Max Lucado Daily: THE MEANING OF HYPOCRISY
When Jesus saw the religious hypocrite, he exposed every self-righteous mole and pimple. “All their works they do to be seen by men…” (Matthew 23:5 NKJV).
This is the working definition of hypocrisy: “to be seen by men.” We must do good works, and some works such as benevolence or teaching must be seen in order to have an impact. To do a good thing is a good thing. To do a good thing just to be seen, however, is a serious offense. Hypocrisy turns people away from God. When people enter a church to see God yet can’t see God because of the church, don’t think for a second that God does not react.
“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding” (Matthew 6:1 MSG).
1 Chronicles 27
Here is the listing of the sons of Israel by family heads, commanders and captains, and other officers who served the king in everything military. Army divisions were on duty a month at a time for the twelve months of the year. Each division comprised 24,000 men.
2-3 First division, first month: Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge with 24,000 men. He came from the line of Perez. He was over all the army officers during the first month.
4 The division for the second month: Dodai the Ahohite was in charge: 24,000 men; Mikloth was the leader of his division.
5-6 Commander for the third month: Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest with 24,000 men. This was the same Benaiah who was a Mighty Man among the Thirty and their chief. His son Ammizabad was in charge of the division.
7 Fourth division for the fourth month: Asahel brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him: 24,000 men.
8 Fifth division, fifth month: commander Shamhuth the Izrahite: 24,000 men.
9 Sixth division, sixth month: Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: 24,000 men.
10 Seventh division, seventh month: Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite: 24,000 men.
11 Eighth division, eighth month: Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite: 24,000 men.
12 Ninth division, ninth month: Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite: 24,000 men.
13 Tenth division, tenth month: Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite: 24,000 men.
14 Eleventh division, eleventh month: Benaiah the Pirathomite, an Ephraimite: 24,000 men.
15 Twelfth division, twelfth month: Heldai the Netophathite from the family of Othniel: 24,000 men.
16-22 Administrators of the affairs of the tribes:
for Reuben: Eliezer son of Zicri;
for Simeon: Shephatiah son of Maacah;
for Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel;
for Aaron: Zadok;
for Judah: Elihu, David’s brother;
for Issachar: Omri son of Michael;
for Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;
for Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;
for Ephraim: Hoshea son of Azaziah;
for one half-tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;
for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah;
for Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;
for Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham.
These are the administrative officers assigned to the tribes of Israel.
23-24 David didn’t keep a count of men under the age of twenty, because God had promised to give Israel a population as numerous as the stars in the sky. Joab son of Zeruiah started out counting the men, but he never finished. God’s anger broke out on Israel because of the counting. As it turned out, the numbers were never entered into the court records of King David.
25 The king’s storage facilities were supervised by Azmaveth son of Adiel. Jonathan son of Uzziah was responsible for the warehouses in the outlying areas.
26 Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers on the farms.
27 Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards and Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of grapes for the wine vats.
28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western hills, and Joash was in charge of the olive oil.
29 Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of herds grazing in Sharon and Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of herds in the valley.
30-31 Obil the Ismaelite was in charge of the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys, and Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.
These were the ones responsible for taking care of King David’s property.
32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, a wise and literate counselor, and Jehiel son of Hacmoni, were responsible for rearing the king’s sons.
33-34 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor; Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend. Ahithophel was later replaced by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.
Joab was commander of the king’s army.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Friday, January 24, 2020
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Isaiah 46:3–10
“Listenl to me, you descendants of Jacob,
all the remnantm of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,n
and have carriedo since you were born.p
4 Even to your old age and gray hairsq
I am he,r I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustains you and I will rescue you.
5 “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?t
6 Some pour out gold from their bags
and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmithu to make it into a god,
and they bow down and worship it.v
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carryw it;
they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
From that spot it cannot move.x
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;y
it cannot savez them from their troubles.
8 “Remembera this, keep it in mind,
take it to heart, you rebels.b
9 Remember the former things,c those of long ago;d
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.e
10 I make known the end from the beginning,f
from ancient times,g what is still to come.h
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,i
and I will do all that I please.’
