Faithful

Read Joshua 21

Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel.  All came to pass. Joshua 21:45

The Bible teaches us the character of God.  Last time we pondered God’s mercy over judgment.  This time we will consider God’s reliability.

Today’s verse is a good example.  God promised many things to the children of Israel.  All of them had come to pass.  Let’s review:

• God said He saw the plight of His people in Egypt.
• God said He would deliver them from the hand of Pharoh with many signs and wonders.
• God said they would leave Egypt with many treasures.
• God said He would lead them in the wilderness.
• God said he would provide for their needs, food, water, and clothing while in the wilderness.
• God said He would never leave nor forsake them.
• God said He would bring them into the Promised Land.
• God said He would subdue their enemies.
• God said He would spare the Israelites when they put blood on their doorposts at Passover.
• God swore to enlarge their territories.
• God said He would provide atonement for His land and His people.

Now after living forty years in the wilderness and who knows how many years taking over the Promised Land, the children of Israel were at rest.  God did all He promised.  Not one thing failed.  All came to pass.

This is a repeated theme in the rest of the Bible.  God said…He did it or will do it.  We can trust Him to do what He said.  God has proved Himself reliable throughout the Bible.  But His reliability doesn’t stop with His written word, it continues in the lives of those who trust Him.

God said I have loved you with an unending love.  God said though your sins may be as scarlet, I can make you white as snow.  God said if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart, you will be saved.  God said there is no condemnation for those in Christ.  God said the old is gone and the new has come.

Talk with believers they will tell you how reliable God is.  They know what He did for them.  For me He took away years of bitterness and hardened heart and gave me a tend heart of love.  He took away my self-sufficiency so I would depend on Him.  He has lifted me up and placed me firmly on the foundation of Christ, never to be removed.  He purified me from all my unrighteousness.

God is reliable.  He is trustworthy.

Have you trusted Jesus Christ to save you yet?  Today is the Day of Salvation.  Put your trust in Jesus.  He will not let you down.

Lord Jesus, the One who was sinless yet died to pay for my sin, thank you for your reliability.  Help us to understand the depth of your trustworthiness.  Let us come to you boldly.  Fill us with your Spirit and lead us on the pathway of life.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

 

That They May Know

Read Joshua 3

God wants His people to know He is real.  He orchestrates the most elaborate ways to demonstrate to us He exists.  Joshua 3 contains another example.

The Lord is preparing Joshua for what God is going to do.  He says “By this you shall know I am with you as I was with Moses.” What’s the first thing you think of when you think of Moses?  You might think of the parting of the Rea Sea.  Here Joshua is with the children of Israel and the Jordan river blocks their way into the Promised Land.  God prepares Joshua and Joshua prepares the people.

As the priests, the Levites and the representatives from each tribe step into the Jordan river, carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the water stacks up in a heap! The children of Israel walk across the Jordan on dry ground.

Only God could make that happen!  So again God shows His might through the physical miracle that they shall know it was Him.

God still does things to let us know He’s with us.  For me, I’ve experienced times of extraordinary peace in the middle of chaos.  Other times a particular verse resonates strongly during my quiet time.  Then throughout the day I come across that same verse either by hearing, seeing or reading about it in an email.  To me, this is one way He’s letting me know – yes – that was ME speaking to you.  Answered prayer is another way He confirms His existence.  I’m not saying every prayer is answered.  However, many of them are.  When I notice it has been answered it amazes me God cares so much for me!

So what ways does God let you know He’s real?

Lord thank you for wanting us to know.  Thank you for your unique way of letting each of us know you are real.  Lead us this day in your truth.  In Jesus’ name we come. Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Be Mindful of God

Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful and have forgotten the God who fathered you. Deuteronomy 32:18 NKJV

God lists us up.  He raises us to places of influence.  You think you got that promotion on your own?  Think again.  God exalts those who are mindful of Him.

God gave us certain skills and abilities.  He expects us to use them. He leads us to the place of employment.  He gives us wisdom for decision making.  He rewards us financially for the work we do. If not for Him, we wouldn’t be where we are.

Everything we have is a gift from God.  It is God who provides for us.  You might not see the connection, just as the children of Israel seemed to forget.

• Do you have a job? Be thankful.
• How about a place to live? Praise God.
• What about a form of transportation? Thank Him.
• Do you have clothes to wear and food to eat? Rejoice in God.

Remember God knows what we need.  He knew us before He made us.  He planned the family we would be born to and live with.  He counts the very the hairs on our head.  All the days of our life are known in advance by Him.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Today’s verse is a warning to us. Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful and have forgotten the God who fathered you. Don’t be like the children of Israel. Don’t take for granted all that God does for us.

