
The devotion of Abraham was rewarded with a revelation of the secret purpose of God. The promise of a son was made. The way into the deeper things of God often lies through self-sacrifice and active service.
Open your heart to God, and His heart will be open to you! Would you also ponder the words,"Is anything too hard for the Lord? [v14a]
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Day 15
THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM
The highest character of trial is that which comes directly from the hand of God. Abraham is to have his heart put to the most severe test. God is testing the reality of his faith. Then God said, ``Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.'' (Genesis 22:2)
This was coming very close to Abraham's heart. It was passing him through a searching crucible indeed. God requires truth in the inward parts. There may be much truth on the lips and in the intellect, but God looks for it in the heart. It is no ordinary proof that will satisfy God, as to the love of our hearts. Isaac must be offered as a burnt offering. This surely, was putting faith to the test. Faith is precious to God! [1Peter 1:7]
God Himself was the living and abiding support of his heart, and therefore he was prepared to give up all for Him. Faith never stops at circumstances, or ponders results; it only looks at God. The moment we confer with flesh and blood, our testimony and service are marred; for flesh and blood can never obey. We must rise early and carry out through grace the Divine command. Thus we are blessed and God is glorified. Having God's own word as the basis of our acting, will ever impart strength and stability to our acting.
Abraham's devotedness was fully proved and fully accepted. ``Do not lay a hand on the boy,'' he said. ``Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.'' (Genesis 22:12)
Faith is always proved by action, and the fear of God by the fruits which flow from it.
Are you placing your faith in God? Are you open to the blessed reality of a life of Faith?
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Day 16
THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS!
Who despises the day of small things? [Zechariah 4:10]
The naturalist doesn't; he throws in his grain and watches it grow and waits for the ripening.
The philosopher doesn't; he knows that the minor must precede larger and more important events.
The mother doesn't; the more helpless the baby the more care she displays; she sees in the infant a great potential. God doesn't; He uses small things!
1. Moses had a staff! As a shepherd for Jethro, his father-in-law; he always carried it with him. [Exodus 4:2-3] The signs before Pharaoh, raising the staff at the Red Sea and smiting the rock to bring out water were all performed by the hands of Moses and Aaron. God used this staff as His servants obeyed and honoured Him.
2. Gideon had 300 men! They had pitchers, torches and trumpets. God won a great victory for Israel with a hand full of men compared to the Midianites.[Judges 6-7]
3. Samson had a jaw bone! He killed a thousand Philistines with the jaw bone of a donkey and then threw it away. We would have framed it! [Judges 15:15-17]
4. David had a sling! Just a piece of leather with a pocket for a stone. David, just a stripling, a lad, a shepherd boy with the sling and his faith in God, in whose name he won a great battle.
5. Mary had some ointment! With a heart of love and gratitude she entered into the house where Jesus was and anointed Him. She broke the alabaster box and the odour filled the house. [Mark 14:3-9]
6. Dorcus had a needle! Dorcus was busy making garments and coats; full of good works and giving to the Lord's work. God honoured her in raising her from the dead. [Acts 9:36-42]
God is in essence saying,"Use what you have". What is in your hand? Put it to work for God! God will honor every little thing done for Him! "He that is faithful in that which is least is also faithful in that which is much." [Luke 19:17]
Has God given you a talent-use it! The day of small things demands from all of us more watchfulness and prayer. Moody once said,"Give your life to God, He can do more with it than you can."
Read:
Day 17
REALITY!
The experience of salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit must be a real experience. The things of God are real! The Word of God is real. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Is my life real? I borrow some of the words of 1 Samuel 13:3. "Jonathan smote the garrison but Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land." Saul blew the trumpet as if he was the real man who had fought the battle. Saul appears rather hypocritical here, taking the credit for what he did not do. Am I smiting the Philistines, or am I blowing the trumpet? Is my life real?
Paul's life was real! Therefore I urge you to imitate me. (1 Corinthians 4:16)
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. (Philippians 3:17)
The Christian life is real! The Christian life is practical! A Christian is a believer in work clothes! Does our walk and our talk match? I need to be real in my talk. Am I a man of my word? Can I be trusted? Am I truthful?