Insight
In Isaiah 46, God contrasts Himself to idols (“burdensome” gods, v. 1) made by man. They not only are incapable of rescuing their worshipers but they themselves have to be carried to safety (vv. 1–2, 6–7). These gods included Bel (a variant of Baal), the principal god of the Babylonians, and his son Nebo. In contrast, God created us, carries us, and sustains us (v. 4). He alone is the one true God: “I am God, and there is no other” (v. 9). The Bible repeatedly points to this truth (Deuteronomy 4:39; 2 Samuel 7:22; Nehemiah 9:6; Isaiah 44:6). By: Alyson Kieda
No Line to Love
I have made you and I will carry you. Isaiah 46:4
Sometimes when my Labrador retriever wants attention, he’ll take something of mine and parade it in front of me. One morning as I was writing at the desk with my back turned, Max snatched my wallet and ran off. But realizing I hadn’t seen him do it, he returned and nudged me with his nose—wallet in mouth, eyes dancing, tail wagging, taunting me to play.
Max’s antics made me laugh, but they also reminded me of my limitations when it comes to being attentive to others. So often I’ve intended to spend time with family or friends, but other things occupy my time and awareness; and before I know it the day slips away and love is left undone.
How comforting to know that our heavenly Father is so great that He’s able to attend to each of us in the most intimate ways—even sustaining every breath in our lungs for as long as we live. He promises His people, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you” (Isaiah 46:4).
God always has time for us. He understands every detail of our circumstances—no matter how complex or difficult—and is there whenever we call on Him in prayer. We never have to wait in line for our Savior’s unlimited love. By: James Banks
Reflect & Pray
In what ways does God take care of your daily needs? How can you share His love with others?
You always have time for me, Jesus. Please help me to live every moment for You!
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Friday, January 24, 2020
God’s Overpowering Purpose
I have appeared to you for this purpose… —Acts 26:16
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go…” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision” — not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “…to make you a minister and a witness….” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The great thing about faith in God is that it keeps a man undisturbed in the midst of disturbance. Notes on Isaiah, 1376 R
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Friday, January 24, 2020
The Better Beyond the Bitter - #8620
You know something's up when a friend offers you a piece of candy and then stands there to watch you eat it. Yeah, it happened in our office when my administrative assistant then offered me a piece of sour apple candy with the interesting name "Warheads." I didn't know what that was then. That should have been my second clue, besides her standing and watching me eat it. The third clue should have been the drawing on the wrapper. It's this cartoon guy with his head sort of blowing up. Well, being the good sport that I am, I went for it. The first minute was awful. Bitter doesn't begin to describe the taste. It was just bad bitter! I mean, my mouth puckered. It even made my eyes water! And then, as suddenly as that sharp bitter taste had invaded my mouth, the taste changed to a really enjoyable sweet fruit taste. Which, I am happy to report, lasted considerably longer than the bad taste.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Better Beyond the Bitter."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Psalms 30:5. It's short, but it says a lot: "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Yeah, they'll be bitter times, God's saying that here. You may be going through or heading into one of those bitter times right now. I've been through mine. A lot of times those bitter seasons hit as suddenly as the bitter first taste of that crazy candy. You're just not prepared for it, and it really hurts.
God's wonderful promise here is not that the bitter time won't come, but that it won't last. It won't be the final outcome. It won't be the last chapter. No, for those who belong to Jesus Christ, "rejoicing comes in the morning." So, what did I have to do to enjoy the sweet taste of that candy? The same thing you'll have to do to get the rejoicing He has for you on the other side. You have to get through the bitter. But you can, if you know it isn't always going to taste like this.
I don't know what burden you're bearing right now. Maybe it's the pain of losing someone you love, one that I know all too well. Maybe it's a serious medical problem, a hurting marriage, a hurting parent or child. Maybe the "weeping" season is because of finances, or a broken dream, or a long emotional valley. But notice the three redeeming words after "weeping may remain," it says, "for a night." That night, even this long night, will not last forever. And on the other side a time of joy that's hard for you to even imagine but which God guarantees. In fact, the beautiful time may actually be produced by the bitter time, as the joy of a new baby is produced by a painful delivery process.
But you do have to get through this bitter taste, without abandoning your Lord or His plans. A great saint of another generation, Dr. V. Raymond Edman, had a perspective on the hard times that can help you get through it. He said that in any situation, a child of God can be sure of these four hope-givers. "I am here 1. by God's appointment; 2. in His keeping; 3. under His training; 4. for His time." And then he adds, "In any kind of trial, always look for the blessing." Remember, you have God's word that you will not be tested beyond what you can bear.
You might really dislike the taste of what's going on right now, but don't think it will always taste like this. No, the sweet time God has for those who endure is waiting for you on the other side of bitter. And like a certain candy that began very distasteful, the sweet time, oh it's going to last so much longer than the bitter time.
