Our Daily Bread #24

Becoming Wise

NO RECORD OF OUR SINS Read: Psalm 130 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? - Psalm 130:3 Out of the depths" the psalmist cries to God (Ps.130:1). His problem surfaces: terrible guilt for things done and undone in the past. "If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" (v.3). But, thankfully, God forgives. He does not keep an account of past sins, no matter how many or how grievous they have been. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom.8:1). God's forgiveness then leads us to fear Him (Ps.130:4). We worship and adore God, for grace and forgiveness causes us to love Him all the more. But what happens if we slide back into old sins? What if sin lingers? We are to repent and "wait for the Lord" and be patient while God works (vv.5-6). We are not hopeless cases. We can "hope" in the One who will deliver us in His time. We now have these two assurances: God's unfailing love - He will never leave as nor forsake us (Heb.13:5). And God's promise of full redemption in due time - He will redeem us from all our iniquities (Ps.130:8) and present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy (Jude 24). We're forgiven! We're free! With the psalmist, let's worship the Lord as we await His coming. - David Roper How blest is he whose trespass Has freely been forgiven, Whose sin is wholly covered Before the sight of heaven. - Psalter WHEN WE'RE FORGIVEN, NO RECORD IS KEPT OF OUR FAILURES. ............................. VERY TRUE - BUT THE PROTESTANTS HAVE THIS STRANGE DOCTRINE OF BEING BEFORE THE SEAT OF GOD TO BE JUDGED - WHAT IS IT ALL  ABOUT? I HAVE A STUDY CALLED "CHRISTIANS JUDGED BEFORE GOD; WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?"  Keith Hunt  REFUSING HELP Read: 2 Kings 5:9-14 The manifestations of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. - 1 Corinthians 12:7 In 1869, John Roebling dreamed of building a massive bridge over the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Unfortunately, at the outset of the project his foot was crushed in an accident. In the recovery process, Roebling insisted he knew best and took charge of his own medical care. After refusing help, he began to show signs of tetanus. Before long, Roebling's jaw had locked into a permanent smile. Seizures and dementia plagued him until his death weeks later. The Bible records a story about an independent person who balked at the help offered him. Naaman, a great warrior of Syria, suffered from leprosy. He sought out the prophet Elisha for healing but had preconceived ideas about how the healing should take place. So when Elisha sent his messenger to tell him to dip in the Jordan river seven times, Naaman was enraged. But Naaman's own servants gave wise advice: "If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it?" (2 Kings 5:13). And so Naaman followed the prophet's simple instructions, and his leprosy was cured. God gives us gifts to aid each other (1 Cor.12:7). But self-sufficiency shuts the door on much needed help. Let's be open to the helping hand He provides. - Dennis Fisher The Lord extends His gracious hand To those in desperate need, He lifts them up, He helps them stand Through caring saints and loving deed. - D.De Haan THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING HELP IS HUMILITY. QUIET, PLEASE Read: 1 Kings 19:1-12 After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. - 1 Kings 19:12 In recent years, the spread of personal digital music players has resulted in concerns about hearing loss. The design of the music players and their earphones has been the target of complaints and lawsuits. Longterm exposure to music at a high volume has been shown to cause serious bearing impairment. In a sense, too much hearing can result in an inability to hear. We live in a world filled with noise - noises designed to sell, plead, seduce, and deceive. In the midst of this cacophony of sound, it's easy to miss the one voice that matters most. Elijah had listened to Jezebel's threats and the voice of his own fear, so he fled to a cave to hide. In the cave he was confronted with the overwhelming noise of wind, an earthquake, and fire (I Kings 19:11-12). Then the cave grew silent and the voice of the Lord - the only sound that mattered - broke through as "a still small voice" (v.12). If we are to hear God speaking to our hearts through His Word, we need to pull away from the noise of the crowd. Only when we learn to be quiet can we really understand what it means to commune with the God who cares for us. In our "quiet time" today, let's make an effort to listen for the voice of God. - Bill Crowder Speak, Lord, in the stillness While I wait on Thee; Hushed my heart to listen In expectancy. - Grimes TO HEAR GOD'S VOICE, TURN DOWN THE WORLD'S VOLUME. MY PRINCE Read: Ephesians 5:22-33 Husbands, love your wives. - Ephesians 5:25 People around the world reacted with shock in September 2006 when news broke that Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter," had died. His enthusiasm for life and for God's creatures was contagious, making him a favorite personality worldwide. When his wife Terri was interviewed shortly after Steve's death, her love