Be mindful of God instead.  Be on guard.  Set reminders everything.  As you get ready in the morning, thank God for the clothing you’re putting on.  As you put on each piece, think about God’s armor from Galatians 6:10-20. As you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, praise God for providing nourishing food to keep our bodies healthy.  While driving to work or school or the store, thank Him for the car you’re driving.  As you enter your workplace, thank Him for employment and ask Him to help you be a godly influence there.  You get the idea.

Be mindful.  God gave us a brain.  Let’s start using it to bring glory to God by remembering all He does for us.

Lord God Almighty, if we stopped to consider all that you do for us we would never cease praising you. Open our eyes to the various ways you provide for us.  Let our hearts be joyful as we discover the depth of your provision for us.  In Your name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word. 

What’s there to fear?

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

Have you ever been in a situation you had no idea how it would turn out?  It can be confusing, frustrating and cause us to live in fear.

God’s Word reminds us to be strong, of good courage and not fear what’s before us.  God has a plan and purpose for us.  What He purposes always comes to pass.

God is trustworthy.  He cannot lie, but always tells the truth.  There is no deception in Him.  He is not a schemer or manipulator.  He is a Miracle-Maker.  What is impossible to man is very possible for God.

Every situation we find ourselves in is an opportunity to glorify God by not fearing and trusting in Him instead.  The Lord our God, He is the One who goes with us.

The God who spoke the world into existence, the One with unlimited creativity who designed every plant, animal and person to be completely unique, the One who heals people with a simple word or touch or glance, this is the Mighty God who goes with us.  God who works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose is the same God who will never leave us or forsake us.

What is there to fear when the One True God is with us?

Father God Almighty, there are many things that cause us fear down here.  Strength our faith and belief in You.  Help us to trust you completely, for you are completely trustworthy.  Let us not lean on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge you so you will direct our path.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Heart of the Matter

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. Deuteronomy 30:17-18 NKJV

The Bible has a lot to say about the heart. In fact, using BibleGateway.com’s keyword search on “heart” reveals 926 different references throughout the entire Bible.  We’ll look at a few verses to get a better understanding of the complexity of our heart.

Starting out with a Wicked Heart

• Genesis 6:5 NKJV – Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
• Jeremiah 17:19 NKJV – The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Our Heart has Many Attributes

• Luke 24:38 NKJV – And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
• Proverbs 19:3 NKJV – The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD.
• Proverbs 12:25 NKJV – Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
• Proverbs 15:13 NKJV – A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
• Matthew 5:28 NKJV – But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
• Proverbs 28:14 NKJV – Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Our Heart Determines our Focus

• Matthew 12:35 NKJV – A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
• Luke 12:34 NKJV – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We can Control our Heart

• Deuteronomy 11:16 NKJV – Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them.
• Psalm 78:37 NKJV – For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.
• 1 Chronicles 22:19 NKJV – Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God.
• Proverbs 2:2 NKJV – So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;
• Proverbs 22:17 NKJV - Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;

The Lord Looks at and Tests the Heart

• 1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV – But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
• Psalm 7:9 NKJV – Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
• Proverbs 17:3 NKJV – The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.

We could go on, but we’ll stop there as this list should begin to portray the complexity of the heart.  Now, what do we do with this information?

God desires us to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).   He wants us to give our entire being over to Him in a whole-hearted commitment.  He even makes it possible by giving us the Holy Spirit to purify our hearts by faith (Acts 15:8-9). As the paslmist said “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10), we know God would answer that prayer because it’s inline with His perfect will.

Our take away is to remember the heart is central to our relationship with Jesus Christ.  If we believe with the heart and confess with the mouth Jesus Christ is Lord, we will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). Therefore, we need to continually feed our heart wisdom, knowledge, and truth or it will turn back to evil.

The book of Romans tells us to overcome evil with good.  So we need to consciously be on guard protecting our hearts.  Keeping our hearts set on Jesus that we may be pure and blameless when He returns.  Paul tells us to keep our thoughts fixed on things lovely, pure, true, honorable and just because these nourish the heart.   Whatever is in our heart will eventually come out.  Lord tests our hearts and through adversity, trials and tribulations a person’s heart is revealed.

How’s your heart?

