The Law and God s People Foundation, Failure and Faith

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2 Devotional Quarterly The Law and God s People Foundation, Failure and Faith 88 Daily and Personal Devotionals These Daily Devotionals will give the student a greater desire to examine God s Word and consider what the Law could and could not do. The Law was not meant to be a savior. Grace on the other hand is the means by which a person is saved. God provided all of His power and His acts as a means of giving Israel its needs and rewarding Israel for its deeds. God commands respect of His deity. God never breaks His covenants. Someone was needed to take the place of Moses. God chose Joshua, a man of integrity and faith.

3 Read Through the Bible in a Year To help you with your Bible reading, we are providing suggested Scripture readings for each day of the quarter. You will find these suggested readings at the beginning of each devotional quarterly. The readings include the Sunday Devotionals, Daily Readings and the Daily Devotionals. The Daily Readings cover other Scriptures not related to the Sunday School lessons. By reading all passages listed each day, you will have read the entire Bible at the end of one year. You may use the box beside the date to check when you have read the Scriptures for that day. Written by Marc Shultz Beverly Barnett Gene Smith EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements larryclements@bogardpress.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell wsewell@bogardpress.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase, Jeff Allen, Greg Hilterbrand, Ashley Carozza, Blake Tilton LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Bonita McKnight, Kyle Elkins, Cindy Butler CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar, Carolyn Burks, Deby Turrentine, Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley COVER DESIGN: Jeff Allen Copyright 2012 Vol. 23, No. 1 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX

4 , March Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READINGS o February 27 Leviticus 5: Kings 4; 5 o February 28 2 Corinthians 5:21 2 Kings 6 8 o February 29 Hebrews 10: Kings 9 11 o March 1 Romans 8:2-4 2 Kings o March 2 Hebrews 9: Kings o March 3 1 Peter 3:18 2 Kings 18:1-3, 8-37, 19; 20 o March 4 Hebrews 7: Kings 21; 22 o March 5 Isaiah 6:1-8 2 Kings o March 6 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 1 Chronicles 1 3 o March 7 1 Peter 2: Chronicles 4 6 o March 8 2 Corinthians 6: Chronicles 7 9 o March 9 James 1: Chronicles o March 10 Jeremiah 10:1, 2 1 Chronicles o March 11 1 Peter 1:15, 16 1 Chronicles o March 12 Exodus 20:4, 5 1 Chronicles o March 13 Psalm 115:4-8 1 Chronicles o March 14 Matthew 7:24, 25 1 Chronicles 25; 26 o March 15 Amos 4:7, 8 1 Chronicles o March 16 Psalm 32:5 2 Chronicles 1 3 o March 17 Proverbs 28:13 2 Chronicles 4 6 o March 18 Hebrews 12: Chronicles 7 9 o March 19 Nehemiah 9: Chronicles o March 20 1 Corinthians 10: Chronicles 13; 14:1-8, 14, 15; 15 o March 21 Exodus 40: Chronicles o March 22 John 10:1-5 2 Chronicles o March 23 Psalm 32:7, 8 2 Chronicles o March 24 Psalm 73: Chronicles o March 25 Proverbs 3:5, 6 2 Chronicles o March 26 Joshua 14: Chronicles o March 27 Psalm 27:1-5 2 Chronicles o March 28 Psalm 147:10, 11 Ezra 1 4 o March 29 Psalm 46:1-11 Ezra 5 7 o March 30 Psalm 91:1-10 Ezra 8 10 o March 31 Psalm 121:1-8 Nehemiah 1 3 3

5 , April Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READINGS o April 1 Isaiah 41:10-14 Nehemiah 4 6 o April 2 2 Corinthians 5:21 Nehemiah 7; 8 o April 3 John 12:31-33 Nehemiah 9 11 o April 4 Romans 10:9-13 Nehemiah 12; 13 o April 5 2 Kings 18:4-7 Esther 1 3 o April 6 Psalm 135:5-13 Esther 4 7 o April 7 Psalm 136:16-26 Esther 8 10 o April 8 John 3:14, 15 Job 1 3 o April 9 Acts 7:44-52 Job 4 7 o April 10 Genesis 17:6-8 Job 8 10 o April 11 Joshua 24:14, 15 Job o April 12 Genesis 15:18 Job o April 13 Joshua 1:9 Job o April 14 Hebrews 13:5, 6 Job 22; 23:1-11, 13-17; 24 o April 15 Psalm 78:1-7 Job o April 16 Romans 13:8-10 Job o April 17 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 Job o April 18 1 Timothy 1:8-11 Job o April 19 Ephesians 6:4 Job o April 20 Proverbs 4:20-23 Psalms 3 7 o April 21 Exodus 34:12-14 Psalms 8 11 o April 22 Psalm 34:11-16 Psalms 13 15; 16:1-7 o April 23 Romans 4:1-5 Psalms o April 24 Hebrews 12:18-24 Psalms 21; 22; 23:1, 2, 4-6; 24 o April 25 Colossians 2:14-17 Psalms 25; 26; 27:6-12; 28 o April 26 Mark 12:28-31 Psalms 29 31; 32:6, 9-11; 33:1-15 o April 27 Matthew 5:21, 22, 27, 28 Psalms 34:1-10, 17-22; 35; 36:1-6, 11, 12; 37:1-24, o April 28 Psalm 81:8-16 Psalms o April 29 Acts 13:38, 39 Psalms 42 45; 47 o April 30 Deuteronomy 6:20-25 Psalms

6 , May Scripture Readings, DATE DAILY DEVOTIONALS DAILY READING o May 1 Numbers 15:38-41 Psalms o May 2 Isaiah 44:6-8 Psalms 57 60; 61:5-8 o May 3 1 Timothy 2:5 Psalms o May 4 Romans 12:1, 2 Psalms o May 5 Hosea 14:9 Psalms o May 6 Mark 12:29, 30 Psalms 73:1-22, 27, 28; o May 7 Ezekiel 13:1-10 Psalms 77:1-12, 15-20; 78:8-72; 79 o May 8 Matthew 7:15-20 Psalms 80; 81:1-7; o May 9 2 Peter 2:1-3 Psalms o May 10 1 John 4:1-4 Psalms 90; 91:11-16; o May 11 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 Psalms 95:1-6; 96; 97; 98:1, 4-9 o May 12 Leviticus 18:24-30 Psalms o May 13 Acts 3:12-16 Psalms 103; 104; 105:1, 5-45; 106:1-33; o May 14 Isaiah 12:1-6 Psalms o May 15 Isaiah 61:1-11 Psalms 110:5-7; ; 114:8 o May 16 Amos 9:11:15 Psalms 115:1, 2, 9-18; 116, 117; 118:1-23, o May 17 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalms 119 o May 18 Isaiah 62:1-12 Psalms 120; , 128; 129 o May 19 1 John 5:11, 12 Psalms ; 135:1-4, o May 20 Zechariah 12:6 13:1 Psalms 136:1-15; 137; 138; 139:5-24 o May 21 Numbers 20:1-13 Psalms o May 22 Deuteronomy 31:9-13 Psalms 145; 146; 147: ; o May 23 Deuteronomy 31:14-23 Proverbs 1; 2; 3:1-4, 7-10, o May 24 Deuteronomy 32:1-44 Proverbs 4:1-19, 24-27; 5:14-23; 6:1-22, 34, 35 o May 25 Deuteronomy 32:48-52 Proverbs 7 9 o May 26 Joshua 1:1-8 Proverbs o May 27 Psalm 37:25-28 Proverbs

7 Monday, February 27 Ignorance Is No Excuse Leviticus 5:15-19 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering, Leviticus 5:15. A driver is ticketed for speeding and contests the accusation in traffic court. He concedes he was traveling at the speed stated on the ticket but says he did not know the speed limit on the road. The judge will possibly find the driver guilty and tell him ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse for breaking the law. Mankind has been blessed with a conscience and the ability to reason. A person with the ability to reason can determine the difference between right and wrong. The ability to reason is what makes us accountable to God for our sins. Repentance is the logical reaction to sin. A person who reaches the age of accountability is accountable to God for his soul s condition. The age of accountability is not a specific age but is the time in life when a person is able to realize he is lost and needs the Savior. The person who reaches the age of accountability is convicted of his sins and led to accept the Lord as Savior. It is the duty of each local church to preach the gospel so each person who reaches the age of accountability can know what he must do to be saved. Marc Shultz 6

8 Made To Be Sin for Us 2 Corinthians 5:21 Tuesday, February 28 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Corinthians 5:21. There is a legal document called a power of attorney. What this document does is give one person the legal authority to act on behalf of another person. In the eyes of the law, the person who has been given a power of attorney acts upon behalf of the one giving the authority. Sin carries the penalty of death. Every person who has ever lived on earth, apart from Jesus Christ, is a sinner and worthy of death. Jesus lived on earth as the sinless and perfect Son of God. He had done nothing worthy of death because He is not a sinner. Though not being worthy of death, Jesus went to Calvary and died on the cross. He did not die for His own sins but for the sins of all humanity. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe so sinners could have eternal life in Heaven. Jesus is our advocate before the Father in Heaven. Jesus was made sin for us so we could be made righteous before the Father in Heaven. Our righteousness is not our own but the Lord s righteousness. Jesus did what we are unable to do, live righteously. The blood Jesus shed on the cross covers all our sins. We are made righteous through Jesus Christ. Salvation does not come through our own works but by the free grace of God. Marc Shultz 7

9 Wednesday, February 29 Christ s Perfect Sacrifice Hebrews 10:10-14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified, Hebrews 10:14. I once watched a television program of a man painting a picture. It was a rural winter scene with snow on the ground and mountains on the horizon. The artist had in his mind s eye what he wished to create on the canvas. He had both large and small details that brought the painting to life. Toward the end of the show, he painted a tree in the scene. After he viewed the painting, he decided to paint over the tree. He thought it took away from the scene and was unnecessary. The Old Testament sacrifices were pictures of what the coming Messiah would do on the cross of Calvary. Since the sacrifices were nothing but beasts, the blood of animals could not forgive sins. After Jesus completed the picture on the cross, there was no further need for animal sacrifices. Jesus completed what was pictured by the animal sacrifices. Jesus completed the Father s plan of redemption in His death, burial and resurrection according to the Scriptures. The blood Jesus shed on the cross covers all sins past, present and future. He had to die once to bring redemption from sins. No other sacrifice was needed. Jesus completed the Father s plan of redemption to forgive sins and assure believers of a home in Heaven. Jesus fulfilled His destiny on the cross because He loves sinners and wants everyone to become a child of God. Jesus lived and died so we might live with Him in eternity. Marc Shultz 8

10 Limitations of the Law Romans 8:2-4 Thursday, March 1 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:3. The laws of the United States are contained in a criminal code. The criminal code cannot rehabilitate the life of a convicted criminal. It exists to tell when the law has been broken and state the penalty for breaking the law. It defines the standard of law. The Law of God exists for one reason, to define the standard of God. To have a lawbreaker, there must be a law broken. Sin is the act of breaking God s Law. Breaking God s Law makes sinners accountable to Him. There is no excuse for breaking God s Law because it is clearly defined. The weakness of the Law is that it cannot save a soul. A sinner must first admit his sinful nature to seek forgiveness of sin. Sin abounds, but the grace of God abounds more. The Law could only define the guiltiness of sin, but the grace of God forgives sin. When a person admits he is a sinner, he can seek the saving grace of God. God loves sinners so much that He desires to forgive their sins. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and leads sinners to repentance. The blood of Jesus Christ covers all sins. The guilt of sin is washed away by the blood of Jesus. Marc Shultz 9

11 Friday, March 2 Christ Bears Our Sins Hebrews 9:26-28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation, Hebrews 9:28. The weight of the Lord s body hung heavily upon the cross. The entire weight of His body was on His shoulders bringing Him great agony. None of us can begin to imagine what terrible pain the Lord must have suffered on the cross. His death was not easy. Not only did the weight of His body cause the Lord great pain but so did the weight of sin which He bore on the cross. Jesus had done nothing worthy of death. He was being executed an innocent man. The reason He died on the cross was because of the sins of humanity. Mankind was in need of a Savior because of the sin nature. This nature has passed upon all at birth. Men and women are sinners by nature. Jesus died not for His own sins but for our sins. Each pang of pain the Lord suffered was a reminder of why He hung on the cross. Only the blood He shed on the cross could cover mankind s sins and give salvation to all. The Lord had the power to avoid going to the cross, but He went to Calvary as a Lamb led to the slaughter. The Lord could have come down from the cross, but He hung there as a condemned man for sinners. It was not the nails but rather His love for sinners that kept Jesus on the cross. Marc Shultz 10

