Max Lucado Daily: TIME ON GOD’S ANVIL
When a tool emerges from a blacksmith’s anvil, there is no question as to what it’s for. One look at the tool and you instantly know its function.
Time on God’s anvil should clarify our mission and define our purpose. Being tested by God reminds us that our function and task is to be about his business. Our purpose is to be an extension of his nature, and a proclaimer of his message. We should exit the blacksmith’s shop with no question as to why God made us. We know our purpose.
If we live our lives in this way, then we can enter our final years with the assurance of knowing that life was well spent and heaven is but a wink away…and is there any greater reward than this?
From God is With You Every Day
1 Corinthians 10:19-33
What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”[a]—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[b]
27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles[c] or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
Footnotes:
10:23 Greek All things are lawful; also in 10:23b.
10:26 Ps 24:1.
10:32 Greek or Greeks.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Read: 2 Chronicles 16:7–14
At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram. 8 Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians[a] and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers?[b] At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them over to you. 9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”
10 Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people.
Summary of Asa’s Reign
11 The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. 13 So he died in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 He was buried in the tomb he had carved out for himself in the City of David. He was laid on a bed perfumed with sweet spices and fragrant ointments, and the people built a huge funeral fire in his honor.
Footnotes:
16:8a Hebrew Cushites.
16:8b Or and horsemen?
INSIGHT:
The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles cover much of the same historical ground as 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. One of the differences, however, is that the books of Samuel and Kings come primarily from a prophetic perspective, while 1 and 2 Chronicles have a more priestly influence.
Not a Simple Story
By Tim Gustafson
The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
Life seems straightforward in the laws of the Old Testament. Obey God and get blessed. Disobey Him and expect trouble. It’s a satisfying theology. But is it that simple?
King Asa’s story seems to fit the pattern. He led his people away from false gods and his kingdom thrived (2 Chron. 15:1–19). Then late in his reign, he depended on himself instead of God (16:2–7) and the rest of his life was marked by war and illness (v. 12).
In God’s eternal plan, His blessings arrive in due time.
It’s easy to look at that story and draw a simple conclusion. But when the prophet Hanani warned Asa, he said that God will “strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (16:9). Why do our hearts need strengthening? Because doing the right thing may require courage and perseverance.
Job got the starring role in a cosmic tragedy. His crime? “He [was] blameless and upright” (Job 1:8). Joseph, falsely accused of attempted rape, languished in prison for years—to serve God’s good purposes (Gen. 39:19–41:1). And Jeremiah was beaten and put in stocks (Jer. 20:2). What was the prophet’s offense? Telling the truth to rebellious people (26:15).
Life is not simple, and God’s ways are not our ways. Making the right decision may come at a cost. But in God’s eternal plan, His blessings arrive in due time.
Lord, thank You for the examples of courage and obedience in Your Word. Help us learn from their mistakes and from their wise choices, as we make our choice to serve You.
God helps those who depend on Him.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
The Staggering Question
He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" —Ezekiel 37:3
Can a sinner be turned into a saint? Can a twisted life be made right? There is only one appropriate answer— “O Lord God, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3). Never forge ahead with your religious common sense and say, “Oh, yes, with just a little more Bible reading, devotional time, and prayer, I see how it can be done.”
It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we see the activity and mistake panic for inspiration. That is why we see so few fellow workers with God, yet so many people working for God. We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do? The degree of hopelessness I have for others comes from never realizing that God has done anything for me. Is my own personal experience such a wonderful realization of God’s power and might that I can never have a sense of hopelessness for anyone else I see? Has any spiritual work been accomplished in me at all? The degree of panic activity in my life is equal to the degree of my lack of personal spiritual experience.
“Behold, O My people, I will open your graves…” (Ezekiel 37:12). When God wants to show you what human nature is like separated from Himself, He shows it to you in yourself. If the Spirit of God has ever given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He will only do this when His Spirit is at work in you), then you know that in reality there is no criminal half as bad as you yourself could be without His grace. My “grave” has been opened by God and “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” (Romans 7:18). God’s Spirit continually reveals to His children what human nature is like apart from His grace.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Jesus Christ reveals, not an embarrassed God, not a confused God, not a God who stands apart from the problems, but One who stands in the thick of the whole thing with man. Disciples Indeed, 388 L
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Playing Favorites, Playing Fair - #7668
Did you ever notice what great scorekeepers kids are? They are really adept at measuring how they're being treated compared to the other kids in the family, right? Our oldest child was followed about two years later by her younger brother. It was our son who introduced me to this scorekeeping aptitude that children have. He had this simple 4-word question. "How come my sister...?" Which would always be followed with his presentation of some perceived injustice in how we were treating him compared to how we were treating his sister. She apparently got something good that he didn't get or he got something bad that she didn't get. When I was on a trip, I sure thought twice when I was buying gifts for my children. I knew that any hint of favoritism could get me in big trouble.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Playing Favorites, Playing Fair."
In reality, the concern that our son was verbalizing is a concern that bothers a lot of us long after we've grown up and it has to do with that nasty little frustrater called favoritism.
Which is what God warns us against in our word for today from the Word of God from 1 Timothy 5:21. God is giving rules for rulers, guidelines for governing. The principles apply to anyone with a leadership role, and I'll bet you've got one-a parent, a pastor, a teacher, a supervisor, an employer. It is a powerful principle of maintaining peaceful relationships. God says, "I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels (this is like, Hey this is really important what I'm about to say!) to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism."
Well, that kind of governing is consistent with the way God does it. Romans 2:11 tells us that "God does not show favoritism." He gives out discipline and rewards with total impartiality. So should we. God is no respecter of persons, but we tend to be. And few things have more power to divide people than unequal treatment - playing favorites. It just doesn't belong in Christian relationships.
Impartiality begins at home and, believe me, the kids are keeping score. Often, there's one child that we are kind of drawn to because he or she is loveable or easy to handle or gives us good feedback. And it's easy to inadvertently favor that child. Sometimes, it works the opposite way - we favor the one who's most difficult and we neglect the one who's doing well and doesn't seem to need as much attention. A wise parent will calculate that fairness effect before he or she gives or takes away anything.
But the principle of impartial leadership affects other arenas, of course. If you're a boss or supervisor, partiality will cost you your credibility. If you're in Christian work, being partial to the rich or powerful will take you right past God's Biblical values. Money should never be the determining factor in the work of God.
The people around you, they're going to measure your fairness. They're going to measure your favoritism. So you should - before you act. You can't be paralyzed by trying to please all the people all the time, but you do need to weigh your punishments and your rewards, your yeses and your no's, by asking yourself, "How will this make everyone else feel?" In godly governing there's just no room for playing favorites - because God doesn't.,
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