Lord thank you for creating a clean heart in us today.  Thank you for your grace we receive by faith in Jesus Christ.  Help us to set our hearts on you so we won’t be deceived or turn away to other gods.  In your precious name we pray, Jesus, Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

When These Things Come Upon You…

“Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, ² and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, ³ that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you.” Deuteronomy 30:1-3 NKJV

God knows what we are going do or not do.  He makes provisions to get us out of our own poor choices.  He knows we disobey.  It’s not a matter of IF we sin, it is more like when.  He tells us WHEN we are in the midst of His blessings and curses we are to remember He said this would happen.

As we remember it is God who both blesses and curses, we are more likely to return to God and obey His voice.  Sometimes we need to experience the depth of our own depravity before we can accept God’s grace and compassion.  We recognize how Holy God is only by seeing clearly how sinful we are.  This shows off God’s mercy in His willingness to forgive us.  Remember He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay for our sin, so we could stand pure, blameless and righteous before Him.

Thank you, God, for loving us and forgiving us and drawing us back to you.  We come to you this day and ask for your help to cling to what is good and right and pure.  Teach us more about you and your ways by your Holy Spirit in us.  Thank you for saving us through faith in Jesus Christ.  In His precious name we pray. Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Effort or Revelation?

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV

Have you ever been stuck in needing to know something?  There’s a situation happening in your life and you have this unrelenting need to know why it’s happening.  Ever been there?

The children of Israel had that problem too.  Moses gave them some good advice.  “The secret things belong to the Lord our God…” He suggests that the unknown or secret things belong to God and are not for us to know, so move on.

Moses continues saying, “but those things which are revealed belong to us…” In effect he is admonishing the children of Israel to leave the unknown to God and focus on what has been revealed to us.  That’s great advice.  Focusing on the uncertain only creates worry and anxiety.  However, focus on what is known is more tangible, concrete, stable and comforting. This verse is reassuring for a number of reasons.

First is suggests God is the one in control.  He decides what we need to know giving our current situation, state of maturity and belief in Him.  He gives us exactly what we need in that moment, no more and no less.  Second our knowledge doesn’t come from the effort, strain or desire we place in studying God’s Word.  It is good to study God’s Word, but we must recognize our dependence on God to reveal His Truth to us.  The third reason this verse is reassuring is because what is revealed belongs to us forever.  God’s wisdom is not granted temporarily.  It is given forever.  The truth He reveals cannot be taken away.  Oh, we may forget it sometimes but God even ensures against that by giving us His Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit’s job is to bring to remembrance all God has shown us.  How fabulous is that?

Some folks think studying God’s Word is like mining for gold.  It takes a lot of hard work to uncover a single nugget of truth.  But those who think that are relying on their own effort to understand.  Yes, there is effort involved in studying God’s Word, but God is the one revealing His truth at the appropriate time.  Have you ever read a passage of scripture and found more meaning in it than the first time you read it?  The first time you might get some understanding, but some time later you read the same verse and this time it has a fuller meaning.   That’s God showing you a little more.  There is the element of obedience required, where we continue to read and study God’s Word.  The payoff happens when God decides to unlock His Words when you’re ready for the truth.  It’s a beautiful thing when that starts happening.

Why does God reveal anything to us in the first place?  The answer is wrapped up in the last part of today’s verse: “that we may do all the words of this law.”  God wants us to succeed. He wants His children to prosper. Following God’s plan is the only way.  When He reveals Himself to us, we are more likely to trust and follow Him.  It’s a process that will last our entire life.  He reveals a little more each day.  We learn to trust Him more with each circumstance.  Therefore, we are more inclined to trust Him with the next situation that arises.

God is in control.  Our effort doesn’t increase our knowledge because God reveals truth in His timing.  His Holy Spirit helps us not forget the truth He reveals, so we may have it forever.  Is God great or what?

Thank you, God, for revealing what we need to know when we need it.  We trust you to provide exactly the truth needed for every situation.  We come to you in complete dependence on you.  In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Father God and Jesus the Son are One

Read John 5:12-23

The Jews were accusing Jesus of making Himself equal with God.  Jesus answers them saying all the ways He and Father God are one.  In essence, Jesus is telling the Jews they were right He was equal with God. He then goes on to outline six ways that He is equal with God.  Jesus was agreeing with their accusation and providing supporting evidence to prove the point.

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. ²⁰”

• He and Father are one, so integrated so they can not be separated.  Both with same mind, will, and desires.

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. ²¹”

• This love includes.  It reveals.  It shares its true heart.

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. ²²”

• All authority and power is given to Jesus.  Anything God the Father can do, Jesus can do.  Proving they are one.

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, ²³”

• Jesus is the supreme judge. Father God has given Him deciding vote.  We know how He votes: Not Guilty because He chose to die for us!

“that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.”