What about our thought life as believers? Is there reality in our thinking? Our minds are so polluted today.
Proverbs 23:7 says," For as he thinks in his heart, so [is] he." If you had your thought life portrayed on a screen; what would it be like? The Bible says,"The Lord knows the thoughts of men."[Psalm 94:11]
What is the exhortation? Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Our prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms 139:23-24)
Being real in our work is also necessary. People are not looking for diplomas and certificates, they want to see reality.
God is faithful! Jesus Christ is real! He's real to me, He's real to me; my precious Lord is real to me, My soul demands reality. My precious Lord is real to me.
Read:
Day 18
JONAH - POEM
Jonah built a little booth
A shelter from the heat.
A gourd vine grew, protection from
The wind that on him beat.
Jonah rejoiced, exceeding glad
For this convenient gourd-
Espec'lly since this comfort was
Provided by the Lord!
I thank Thee Lord, Thou hast been good
To my dear wife and me;
We're glad we're in a peaceful land
Of great prosperity.
It makes us feel so good---
This little bungalow--
The kitchenette, the living room,
The rug, so soft you know.
We love our children, every one
We keep them home for God.
The homeland needs them just as much
As mission fields abroad.
And fundamentalists are we,
My children, wife and I --
So thankful that we're saved by grace,
Secure until we die!
What didst Thou say? Oh--Nineveh?
Well, that’s another thing.
Right now we want to praise our God
We're sheltered neath His wing!
Thus fundamental Jonah's to
The Lord their praises tell.
They'll sing,"We're saved and satisfied."
Till Nineveh goes to hell!
Day 19
JONAH, THE RUN AWAY PROPHET
The book of Jonah stands among the minor prophets as a lesson of the cost of disobedience. Jonah knew the claims of God on his life. He had a mission in the plan and purpose of God. He knew the call of God! He knew the message that he was to bring to Nineveh.
However, Jonah runs away from his task. He bought a ticket for a boat ride to end the call and the commission. He thought to get away from the presence of God by changing his geographical location. He was going to get out of his circumstance , when the Lord created another circumstance to hem him in. God sends a violent storm!
Fear grips the crew! Jonah is asleep! The captain comes to rebuke him. Jonah had to admit he was running away from God. This confession sets them all in a state of fear. When in trouble people will cry to God.
The word from Jonah was to throw him into the sea, and all would be calm. At first they did not want to do this; they did not want to be guilty of taking a man's life.
The storm did not stop until they threw Jonah overboard. The calm of the storm put the fear of the Lord in the hearts of the sailors.
Have we sensed the call of God upon our lives? Have we shared our faith in the work place? Have we avoided an opportunity to speak for Jesus Christ? Have we found ourselves running away from God? Have we thought that different locations would change our circumstances to witness?
Have we fallen asleep on the commission of Jesus Christ ? Have you made promises to the Lord and kept them?
Have you counted the cost of disobedience?
The book of Jonah affords a challenge!
Read:
Day 20
JONAH IN THE BELLY OF A HUGE FISH
Two articles appeared in publications stating that a brown and white shark, weighing about five tons, over twenty five feet in length, was brought to shore by fisherman in Israel. The mouth of the shark was over three feet wide. No such fish has ever been seen in that area. Critics of the account of Jonah will have to admit that there is a fish large enough to swallow a man.
Japanese newspapers reported one fall that the body of a boy thirteen years of age , still clad in a shirt and white linen pants, was found in a two thousand pound shark caught near Nagasaki. This disposes the argument made that there is no fish with a throat large enough to swallow a person.
"The Lord provided a great fish!"
