Max Lucado Daily: REST AND WORSHIP - November 24, 2022
God said, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work; you, nor your son, nor your daughter” (Exodus 20:9-10). God knows us so well. He can see the store owner thinking, Well, somebody needs to work that day. If God says I can’t then my son will. So God says, “Nor your son.” Well then my daughter will. “Nor your daughter.”
No, God says, one day of the week you will say no to work and yes to worship. You’ll slow down and sit down and lie down and rest. Still we object. We offer up one reason after the other. God’s message is plain: If creation didn’t crash when I rested, it won’t crash when you do. Repeat these words after me: It is not my job to run the world!
Psalm 143
Listen to this prayer of mine, God;
pay attention to what I’m asking.
Answer me—you’re famous for your answers!
Do what’s right for me.
But don’t, please don’t, haul me into court;
not a person alive would be acquitted there.
3-6 The enemy hunted me down;
he kicked me and stomped me within an inch of my life.
He put me in a black hole,
buried me like a corpse in that dungeon.
I sat there in despair, my spirit draining away,
my heart heavy, like lead.
I remembered the old days,
went over all you’ve done, pondered the ways you’ve worked,
Stretched out my hands to you,
as thirsty for you as a desert thirsty for rain.
7-10 Hurry with your answer, God!
I’m nearly at the end of my rope.
Don’t turn away; don’t ignore me!
That would be certain death.
If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice,
I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you.
Point out the road I must travel;
I’m all ears, all eyes before you.
Save me from my enemies, God—
you’re my only hope!
Teach me how to live to please you,
because you’re my God.
Lead me by your blessed Spirit
into cleared and level pastureland.
11-12 Keep up your reputation, God—give me life!
In your justice, get me out of this trouble!
In your great love, vanquish my enemies;
make a clean sweep of those who harass me.
And why? Because I’m your servant.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Thursday, November 24, 2022
Today's Scripture
Proverbs 13:12–19
Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around.
13 Ignore the Word and suffer;
honor God’s commands and grow rich.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!
15 Sound thinking makes for gracious living,
but liars walk a rough road.
16 A commonsense person lives good sense;
fools litter the country with silliness.
17 Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,
but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
18 Refuse discipline and end up homeless;
embrace correction and live an honored life.
19 Souls who follow their hearts thrive;
fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.
Insight
Proverbs 13:12–19 includes two metaphors that concern life: “a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (v. 12) and “the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life” (v. 14). The first mention of the “tree of life” in Scripture is in Genesis 2:9, a reference to a God-given resource for immortality. After the disobedience of our first parents, access to this life-source was denied (3:23–24). Revelation speaks of a time when access will be restored (22:2, 14). Proverbs uses the “tree of life” language metaphorically as a symbol of health and long life, success, and happiness (see Proverbs 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4). Similarly, the “fountain of life” (10:11; 13:14; 14:27; 16:22) refers to a resource from which something healthy and life-sustaining springs forth. Reverence for God is one of the blessed fountains from which we may drink (14:27). By: Arthur Jackson
Hopes and Longings
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
When I moved to England, the American holiday of Thanksgiving became just another Thursday in November. Although I created a feast the weekend after, I longed to be with family and friends on the day. Yet I understood that my longings weren’t unique to me. We all yearn to be with people dear to us on special occasions and holidays. And even when we’re celebrating, we may miss someone who’s not with us or we may pray for our fractured family to be at peace.
During these times, praying and pondering the wisdom of the Bible has helped me, including one of King Solomon’s proverbs: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12). In this proverb, one of the pithy sayings through which Solomon shared his wisdom, he notes the effect that “hope deferred” can have: the delay of something much longed for can result in angst and pain. But when the desire is fulfilled, it’s like a tree of life—something that allows us to feel refreshed and renewed.
