Download Report

Monday 6 April 2015
Deut. 32:48-52
Disobedience reverses God’s blessing
The Israelites had no water when they arrived at the desert of Zin on
their journey to the Promised Land (Num. 20:1-2). When the people
protested, God commanded Moses to speak to the rock and bring out
water for them (Num.20:7-8). Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses
struck the rock twice and water gushed out for the people and their
livestock to drink (Num.20:9-11). By so doing Moses disobeyed the Lord
and brought contempt on Him (Num.20:12-13). The Lord was displeased
with Moses and told him that He will not allow him to enter the
Promised Land (Num. 20:12-13). The Lord carried out His decision and
stopped Moses from entering the land (Deut.32:48-52; Num.20:12-13).
He allowed him to see the Land from a distance, but never to enter it
(Deut.32:52; Deut.34:4). Moses’ act of disobedience deprived him of
entering the land for which he labored so much (Deut.48:52; Deut.34:4;
Num.20:1-13). So we find here again that obedience to God is the key to
His blessings (Lev.26:3-13; Deut.28:1-14). Disobedience to Him deprives
us of those blessings and reverses them (Lev.26:14-39; Deut.28:15-68; 1
Sam.15:21-23). In fact, God prefers obeying Him to anything else (see 1
Sam. 15:21-23). And nothing displeases Him more than when we
disobey Him (cf. Gen. 3:14-19; 1 Sam. 15:23). We must live in full
obedience to Him in order to live under His sovereign will and blessings
(Lev. 26:3-13; Deut. 28:1-14).
Prayer: 1. Father, please enable me to obey you always in everything.
2. Father, please take away whatever prevents me from obeying
you always in everything.
Tuesday 7 April 2015
2 Thess.1:6
God will avenge His suffering children
Paul states that God will payback those who persecute and afflict the
Thessalonian believers (2 Thess. 1:6).His justice demands that He does
this(2 Thess.1:6). This is true not only for the Thessalonian believers, but
for all believers. God will certainly payback all those who persecute and
afflict His children (2 Thess.1:6). Vengeance is His (Rom. 12:19).It is not
the duty of believers to avenge their persecutors and
tormentors(Rom.12:17-21). To avenge one’s persecutors and tormentors
is not the example that Jesus left (1 Pet.2:21-23). Like Jesus, believers
who are persecuted and afflicted must commit themselves and their
cases to God who judges justly(1 Pet.2:23). His pay back against those
who persecute and afflict His children is most certain.
PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to endure all suffering.
2. Father, please avenge all my persecutors and tormentors.
Wednesday 8 April 2015
Jos.1:3
The Lord makes good His promise
When Joshua took over from Moses, the responsibility fell to him to lead
the Israelites to inherit the Promised land( see Jos.1:6).If Joshua needed
anything, it was to succeed in this divine assignment. Here the Lord
promised Joshua exactly what he needed, to give him every place where
he set his foot(Jos.1:3).The Lord fulfilled this promise as it was under
Joshua’s leadership that the Israelites got to the Promised land,
conquered the inhabitants and shared the inheritance (see Jos.21:43-45).
Thus the Lord made good His promise. As God did for Joshua, He is
willing and able to do for us as well. Nothing is impossible with Him
(Lk. 1:37). He has promised to supply all our needs through Christ (Phil.
4:19; Rom. 8:32). And none of His promises has ever failed (see Jos.21:45;
2Cor. 1:20). God’s promises are as dependable as He Himself. It is His
responsibility to fulfill His promises (Jos.21:45; 2 Cor. 1:20). Ours is to
obey Him and remain faithful to Him, like Joshua (Jos.24;14-15; cf. 1
Chron.22:13; 2 Cor.26:5). As for His promises to us, none will ever fail to
come to pass (Jos.21:45; 2 Cor. 1:20).
Prayer: 1. Father, please make good all your promises in my life.