What did Jesus say? For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
For Jonah, the fish meant deliverance! God had created circumstances that made his escape impossible! Then Jonah prayed from inside the fish. He did what most of us would do. When afflictions come, men cry to God. When in danger, men cry to God. God is indeed a very present help in time of trouble. [Psalms 46:1]
Jonah thought he could disobey God and get away with it. He went down to Joppa, down into a ship, down into the sea, and down into a fish's belly. The way of the backslider is down, down, down, down. The way back is the hard and difficult way. The fish became sick of this backslidden preacher and vomited him up. Even a fish does not appreciate a believer out of fellowship. What humiliation for a prophet! Jonah prayed, and deliverance came. When the backslider begins to pray he is on his way back. Jonah was a backslider out of the will of God.
Is there a lesson? God has a plan for our lives. We can know God's will for our lives. God's Word is His will! We can pray, talk to God! His Holy Spirit will guide us! We need to walk in the path of obedience.
Read:
Day 21
JONAH GOES TO NINEVEH
The call and the commission are still the same. God does not give up! In His gracious way and in His tender mercy, He does His best to make us line up with His will for our lives. God wants our lives to be fruitful. God is patient! God wants us to be channels of blessing.
Jonah had another chance. The word of the Lord came to him a second time. The commission is the same, the place is the same and the message is the same. There is no blessing apart from the will of God. Are we willing to do His will? From the front fly leaf of one of my Bibles are these words: Dear Lord, anything, anytime, anywhere!
Jonah is on his way! He had come to the point of obedience, and obedience stirs to action. Jonah is very sure that this is what God wanted him to do. God never sends a man out alone! God was with him and also gave him the message. The messenger and the message go together.[3:4] Jonah is walking through the city streets crying out for all to hear. Judgement was to come! When God has a man set aside for a great task, He begins to work. God was speaking to the people of Nineveh. The wickedness of Nineveh was great! Judgement was to come!
God is merciful! Mercy means that God does not give us what we deserve. Grace means that God gives us what we do not deserve. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:23)
Jonah's message struck home [v5]. The people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, put on sackcloth from the greatest of them to the least of them. There were no exceptions in Nineveh, all were guilty and all needed to repent. When God's word strikes home we come to see our sinfulness. What we need in our day is repentance, genuine repentance. Nineveh gave up their evil ways and their violence.
When did you last cry to God for mercy? Our nation today needs revival and repentance.
Would you read: 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 33:12; Proverbs 4:34 and 2 Peter 3:9?
Repent and be converted, be saved from all your sin!
Read:
Day 22
ATONEMENT
The importance of any item of news can be gauged by the amount of space given to it in the newspaper. The same rule may apply to the Bible. Take the subject of death; as we read the Bible, we find the smallest possible space given to notices of the death of Bible characters.
That impression changes as we come to the New Testament. We find a great deal of space, whole chapters devoted to the death of Christ. Matthew devotes a chapter of 66 verses; Mark has 47 verses; Luke has 56 verses and John has 42 verses. How is this? The implication is that the death of Christ was different from all others deaths.
The fact is that our Lord's supreme work for the salvation of men was accomplished in His death. We come to live! He came to die! Death was the means of accomplishing the work He came to do.
The great evangelist D.L.Moody was right when he remarked,"You take the great doctrine of substitution and atonement out of the preaching of Paul, Peter, John, James, Philip and all other holy men, and you take out all that they preached. There does not seem any ray of hope for men that ignore the blessed subject of the atonement." On one occasion, when Tennyson the poet was on holiday in a country place, he asked an old Methodist lady, if there was any news. She replied."Why, there is only one piece of news that I know and that is,'Christ died for all'. Tennyson responded,"That is old news, and good news and new news." He was right!
The day of atonement was Israel's great day. It was the most solemn day in all the year. It was a day of needful humiliation, and day of special sacrifice. The High Priest would enter into the Holiest and sprinkle blood upon and before the mercy seat; signifying that once more God had covered their sins for one more year. How welcome the provision of the Levitical offerings.