12 Saturday, March 3 Christ Suffered for Sins 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, 1 Peter 3:18. A student in my second grade class had her lunch money stolen from her purse. Our teacher asked the guilty person to confess. He did not do so. The teacher decided that no one in class would be allowed to go outside for recess. The student who took the lunch money never confessed. The students who did not steal the lunch money had to pay the price for the theft. Death is the biblical penalty for sin. Jesus paid the penalty of sin for us so we could have eternal life in Heaven. Jesus suffered pain on the cross. There was the pain of the nails that pierced His hands. There was the pain on His heart as it struggled to pump what blood was left in His body. There was the pain of the bodily organs that were deprived of blood. Jesus died a painful death. Why did Jesus suffer the pain of the cross? He knew it was the only way to pay the sin debt for all humanity. Jesus even died for those who have never accepted Him as Savior. Their sins could have been covered if they had only accepted Christ as Savior. Jesus died for all. If Jesus had not suffered on the cross, believers could not experience the bliss of Heaven. Marc Shultz 11

13 Sunday, March 4 Our Perfect High Priest Hebrews 7:25-27 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them, Hebrews 7:25. The high priests of biblical times pictured the Great High Priest Jesus Christ. They were sinners who needed atonement. Jesus is sinless and needs no atonement. They offered sacrifices on a continual basis. Jesus offered Himself on the cross once for all sins. They died never to live again. Jesus died and rose from the grave the third day according to the prophecy of Scriptures. They were mere men. Jesus is God. The high priests of biblical times where given a serious duty. They were obligated to perform that duty according to God s instruction. To fail to do so meant death. They were required to make a sacrifice for their own sins before offering a sacrifice for others. They offered daily sacrifices for sin as a reminder of the need for atonement. It took Jesus, the Great High Priest, to make the eternal sacrifice that would be acceptable to God the Father. The Lord did not institute the office of high priest in the New Testament church. Jesus had completed the picture of Old Testament sacrifices in His death on the cross. The Bible contains the historical account of Jesus death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. We accept, by faith, the historical accuracy of the scriptural account of Jesus sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus is the One and only Great High Priest. Marc Shultz 12

14 Monday, March 5 Demands of Holiness Isaiah 6:1-8 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts, Isaiah 6:5. A young man was going home to visit his father for the first time in many years. His dad was a retired drill sergeant who preferred the military way of life. He knew his father would not approve of his longer hairstyle. In respect of his father the son cut his hair before coming home. He wanted to please his father. As children of God we should desire to please our Heavenly Father. In our fallen state, we are far from perfect. Being imperfect does not mean we are excused from living a life-style acceptable to God. Living in a sinful world does not excuse us from living a Christlike life. What does God expect from us? He expects nothing less than our reasonable service (Rom. 12:1). He does not expect us to be perfect, but we are to strive for holiness. Holiness demands a change in our sinful culture. We must transform our desires to reflect the desires of God. We must change our attitude about sin. We must seek to resist the temptation to sin. We must fill our lives with godly actions and words. We cannot compare ourselves to God because He is perfect and we are not. The Christian s desire must be to live as closely as possible to the example of Jesus Christ. Marc Shultz 13

15 Tuesday, March 6 Called Unto Holiness 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more, 1 Thessalonians 4:1. It was the last conversation a father and son had before the son moved away to college. For the first time, the son would be on his own, making his own decisions. The father reminded his son not to forget the values he had learned. The final words of advice from the father to his son were, Make me proud of you, son. What good advice! A good acronym for the letters of the word Bible would be Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. God has given us a standard by which to live. It is the Word of God. Within the words of Scripture, we see the instructions that teach us how to live a life-style that pleases God. The Holy Spirit leads the child of God to follow the path laid out by the Scriptures. No one will ever go wrong by obeying the Word of God. Too often Christians view the Christian life-style as an option rather than a demand. They think that, since salvation is by grace and not by works, they are free to live as they wish. They succumb to the lusts of the sinful flesh rather than obey the call to Christian living. God is not pleased by a sinful life-style. God expects something better of us. We must expect something better of ourselves! Marc Shultz 14

16 Wednesday, March 7 A Peculiar People 1 Peter 2:9-12 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, 1 Peter 2:9. In junior high school, I was a member of the concert choir. Twice a year, we performed concerts for the student body. On those days we were to wear our choral uniforms. For the boys, it consisted of blue jeans, white shirt, red tie and vest. On those days, members of the concert choir stood out from the rest of the student body. We were indeed peculiar. Christians are called to be peculiar. This does not mean to be odd or strange but to stand out from the norm. Christians are to distinguish themselves from the world by action, appearance and deed. We are not to follow the example of the lost but of Jesus Christ our Savior. We are not to speak like the world but according to our Christian character. Even our appearance should distinguish us as children of God. To fail to do so fails Christ. Ask yourself this question, if I were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me? For some children of God there would not be enough evidence to convict them. Do your family and friends know you are a child of God? Do your neighbors and coworkers know you have professed Christ as Savior? If not, why not? As Christians we are to reflect the character of Jesus Christ. Marc Shultz 15

17 Thursday, March 8 God Dwells in Them 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people, 2 Corinthians 6:16. The sign over the entrance of a cafe stated, A place you can bring your mother. They were proud of their family oriented establishment. A good rule to live by is to never go anywhere you would be ashamed to take your mother. As a child of God, the Holy Spirit indwells you. Wherever you go, you take God with you because the Holy Spirit is God. Whatever you do is done in the presence of God. Whatever you say is heard by God. In fact, nothing escapes God s attention. This fact should cause us to always be on our best behavior. Children of God should not associate with heretical doctrines. To do so is like doing something that would greatly offend your mother. God loves truth. He inspired doctrinal truth to prove the preaching of the gospel and winning of souls to salvation. Gospel truth promotes spiritual growth. Since the Holy Spirit indwells believers, there is no room for idolatrous or heretical associations. God expects us to live by His standard. Any association that does not promote spiritual growth has no place in the life of a child of God. God s people should avoid things that do not please God. Do not do anything you would not do in God s presence. Marc Shultz 16

18 Friday, March 9 Be a Doer of the Word James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves, James 1:22. One of the leaders of a particular church was fond of saying, We can do anything we want to as long as we get our want to fixed. The problem was that this man did not want to get his want to fixed. He was fine with things the way they were and did not want to change. It is one thing to hear the Word of God and understand its instructions. It is quite another thing to put those instructions into action. The reason it is difficult to put into action is because we do not want to admit what kind of person we are. The Bible is like a mirror. It reflects our true condition. To make corrections means we are less than perfect. That is difficult to admit. Make the Word of God personal. See yourself in every word. Take every instruction to heart. Do not dismiss any part of the Scriptures. When you hear the Word of God preached, ask yourself how it relates to you. Consider how best to follow the instruction you receive. Someone once said the Bible was the best self-help book ever. In reality, it is not a self-help book. It is God s instructions to us on how to live for Him. God s Word not only tells us what He expects of us but also what pleases Him. It is left up to us to follow His instructions. Pleasing God is simple. Obey His Word! Marc Shultz 17

19 Saturday, March 10 The Way of the Heathen Jeremiah 10:1, 2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them, Jeremiah 10:2. The sign on a park bench reads, Wet paint. One man, rather than believing the sign, puts his finger on the back of the bench, and it is smeared with paint. A friend who is accompanying him has seen two important pieces of instruction the wet paint sign and the experience of his friend. Unfortunately, he believes neither and sticks his finger on the park bench, too. He did not learn his lessons well. The ways of the Lord are not favored by the heathen. He finds them too restricting and limiting. He finds fault in them rather than obeying them. He suffers pain and sorrow throughout life because he refuses to follow the ways of the Lord. His life should serve as a reminder of the grief caused by disobedience to God. We should learn not to do the things they do. We can learn from God what to do. We can learn from the heathen what not to do. Both are good ways to learn our lessons. Unfortunately, we often do not learn our lessons. We do not learn from God s Word and suffer the consequences of sin. We do not learn from the heathen and follow his bad example. We suffer similar consequences as he faced. When we suffer for doing wrong, we have only ourselves to blame. Follow the Word of God and not the ways of the heathen. Marc Shultz 18

20 Be Ye Holy Sunday, March 11 1 Peter 1:15, 16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, 1 Peter 1:15. A man lived on the Mason-Dixon line dividing the northern states from the southern states during the Civil War. He had friends on both sides of the conflict and refused to choose sides. While working in his fields one day, he wore the blue jacket of the Union army and gray pants of the Confederate army. A Confederate soldier shot him in the chest and a Union soldier shot him in the leg. He would have been better off making a commitment to one side or the other. It is impossible to be a Christian while living as the world. A child of God should make a commitment to living like Christ. Many saved people have not made that commitment. While they enjoy the assurance of salvation, they continue to live trying to satisfy the flesh. In so doing, they will not only suffer the wrath of God but the consequences of their lack of commitment to Him. Jesus Christ should be our example. He will not ask us to do anything He has not already done. It requires commitment to live for Christ. It means denying the lusts of the flesh. It means surrendering every part of your life to Jesus Christ. Attempting to please God while living as the world will end in futility. Marc Shultz 19

21 Monday, March 12 Make No Idols! Exodus 20:4, 5 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, Exodus 20:4. Our neighbors at the time seemed like a normal couple. Both the husband and wife worked during the week and pretty much kept to themselves. Every Friday afternoon as soon as they returned home from work they went to their cabin on the lake. They also stayed at the cabin during holidays. They had no time for church because of the cabin. The cabin was their idol because it took the place of God. We often ridicule people who bow down to statues as though they were God. This is a foolish practice. Far more people worship idols while never bowing down to a statue. Anything a person places above God is an idol. They may not consider it a god, but if it prevents them from worshiping God, it is an idol. The idol many people worship is pleasure. They will forsake God to do things that bring them pleasure. Nothing can bring as much satisfaction and joy as worshiping and serving God. God must be our first priority. We must not place anything or anyone above Him. We should devote our greatest energy toward serving God. We must achieve our greatest pleasure in worshiping God. We must seek God s will first. We should put God first because He put us first. Marc Shultz 20

22 Tuesday, March 13 The Foolishness of Idolatry Psalm 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men s hands, Psalm 115:4. I remember playing with toy soldiers when I was a young man. Those toy soldiers were inanimate objects. They could not speak, and they could not give orders. They could not move their hands so they could not fire a weapon. Their legs could not move so they could not charge the enemy. It would have been foolish to go into battle with a toy soldier. It is also foolish to worship idols. An idol is something we put before God. Can an idol create the heavens and earth? God did. Can an idol create living things? God did. Can an idol divide the waters of the Red Sea or can an idol feed a multitude of thousands with five loaves of bread and two fishes? God did. Can an idol cause a storm to cease and the wind to be calm? God did. In fact, God can do everything, and idols can do nothing. The most important thing an idol cannot do is save a soul. I would not want to trust idols to save my soul any more than I would want to trust toy soldiers to win a battle. I know what God has done for me. He blesses me daily. I can depend on Him each moment of every day. Knowing what God has already done for me, why should I worship anyone else? God is the one and only God. An idol is contained in a statue. God is in all the universe! Marc Shultz 21

23 Wednesday, March 14 A Picture of Obedience Matthew 7:24, 25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock, Matthew 7:24. My father once instructed me to wash and wax the family car. Washing the car was not difficult, and I was finished in a few minutes. Next came the waxing. This was a much more labor intensive job. When I was finished with the job, Dad inspected my work. He knew the car had been washed because it was clean. He knew I had waxed the car because it glistened. Dad knew I had obeyed his instructions. In the parable, it is not difficult to see which was the wise man and which was the foolish man. The wise man took time to build his house on the proper foundation. When the storm came, his house stood firm. The foolish man did the convenient thing and build his house on the sand. When the storm came, his house was reduced to rubble. When we make wise choices in life, we have a stable foundation for life, and the trials and tribulations that come will not shake our faith. When we make foolish choices, the consequences of our actions are clearly evident. Each of us is accountable for the choices we make. We cannot blame anyone else when we suffer for making foolish choices. We will be blessed when we make wise choices. Does your life indicate whether you are foolish or wise? Marc Shultz 22

24 Thursday, March 15 God Speaks Through Events Amos 4:7, 8 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered, Amos 4:7. The players on a baseball team are playing without passion. They are on the short end of the score and show no promise of a comeback to win the game. There is a close play at home and the runner is called out. The manager of the team disputes the call with the umpire. After a heated argument, the umpire throws the manager out of the game. The manager knew the umpire had made the correct call. He was sending a message to his team to play with more passion. In many passages in the Bible, we find God attempting to get His message across to a stubborn people. He often had to resort to difficult means to get their attention. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush and told him to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt. God spoke to Joseph in a dream to tell him what would transpire in his life. God spoke to Gideon through a fleece. There are times in the Bible that God did not allow rain to come to prove His displeasure. While these messages were not verbal, God got His message across. When God has something to say, He knows how to get His message across. Marc Shultz 23