2. Father, please enable me to trust you alone for all things.
3. Father, please take away whatever prevents me from trusting
you alone for all things.
Thursday 9 April 2015
Joel 1:13-15
Everyone needs to repent
Joel’s call for repentance extended to the priests who ministered before
the Lord (Joel 1:13), the Elders, and all who lived in the land (Joel 1:14).
As we can learn from this passage, no one was exempted from the call to
repent (Joel 1:13-15). This is true today as it was true at Joel’s time. The
call to repent and turn to the Lord applies to every human being
(Acts2:38-9; Acts3:19-20). Since all have sinned and fall short of God’s
glory (Rom.3:23), all are required to repent (Matt.4:17; Lk.13:1-5).
Repentance is the path to salvation for all human beings (cf. Matt.4:17;
Lk.13:1-5). Every human being finds Christ through this path (see Acts
2:38-39; Acts3:19-20). Not even Pastors are exempted from the call to
repent. God does not exempt any one from the call to repent.
PRAYER: 1. Father, please give me a broken and contrite heart.
2. Father, please take away whatever hinders me from turning
away from all my sins.
Friday 10 April 2015
Jos.1:5
God gives total and life-long victory or security
One of the promises God made to Joshua after He commissioned him to
replace Moses was to give him victory or security (Jos.1:5). This victory
or security was total, life-long and guaranteed by God’s unfailing
presence(Jos.1:5). This promise was fulfilled for Joshua to the letter
(Jos.21:44). According to the Scripture, this promise belongs not only to
Joshua, but to all who obey God (see Deut.7:12-26; Deut.28:1-14). As was
the case for Joshua, God’s victory or security for all His children is total
and life-long (cf.Matt.28:20; Matt.10:28-31). There is no moment when
He is not protecting His obedient Children (see Matt.28:20). Human
security may fail, and it often does, but God’s own security never ever
fails (see Ps.127:1-2). In God we do have a most credible, most reliable,
most adequate, and never-failing security (see Ps.127:1-2). There is no
need whatever to go to any other for victory or security than to Him
alone.
PRAYER: 1. Father, please give me total and life-long victory or security
as you gave Joshua.
2. Father, please enable me to trust you alone for my victory
and security.
Saturday11 April 2015
Ps.12:6
The nature of God’s word
This passage states one of the attributes of Scripture. According to it, the
words of the Lord are flawless (Ps.12:6). Its flawlessness is likened to
silver refined or purified seven times in a furnace of clay (Ps.12:6). The
Scriptures is emphatic and consistent in asserting its flawlessness (see 2
Sam.22:31; Ps.18:30; Prov.30:5). This passage confirms the inerrancy and
trustworthiness of Scripture. If the Scripture is flawless, it means it is
dependable and potent (Heb.4:12). With this passage, we find that the
entire Scripture is most worthy of our trust. The word of God will never
fail (Matt.24:35; cf.2 Cor.1:20). Anyone who puts his trust in it will never
be disappointed (cf.Rom.10:11).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to trust all of your word.
2. Father, please overcome whatever hinders me from trusting
all of your word.
Sunday 12 April 2015
Jos.1:5
The Lord is always present with His children
Another promise that God made to Joshua after he took over from
Moses was to be with him (Jos.1:5). He promised to be with him always
(Jos.1:5). This was enough for all of Joshua’s needs. For Joshua to have
the Lord always with him was to have everything. Jesus made exactly
the same promise to His followers (Matt.28:20). The promise is ours if
we receive and believe in Him (Jn.1:12-13). As believers, we need not
fear or worry since the Lord is always with us (see Ps.23:4; Ps.27:1; Acts
18:9-11). In fact, it is more than enough for believers to have the Lord
always with them (Matt.28:20; Ps.23:4; Ps.27:1; Acts 18:9-11). The
promise does not apply to those who do not belong to God through
Christ (Jn.1:12-13).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please be with me always as you promised.
2. Father, please take away whatever prevents you from being
with me always.