Some of our hopes and desires might not be fulfilled right away, and some might only be met through God after we die. Whatever our longing, we can trust in Him, knowing He loves us unceasingly. And, one day, we’ll be reunited with loved ones as we feast with Him and give thanks to Him (see Revelation 19:6–9). By: Amy Boucher Pye
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt sick because of an unfulfilled longing? How did God meet you in your time of need?
God our Creator, You fulfill my deepest longings. I give You my hopes and my desires, asking You to grant them according to Your wisdom and love.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Thursday, November 24, 2022
Direction of Focus
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters…, so our eyes look to the Lord our God… —Psalm 123:2
This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (see Isaiah 53:1). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, “I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person.” We have to realize that no effort can be too high.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The Bible does not thrill; the Bible nourishes. Give time to the reading of the Bible and the recreating effect is as real as that of fresh air physically. Disciples Indeed, 387 R
Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 22-23; 1 Peter 1
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Thursday, November 24, 2022
THE MESSAGE AT MACY'S PARADE - #9359
Well, I watched it as a kid, and then my kids watched it, and now my grandkids are watching it. Yep! Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been around for a pretty long time! And those Rockettes, Well, the announcer said they've been around for over 50 years! That's just amazing they can still get their legs off the ground at that age isn't it?
Well, as the balloons float by on Thanksgiving, I kept seeing this one word on the store behind them, "Believe." I guess that's inspiring - vaguely. Actually, "Believe." That's a pretty popular message these days. Think positive thoughts. Have faith...in something.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Message at Macy's Parade."
Now, our "open-minded" culture thinks it's a good idea to believe, but it doesn't seem to matter much what you believe in. Believe in yourself. Believe in the future. Believe in the universe. Believe in a better world.
Actually, it really does matter what you believe. You can tell that from our word for today from the Word of God. Proverbs 14:12 throws up a serious "danger" sign when it says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." I read a few years ago about some young men fighting a wildfire out west, and the wind suddenly stoked that fire and it turned on the firefighters. Well, those rookies headed in the direction that they firmly believed was the road out. It was a dead-end road! They never made it out. They really believed in the wrong thing.
When it comes to the final outcome for our eternal soul, believing - well, now we're talking a life-or-death imperative. Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." God emphatically says, "There is no other Name under heaven...by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Now, that's "saved" as in rescued from the forever death penalty of a lifetime of defying God. That's what sin is. It's doing what we want to do instead of what God wants us to do. And we've lost count; we could never add up the number of times in our life that we've done what we wanted instead of what God wanted.
And that lifetime of rebellion against God? It carries an eternal death penalty, and that death penalty can only be paid, of course, by someone dying...and someone did so you don't have to. But only one someone did, and that's Jesus.
I know there's all kinds of religions and moral philosophies and spiritualities. Listen, if a religion could have done it, if any spirituality could have done it, God would have never put His Son through the horror of that cross. No religion, including the Christian religion, can die for our sins; can get us to heaven. That's why "there's no other Name" but Jesus. It's not about there being only one religion. It's about there being only one Savior, only one rescuer, only one person who ever even claimed to die for our sins. There's only one person who backed up that claim by walking out of His grave under His own power, because only someone who has eternal life can give you eternal life. Jesus alone paid the price so you and I wouldn't have to.
So, we've got something... We've got someone to believe in who can make this life have meaning and the life after this life...eternal. You know, if you've never begun your relationship with this Jesus, if you've never taken all of your trust and put it in Him like a drowning person would put all their trust in a rescuer, let this be the day you do that. Maybe God has sent this message to you to move you beyond just believing in something, or even trusting in your religion, to trusting His Son, the Savior who died for you. Why don't you tell Him today, "Jesus, I'm yours. Starting this day, I am Yours."
Let me encourage you to go to our website. There's information there and encouragement that will help you get started with Jesus. Go to ANewStory.com. If you could begin a life with meaning and guarantee heaven forever with a commitment to Christ today, now that is a reason for a thanksgiving parade.