The work of Christ was more thorough! Christ's work does not pass over or overlook sin, but takes it away. Christ's death puts away sin completely! Doing your best is not enough! Satan's doctrine is doing. God's work is done! It is ours to accept by faith. Love was and is behind the atonement! Jesus is the atonement! Christ died for our us, He is our substitute, the only sacrifice that God could accept for the atonement of sin. [Acts 4:12]
Read:
Day 23
PAUL AS A WITNESS FOR CHRIST
Paul had a remarkable conversion! [Acts 9] He spoke of it where ever he went. Paul took a definite stand! The story of his conversion was his apologetic for Christianity. It affected kings and governors. Paul's defense reveals the characteristics of a true Christian.
1. Paul was a changed man! He was known by the Jews. They knew who he was. They knew how he lived. They knew what he did. They knew what he believed. Paul was religious. Paul persecuted the Church. One day he met the Master face to face. The change was radical and complete.
2. Paul was an empowered man! God had a purpose in saving this man. This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. (Acts 9:15) He had a definite call and he was not disobedient. I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. (Acts 26:19) Someone has said, "He who offers God second place, offers Him no place." I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen- (Acts 26:22)
3. Paul was a devoted man! He was devoted to Christ. He preached Christ! He spoke about the death and resurrection of Christ. He upheld the cross of Christ. [Galatians 2:20]
4. Paul was a misunderstood man! To those who are in a perishing condition, the preaching of the cross is foolishness. [1Corinthians 2:14]
5. Paul was a faithful man! He was fearless and faithful in the face of kings and governors. Some were "almost" persuaded to believe in Jesus. [Acts 26:28]
Paul's desire was that all who heard him should become like him, except for his claims. The peace of God was in his heart! The unsearchable riches of Christ were his.
Have you been converted? Has there been a definite change in your life?
Read:
Day 24
LIFE INSURANCE - Psalm 91
The true minister of God is a salesman representing the greatest firm in history. It is the Life Insurance Company of Heaven. Its officers are Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Their main office is in heaven and there are countless branch offices all over the world. This Company offers an absolute life insurance policy free of charge. It guarantees eternal life to every one who will accept it. It is retroactive, taking care of all the past; it is non-cancellable and unalterable and contains no conditional or confusing fine print.
The policy is signed by God the Father, written with the blood of Jesus Christ and sealed by the witness of the Holy Spirit. For there are three that testify [in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. (1 John 5:7)
There are no premiums, the only requirement being your willingness to receive it.
I make no reflection on any life insurance policy or salesman. [Life insurance may be a good thing.] Listen to this as a dear old saint relates her experience with an insurance salesman. After the salesman had explained his policy to her, she replied,"But Mister, I have all that and more in an insurance policy I already possess and it doesn't cost all that money you are asking for yours." The salesman, moved to curiosity requested to see her policy. She produced her Bible and turned to Psalm 91.
She said "There it is every imaginable insurance in the world. In verse one, I have social security, 'abiding under the shadow of the Almighty', in verse two I have insurance against damage in war,' He is my refuge and my fortress', in verse three, I have health insurance, 'neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, in verse twelve I have collision insurance, 'lest thou dash thy foot against a stone', in verse fifteen, I have fire insurance, 'I will deliver him.' and in verse sixteen, I have life insurance, 'with long life I will satisfy him'.
The life insurance salesman made no further attempt to sell his policy.
We are talking about everlasting life! God desires that we all have the assurance of everlasting life. Take inventory! Man's existence is compared to grass that is soon cut down, as a flower that fades and as a vapour that appears for a little moment and vanishes away. We must choose now! We must prepare now!
An unknown author writes: "When as a child, I laughed and wept...time crept; When as a youth, I dreamed and talked...time walked; When I became a full grown man...time ran; When older still I daily grew...time flew."
May God give us wisdom to make each moment count for Him. Live each short hour with God and the long years will take care of themselves.
Read:
Day 25
PRACTICAL FAITH [FAITH & WORKS]
Paul was always glad and thankful to hear of the faith and the love of believers everywhere he went.[Ephesians 1:15]
Faith and love need to be practical. Faith and works are inseparably connected. A faith which does not work is useless, and work without faith is equally dead. There are three kinds of works in the bible: Wicked works, Dead works and Good works.[James 2:17]
1. Wicked works are works of darkness. They refer to the grosser overt sins of the irreligious, also called the works of the flesh. They are enumerated by Paul in Gal.5:19, such things as adultery, idolatry, hatred, strife, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness and so on.
