Focus Verse: “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah.” (Psalm 77:9, NKJV) Do the words from Psalms sound familiar—perhaps because you’ve said something similar to this yourself? When troubles come and we struggle to understand, it’s easy to ask, “Where are You, God? Are You mad at me? Or have You forgotten me?” God feels so far away, and we wonder if He cares what is happening in our lives. Job—a Godly Man Even non-religious people are familiar with the story of Job. Say his name and the word that immediately…
“And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city.” (II Chronicles 32:18, ESV) Once again Jerusalem was surrounded by her enemies. An emissary of the Assyrian king loudly taunted the Jews, mocking their God and trying to terrify the people so they could overtake the city. (The story is given in both II Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 36-37.) The Assyrian strategy sounded good, at least to them, but they made two mistakes. First, they insulted Almighty God and mocked His ability to help the people of Judah. Next, they compared God to the false and powerless gods of other nations. “Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you! Don’t let him fool you like this! I say it again—no god of any nation or kingdom has ever yet been able to rescue his people from me or my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!” (II Chronicles 32:15, NLT) Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, believed his own lie. He should never have underestimated God’s ability to save His people. Sennacherib’s boast may…
“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8, ESV) I think most of us would quickly agree that God has a plan for each of our lives. We are born with a purpose. In Jeremiah 1:5, the Lord told the prophet, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (ESV). What an awesome thought that God loves us so much He creates a plan for our lives even before our conception. While we know God has a purpose for our lives, sometimes we fear we cannot discern His divine plan for us. But God will not hide His purpose or make it a mystery. His plan for us is not a guessing game that He uses to confuse us. He expects us to know His will and will make it clear. “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17, NKJV) Here are definite things we know about God’s will. It is God’s will for us to be saved and to know truth (I Timothy 2:3-4).…
“And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” (Deuteronomy 8:2, ESV) Wilderness. The very word sounds dreary and difficult. It even begins with “wild,” letting us know it is an untamed place, a hard place. Dictionary.com defines it as “a wild and uncultivated region, as of forest or desert, uninhabited or inhabited only by wild animals; a tract of wasteland.” The wilderness seems an uninviting place.…
“Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.” 2 Kings 23:25 Josiah was eight years old when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years. One day, he sends his court secretary on an errand, and his life gets radically flipped upside down. What should have been a simple task on an ordinary day, quickly ended in despair for Josiah. The high priest discovers the Book of Law in the Lord’s temple. When Josiah hears what is in the book, he tears his clothes in despair. Rather than remaining in a state of upheaval, he instead set to work to correct all the wrongs that had been done. 2 Kings 22:19 reads “You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.” There is a prayer and a cry that will always…
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (I Thessalonians 5:11, ESV) Joses, whom his fellow believers called Barnabas, was an encourager. That’s how he obtained his nickname. Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” He was the kind of person we would all appreciate having as a friend. Despite his miraculous conversion, not everyone readily accepted Saul (later Paul), who had severely persecuted the early church. Barnabas, however, spoke in his defense to the disciples and persuaded them to accept this new convert as a fellow brother in the Lord (Acts 9:26-27). How encouraging it must have been for someone speak up on his behalf. Paul had two notable encouragers in his life. Barnabas helped when he was a new convert. Then years later, as a prisoner in Rome and near the end of his ministry, Onesiphorus was his encourager. Paul tells of his care in II Timothy 1:16-18. “He oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain . . . he sought me out very diligently, and found me . . . and in how many things he ministered unto me.” These verses provide a beautiful picture of how to minister to others.…