25 Friday, March 16 Confession and Forgiveness Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Psalm 32:5. Imagine carrying a heavy anvil on your back. It constantly causes pain and stress when you attempt to move. The weight is too much to bear. One day you decide to quit carrying around the heavy anvil. There was no benefit to carrying it. As soon as you unburdened yourself, life became a great deal more pleasant. Carrying the weight of unconfessed sin can be as stressful as carrying around a heavy anvil. There is the constant worry about the sin becoming known. There is the guilt of committing the sin in the first place. There is no reason to carry this burden another step. Confess the sin to God. He already knows about it anyway. Ask God to forgive you of the sin. When you do, He will certainly forgive you. Once this has happened, you will see how much sorrow and stress will be lifted from your life. If you continue to carry the weight of unconfessed and unforgiven sin, it is by choice you do so. There is nothing good that will be accomplished by doing so. Continuing to refuse to confess and repent of sin will hinder your walk with God. Find the peace that forgiveness brings. Do not waste another moment in seeking divine forgiveness. Only your stubbornness prevents you from finding the peace of divine forgiveness. Marc Shultz 24

26 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy, Proverbs 28:13. Saturday, March 17 Cover or Confess? Proverbs 28:13 It is almost suppertime and mother has told her son not to eat any chocolate. A few minutes later she asks him if he disobeyed her and ate any chocolate. The lad has two options. Either he can confess he had eaten the chocolate and suffer the consequences or lie and hope he gets by with his deception. The lad professes innocence. The problem is that his mother knows he has eaten the chocolate because it is all over his face. There is no reason to hide our sins from God because He knows about them. Nothing is hidden from the face of God. Attempting to cover up our sins is as natural as sinning itself. Why is it so difficult to confess our sins? We do not want to admit we have messed up. We are anxious about the consequences of our actions. The longer we refuse to confess and turn away from our sins, the more difficult it will be to do so. What is the proper response toward sin? First, confess sin. No one is perfect. Imperfection is not an excuse for sin. We need to swallow our pride and admit to God what we have done. Then, we need to repent. To repent is to turn away from the sin that we have confessed. We have assurance that God will forgive our sin. God will help us live a life that honors Him. Marc Shultz 25

27 Sunday, March 18 The Benefit of Chastisement Hebrews 12:5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him, Hebrews 12:5. Imagine as a child you lived on a busy street. Your parents told you to play in the backyard and not go near the busy street. One day, your mother found you next to the street and punished you for disobeying her. Why did she punish you? She knew the danger of playing near the street. She also wanted to teach you to obey authority. She punished you because she loved you. God has a definite way He wants us to live. It is outlined in the Bible. The restrictions He places on us are not to keep us from being happy but to keep us from harm. If God did not love us, He would allow us to live any way we desired without chastisement. God knows the harm that sin causes. He loves us so much. He wants to prevent us from suffering any harm. When gentle rebuke does not cause us to turn away from sinful activity, He will bring stronger measures to cause us to consider our ways. God loves us as a parent loves a child. He wants the best for us. He only chastises us when we refuse to turn away from our sinful activity. Divine chastisement punishes and instructs. Marc Shultz 26

28 Monday, March 19 God Faithfully Leads Nehemiah 9:12-19 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go, Nehemiah 9:12. I once drove in a funeral procession to a cemetery. I was unsure of the location. I did not have to worry as long as I followed the police officer in front of my car. His flashing lights were difficult to miss. I followed every turn he made and easily found my way to the cemetery. The children of Israel were in foreign land in the wilderness. God wanted them to know they were not alone. During the day a cloud in the sky reassured them God was with them. When the cloud moved, they were to follow the cloud. When it did not move, they were to stay where they were. When the sun set and the cloud could not be seen, there was a pillar of fire to once again reassure them that God had not forsaken them. God will lead His children in the paths of righteousness. They need only follow His leadership to travel the paths God would have them to go. We follow God s leadership by faith. We trust God has our best interest in mind. We trust He knows how to lead us toward His perfect will. We need to be good followers. We must not venture away from the paths God has laid out before us. We do so at our own peril. God is leading. How well are you following? Marc Shultz 27

29 Tuesday, March 20 Learn by Their Example 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Corinthians 10:11. I remember watching a movie where a sheriff was attempting to pull over a speeding car in a rural area. The fleeing driver did not know the area and turned down a country road. Suddenly, he noticed there was no bridge across the creek and he drove his car into the water. The sheriff noticed the plight of the driver and stopped his car before it plunged into the water. The Bible records how God took care of the children of Israel during their forty years in the wilderness. God took care of their every spiritual need. Paul recalled these events in his first letter to the Corinthian church members to teach them that God would also care for them. Consider other biblical examples of divine care. God cared for Noah and his family and spared them from the flood. God cared for Ruth and Naomi and provided a near kinsman to care for them in life. The Lord cared for His disciples and calmed the storm so their boat would not sink. With such examples of how God cared for His own, we should never worry about the circumstances that we may face. God cares as much for us and will take care of us. We can know we are always on God s mind and in His heart. Trust God. He knows what He is doing. Marc Shultz 28

30 Exodus 40:36-38 Wednesday, March 21 God s Certain Directions Exodus 40:36-38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys, Exodus 40:38. The Magnolia building once was the tallest building in downtown Dallas, Texas. Atop the building was a neon flying red horse sign, the corporate symbol of the Mobil Oil Company. If anyone got lost in downtown Dallas, he could look for the flying red horse and get his bearings. A person will never fail when he follows God s directions. Noah had never built an ark, but he followed God s blueprint and the ark floated. Moses did not feel comfortable speaking to large crowds, but he followed God s will and led the children of Israel out of Egypt. David was a young man when he became the king of Israel, but he followed God s will and was known as a man after God s own heart. Simon Peter was only a fisherman, but he followed the Lord and became a great preacher of the gospel. There are some things we can know about God that are a certainty. God is always there when we need Him. He will not forsake us. He knows the best paths for us to follow and will lead us in those paths. God will never steer us the wrong way. Since God has laid out the best paths for us, it is our duty to travel those paths. The Holy Spirit warns us when we get off those paths. Whether or not we travel as God leads is an individual decision. We cannot blame God if we do not follow His directions. Marc Shultz 29

31 Thursday, March 22 Follow Your Shepherd John 10:1-5 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice, John 10:4. My third grade class was on a field trip to a planetarium along with several other classes from the school. We sat together during the presentation. When it came time to leave the planetarium, my teacher stood and said, My class follow me to the bus. We recognized her voice and followed her to the bus. Sheep are totally dependent on the shepherd. The shepherd looks out for the welfare of his flock. At times they might intermingle with the flocks of other shepherds. When it is time to travel, the shepherd calls his sheep. They recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow him. The Lord is our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1). He looks out for our welfare. We are to follow the directions of the Lord as closely as sheep follow their shepherd. There are false shepherds who would lead us astray. They will not lead us in the paths of righteousness but in the way of danger. These false shepherds do not have our best interests at heart but are wolves in sheep s clothing. Jesus will not lead us in the path of temptation but in the path of righteousness. He will lead us away from the unseen enemy and toward the green pastures and calm waters. The Lord loves us as a shepherd loves his sheep. You must know the Lord as Shepherd to follow Him. Marc Shultz 30

32 Friday, March 23 God Promises To Guide Psalm 32:7, 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye, Psalm 32:8. In stock car racing, each driver has a spotter. His spotter stands high above the track and watches the race. He has open communication with the driver. If there is a danger on the track that prevents the driver from seeing what is ahead, the spotter guides the driver through the danger with vocal commands. In life, there are hidden dangers that could cause us harm. We also have a spotter to guide us through these perils. Our spotter is God. Unlike us, He knows the dangers that lie ahead. He will guide us through these perils. All we need to do is listen to Him through the Holy Spirit. We have to trust God to guide us. He guides us through the instructions of the Scriptures. The Bible is God s plan for daily living. It will never steer us the wrong way. God also guides us through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Conviction tells us that we are doing something wrong and to get back on the right path. While God has promised to guide us through life, whether or not we follow His leadership is an individual decision. Rebellion against the leadership of God will place us in peril. Following God s guidance will bring blessings. Following someone who is not godly will bring us sorrow. God s guidance is clear in His Word. There is no reason not to follow it. It takes faith to trust a God you cannot see to lead you through the perils that are seen. Marc Shultz 31

33 Saturday, March 24 God Guides with His Counsel Psalm 73:23-26 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory, Psalm 73:24. When Lyndon Johnson became President of the United States after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, he knew he needed help leading the country. He called the two living former presidents to meet him in the Oval Office. He sought the counsel of Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower to help him guide the nation. God is the ultimate guide. He guides us according to His perfect will. Why should we follow God s guidance? He knows all things. His knowledge helps us through the circumstances of which we have no knowledge. God is in control of all things. There is nothing God cannot do. He can remove obstacles that are before us or He can guide us through or around those obstacles. The counsel of God is available throughout life. We can always call on Him in time of trouble, and He will hear our plea. He knows the perils that are before us and will not allow us to be defeated by them. God is eager to guide, but everyone is not ready to follow Him. Jonah ignored God s leadership and spent three days and nights in the belly of a whale. Noah followed God s leadership and built an ark. He and his family were spared from the flood. The perils of not following God s guidance are great. The blessings of following His paths are tremendous. The choice is left to the individual. Do you follow the Lord s guidance daily? Marc Shultz 32

34 Sunday, March 25 Assurance of God s Guidance Proverbs 3:5, 6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths, Proverbs 3:5, 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Total commitment is necessary to follow the Lord. We have to trust God with the big things as well as the small things. We have to trust God in every circumstance. Trusting the Lord requires faith. Faith trusts everything to God without knowing the end result. Lean not to your own understanding. You do not know everything you think you know. In fact, your knowledge is but a speck when compared to God s knowledge. You may think you have everything figured out, but you do not. Trust the One who knows everything. In all your ways acknowledge God. Make God a part of your total life. Do not acknowledge Him only on Sunday but acknowledge Him every day of the week. Do not look for Him in times of trouble but in every moment and circumstance of life. Read God s Word daily. Pray to God constantly. Seek God in everything. Do not exclude God from anything. God will direct your paths. He is concerned about you. He wants the best for you. God alone knows how to make your life all it can be. He knows how to bring joy out of sorrow and peace out of despair. If God is your copilot, guess who is sitting in the wrong seat? Marc Shultz 33

35 Monday, March 26 He Wholly Followed the Lord Joshua 14:7-14 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God, Joshua 14:8. Men and women who are totally surrendered to God s path for their lives are a rare breed; some, you might say, are physically challenged. Some, as Joshua, are farsighted; they see past the giants before them to the land God has chosen for them to possess. They are deaf to the grumbling, gripping and whining at the size of the task and hear only the Holy Spirit s call to action. Although their bodies are mere human, weak and frail, they are satisfied to be strengthened by God and Him alone. It is these men and women who will make the roll call of faith. Some will give their lives for Christ and will be included in the list of martyred saints. The few, the brave, the minority are willing to go and tell the good news of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. They are called to the streets of the inner cities, the country roads of small towns and villages they are called and they wholly follow the Lord. Our challenge is to take the message of salvation to our neighbors, friends, coworkers and family members. We are to support foreign and interstate missionaries with our money and prayers. We are to wholly follow the Lord where He leads, surrender our fears and step forward by faith! Oh, Heavenly Father, help me to be blind to the giants in my path and help me conquer the land before me for your honor and glory. Amen. Marc Shultz 34

36 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1. Tuesday, March 27 No Reason for Fear Psalm 27:1-5 David faced a tremendous amount of fear as he ran for his life from King Saul. Each near miss gave him more not less confidence in the Lord. The darkness always gave in to the light, an attribute of God that is repeated in Jesus as the Light of the world. Jesus knew His disciples would face an enormous amount of fear as they were opposed and ridiculed by the religious zealots of their time. His message to them and to us today is do not fear. We are not immune to feelings of fear just because we are believers in and followers of Christ. Satan uses fear to hinder the work of the Lord on earth fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of being unable to repay a debt, fear of a lawsuit, fear of this and that. It does not matter the cause of our fears. What matters is that the Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1), and He is on our side. When circumstances are against us and the cold winds of doubt blow around us, pray and seek God s favor and remember that the God who created Heaven and earth is for us. He wants what is best for us and not harm. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord (verse 14). Wait not fearfully; wait confidently. Fear is paralyzing. It stops one from taking the next step. Sometimes, as in the case of a rattlesnake in the path, it is good; however, in the Lord s work it can be a killer. Beverly Barnett 35