for him was obvious as she said through her tears, "I've lost my prince." What an affectionate way to memorialize her husband. She saw him as her prince and her best friend. The husband-wife relationship is often viewed today as anything but the tender one Terri and Steve must have shared. We see bitterness, insults, and animosity presented in the media as the norm. How much more desirable it is to see true love - to see a husband unashamedly cherish his wife, to unselfishly be her "prince." How can a husband continue to love his wife in a more princely way? Try these suggestions: Listen - enjoy those tender times when she can unburden her heart without fear. Love life - find ways to add fun to your marriage. Lead spiritually - guide the way into prayer and intimate fellowship with the Lord. Men, be a, prince to your princess. - Dave Branon Honor your wife and in love with her dwell, Yield to the Savior and all will be well; Peace He will give to both husband and wife, Blessing their marriage with joy throughout life. - Anon MARRIAGE THRIVES IN A CLIMATE OF LOVE AND RESPECT. GETTING THROUGH Read: Psalm 46 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to his saints. - Psalm 85:8 Gone are the days when a real person greets you on the other end of a phone call. It seems as though whenever we try to "reach out and touch someone," we are greeted with a computerized voice. I'm glad this isn't true of our Father in heaven. He is always there. No voice-mail boxes, no "press 2 for more grace" and no "call waiting" interruptions. Thankfully, "Call to Me, and I will answer you" (Jer.33:3) has not been replaced by, "All lines are now busy. Your call is important to Me. Please stay on the line." Yet I wonder what kind of access He has to us? Communication with God is a two-way street. He speaks to us through His Word when we come attentively before Him in prayer and through the clear voice of the indwelling Spirit. He paid a great price to keep the lines open so that we can experience the joy of being still long enough to know that He is God (Ps.46:10). As my grandmother's favorite hymn "In the Garden" says: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own: And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known. - Miles The joy of heating His voice is a call you don't want to miss! - Joe Stowell IS GOD GETTING THROUGH TO YOU? COMMON SENSE Read: Proverbs 1:20-23 The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. - Proverbs 2:6 Voltaire said, "Common sense is not so common." He was right! In a society that has grown increasingly litigious, we are inundated with warnings on products, mostly because some people lack common sense. Just read the following instructions. On a hair dryer. Do not use while sleeping. On an iron: Do not iron clothes on body. On a chainsaw: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hand. Common sense can be learned from experience or the teaching we receive from those we trust. But God's Word is the best source of all to develop discernment and good judgment. Three words echo throughout the book of Proverbs: wisdom, knowledge, understanding. God has packed this book with common sense. Proverbs 11:12 advises restraint: "A man of understanding holds his peace." Proverbs 17:27 warms: "He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit." Proverbs 20:13 is practical: "Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty:" To get more common sense, consult God's Word - the source of wisdom - daily. - Cindy Hess Kasper TO GAIN A HEART OF WISDOM: Ask God for it (James 1:5). Read regularly from the Proverbs. Seek out godly counsel (Prow 11:14; 15:22; 19:20). KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT COMMON SENSE IS FOLLY. DOING WHAT'S RIGHT Read: Psalm 15 He who does these things shall never be moved. - Psalm 15:5 Bruce Weinstein is known as "The Ethics Guy." His books and seminars challenge people to make choices based on principle rather than convenience or self-interest. In his business workshops, he often asks the participants, "Why should we be ethical?" He says that most responses center on the benefits of honesty and morality - avoiding punishment and having a clear conscience. While acknowledging that there are long-term benefits, Weinstein emphasizes doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do. Psalm 15 gives a vivid picture of the person whose conduct grows out of fellowship with the living God. The question "Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?" (v.l) is answered with examples from everyday living: "He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart" (v.2). It goes on to describe honest relationships with neighbors and friends (vv.3-4), along with integrity in business and financial matters (v.5). The psalm ends with the words, "He who does these things shall never be moved" (v.5). Ethical living is more than a concept discussed in seminars. It's a powerful means of demonstrating the presence of Christ in our lives. Doing what is right is always the right thing to do. - David McCasland Lord, help me put away deceit And live a life that's true, And may there be integrity In all I say and do. - Sper THERE IS NO LEGACY AS RICH AS INTEGRITY.