• Jesus deserves same honor as God the Father because He is the Son.

“He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

• There’s only one way to the Father’s heart, through His Son.  If we reject the Son, we reject the Father.

The timeless principle is Jesus and Father God are one. In what ways do we treat Jesus different from the Father? How do you think Father God feels when Jesus is treated different from Him? What specific way can we honor God the Father?

Lord God Almighty, you and Jesus are one.  If there is any way in us that doesn’t acknowledge Jesus as your son drive it out of us this day.  We pray in Jesus’ name Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Repent with Sincerity

Remember what 2 Chronicles 7:14 said? There are four steps leading to healing. Humble ourselves, pray and seek God were the first three steps. These steps prepared us for the action step.

The fourth step in healing is repentance. Don’t let the word “repent” scare you. It simply means turning from and turning to something. It’s a decision to change your mind. It means to stop one way and start another. God asks us to turn from ungodly ways and turn to Him.

So let’s look at what we need to turn from as 2 Timothy 3:2-5 outlines:

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Pastor Rick Warren took these items and looked each word up in the Greek to seek further meaning. We’ll use his list (taken from January 10-11, 2009 sermon) as our checklist below. Rate how frequently you see these appearing in your life. Use the following scale: 1 for not at all, 2 for occasionally, 3 more than I’d like, 4 becoming a habit, and 5 all the time.

Self-absorbed	1 2 3 4 5
Money focused	1 2 3 4 5
Self promoting	1 2 3 4 5
Status conscious	1 2 3 4 5
God-insulting	1 2 3 4 5
Rude, disrespectful	1 2 3 4 5
Unappreciative	1 2 3 4 5
Crude and profane	1 2 3 4 5
Unkind and heartless	1 2 3 4 5
Unwilling to forgive	1 2 3 4 5
Slanders and gossips	1 2 3 4 5
Impulsive and uncontrolled	1 2 3 4 5
Loves violence	1 2 3 4 5
Cynical, hate do-gooders	1 2 3 4 5
Double-dealing	1 2 3 4 5
Reckless and rash, irresponsible	1 2 3 4 5
Puffed up with pride	1 2 3 4 5
Choosing pleasure over God	1 2 3 4 5
Fake spirituality	1 2 3 4 5

If you rated any item more than a 1, stop. Pray and ask God to help you repent of this ungodly behavior. Confess it and ask for forgiveness.

Acts 3:19 NKJV says “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Now who doesn’t want their sins blotted out and times of refreshing to come?

Act now. Turn from your ungodly ways and turn to God Himself. In this turning you are repenting. If repentance comes with sincerity, it is well pleasing to God and He will be glorified.

Lord Almighty, your Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment to come. May your word settle deep without our hearts that we may be convicted of ungodly behaviors to confess them and be freed from them. Forgive us our sins and send your times of refreshing. In Jesus’ name Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Genesis 12 – Faithful

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The Lord tells Abram to leave his country, family and father’s house. In return the Lord said he would make Abram a great nation, make his name great and bless him. He also said he was blessing Abram so Abram could bless others. Along with that the Lord said anyone who curses you will be cursed. All the families of the earth will be blessed through Abram. What was Abram’s response? He departed as the Lord had spoken to him. He responded in quick obedience.

Later in the land of Canaan and Shechem, the Lord says I’m giving this land to your descendants. What was Abram’s response? He built an alter to his Lord and kept moving. He worshipped the Lord. He obeyed the Lord.

Now with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east, Abram builds another alter to the Lord and calls upon His name. What was Abram’s response? He sought the Lord’s counsel. Then he journeyed south.

Next we see Abram in Egypt during a famine. Abram fearing for his own life decides to lie about Sarai being his wife. He thought the Egyptians would kill him to take her. He starts handling things on his own rather than calling on the Lord. (See verse 10 through 16) What happened? Abram was obedient up to this point. What caused him to not trust the Lord?

But what encourages me the most is how God chose to continue using Abram, despite his lack of faith, his need to control things, his self-preservation, fear and his lying and scheming. God still worked despite Abram’s missteps.

And so it is with us. We may be obedient one time and disobedient the next, just like Abram. But God still uses us. He still works in us and through us to accomplish His great purposes.

God is not looking for the perfect. He’s looking for the faithful; those who will trust Him no matter what. But even if we do slip up and depend on our own strength once in awhile, God doesn’t leave us there. He draws us back into His care.

Lord, thank you for being willing to put up with less than perfect followers. Thank you for drawing us near time and time again. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. She is creator of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com , YourBibleWitnessAtWork.com, and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.