37 Wednesday, March 28 In Whom God Delights Psalm 147:10, 11 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy, Psalm 147:10, 11. Things of strength and beauty often please the eye and bring pleasure for a moment. However, we can be thankful that Creator God does not delight in things that will grow old and weak, but He is pleased by a respectful heart and one who has his or her hope in Jesus Christ. Society leans in the other direction, toward beauty and strength, for example, advertisements. Markets are created by companies offering products that will keep us from getting wrinkles, color our gray hair, restore hair and keep us strong and virile despite the ticking of the age clock. It is wonderful that our relationship with God, not our outward appearance, is what is most important to Him. Even though He is our Creator and sustainer, He is not worried about how we look on any given day but how we love and respect Him and how we treat the sacrifice of His Son. A bad hair day or a no hair day (even though He knows the numbers) is not what is important to Him. It is the relationship between you and Jesus that makes Him smile. It is because of this relationship that He blesses and protects His children. (See Psalm 33:18-22.) How about you? Do you cause delight in the heart of God? Have you given Him your heart and made Him Lord in your life? If not, today is a great day to do it. Right now, stop and praise Him and thank Him for His strength, wisdom and loving care over us! Beverly Barnett 36

38 Thursday, March 29 God Is Our Refuge Psalm 46:1-11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46:11. Psalm 46, like many others, is a song of praise and applauds the strength, majesty and attributes of God. The Key Verse is repeated twice as the chorus or reflective point of Psalm 46. It is a reminder of how Jacob and the whole beginning nation of Israel was saved from starvation by God s providential care and how He is ever watchful over them now and in the future. Praise God, He has the same love and care for believers no matter what ethnicity they claim. God is our refuge from the hectic race of life, from the storms, the defeats and the diseases that weaken our resolve day to day. He is our refuge even as violence fills our land and through the sin-cursed trials that befall mankind. He is steadfast and sure though the rivers rage and the fiery trials seek us out. We can confidently lie down and sleep while God keeps watch. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). We should run to the Father, as a child runs to his parents when he is scared or injured. Run to the Father, place yourself in His arms. He will pull you to Himself and hold you safely in His arms. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies (Psalm 18:2, 3). God is our refuge praise Him. Beverly Barnett 37

39 Friday, March 30 You Can Trust Him! I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust, Psalm 91:2. Psalm 91:1-10 Dear God, what am I supposed to do? asked missionary Marge Elam. I am so worried for my little girl. I am not able to hover over her to protect her. The night was warm and quite dark. I could hear several alligators not far from the house calling back and forth in their strange creaky way. Nightbirds, frogs and other night creatures added their sounds as a background to my prayer. I soundlessly left my bed and felt my way to the hammock where my eightyear-old slept. Lord, she has to ride her bicycle alone two miles through the jungle to go to school. There are many wild things out there, and always snakes. While looking down at the faint outline of my sleeping child with her small white face pillowed on her bent arm, a memory went across my mind. It was the other day: her eyes were large with excitement, her voice almost squeaked, Mom, it was the biggest, fattest snake. Its body stretched all the way across the road. I did not know what to do, so I just pulled up my legs and rode my bike over it. I could actually hear the thump of my own heart in the darkness. Then, I heard a voice. It almost seemed to come out of the darkness, but I knew it was inside of me. He said, I was able to take care of your daughter in the United States, and I am able to take care of her here as well. After that, I was able to sleep the night through and every night since then for seventeen years. I knew that if He was able to take care of one eight-year-old girl, He was able to take care of everything else. Trust God, He can... Beverly Barnett 38

40 Saturday, March 31 The Source of Our Help Psalm 121:1-8 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth, Psalm 121:2. The Lord wants us to trust Him to help us through the situations we face every day. Traveling from one town to the next in a foreign country may not be as simple as it is in America. Many foreign countries have few highway rules and often there is no enforcement of the laws. A former missionary and his spouse narrowly missed many serious accidents, but for the help of God. One such time, they were driving on a curvy mountain road when they met a delivery truck passing another truck in a switchback curve. Somehow God squeezed all three of the vehicles through the curve without a scratch. They gratefully acknowledged they had witnessed the helping hand of God at work. Later, the same couple was traveling in the states on deputation when suddenly a log truck loaded with logs rounded a curve. The driver took the sharp curve faster than he should have. As a result, the driver ran onto the shoulder of the road. He overcorrected. The truck jackknifed. The heavily loaded trailer hit the cab flipping the truck on its side. It skidded toward the couple s car. The cab and trailer separated. The cab continued off the road where it uprighted itself. The logs and trailer never changed course and kept heading toward the car as the logs began to separate from the trailer. When the dust cleared, logs were about fifty feet from the car and passengers. Thankfully, the driver of the truck was only slightly injured. The Lord had been their helper and protector. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand (Psalm 121:5). Beverly Barnett 39

41 Sunday, April 1 No Fear with God Isaiah 41:10-14 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness, Isaiah 41:10. The second verse of Fernand Ortega s hymn How Firm a Foundation follows quite closely to the words of the Key Verse. Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid, I ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. While believers are not promised a life of ease, we are promised that we will not go through life alone. Although Jesus was rejected by many and crucified by His own people, yet, He was not alone. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). We can have peace during tribulation if we remember that God s strength is available. When children are small, we like to hold their hand when crossing a busy street or in a crowded store. The adult is holding the hand of the child. It is He who is holding our hand and His grasp is strong and secure. There is reassurance in knowing that He will be with us in every situation. He is able to help us through. Fear not, with His help we can be victorious in any situation. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee (Isa. 41:13). Beverly Barnett 40

42 Monday, April 2 Christ Became Sin for Us 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Corinthians 5:21. When you awoke this morning, did it occur to you that God loves you so much that He allowed His Son to become sin for you? It is true. Jesus came to this earth to seek and to save the lost. The only way He could do that was to become the ultimate sinless sacrifice (John 8:46; Heb. 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). He did for us what we could not do for ourselves, that is, He became the pure and holy sacrifice required to satisfy the debt of sin once and for all time (Heb. 10:12). He died and conquered death through His resurrection, giving us access to God through Himself. What a Savior! Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24). The followers of other religions of the world must appease their god(s) by giving or doing penance or good deeds that they might work their way out of condemnation. What if one committed a sin before he died? All hope would be gone. How sad to believe such a lie. Jesus, thank You for Your willingness to become my sacrifice and the sacrifice for all mankind. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Beverly Barnett 41

43 Tuesday, April 3 Jesus Was Lifted Up John 12:31-33 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me, John 12:32. Jesus never wasted a teachable moment. A crowd gathered. Those who saw Jesus raise Lazarus were back to see more as Jesus entered Jerusalem. They paved the way with palm branches and coats to signify the entrance of the King while shouting, Hosanna; blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest (Mark 11:9, 10). It was His hour of glory and, yet, not the reason for His earthly presence (John 12:23). Jesus central mission on earth was to be the sacrifice for sin. Those who believe can be saved from the penalty of sin. Jesus took the opportunity to teach them and us how significant His death on the cross is for all humanity. Jesus death is the first and last complete payment for our separation from God by sin. As Moses lifted up the serpent heavenward, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up for all mankind to have an opportunity to be saved (John 3:14). He must die but He also must rise. He must rise from the grave to Heaven and because of His shed blood obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12). The skeptical people missed the point of His teaching. The Son of Man stood before them, but they could not see Him as the sacrifice for their sin. They saw merely a teacher not a Savior. They turned away unconverted. Jesus be praised He is come to seek and to save! Beverly Barnett 42

44 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved, Romans 10:9. Wednesday, April 4 The Remedy for Sin Romans 10:9-13 Have you ever known sick people who go to a doctor and not take the medicine the doctor prescribed? It is frustrating to see them ill. We have seen the same behavior in lost people. One such man, we will call Joe. Joe, a working alcoholic and drug user, was married three times and cohabitated with many other women. The occasion came when a pastor had the opportunity to witness to Joe and tell him about Jesus. The remedy for his sins was simple. Confess the Lord Jesus and believe in his heart that God had raised Him from the dead and he could be saved. Jesus could make a difference with Joe and the relationship with his estranged children. If he accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord of his life, he would have immeasurable help to put down the daily pint of liquor and throw away the uppers needed to keep him alert for his job. As a result, his relationship with his current wife would improve. He refused. Joe kept drinking and using drugs and wife number three left him. He moved on, lost and unchanged. Joe moved in with other women and they left, too. Finally, one woman let him move in with her and her teen daughter. His inhibitions were lowered during an alcohol and drug binge and he took advantage of the young girl. He is now in prison where he will probably die. Jesus is the remedy for Joe s sin, but he refuses. The remedy for sin is Jesus. Beverly Barnett 43

45 Thursday, April 5 Nehushtan No Substitute for Faith He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan, 2 Kings 18:4. 2 Kings 18:4-7 A symbol of faith soon becomes an idol when people forget its true meaning. It was so with the serpent Moses formed in the wilderness. The children of Israel had been rescued from Egypt because God had heard their cries. God sent Moses to lead them out of the land, and he did. While they journeyed from Mount Hor, the route took them by way of the Red Sea, to Edom. They started whining, gripping and murmuring against God and Moses. This was a bad idea. Poisonous snakes began to bite them and many died. They repented. God told Moses to make a brass serpent and put it on a rod. God explained to Moses that, if anyone were bitten, they could look at the serpent on the rod and they would not die. Moses did as he was told. The people complied and looked to the brass snake that was symbolic of their trust in God for healing. As time passed, what was once a monument of God s goodness and mercy, a symbol of faith in God to heal them from the snake bites, became an idol. King Hezekiah, a devoted follower of the Lord, had enough. He broke the brass serpent into pieces and called it Nehushtan which means pieces of brass. Afterward, he called the people to worship the one true living God. He [Hezekiah] trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him (2 Kings 18:5). 44 Beverly Barnett

46 Friday, April 6 Praise Him for Victory Psalm 135:5-13 Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations, Psalm 135:13. This Psalm, from beginning to end, is about praising God from creation to victory over those who worship false gods to blessed present-day faithful church members. It is a reminder of the greatness and majesty of our God. We are all guilty of not enough daily praising of God. We get so busy and wrapped up in life and what is going on right now that we overlook God. It is good for us to pause for a moment and appreciate God. Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant (Psalm 135:1, 3). As individuals with much to be thankful for, we could write a personalized list of blessings. Next, compose a chorus of praise to Almighty God, and, as this Psalm exemplifies, sing it to Him in honor and admiration. If we developed this into a spiritual habit, it could possibly make us happier and more thankful people: (1) there would be less dwelling on the negative, (2) more dwelling on the positive, (3) we would become more God conscious of His work going on around us. Not only would this make us happier people, but the people around us would see there is something different about us and want to know what makes us different. God is victorious! Praise Him. Beverly Barnett 45

47 Saturday, April 7 He Remembers and Redeems Psalm 136:16-26 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: and hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever, Psalm 136:23, 24. God loves people. After all, He created us for companionship and fellowship. He created us with a free will to choose to love Him or not and to accept or reject a relationship with Him. For a while in the Garden of Eden a beautiful relationship bloomed. God would come down in the cool, evening air to walk and talk with Adam. Sin broke the relationship. Sin separated God from Adam and Eve. However, God provided payment for sin. Although Adam and Eve realized their sin and made their own covering, it was not enough. God required blood. He offered a blood sacrifice that foretold of the one and only perfect sacrifice His Son Jesus Christ. From Adam s sin forward, people have been born with a sin nature. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Rom. 5:12). The Lord truly is merciful. He remembered us and sent us a Savior. Jesus Christ made a way of pardon for sin. We were hopeless in our sin but the Creator of mercy could not leave us in that awful state. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Eph. 2:4, 5). We have so much to be thankful for including God the Father who remembers us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and redeemed us from the grip of Satan. Beverly Barnett 46

48 Look and Live! Sunday, April 8 John 3:14, 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life, John 3:15. We are glad that this verse declares, Whosoever believeth in him. Whether Jew or Gentile, man or woman, boy or girl, rich or poor, vilest of sinners or kindest of sinners, Christ offers forgiveness of unbelief and eternal life. We are delighted that salvation it is not based on merits or money. We are blessed that Christ beckons the living dead to look to His sacrifice on the cross for sin and live. For that reason, we are blessed that He not only offers salvation for all eternity, but He offers the best life possible while we are earth bound. We have heard many testify that, before they were saved, they thought they were living a good life. Since they have put their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior and He has control over their lives, they now know what they were missing. In Jesus, we have a constant companion through any trial or problem we face. He is our burden bearer, load lifter and our prayer warrior, interceding and deciphering our prayers, taking them to the Father on the throne (Rom. 8:34). Moses did as God instructed him and made a brass serpent. He suspended it on a pole and told anyone who was bitten by a serpent to look at it and they would be healed. We do not think they hesitated in obeying the instructions to be healed and live. Today, many stumble over the simplicity of salvation. All that is required is to believe in Him. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died, was buried and rose again. How simple is that? It is so simple that a little child can believe. Look to Jesus as Savior and live! Beverly Barnett 47