2. Dead works are religious works. They refer to man's effort to gain salvation through ritual, sacrifice, behaviour, morality, education and piousness. The notion that joining a church, being baptized, praying and reading the bible, living a moral life will get them to heaven, is dead works. The people of Paul's day who kept the letter of the law and rejected Christ were guilty of dead works.
3. Good works are the natural results of our salvation. Good works are proof of our faith before men. Faith is the root, works are the fruit! God sees the root but men can only see the fruit. James says."By works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Paul says,"A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." [Romans 3:28] This seems like a flat contradiction. The contradiction is not real. Paul wrote about justification of a sinner in the sight of God. This is faith! James is dealing with the question,' How can the saved sinner be justified in the sight of men?" This is by works! Men will not know what happened until they see the evidence in our lives.[James 2:18]
Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) The greatest sermons ever preached are godly lives. The most eloquent sermons are in homes and offices and shops and factories by those who show themselves in all things a pattern of good works adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour.[Titus 2:10]
Christianity is not a way of talking but a way of walking!
Read: Eph.1:15-23
Day 26
DEAD AND MADE ALIVE
Paul shares a great reminder! There was a past condition! We were dead! We lived in the ways of the world. We were spiritually dead. Without Christ there is no life. Without Christ there is no hope. We drifted along on the stream of this world's ideas of living. It is not hard to drift along in the world. It is the path of least resistance.
Remember who you were? Remember how you obeyed the forces of evil; obeying its unseen ruler. We all lived like that! Read Romans 1 and see how corrupt human nature is.
There is a present position! But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.
God has lifted us right out of the old life. Enjoy David's testimony. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. (Psalms 40)
God made us alive with Christ! God has seated us with Him in the heavenly realms. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2)
Does the past condition describe your life? Are you living in sin and only for yourself? Let me encourage you to come to Christ in simple faith. Trust Him for your salvation! Your present position will then by in Christ. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Be alive in Christ! Be ready for heaven! Make your reservations today!
Read:
Day 27
WHO YOU WERE WHAT YOU ARE NOW
Again, Paul shares a good reminder. Repetition is the mother of all wisdom!
We were Gentiles by birth. Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12)
Indeed a helpless condition. Across the pages of your life would be written-hopeless and helpless. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
Christ has made a unity of the conflicting elements of Jew and Gentile. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, (Ephesians 2:14)
Christ is our living peace. In Christ there is love and unity. God has drawn us into the circle of His love and purpose. The conflict is over!
The blood of Christ reaches every single member, no matter how far apart they may be. To every believer this is the only source of life. We are all one in Christ on the ground of His shed blood. The war is over and Christ is the Victor!
Through Christ we have access to the Father.[Ephesians 2:18] We can approach the throne of grace. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) Fellowship has been restored!
Through Christ we are fellow-citizens! Born into God's family through faith in Him. Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:20) I still have to show my citizenship papers at the border when I cross over from Canada to the United States. I have ,however, made reservations for heaven. Heaven is my home!
Remember the chorus,
'One door and only one, and yet its sides are two, inside and out side, on which side are you? I'm on the inside, on which side are you?'
Choose to follow Jesus Christ and enjoy the benefits and the blessings of being a fellow-citizen bound for heaven.
Read:
Day 28
SHEEP TALK - PSALM 23
If sheep could talk, and a wise and a foolish sheep were speaking together, I fancy the foolish one would talk after this fashion. "I know where the crystal brook babbles, and I shall never want for drink. I know where the great oak spreads its leafy branches, and I shall not want for shade. I know where the green pastures of tender grass grow, and I shall never want for food. I know where the door of the fold stands wide open, and I shall never want for refuge".
