Understanding the Word of God

READ | 1 Peter 1:10-12

Prophecies about Jesus Christ abound in the Old Testament. However, the men who wrote down God’s message didn’t always understand its full meaning. Events needed to unfold and further knowledge had to be provided before more complete significance could be grasped. In fact, Jesus Himself said that there was more to be known but the disciples were not ready for it (John 16:12).

Let’s look at some Old Testament truths about the Messiah that were understood more clearly later on—namely, that He was . . .

• Preexistent. Micah 5:2 prophesied that One coming from Bethlehem would have origins in eternity past. John 7:42 says that Jesus came “from Bethlehem . . . where David was,” while Colossians 1:16 names Him as Creator.

• Divine. When speaking to Moses, God identified Himself as “I am” (Ex. 3:14). Jesus declared that He Himself was the one spoken of as “I am” (John 8:58).

• Our Suffering Servant. Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah described the Messiah’s agony and death (53:3-8). But the nation of Israel wasn’t anticipating the Anointed One to be a substitute who would pay their sin-debt. They were looking instead for the promised king of Isaiah 9:6. The purpose of Jesus’ first coming wasn’t to lead the government, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28).

He suffered and died to do just that.

The Holy Spirit illuminates divine truth for believers who rely on His help as they study the Word. Ask for His insights whenever you read the Bible.



From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals

Love Rejoices in Truth

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
I Corinthians 13:6 NIV


In this verse lies a test for love. Here’s an example. A classic one.

A young couple are on a date. His affection goes beyond her comfort zone. She resists. But he tries to persuade her with the oldest line in the book: “But I love you. I just want to be near you. If you loved me…”

That siren you hear? It’s the phony-love detector. This guy doesn’t love her…He may love her body. He may love boasting to his buddies about his conquest. But he doesn’t love her. True love will never ask the “beloved” to do what he or she thinks is wrong…

Do you want to know if your love for someone is true? If your friendship in genuine?… Ask yourself: Do I influence this person to do what is right?


From: Max Lucado

THE UNDERCURRENT OF INFILTRATION

"Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12


In basic training to be a soldier, one of the most important lessons our instructors taught us was always be alert to the infiltrating ways of the enemy. In the stillness of a midnight hour, we sat motionless and deathly silent to "listen" to a soldier cocking his rifle, getting ready to fire it 500 yards away. We were to "intensely watch" for any movements at night...to be "alert to everything." The objective of our enemy was to destroy us. That didn't arouse my concern too much at the time, since we were in the security of our U.S. Army base. Months later I was on the front line in Germany and danger was everywhere and my focus changed considerably. There was always an "undercurrent of infiltration." There was an unseen enemy at every turn...the one who sought to "infiltrate" our lines, who tried to "invade" our position in order to gather important information that would enable the enemy to attack our strongholds.

Satan wants to infiltrate where we think we are strong. Our most vulnerable time for Satan to attack is immediately after our greatest victory. It is then that we think we can conquer the world. We have an attitude of self-assurance and self-confidence that we think we can handle any foe. It is then the undercurrent of infiltration is initiated by Satan. Let me illustrate this from an experience by the son of a dear friend of mine.

Bill was brought up in a devoted Christian home. He had graduated from high school with honors, and enrolled at Emory University. In his freshman year he was startled at what he heard from the professor in one of his classes. The professor refuted the biblical account of creation, God, Jesus Christ, and other cardinal truths. When such remarks persisted, Bill began to stand up for his faith and refute the professor. The professor would side step his remarks in his insidious manner. The second year, Bill still stood firm for his faith, but you could see signs of weakness. The liberal ungodly professors were the "undercurrent" that so infiltrated Bill's faith that by his senior year Bill's faith was destroyed! He wasn't aware of the enemy infiltrating his mind and heart with undercurrents of doubt that soon took its toll.

Oswald Chambers had an insightful thought regarding this when he said, "A man's disposition is on the inside, i.e., what he possesses in his personality, determines what he is tempted by on the outside. The temptation fits the nature of the one tempted, and reveals the possibilities of the nature. Satan does not tempt us to do wrong things; he tempts us in order to lose what God has put into us by regeneration; namely, 'the possibility of being of value to God.' He does not come along the line of tempting us to sin, but on the line of shifting our point of view, and only the Spirit of God can detect this as a temptation of the devil." Where Bill thought he was strong in his faith, Satan cunningly undermined his spiritual strongholds, and it was the means of his fall. How sad, but this can be true in all of our lives. We stand against Satan ONLY in God's strength! Let us ever be aware of the "undercurrent of infiltration" by Satan to destroy our faith. Spiritual discernment is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."


From: Literature International Ministry - Ed Powell

The Unheeded Secret

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world" — John 18:36


The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" ( Luke 17:20-21 ). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.

We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.

It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.



From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest

Choose Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
-Philippians 4:4 (NRSV)


"A malignant brain tumor, too near speech and memory centers to remove surgically . . ." Those words about my husband's physical symptoms began a journey for us that totally changed our lives. Our journey continues after 32 months, with much improvement but ongoing treatment. During this time, we have felt God's presence, peace, and joy in ways we had never known previously.

We've learned that each situation in life presents choices. We can see faults in family members and withdraw from our relationships, or we can be grateful that they overlook our faults and bad habits and decide to do the same for them. We can grumble about our jobs and co-workers, or we can be thankful we are able to work and earn an income. We can criticize neighbors, or we can appreciate their willingness to help in time of need. We can grumble about the material possessions we don't have, or we can be thankful for sufficient food, water, and shelter. We can despair when illness or aging makes daily life more difficult, or we can face new challenges with determination and make the most of our abilities.

Regardless of the circumstances, these choices are ours to make.


Prayer
Lord, every day help us to accept the joy you freely offer us. Amen.


From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Diana C. Derringer

Regulated Chastisement

"I will correct thee in measure" (Jeremiah 30:11).

To be left uncorrected would be a fatal sign: it would prove that the LORD had said, "He is given unto idols, let him alone." God grant that such may never be our portion! Uninterrupted prosperity is a thing to cause fear and trembling. As many as God tenderly loves He rebukes and chastens: those for whom He has no esteem He allows to fatten themselves without fear, like bullocks for the slaughter. It is in love that our heavenly Father uses the rod upon His children. Yet see, the correction is in measure": He gives us love without measure but chastisement "in measure." As under the old law no Israelite could receive more than the "forty stripes save one," which ensured careful counting and limited suffering; so is it with each afflicted member of the household of faith-every stroke is counted. It is the measure of wisdom, the measure of sympathy, the measure of love, by which our chastisement is regulated. Far be it from us to rebel against appointments so divine. LORD, if Thou standest by to measure the bitter drops into my cup, it is for me cheerfully to take that cup from Thy hand and drink according to Thy directions, saying, "Thy will be done."


From: CrossWalk Devotionals