49 Monday, April 9 A Portrait of Unbelief Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye, Acts 7:51. Acts 7:44-52 Deacon Stephen had one final sermon for the condescending crowd of religious elites, and it was not the ear tickler type one might expect. He preached reviewing the historical past of Israel bringing them up to their present time. The crowd remained civil until he pointed out their unchanged hearts. Have you ever experienced a crick in your neck? This painful malady occurs when one sleeps with one s head and neck misaligned or holds one s head in a certain position for a long period of time, resulting in a muscle spasm which will eventually resolve on its own. However, this naturally occurring stiff neck was not what Stephen was referring to but rather the stubbornness of an unbelieving person. Stephen had no time for smooth, syrupy words. The Pharisees were indeed resisting change. The word stiff-necked referred to an ox that would not give its neck to the right or left; therefore, rendering it useless for its intended job of plowing. The Pharisees would not give their heads or hearts and accept Christ Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. The phrase uncircumcised in heart and ears was a metaphor for stubbornness and resistance to reproof and correction. The Pharisees were perfect in their own eyes. They saw no need for change. How dare this radical, Christ-follower Stephen accuse this ultra religious group of being uncircumcised! They followed every outward expression of the Law of Moses as did their forefathers but inside they were unrepentant. The crowd took Stephen outside the city and stoned him. Stiff necks and closed ears continue today as many leave with unrepentant hearts resistant to the conviction of the Holy Spirit after hearing the Word preached. 48 Beverly Barnett

50 Tuesday, April 10 The Promised Land Genesis 17:6-8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God, Genesis 17:8. Abraham and the generations that follow his lineage are promised a land they have never fully possessed. We know these people as the Israelites. In the thousands of years since God made this covenant with Abraham, there have been many attempts to wipe out the Jewish nation. They have been scattered throughout the world, denied their rights, tortured and murdered. The Promised Land promise remains incomplete; however, one day the people of Israel will claim every inch. As long as deep within the heart The Jewish soul is warm And toward the edges of the east An eye to Zion looks Our hope is not yet lost, The hope of two thousand years To be a free people in our own land In the land of Zion and Jerusalem. To be a free people in our own land In the land of Zion and Jerusalem. The ache in the heart of many Jewish people is to return to and live in their homeland. A desire that many will never see fulfilled until the day that Jesus reigns in Jerusalem. The heart always knows the direction of home. Beverly Barnett 49

51 Wednesday, April 11 Choose Whom You Serve Joshua 24:14, 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, Joshua 24:15. Whom will you serve: the true and living God or others? We have a choice, an array of different minor gods: the god of money, possessions, family, self, sex or pride, to name a few. Under these gods there are brackets for other gods. Joshua and his family chose to serve God. What if Joshua had said his family is important to him? His kids are playing ball in the Amorite league. We cannot rid the land of everyone especially the coaches. Their religion is not that bad. Thankfully, Joshua made the right choice for him and his family to serve the true and living God. One of the most common gods is the god of self. It is a troublemaker and frequently motivates one to live in the best house, drive the best car and wear the most expensive clothes. As a result, one must have a job that requires one to spend a great deal of time away from family. It steals time that we could use to be involved serving the Lord through His church. We must put forth an effort to keep God front and center in our lives or else other gods will creep up like poison ivy and overtake His place. The choice is yours. Will you worship and serve Jesus Christ, or will you choose to let minor gods take His place? Beverly Barnett 50

52 Thursday, April 12 Land of God s Covenant Genesis 15:18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates, Genesis 15:18. The special importance of the land covenant is that it confirms the title deed to the land as belonging to Israel. Israel s right to the land would never be taken away. The land covenant shows that the Mosaic Covenant (which was conditional) did not replace the Abrahamic Covenant (which was unconditional). The land covenant is an enlargement of the original Abrahamic Covenant. It amplifies the land aspect and emphasizes the promise of the land to God s people. The Abrahamic Covenant teaches that ownership of the land is unconditional. The land covenant teaches that the enjoyment of the land is conditional upon obedience. Nevertheless, the land of the covenant of God remains in turmoil with the Arabs and Jews in constant dispute concerning border lines and villages built along those borders. The fact remains that the God of Abraham gave this land to the descendants of Isaac which are the Jewish people. It is theirs to occupy now and in the future (Joshua 1:3, 4). However, the United Nations and most Arab countries would have Israel give in to the demands of Palestine and relinquish their God-given land. Some of Israel s prime ministers have even publicly consented to these demands; but, is this the best resolution? Is peace in the Middle East a good reason to compromise the boundaries of the land promised to Israel? Beverly Barnett 51

53 Friday, April 13 The Strength of God Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest, Joshua 1:9. Joshua was a mighty leader, not in his own strength God had his back. Since Moses had a problem with anger, he was not allowed to lead the people into the Promised Land. After Moses died, Joshua was given the responsibility of finishing the job, and he stepped up to the task. As a great leader, Joshua gave an encouraging, God-inspired speech to the officers of the people prepare to move in the direction of confrontation expecting victory. They were ready to go and fight with the confidence and courage that God was with them. God requires total trust in His strength and divine guidance. This requires that we courageously follow Him. He has promised that, no matter the task He gives us to do, He is always there. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed (Deut. 31:6, 8). When God gives us a task, we should not cower but know that God will lend us in His strength to complete the task. He has our backs. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1). Beverly Barnett 52

54 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, Hebrews 13:5. Saturday, April 14 Faith in His Promise Hebrews 13:5, 6 What is the distinguishing trait of a great leader in the Lord s work? He is not afraid of the challenge of a God-sized task. This courage is not in his ability, but because he has confidence in God s ability to do what He says He will do, and if He gives him a task, He will be with him to complete it. Moses lead the released Jewish nation across the Red Sea; Joshua lead the freed people of God across the Jordan river at flood stage; Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego chose not to eat the king s food. Later, they chose to be cast into the fiery furnace rather than bow to the golden image. The disciples, filled by the Holy Spirit, were able to preach in languages they had never learned. Peter raised Dorcas from the dead. All of these were success stories because God called, and they followed believing in the promise of God and His leadership. W. A. Criswell, a twentieth century pastor, believed the promise of God. In his fifty plus years of pastorate at First Baptist Church of Dallas, he began many new ministries that reached out to the unchurched of the community and dared to hire educated staff. Because of his commitment to God, the membership increased from seventy-eight hundred members to twenty-six thousand members. God has men and women whom He wants to use in a great way, but we must be willing to trust, exercise our faith and have courage in this promise of God. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Heb. 13:5). When our trials come, when we feel pain and suffering, when our tears flow again, it is our joy and comfort to lift our faces heavenward and to go on, standing on the promises of God. W. A. Criswell 53 Beverly Barnett

55 Sunday, April 15 Remember His Wonderful Works Psalm 78:1-7 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done, Psalm 78:4. Not many years ago, one Sunday morning in a Mayan village church service, one of the ladies gave her testimony. As tears streamed down her face, it was obvious that her heart was filled and overflowing. Before you get the idea that this is not so unusual, let me explain. The Mayans do not cry easily, and they certainly do not often cry in public. It was thrilling to know that even the children were hearing this lady s testimony of God s care and greatness. We fear that modern day churches are shying away from calling for public testimony in favor of other types of praise. A personal testimony stirs the heart and reminds us of His greatness, power, protection, strength and wonderful works. We can use social outlets to proclaim God s praise as well as good old everyday, verbal conversation. Many entries of praise or testimony about God or Jesus have been read and appreciated. Now, more than any other time in history, we have a vast variety of outlets for proclaiming praise of the Godhead. We should take every advantage of these outlets to sing, speak, write, video or message the glory and praise of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! When God does something unexpected, no matter how large or small, praise Him for it. You never know who might be listening that may need reassuring that God is great and His works are wonderful. Beverly Barnett 54

56 Monday, April 16 The Summarized Commandments Romans 13:8-10 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, Romans 13:9. Jesus summarized the Law for the pious law keepers of biblical times in this statement to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Matt. 22:37-39). The world would be a better place to live if everyone determined to fulfill these two commandments. Church buildings would be bulging, and there would be smaller need for lawyers. These two simple commandments are dependent on the exhibition of love. We tend to fall too easily in and out of love with God and our neighbor. We love God when He is doing what we want for self or our family. We love our neighbor as long as he does not cause us any problems. However, there are no stipulations to these most important laws pure and simple love. Blessings are flowing love God; times are difficult love God; the test report is positive or negative love God. When the neighbor does not rake his leaves and they blow in your yard love him anyway; the neighbor has a tragedy in his family love him through it; the neighbor is a different faith show the love of Christ by loving him. Remember, God wants us to be successful. He would not have given these commandments if they were impossible to accomplish. Beverly Barnett 55

57 Tuesday, April 17 Scripture: Inspired and Profitable All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 It is a God-given blessing to have the complete, inspired Scripture available at our fingertips to read. The Bible is good for what we need and when we need it. While other books may lose significance, be proven wrong and become outdated, this precious and holy book is never out-of-date or behind the times. The Word of God is beneficial to all who read it and apply the teachings. The Bible teaches how God loves us and how we are to love Him. It teaches us the will of God and points to Jesus Christ for salvation. The Bible is the only book which the Holy Spirit accompanies to convince and convict the reader of the way, the truth and the life found only in Jesus and confound those who would deny this eternal truth (2 Tim. 3:15). The Word of God corrects false ideas and wrong paths. Corrects is a particularly interesting word. When flying from Belize to Houston, it seemed like a straight shot. But in the cockpit of the airplane is a fine-tuned radar mechanism. Most of the trip, the plane is flown on automatic pilot, which continually, yet, imperceptibly corrects the course of the plane to keep it on track. That is what God s Word does for us. It continually affects the way we think, the way we draw conclusions and the way we make our daily decisions when we read it as we should. The Bible gives instructions for righteousness. It is the instructional book for the way we live, whom and how we should love and how we conduct ourselves. The Bible as the book from God is meant especially for you. 56 Beverly Barnett

58 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, 1 Timothy 1:8. Wednesday, April 18 Lawful Use of the Law 1 Timothy 1:8-11 The Law as given by God to Moses was Holy Writ. Its intention was to provide a platform for people to live in harmony with each other and with God (Rom. 7:12). The Law is the schoolmaster (Gal. 3:24, 25). But many, even some religious pretenders today, twist and change the guidance of the Law to meet a selfish need or to increase their power over others. This was definitely not the intended use of the Law. The Pharisees and Sadducees were the perfect examples of Law manipulators. They practiced all of the laws that could be performed before others, but the laws that required a changed heart were left unheeded. Jesus condemned this on more than one occasion. Yet, the religious chose the laws they would question in hopes of condemning Jesus. As a matter of record, Jesus fulfilled every Law that was ever declared by God and did so perfectly (Matt. 5:17). He validated the Law. He simplified it. He declared the two that would fulfill all of its requirements: love God first and foremost and love your neighbor as you would love yourself. Jesus reduced the six hundred thirteen laws (three hundred sixty-five negative and two hundred forty-eight affirmative) to two! The main intention of the Law was not for us to strive to live perfectly, but it was to show us the direction to God. It awakens us to sin, and the need of the One who can do what we cannot do He is Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:19). These two laws are more than we can accomplish perfectly every day. How could anyone believe that they could live righteously enough to go to Heaven? Beverly Barnett 57

59 Thursday, April 19 Teaching Nurture and Admonition And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Ephesians 6:4. Ephesians 6:4 Fathers hold an important place in the family. They are the instructors and teachers of the children in spiritual as well as social and secular aspects of their lives. It takes a special kind of man to be a dad. Dads mold their children with generous amounts of love, guidance, correction, forgiveness and praise. He recognizes teachable, age appropriate moments and uses them to teach his children. A godly dad will want to teach his children about God and will want his children to accept Christ as Savior. A loving dad will nourish his children as tender young plants in the instruction and discipline of the Bible. The mind of a child, like his body, needs proper nutrition for growth. Parents (dads and moms) must correct errant thinking and give proper instruction that, when their children are older, they can make intelligent choices. Children need to be taught proper behavior at home, school and play. A word of warning: even though a father may instruct his children in proper behavior, the children will mimic the behavior displayed before them. A dad should be careful about how he acts in front of his children. There is no position in the home for a lazy, self-centered man, and this Scripture verse holds every father accountable for his part in raising his children. Even though dads are not perfect, they should strive to do their best at being dads. This will bring honor and glory to God the Father. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged (Col. 3:21). Beverly Barnett 58

60 Friday, April 20 Diligently Keep Thy Heart! Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life, Proverbs 4:23. Proverbs 4:20-23 Satan puts things before our eyes that entice and draw us away from the godly path that Christ would have us walk. It is his desire that we stumble and fall away from following God and His way. It is work to keep from straying. Many are too lazy to do the Bible study, worship and the focus on Christ it takes to keep our hearts and minds focused on the right path. We limp away with brokenness, bruises and old scars from the many times we have fallen, and, yet, we do not learn the cause is from our unopened Bibles. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil (Prov. 4:20-22, 24-27). This excellent advice from the Father of all fathers, if heeded, will keep us out of a lot of trouble. A father has love and compassion for his child and cautions him or her about dangerous animals, behavior or people. Our Heavenly Father loves us much more and wants the best for us. He cautions and instructs us not to follow the paths that lead to destruction. The choice is ours to make. Calloused knees from much praying, eyes tired from Bible study and a heart overwhelmed by Christ s love will not likely stray from the path of God. Beverly Barnett 59