Then I hear the wise sheep answering: " O foolish sheep! I have a better reason than yours for not wanting. I have the best Shepherd in the world, therefore, I shall not want. If the brook dries up He will find another for me. If the tree is cut down by the woodsman's axe, He will lead me to the shadow of a great rock. If the pastures dry up under the summer's sun, He knows how to find others. And when the wolf comes, He will lay down his life, if need be, for his sheep. O foolish sheep! I shall never want; not because I trust in things that may change, or men that prove false, but in the Shepherd who does not change, nor does He fail."
Men and women argue after this fashion. They say," I am keen of brain and skillful of hand, therefore I shall not want. The balance in my bank account is a comfortable one, therefore I shall not want. I have influential friends at court, therefore I shall not want. I am strong in body and able to make a good living, therefore I shall not want."
But the bank may fail, the skillful hands lose their cunning, friends may prove false, health may end, and wealth may disappear. When all these are gone, where will we be? Then it is that we need this supreme truth--it is not the favourableness of our circumstances, but the fact of the Lord's Shepherdship which is the perpetual pledge that we shall not want! James H. McConkey
From: Beside Still Waters-p19
Read:
Day 29
SALVATION IS NOT
Salvation is not reformation, nor imitation, nor education, nor confirmation, or is it imagination. But it is: Regeneration, that is a new creation, by the Spirit's operation, through blood redemption, at cost beyond conception, and found in God's revelation which is for every nation.
Paul wrote :"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Regeneration, or the new birth is the impartation of a new life, not the old fixed up. It is a spiritual quickening! Made alive by the Holy Spirit. A supernatural act of God whereby He imparts a new life, a new nature, a divine nature.
The sinful condition of man demands it, the holiness of God demands it and the need is universal. Jesus said,``I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'' (John 3:3)
It is a divine work of God, the Holy Spirit being the divine agent in the work of regeneration. He is faithful! He takes the things of God's word which is instrumental in regeneration and applies it to our hearts.
We must accept the message of the gospel and apply it to our lives. The condition is so simple. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. (John 6:47)
Whosoever will may come! ``Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'' (Romans 10:13)
No one is forced into the kingdom of God. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- (John 1:12)
It is He who is the wisdom of God that said,"You must be born again." Christ said it and Christ means it!
This is marked by a changed life. A man who used to hitch his horse in front of the saloon each day, was seen hitching his horse in front of the church one Sunday morning. The saloon keeper called out ,"Say, why is your horse hitched in front of the church this morning?" The man turned around and said, "Last night I was converted, and I've changed hitching posts."
Read:
Day 30
THE POWER OF TOUCH
[Sermon outline]
Think of the touch of an artist, surgeon, musician, gardener, mother, carpenter, seamstress.
The Hands of Jesus touched many lives!
1. The Corrective Touch. Luke 22:51
Jesus corrected something Peter had done.
All of us need Jesus to touch our ears.
We need to hear with the inner ear of our hearts.
2. The Quieting Touch. Matthew 8:15.
Peter's mother-in-law is healed of a fever.
She was set free to serve.
We need to serve with our hands.
3. The Illuminating Touch. Matthew 9:29-30.
Two blind men receive their sight.
Blindness is symbolic of the soul in darkness.
We need Jesus to touch our eyes.
Ephesians 1:18
4. The Restoring Touch. Mark 7:33.
A deaf and dumb man is free to hear and speak. The tongue is to be used for praise not for profanity. We need Jesus to touch our tongue, confessing His name.
5. The Blessed Touch. Mark 10:13.
Children are brought to be blessed.
Parents brought them, disciples barred them, Jesus blessed them. Our children and grandchildren need Jesus!
6. The Healing Touch. Luke 5:13
A man covered with leprosy comes begging. Leprosy is a type of sin.
We need spiritual healing, the forgiveness of sin.
7. The Life-Giving Touch. Luke 7:14.
A widow's son is being carried to his burial.
We were dead in our sins Ephesians 2:1.
We are born in sin, blind in sin and bound by sin.
We need the life-giving touch of Jesus!
Remember the song? "He Touched Me."
Remember the poem? "The Old Violin."