Sunday, August 21, 2005

Devotional: Follow Christ Jesus

What It Means To Follow Christ
Psalm 37

Charles Spurgeon wrote: "Does not the Word . . . come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yes, is it not an asbestos armor, against which the heat has no power. Let the affliction come. God has chosen me. Poverty may stride in at my door; but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness may intrude; but I have a balsam ready. God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that He has chosen me.

"Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. 'Fear not, for I am with thee,' is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the furnace of affliction.'"

Does your situation include seeking God's direction? Or perhaps it is a position of disappointment and heaviness. God has chosen you as His beloved. He will not leave you without hope. Even if it feels as though you are trapped in the furnace of affliction, God remains beside you.

The fires of His furnace are only used to refine and prepare those He intends to use greatly. So rejoice in times of difficulty. God is preparing you for great blessing. Take courage; He is teaching you to trust Him even when the way before you appears blocked.

In Touch Ministries

Be at peace and let your sorrow turn to joy, knowing this great Truth. The Bible is our gift from God. His Word will not return to Him void.

Gary
Agape Touch

Saturday, August 20, 2005

God Has No Favorites

This is truth and it is reasonable. Have you ever wondered how God can put up with others?

Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things. We know that God is right to judge everyone who behaves in this way. Do you really think God won't punish you, when you behave exactly like the people you accuse? You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him? But you are stubborn and refuse to turn to God. So you are making things even worse for yourselves on that day when he will show how angry he is and will judge the world with fairness. God will reward each of us for what we have done. He will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and life that lasts forever. But he will show how angry and furious he can be with every selfish person who rejects the truth and wants to do evil. All who are wicked will be punished with trouble and suffering. It doesn't matter if they are Jews or Gentiles. But all who do right will be rewarded with glory, honor, and peace, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
God doesn't have any favorites!
(Romans 2:1-11)

Bible study has profound effects on the human heart.