61 Saturday, April 21 Our God Is a Jealous God For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God, Exodus 34:14. Exodus 34:12-14 God was willing and able to fight for the children of Israel but He required one thing from them that they would not worship false gods. Was that too much to ask of them? No, it was not. God is not the author of confusion declares 1 Corinthians 14:33. False religion is confusing. Its leaders must constantly explain its doctrine which leads away from the one true God. Perhaps this religion is well respected by the masses; however, the masses can easily be lead astray. One such religion is Bahá í begun by Ba b (c1844) and continued by Mírza Husayn Alí, the son of a wealthy Persian (Iran) family. He denied the family wealth in favor of poverty and helping the poor. He was imprisoned and later exiled for forty years. Mírza Husayn Alí called himself a prophet and changed his name to Bahá u lláh (the manifestation of God). He wrote this after claiming to see the face of God: The face of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one s very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow... No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain! This claim is in direct contradiction to the Bible. John 1:18 and 1 John 4:12 declares, No man hath seen God at any time. We seriously doubt that Bahá u lláh saw God. This religion is noted as one of the fastest growing religions of the world. Beverly Barnett 60

62 Sunday, April 22 Learning To Fear the Lord Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord, Psalm 34:11. Psalm 34:11-16 Reverence (fear) of the Lord (Jehovah) must be taught in churches, Sunday School classes, Bible studies and seminaries before students of the Bible will understand the importance of respect and reverence for God. The nature of God: His love; His awesomeness; His majesty; His power and how this is manifested in His mercy, grace and love must be proclaimed to the learner before he will understand the proper respect and fear due God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever (Psalm 111:10). Knowledge and wisdom are different. God wants His children to be wise; the psalmist instructs us that wisdom begins with reverencing God. People who continually make the same old mistakes and are surprised with the same outcome are not wise. It is possible that this is because they do not respect or reverence God. It is frustrating to teach the practicalities of the Word of God only to have people continue in sin and a life disrespectful to God. The consequence is a life filled with defeat and despair. Wise King Solomon understood there are blessings promised to those who reverence God. Wisdom, special protection, preservation, equity, discretion and understanding according to Proverbs chapter 2, are given to those who first fear (reverence) God. Reverence comes when we learn about God through the study of His Word. We must teach from the pulpit to the tiny tots class what the Bible says about God, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It will be our downfall and demise if we neglect this great responsibility. Beverly Barnett 61

63 Monday, April 23 Abraham s Faith Romans 4:1-5 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness, Romans 4:3. Abraham was a wealthy man, but he did not put his faith in his riches. Abraham had many servants and people he was in authority over, but he did not put his faith in his position. Abraham had many blessings from God, but he did not put his faith in his blessings. Abraham had a promised son, but he did not worship his son. Abraham put his faith in God. Abraham was truly a great man of faith. When God told Abraham to leave home, he hit the road without a map, a compass or a navigational system, believing God was enough. God told Abraham because of his faith (righteousness) through him would come the beginning of a new nation. His son would carry on the lineage of an innumerable people. When that promised son was born, Abraham and Sarah were ecstatic and praised God. One day God told Abraham to take Isaac up on the mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham gathered sticks and twine and proceeded to the desert with Isaac and a few servants. As Abraham and Isaac ascended the mountain, Isaac asked where the animal was they were to sacrifice. Abraham believed and replied, God will provide. While Abraham had his knife lifted above Isaac, God stopped him from killing his son. Abraham s faith passed the test (Gen ). The lessons from the faith of Abraham are many. Some of them are (1) road maps are unnecessary when God calls us to go, (2) God wants to do great things through us if we are willing, (3) God will provide for those who believe in His promises. Beverly Barnett 62

64 Tuesday, April 24 Mount Zion Not Mount Sinai Hebrews 12:18-24 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Hebrews 12:22. Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the Law, was revered and feared by the Jewish people but Mount Zion is a more important place. It is where Jesus will rule His kingdom! The smoke, clouds and earthquakes make Mount Sinai a scary place, but Mount Zion is the home of the throne of Christ. When God was meeting with Moses, a cloud surrounded Mount Sinai to hide the brightness of Himself from the people. It was such a holy place that while God was present, merely to touch the mountain, meant death, including the animals. The early Jewish Christians were persecuted, imprisoned and some were killed as they followed Christ. God saw their discouragement and used Paul to remind them of the special place they had in the coming kingdom of Christ. They need not fear on Mount Zion. The throne and its King will be accessible to every believer. A thousand years is a long time to rule and reign with Christ, but, in the measurement of eternity, it is only a moment. Satan does everything in his power to cloud our image of God by distorting our view of Christ. He tries to shake our faith by the events taking place in the world, but Jesus said to be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Remember, child of God, when clouds of doubt appear, smoke of disaster rises and quakes of uncertainty shake your world, Jesus is coming, and we are going with Him to Mount Zion! Beverly Barnett 63

65 Wednesday, April 25 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross, Colossians 2:14. Law Observances Abolished in Christ Colossians 2:14-17 Historically, in some countries when a debt was paid or fulfilled, the debt was nailed to a post in the town, thus by driving a nail through the document it was no longer legible. Perhaps that is where we get the custom of stamping Paid across a debt that has been fulfilled. No other debt is as important as the debt Jesus paid for us. Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He fulfilled the Law of Moses, which was given to the Jews, thereby dissolving any requirement for us to practice the ceremonial laws today. While Jesus was on the cross, He cried out, It is finished (John 19:30). Jesus had done everything necessary to provide for our salvation. Jesus gave His churches two ordinances or distinguishing marks in place of lengthy and timely ceremonial laws. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle (2 Thess. 2:15). They are baptism and the Lord s Supper (Matt. 20:23; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 11:25). In fact, we are freed from the Law, free to eat as the Lord told Peter, free to walk more than a quarter of a mile on Sunday and free to eat cheese on a ham sandwich. Free from the Law oh, happy condition Jesus has shed His blood and there is remission! Beverly Barnett 64

66 Mark 12:28-31 Thursday, April 26 The Two Great Commandments Mark 12:28-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these, Mark 12:30, 31. Jesus condensed the Law to the two greatest commandments. He opened the door through His shed blood for common men and women to worship God. The Law consisted of deeds, acts or works. Jesus proclaimed that the first and second commandments are the greatest of all the other commandments. What is the common denominator of all other commandments? It is love. LOVE is an all-inclusive affection, embracing not only every other affection proper to its object, but all that is proper to be done to its object; for as love spontaneously seeks to please its object, so, in the case of men to God, it is the native well spring of a voluntary obedience, states the Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary. If we love God (with all our heart, spirit, mind and strength), it will be evident in the way we act, live and worship. It will manifest itself in a sacrifice that is acceptable to God (1 Sam. 15:22). The second commandment is to love our neighbors as we do ourselves. God loves whom He creates, and we should, too. As a result, we should go about our daily lives with Jesus love in our hearts and purpose to share that love with others. God so loved the world. Beverly Barnett 65

67 Friday, April 27 Beyond the Letter of the Law Matthew 5:21, 22, 27, 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire, Matthew 5:22. The Law never saved anyone is a common statement from many biblical preachers and teachers. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law (Gal. 3:21). The Law was a schoolmaster, a teacher, a directional map to God and an example to follow but never a Savior. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith (verse 24). Perhaps some thought if they lived perfect outwardly, no one would know what was in their heart. God did. Jesus came and broke their self-righteous bubble. He said it was as bad to commit sin in the heart as it was to commit an obvious sin. They were no longer justified and righteous when breaking the Law could be done with a thought or word. No one could live perfectly but Jesus. Through Jesus, we can have perfection. We are justified by faith in Christ our Savior. He fulfilled the Law and nailed it to the cross. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (verse 25). We are thankful that Jesus does not require us to ace the requirements of the Law to live with Him in Heaven, but only that we trust in Him as the risen Son of God. Beverly Barnett 66

68 Saturday, April 28 When God Gives Them Up Psalm 81:8-16 So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust: and they walked in their own counsels, Psalm 81:12. The devotional today is an illustration of free will. God will not force Himself on anyone nor will He force us to follow Him or worship Him. A young wife and mother looked for a way out of marriage and motherhood she found it. She left her husband and children to be a free woman. Her family prayed that she would see the error of her ways and return to her husband and children who adored her. She would not. From time to time she regretted her mistake but pride kept her from seeking forgiveness. As time passed, four marriages and several beatings from boyfriends later, unhappiness and guilt had taken their toll. She suffered from severe bouts of depression, which lead to the use of legal and illegal drugs. She could not keep a job. Her children had grown accustomed to her being the occasional mother. She would never be the loving, nurturing mother her children needed and desired. She chose to go away from God and He allowed it. Why does God step out of our way when we are bent on going away from Him? He could break our legs, cause us to have an accident or any number of ways to put us down so we will look up. He could, but He had rather us love Him from a free heart. If He made us love Him, we would be like children forced into trying a new food. We would put it in our mouths, but we would not like it. There is no true love in that. Be careful what you determine to do. God might let you, but the consequences may outweigh the pleasure. Beverly Barnett 67

69 Sunday, April 29 Justified by Faith Not by the Law And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses, Acts 13:39. Acts 13:38, 39 The Law was to prove to us that we are guilty before God. Keeping the Law never justified anyone, nor was it ever intended to justify (Gal. 2:16). Unbelievers need justification, and God provides the sacrifice, the justifier, the bridge. This is all accomplished through one Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb of God (Rom. 3:24-30). Jesus became the sacrifice needed to fulfill the requirements of the Law and the justifier of every one who believes. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (Rom. 4:24, 25). For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Rom. 8:3, 4). As a result, believers have One in whom they can believe. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Rom. 10:9, 10). We have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). Beverly Barnett 68

70 Monday, April 30 Fear God for Good Deuteronomy 6:20-25 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day, Deuteronomy 6:24. There is no question about the author of this great book. It identifies the content as being that of the words of Moses spake unto all Israel (Deut. 1:1). Moses and the people of Israel began their exodus from Egypt about 1440 BC. They arrived on the plains of Moab where this book was possibly written about 1400 BC. Moses was one hundred twenty years old, and the Promised Land lay ahead of them. This great book is characterized by a strong sense of urgency. Thus, Moses challenged the people of Israel to fear the Lord our God. He also reminded his audience of the crucial need to pass on these covenant values to their children. Children are blessed indeed in being born and raised in a Christian family. They are also blessed when they are taken to church and, thereby, learn about the Lord and His way for their lives. The duty of parents does not end with the biological act of bringing children into the world, nor of providing food, clothing and shelter for them. God s plan for the family includes the vital provision that the parents are to teach their children and instill in them a godly character. This is essential for a godly family. A Christian s greatest comfort is to know that God is in control. Gene C. Smith 69

71 Tuesday, May 1 A Reminder To Obey God Numbers 15:38-41 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God, Numbers 15:40. The book of Numbers derives its name from the fact that it records the enumeration of the people of Israel. Historically, this book takes up the story of the people of Israel where the book of Exodus left it. It is, therefore, the book of the wilderness wanderings of the people of Israel upon their failure to enter the land at Kadesh-barnea. Typically, it is the book of service and walk of God s redeemed people in all ages. Their walk with God and their service to Him is set forth in a beautiful moral order. In their worshiping God, much stress is to be made of His mighty power. God s great power and strength are to be magnified in song and sermon on the Lord s day. The recognition of God s mighty power is to be extolled by His worshipers. This episode in the history of Israel has an apt parallel in man s deliverance from the bondage of sin to freedom in serving God and providing an eternal home in Heaven with God and His people forever. Believers in Christ are to be selfless rather than self-centered. Instead of expecting God to serve us, we are to serve Him, expecting nothing in return. We are to serve God for who He is, not for what we get from Him. The Lord is to be praised for what He does in delivering people from sin s bondage. Gene C. Smith 70

72 Wednesday, May 2 He Is God Alone Isaiah 44:6-8 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God, Isaiah 44:6. The Key Verse emphasizes that the Lord is the only God, and He alone is to be worshiped. Therefore, idol worship is illogical and absurd. God s uniqueness and sovereignty are contrasted with the idol gods. God alone is the first and the last. God is the audience of our worship. The thing that matters most takes place in the hearts of the congregation not on a stage. God s people should not leave a worship service asking, What did I get out of it? A better question would be, Was God pleased with what took place in my life? By focusing on the externals of worship, people miss the point of worship. The Lord is interested only in a sacrifice of the heart, an internal attitude of submission and thanksgiving to God. The goal of worship is nothing less than to meet and please God. Worship stems from the heart as one surrenders to God s will and way. Worship may be defined in three ways (1) by a prayer, a church service, or other rite showing reverence or devotion to God, religious homage or veneration, (2) by devoting oneself to God, (3) by displaying an intense love or admiration toward God. The heart of worship is worship from the heart! Gene C. Smith 71

