“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”    Isaiah 49:15-16

Thank You, Father, for this needed Word. Regardless of feelings of being forsaken, of times when life just seems long, and when You seem distant, You have not forgotten.

My soul’s enemy stresses my insignificance… You remind me that You remember.

The world cynically snears, and implies in a thousand ways that worth is wrapped up in power and paper… You know eternally better, that to be remembered by You is of infinitely more value than anything creaturely.

Praise to Your holy Name, my gracious Father! Who can truly express adequate gratitude for being remembered kindly by the omnipotent Creator of the universe? And possible only through the salvation given by Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, praise to His Name!

Amen.

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John 11:43—46

“Lazarus, Come out!” It was a command from the sovereign Son of God, and compliance was instantaneous. There in the inky blackness of the sealed tomb, Lazarus’ pulse was restored, his awareness returned, and suddenly light invaded his space as trembling hands loosened his wrappings! As he emerged alive from that place of death, some rejoiced. Some rejected. But no one remained the same. The Lord of life did not leave that option open, and He still doesn’t today.

He either is who He said He is, or He isn’t. His claim to being the one and only avenue of access to the heavenly Father (John 14:6) is either true, or it isn’t. He leaves no room for a third choice, for to not decide is a decision in itself: it is a thinly-disguised rejection, which bears the same consequences as outright denial.

Does it matter? Is it all that important? Many say “no” today. God says, “he who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (I John 5:12).

Will we take Him seriously?

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Each day read all of Psalm 1.

1.     What three actions are we told NOT to do if want to be blessed?  (Ps 1:1)

2.    A. Read Ephesians 2:1-3. When we walk according to this world, who are we seeking to please?

B. According to Isaiah 53:6 when we choose not to follow God’s way, whose way are we choosing?

    3.  A. Read Romans 8:5-8.  When we choose to live according to our own sinful nature, what do we have our minds set on fulfilling?

        B. What attitude does the sinful mind have toward God?  (Romans 8:7)

        C. How does God feel about this sinful nature?  (Romans 8:8)

    4.  A. Read Eph 2:4-5.  According to these verses what will God do for us?  Why will He do this?  Add your name as you read these verses aloud.

        B. Read Ephesians 2:8-9.  How does He accomplish this?

    5.  A. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-18.  When we are in Christ what type of creation are we?  What happens to our old nature?

        B. What happens to our relationship with God?

    6.  Personal:  Read John 3:16.  Is your faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, reconcile you to God, and give you a new nature and eternal life?  If so, write or pray a brief thank you prayer to God.  If you have further questions, you can ask them here, talk to your pastor, or visit www.STIL-Chatting.com .

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When conversations turn to the topic of non-Christians, this phrase often rolls off the tongues of Christians: hate the sin, love the sinner. Where did this phrase originate? It is certainly not a quote from the bible.

 

Psalm 5:5 , “The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;

You hate all who do iniquity.”

 

 

 

Psalm 139:22, “I hate them with a perfect hate.”

 

 

 

Luke 6:45, are the words of our Lord, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

 

 

 

We sin because we are sinners. It is our fallen nature. Sins cannot exist without the sinner. God hates killing, lying, stealing, sinning, and the list goes on, but all these things point to the sinner. Lying cannot exist without the one who is lying.

 

 

 

God does not have a pleasure or affection for the rebellious. The sinner hates God, is ungrateful, disobeys God, and would kill God if he could. Sinners are slaves to sin, John 8:34; also servants of the devil, Ephesians 2:2.

 

 

 

But, God is good! Even to the sinner with His benevolent common grace! He sustains the lives of both Christians and non-Christians. He is benevolent in His love for the sinful, giving us time alive on earth, to experience his benevolence; also giving us time to repent.

 

 

 

Romans 2:4, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness

and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the

kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

 

 

If a person dies unrepentant, God removes this benevolent love, and pours out the full wrath of his perfect hate.

 

 

 

What should a Christian’s reaction be to the unsaved? We are told to love and pray for our enemies.

 

 

 

Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

 

 

 

Hat tip: Mahatma Ghandi for the quote.

 

 

 

 

If you are not a Christian reading this, today is the day for salvation! Repent from your disobedience, and believe that Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for your sins, rose again on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Ask God to help you believe, cry out in repentance to Him.

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written by Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Holy Spirit is like our General in this war, and the sharper the soldier, with readied weapons, the more powerfully He will be able to use us, with greater damage to the Enemy of our soul.

Of the weapons He has provided for doing battle, the sword of the Word and prayer are the ones for offense. The rest of the armor parts are for protection, for defense, but the Scriptures are to be wielded in attack, often through prayer.

Among the various ways and means that the spiritual soldier can gain and maintain a state of readiness, sword continually sharpened, memorization of the Word is the best.

Psalm 119:11 provides the most basic, foundational motive for memorizing the Scriptures — “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” As Charles Spurgeon noted astutely, it is the best thing in the best place for the best purpose.

As a seasoned Seminary professor I admired once said, “It is amazing the affinity the Holy Spirit has for a trained mind.” In context he was encouraging Seminary training, but there is needed application related to Scripture memory, as well.

The more of the Bible that is lovingly stored away by the Christian soldier, the greater the ammunition available to the blessed Spirit for warfare.

And He is so faithful to bring to one’s remembrance a pertinent verse, or even part of one, at the exact time it is needed most. It would be grievous to know how many times we have succumbed to temptations, or acted un-biblically, or made foolish decisions simply because we didn’t know the Word.

Like Elisha’s servant in II Kings 6:17, may the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see the ongoing warfare that is happening in the spiritual realms even at this moment. Would that He would impress upon us the urgency of having un-rusted swords, by hiding His Word in our hearts for use at any given moment!

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