73 Thursday, May 3 One God One Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5. During Abraham Lincoln s tenure as president of the United States, he was visited by a guest who sought to flatter him by saying, Back in my home state people say the welfare of the nation depends on God and Abraham Lincoln. The president humbly replied by saying, You are half right. Without divine assistance I cannot succeed. With it I cannot fail. The welfare of our country is in the hands of God. There is but one God and one Mediator between man and God. That man is Jesus Christ. Thus, mankind s only approach to God is through His Son, Jesus Christ. One does not need a priest, a pastor or anyone else to intercede for him. Prayer, simply defined, is talking to God. One can do this in any place or time he desires to talk to God. There is only one God and only one way to approach Him and that is through Jesus Christ. This writer served his country during the Korean War. Many times I fervently prayed for God to spare my life and bring me home safely. God answered my prayers and I have served Him ever since. It is a real joy to serve God and lead others to Christ for salvation. Put Christ first in your life and you will find a joy that lasts. Gene C. Smith 72

74 Be Transformed Not Conformed Friday, May 4 Romans 12:1, 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God, Romans 12:2. Beyond doubt, chapter 12 of the book of Romans is the greatest treatise on consecration and service to God that has ever been written. If God s people would pattern their lives after the teachings of this chapter, it would make them happier and more useful in the service of their master Jesus Christ. Christians are not to be conformed to the ways of this world. This means that they are not to go along with the worldly ways of thinking, talking and living. The Christian way of life is to be transformed by the renewing of one s mind. Another way of stating it is, Don t let the world squeeze you into its mold, but let God remold you. A person has only to release his mind and body to the impelling forces of the flesh, ruled by its inherent depravity, and it will result in complete conformity to this evil age. On the other hand, transformation does not come easily. However, God enables believers in Christ to be transformed by His power as they yield to Him. However, they will constantly be in battle with the fleshly nature. Be aware of the devil s power and do not allow him to wreck your spiritual life. The mind is a battleground between the spirit and the flesh. Gene C. Smith 73

75 Saturday, May 5 Walk in Them or Trip Over Them Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein, Hosea 14:9. One Sunday a foreign missionary asked all his people to bring a gift for the Lord s cause. When the next Sunday came, each one brought an offering of some kind. Some brought money, others brought other things of value. When all of them presented their gifts, the missionary observed one little boy who had not brought anything. The missionary said to him, Are you not going to give anything? He replied, Ever since you asked us to bring a gift for the Lord, something has been saying to me give yourself to the Lord. Thus, he reached for the collection basket, placed it on the floor and stepped into it. He said, I give myself to Jesus Christ. That is exactly what every born-again believer in Christ is to do! A dedicated Christian will find good use for whatever gift God has given him. What gift or gifts do you have that God can use? Are you using them for God and His work? A righteous person will walk in God s will and way and experience God s blessings. The rebellious ones will stumble over them in the sense that destruction (stumbling) is the direct result of disobedience. May all who read Hosea s words walk, not stumble! Gene C. Smith 74

76 Sunday, May 6 The Great Commandment Mark 12:29, 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment, Mark 12:30. After the Dallas Cowboys won the Super Bowl in 1993, coach Jimmy Johnson said, I played for a national championship team, I coached a national champion team, and I coached a Super Bowl team. There is a common thread in all this: quality people who are committed to do their best. His observation should be heeded in the life of every born-again believer in Christ. God has gifted and empowered every Christian to be a quality person. The real question is, are you doing your best for Jesus Christ? God s laws are not burdensome in number or detail. They can be reduced to two simple rules. People are to love God and love others. When one loves God completely and cares for others as he cares for himself, he will have fulfilled the intent of these commandments. God s people are challenged to allow these two commandments to control their thoughts, decisions and actions. Ask yourself, which course of action best demonstrates my love for God and others? An unknown author once wrote in his diary, The last and only thing I have in this world that I value I have given over to the Lord Jesus Christ. A false life betrays a true faith! Gene C. Smith 75

77 Monday, May 7 The Effect of False Prophets Ezekiel 13:1-10 Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! Ezekiel 13:3. The message of the false prophets came from their own imaginations, not from God. Therefore, Ezekiel was challenging the source of their messages. Since this message stemmed from their own spirits, Ezekiel could rightfully claim that they had seen nothing. Not only were the messages of the false prophets untrue, they were also dangerous to God s people. The false prophets were like foxes in the desert. Ezekiel was here emphasizing the destructive messages of the false prophets. As foxes feed on the ruins in the desert, even so the false prophets were able to flourish in the crumbling society of the people of Israel. Israel s moral state at that particular time was about to collapse. Because of their false messages and lying tongues, the people of Israel were misled by these false prophets. God s people, in this present age, are somewhat like the people of Israel. However, God s people today have the Bible and faithful pastors and teachers to enable them to combat the false teachers. Pastors and Sunday School superintendents are always on the lookout for teachers and workers who can be classified as faithful. Are you qualified to step forward? What one yields, God accepts! What He accepts, He uses! What He uses, He blesses! Spiritual blindness can be cured only by the Great Physician. Gene C. Smith 76

78 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves, Matthew 7:15. The Lord s Warning of False Prophets Matthew 7:15-20 Tuesday, May 8 An artificial fixation may be best epitomized by a man who tried to rid his residence of mice. He bought a mousetrap, but he had no cheese. To remedy the situation he cut out a picture of cheese from his wife s magazine. He loaded the trap with the artificial cheese and went to bed. The next morning, he checked the mousetrap. He was quite surprised to find a picture of a mouse in the trap. This serves to remind us that a counterfeit life-style produces artificial results. After presenting the true way of access into His anticipated kingdom, Jesus gave a warning about false prophets which would arise. Jesus referred to the advocates of the broad way as ravening (ferociously hungry) wolves who appear as harmless sheep. How can Christians determine the character of false prophets in this present generation? Jesus reminded His followers they needed only to observe the fruit they produced. He boldly declared that grapes and figs do not grow on thistles. Grapes grow on vines and figs grow on trees. If these do not produce fruit, they are to be cut down and destroyed. Likewise, all false prophets will ultimately be destroyed. Currently, the air waves are literally filled with false prophets as seen on television. Therefore, God s people are to beware of what they watch on television. Obedience to God s Word is the key to a life of blessings. Gene C. Smith 77

79 Wednesday, May 9 Beware of False Teachers! 2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction, 2 Peter 2:1. The second book of Peter s writings could well be entitled, The Believer s Conflict in the Latter Days. Truly, believers in Christ are surrounded by the problems and perplexities of the end time. Thus, Peter challenged his readers to live holy and godly lives as they looked forward to the second coming of Christ. Faithful living in difficult times is the lesson Peter would have believers in Christ learn. The best safeguard against false prophets is to know what the Word of God declares. When a believer in Christ fortifies himself with the Word of God, he can withstand any false teacher or false doctrine that may arise. This involves a personal study of God s Word and the study of God s Word each Lord s day in a local church. The Key Verse reveals five things about false teachers: (1) there shall be false teachers in all ages, (2) false teachers teach damnable doctrine, (3) false teachers deny the Lord Jesus Christ, (4) they do this privately, (5) they bring upon themselves swift destruction. Beware of false teachers, they are dangerous! Fortify yourself with the truths of God s Holy Bible! In a skeptical world, you can trust God s reliable Word. Gene C. Smith 78

80 Try the Spirits Thursday, May 10 1 John 4:1-4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world, 1 John 4:1. This devotional reading serves as a warning to the children of God to try the spirits. The need for this arises in the manifestation of many false spirits which inhabit this present era. The primary basis of determination of a spirit is upon the failure to confess the Lord Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh. Evil spirits inspire people to teach erroneous doctrine concerning the work of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is present with God s children enabling them to try the spirits. This is essential because many false prophets, who are animated by evil spirits, teach false doctrine. Therefore, the apostle John warned God s children to put them to the acid test of truth as a metallurgist does his metals. This exhortation is of tremendous importance in this present time because there are multitudes of false prophets who profess to interpret the message of God to mankind in general. The failure to acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is precisely the spirit of the antichrist, which is prevalent in today s society. Reliance on God s Word is the secret of all victory whether over heresy or any other snare. Therefore, read and study it daily. God s people will not stumble in the dark if they walk in the light. Gene C. Smith 79

81 Friday, May 11 Warning About False Teachers 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, 2 Corinthians 11:13. Dr. Benjamin Spock s greatest advice came from his 1992 assessment of America s parental woes. He stated that many of our problems appear because of the dearth of spiritual values. It has been said that this world is now a playground instead of a battleground. There are many spiritual needs in our nation today. The first is the need to believe life is meaningful and has a purpose. The second one is the need for a sense of community and deeper relationships. The third one is the need to be appreciated and respected. The fourth one is the need to be listened to and heard. The fifth one is the need for practical help in developing a mature faith. The apostle Paul gave the false apostles in his day a withering denunciation. They were only shams, claiming to be ambassadors of Christ when, in fact, they were servants of Satan. They were masquerading as apostles and servants of righteousness when, in fact, they were false apostles. Paul likened them to whitewashed tombs. They appeared to be righteous, when, in fact, on the inside there was only death and decay, prefiguring their doom. Unanchored and unsettled they are never able to say, My heart is fixed, I am trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. The only way to survive deception is by trusting Christ who will. Gene C. Smith 80

82 Saturday, May 12 Separate from the World Leviticus 18:24-30 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you, Leviticus 18:24. In the hectic downtown area of Tokyo, Japan, this writer marveled at the busy sidewalks filled with small people. There seemed to be no room to lounge as people were rushing at top speed. My attention was to the soft sound of a single trumpeter playing my favorite song, Amazing Grace. The mass of people appeared to be oblivious to both the music and the musician. However, as he played, he was sending a musical message of the love of God to those who knew the song and would think about the words as he played. As I reflected upon this experience, I thought about two situations. The first one was upon the masses of people who have heard about God s amazing grace and have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. They will be saved forever. They are a beautiful manifestation of God s saving grace here on earth. Furthermore, they will also enjoy the bliss of Heaven forever. Truly, God s grace is amazing. The second thought was upon the masses of people who ignore God s saving grace and travel the broad way that leads to destruction. They will suffer eternally in hell with the devil. Revelation 20:10 states they will be tormented day and night for ever in the lake of fire and brimstone. Believing in Christ is salvation received! Gene C. Smith 81

83 Sunday, May 13 Jesus The Great Prophet Acts 3:12-26 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you, Acts 3:22. In the third chapter of the book of Acts, we view the church in Jerusalem in full swing. The church members were thoroughly convinced that there was no enemy too great to conquer. Thus, they launched out to do everything they possibly could to spread the gospel. Peter preached a sermon to the people assembled that came together at the Temple in Jerusalem. In this message, Peter proclaimed that the Jewish people had denied the Holy One, Jesus Christ. He also proclaimed how they were guilty of the death of Jesus Christ. However, Peter offered them hope that comes through faith in Jesus Christ (verses 16-26). These truths reflect some dire needs in this present day and time. One need is to proclaim the saving power of Jesus Christ in a local New Testament church. The second need is to witness to the unsaved of the saving power of Jesus Christ. The third need is to enlist those who are saved in a Sunday School class so they can learn more about the blessings of being an active member of a New Testament church. True believers in Christ must never be ashamed of Him for He is the only Savior. Sharing the gospel is one person telling another person the good news of salvation! Gene C. Smith 82

84 Monday, May 14 Israel Will Be Restored Isaiah 12:1-6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy one of Israel in the midst of thee, Isaiah 12:6. Isaiah s home and the scene of his labors was in and around Jerusalem. Some commentators refer to him as the greatest of the writing prophets. Perhaps it was Isaiah s view of God that made him a great prophet. The worship of the Lord, the Messiah (Jesus Christ), in His kingdom was paramount in Isaiah s life. The most important element of Isaiah s ministry was his prophecy of the time that there would be peace in Israel. It is evident that this time frame has not been revealed. Apparently, we live in a wicked world, but the best thing we can do is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and the offer of His salvation. We do not need to take the law into our own hands or turn our pulpits into political platforms. We simply need to do what God has called us to do, that is, to make disciples of all nations, baptize them and teach them to obey the commandments of Christ. (See Matthew 28:18-20.) The worship of the Lord in His coming kingdom is clearly set forth in Isaiah 12:2. Praise to Him is further commanded in verses 4-6. Christians are to worship Christ for His exaltation, excellence and greatness. We find contentment at the same place we find salvation. Gene C. Smith 83

85 Tuesday, May 15 Beauty for Ashes Joy for Mourning Isaiah 61:1-11 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified, Isaiah 61:3. It is apparent, as one reads this great chapter that two advents of the Lord are in view. The first two verses relate to the first advent of Christ. The remainder of the chapter deals with events that will occur when Jesus Christ returns to planet Earth at the end of this present age. When Christ returns in glory, He will set up His throne in the city of Jerusalem. He will rule and reign with His saints over all the earth. This time period is commonly called the Millennium. The kingdom of God will be established on the earth. This will bring about a period of peace and blessings. The nation of Israel will be restored during this time frame and the Jewish people will receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah. During the Millennium, the earth will bud and return to a state and condition similar to that which existed during the time that Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. The Lord will cause righteousness to spring forth, and the people of the earth will praise Him for so doing. Seeing God at work puts a song in one s heart! Gene C. Smith 84

86 Wednesday, May 16 The Renewed Davidic Kingdom Amos 9:11-15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God, Amos 9:15. Amos, a prophet of God from Judah, was prophesying in the northern area of Israel about 787 BC. The message God gave him was primarily one of judgment, although it ended with words of hope for the people of Israel. God promised to remove all curses from Israel and restore the covenant blessings to them. Instead of drought and famine, there will be unending prosperity. Instead of the turmoil of war, there will be peace which will enable the people of Israel to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Instead of fear of exile, they will defend themselves from every foe and remain in their homeland. The people of Israel will also live in peace and enjoy lavish abundance. The frustration and insecurity of war in Israel will be over forever. They will build houses and live in them. They will eat, drink and take pleasure in their lands. God will plant them in their own land, and they will never again be uprooted and exiled from the land that God has given them. This great feat has never before been enjoyed by the people of Israel. News coming from Israel gives hints that such is likely to occur any day. People are to be preparing for this great feat. The second coming of Christ must be near! Gene C. Smith 85

87 Thursday, May 17 Palestinian Covenant Fulfilled Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, Jeremiah 31:31. God promised to make a new covenant with the people of Israel. This new covenant will be expressly for the house of Israel (verse 31). This covenant will involve putting His Law in their minds and hearts not in stone as He had previously done. There will be no need to exhort people to know the Lord because they will already know Him. This covenant will give them the ability to obey His righteous standards and enjoy His blessings. What a day that will be! America is one nation that has been friendly with the nation of Israel. It is highly possible that the United States of America will continue to be cordial to the Jewish people in the future. Jeremiah s prophecy indicates that the people of Israel will come to know the Lord as their Savior. There are currently many Jewish people in America. God s people are hereby challenged to reach out to the Jewish people and seek to lead them to Christ for their personal salvation. It seems that little interest is displayed in an outreach to bring lost people to Christ for salvation. This is especially true concerning the Jewish people. Real faith demonstrated in one s life will provide an open door for a lost person to be saved. As Christ s love grows in us, His love flows from us. Gene C. Smith 86

88 Friday, May 18 Israel s Salvation Cometh Isaiah 62:1-12 For Zion s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth, Isaiah 62:1. A Bible-believing minister preached a mighty sermon on the subject, Once Saved, Always Saved. Two young men came to that service and heard the truth about salvation. At the close of the service those two young men approached the pastor and said, We do not see it as you do; we cannot get such out of the New Testament. The pastor replied, Of course you can t get it out of the New Testament. It is there to stay. The Lord God announced that He will continue to work on Jerusalem (the capital city) in Israel s behalf until their salvation and glory are observed by other people. This has not been displayed at this present time. God s missionaries are fervently working in Israel. They are preaching the truth about the salvation of an unsaved person. A few people who have heard their messages have repented of their sins, accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and been saved by God s amazing grace. However, the nation of Israel, as a whole, has not accepted the truth that the salvation of one s soul is found only in Jesus Christ. Christians are challenged to pray for the salvation of lost souls in Israel. God is to be praised for what He does in effecting one s salvation. Gene C. Smith 87

89 Saturday, May 19 Therefore Choose Life! 1 John 5:11, 12 He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life, 1 John 5:12. A pastor in Oklahoma, who does considerable visiting in his city, usually carries a brief case with him. Selling life insurance? he was asked by one housewife after he rang her doorbell. Yes, I am he replied. I am selling eternal life insurance. He also informed her that it could be obtained without money it is a gift from God. She gladly received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Christianity is not a ritual; it is a relationship. This relationship comes about as one repents of sin and accepts the salvation that Jesus offers. The substance of God s record is eternal life. This life is in His Son Jesus Christ (verse 6). This eternal life is not something to be earned, but God freely gives it to all people who will trust His Son, Jesus Christ for salvation. The Word of God reveals those who by faith have received the Son of God as their Savior have eternal life presently. Those who do not receive Jesus Christ as their Savior do not have eternal life. Eternal life is not received in baptism, church membership or any other works of righteousness. It is found only in Jesus Christ! Those who have accepted Him as their Savior have eternal life. Those who have their hearts fixed on Heaven will hold loosely to the things of earth. Gene C. Smith 88

90 Sunday, May 20 When Israel Recognizes Jesus Zechariah 12:6 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness, Zechariah 13:1. It has been reported that the great Confederate general, Stonewall Jackson, lost his left arm in one of the early battles of the Civil War. A chaplain exclaimed, Oh, General, what a calamity! Jackson replied: You see me wounded, but not depressed... It has been according to God s holy will, and I entirely resign to it... You never saw me more perfectly contented... I am sure my Heavenly Father designs this affliction for my good... Either in this life or in that which is to come, I shall discover that what is now regarded as a calamity is a blessing. The day mentioned in Zechariah 13:1 refers to the future day of the Lord. This will occur when Jesus Christ returns to planet Earth. In that day, a fountain will be opened to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This fountain will be for drinking and washing for all the people of Israel who need cleansing. This cleansing has reference to the total sinfulness of the people of Israel. They will then turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as their Savior. This will be a glorious day for the Jewish people and for all of God s people wherever they may be in this world. Christ will establish His kingdom and rule in righteousness over all the earth. Great triumphs are born out of great troubles! Gene C. Smith 89

91 Monday, May 21 Moses Act of Unbelief This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them, Numbers 20:13. Numbers 20:1-13 In the first month (April) of the fortieth year after their exodus from Egypt, the tribes of Israel arrived at Kadesh-barnea. It was there that Moses sister, Miriam, died and was buried (verse 1). The water supply there was not sufficient for the congregation of all the people of Israel. Therefore, Moses took his shepherd s staff (rod) and smote the rock, and the water flowed from it. This supply of water was enough to satisfy their needs. This act of Moses revealed his sinful nature. God told him to speak (verse 8) to the rock. However, he smote it with his shepherd s staff. For this sinful act, Moses was forbidden to enter into the Promised Land. A rich man wanted to help a jobless carpenter. He hired the carpenter to build a house. He then went on a trip and enjoyed his vacation. The carpenter, knowing that his boss was away, used shoddy material and built a ramshackled house thinking that the rich man would not know what he had done. When the rich man returned, the carpenter said to him, Here is your house. The rich man said to the carpenter, Here is the deed and a key to the house. I am giving it to you. The carpenter, in fact, had cheated himself. If we fear and love God, we will be obedient to Him. Gene C. Smith 90

92 Tuesday, May 22 Effect of Reading the Law Deuteronomy 31:9-13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it, Deuteronomy 31:13. The word law in verse 9 probably refers to the entire book of Deuteronomy. The Law and its public reading were entrusted to the priests. One of their functions was to teach the Law to the people of Israel. The priests were to read the Law publicly during the Feast of Tabernacles. This corresponds to the months of September and October in the current time frame. Every seventh year all unpaid debts were to be canceled. Only the men were required to make the pilgrimage to the central sanctuary in Jerusalem although family members often went along with them. However, the men, women and children were required to attend this special ceremony every seven years. Many of God s people in this present generation strive to read the Word of God daily. Many Christians also read these daily devotionals. This is a worthy endeavor as it constantly reminds the reader to enjoy a rightful relationship with God. The following presents a guide for a daily Bible reading schedule. Read three chapters a day Monday through Saturday and five chapters on Sunday. This will enrich your spiritual life and make you a better Christian. Try it and see! A Bible that is falling apart belongs to a person who is not falling apart. Gene C. Smith 91

93 Wednesday, May 23 God s Charge to Joshua Deuteronomy 31:14-23 And he gave Joshua the son of nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee, Deuteronomy 31:23. The book of Deuteronomy consists of the parting counsel of Moses to the people of Israel in view of their impending entrance into the Holy Land. Moses had commissioned Joshua as the Lord had told him to do. He was to be the leader of the Jewish people as they would soon be entering the land of Canaan. However, Moses wanted every individual to understand that Joshua would be the one who would everyone them into the Promised Land. Thus, Joshua was to be strong and courageous in the undertaking of this tremendous task. Several years ago a large ship was wrecked on a reef on the east coast of America. There were some young untrained men in a lifeboat which was preparing to go to the wrecked vessel. One young sailor said, The wind is blowing offshore, and the tide is going out and we cannot come back. An old sailor looked at him and said, Launch the boat! We have to go out, but we do not have to come back. This was a daring, adventuring and valiant spirit which the cause of Christ needs today! We may not be able to control events, but we can control our attitude toward them. Gene C. Smith 92

94 Thursday, May 24 The Song of Moses Deuteronomy 32:1-44 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he, Deuteronomy 32:4. The description of God as set forth in the Key Verse compares Him to a huge rock. This reveals that God is stable and permanent. Thus, a child of God is to be stable and permanent. The only stability in one s life is in clinging to Him, the great Rock. His works are perfect. He is just (fair) in all His dealings with mankind. The false gods of the world are immoral and capricious, or inclined to change abruptly and without reason. Never before have so many people possessed college degrees. Never have American s had such wealth per capita. Never have we been so physically comfortable. Yet, never have we lived under such tensions. Never have so many Americans occupied hospital beds. Never have there been so many people mentally challenged. Never have so many people been morally bankrupt. For one to be sane, secure and happy he must be a born-again believer in Christ and enjoy an active partnership with Him. His power is stronger than any strong, earthly person. We Americans have educated our heads and hands. Many have need of a changed heart by being born again into the family of God. We need more than a new start. We need a new heart! Gene C. Smith 93

95 Friday, May 25 Moses Views the Land Deuteronomy 32:48-52 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession, Deuteronomy 32:49. Mount Nebo was one of the more prominent mountains in the Abarim range in Moab. It overlooked the north end of the Dead Sea. It was here that Moses would die, but God graciously allowed him to see the land of Israel before he died. This reminded this writer of an incident that developed during a pastoral visit to a hospital. While visiting a church member in one bed, a family was gathered around another bed in the same room. After praying for both patients in the room, the other patient lifted her hands toward Heaven and said, I see Jesus coming for me. Immediately, she closed her eyes and died. Her family asked me to officiate at her funeral. At the burial place, many of her relatives received Christ as their Savior as I told about my visit with her in the hospital. Death may be eminent in the life of a reader of this devotional. If so, please remember that Christ is ready to save your soul and reserve a place for you in Heaven. Heaven is a real place for real people. Are you prepared to meet Christ in Heaven? We are not saved by what we do, but by what Jesus has done for us! Gene C. Smith 94

96 Saturday, May 26 God s Commission to Joshua Joshua 1:1-8 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them, Joshua 1:6. The book of Joshua is linked to the book of Deuteronomy. After Moses died, Joshua became the leader of the people of Israel. Joshua may have felt a sense of loneliness, having waited expectantly near the Jordan River to hear the voice of God. He was not disappointed. God spoke to him clearly and appointed him the leader of the people of Israel. Ultimately, Joshua led them into the land of Israel as he had been instructed to do. There are several practical applications which may be made to this event: (1) God s workers pass on, but His work must go on, (2) the Lord s churches have a tremendous task before them in carrying out the great commission as set forth in Matthew 28:18-20, (3) the Lord will be with His people and bless their labors (verse 20), (4) we need strength and courage to do the work the Lord has assigned to us (Phil. 4:13, 19), (5) we must adhere strictly to the Word of God to achieve success in His work, (6) we are to read, study and meditate upon the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15). Keep focused on the light of God s Word. Gene C. Smith 95

97 Sunday, May 27 Never Forsaken! Psalm 37:25-28 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread, Psalm 37:25. The book of Psalms is one of the most useful books in the entire Bible. It is wondrously suited to the heart of man. It is especially dear to every child of God because there is no experience of the human heart that does not find its counterpart in the Psalms. The Lord establishes and protects the ways of His people. He provides food for them (verse 25). He loves and protects them as they serve Him (verse 24). He gives them security (verse 29). Those who are born-again believers in Christ are blessed because Jesus is in their hearts. This writer once met a godly mother walking with her crippled daughter. Her limbs were covered with steel braces to her knees. She was hobbling along because her mother was encouraging her. Her mother stroked her hair, kissed her pale cheek and said, That is fine. You can do better next time. That girl now walks without any braces. The walk of a child of God is a daily walk. Some Christians seem to think, if they walk with Christ on Sunday, that is enough. However, as one walks daily with the Lord, it will give him an opportunity to be a witness for Christ to other people. The way of joy is to love the Lord with all your heart. Gene C. Smith 96

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