Led in the Way of Truth

Led in the Way of Truth

Genesis 24: ⁴² “And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go, ⁴³ behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” ⁴⁴ and she says to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,”—let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

 

⁴⁵ “But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ ⁴⁶ And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also. ⁴⁷ Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. ⁴⁸ And I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. ⁴⁹ Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”

 

============

 

Continuing in his explanation, Abraham’s servant told everyone why Rebekah was chosen. He spoke about his prayer to the LORD and the immediacy of GOD’s answer.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham’s servant was surprised by how fast GOD favorably answered his prayer.
• Abraham’s servant described how fast things happened, which showed the willingness he was looking for.
• Abraham’s servant recognized that this circumstance could only be arranged by GOD.

 

Being led by the truth meant circumstances were arranged outside of Abraham’s servant’s power. He was still being led by the HOLY SPIRIT by asking Laban and Bethuel for Rebekah to come with him. He knew they could still say no, but in his heart, he knew she was the one GOD had chosen.

 

Abraham’s servant may have gained faith that he never had before. To see Abraham get his prayers answered over the years was one thing. But to see his own prayer get answered was special. He bowed his head and worshipped the LORD. GOD had done the impossible right in front of him.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about this recap given by Abraham’s servant?
• Are you facing the impossible?
• Can you believe that GOD can say “Wait” or “No” or “Yes” to your circumstance and still make it all work for you?

Praise Party

Praise Party

Revelation 19: After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a large crowd of people in heaven, saying, “Praise God! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God! ² True and just are his judgments! He has condemned the prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her immorality. God has punished her because she killed his servants.” ³ Again they shouted, “Praise God! The smoke from the flames that consume the great city goes up forever and ever!” ⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. They said, “Amen! Praise God!”

 

============

 

As we approached the building, I could hear the music getting louder and louder. I had never been to a club, so it was a mystery to me. When I got in, lights were flashing, music was blaring and people were dancing all over the place. Everyone shouted with excitement at certain songs!

 

• I was elated!
• I was enamored!
• I shouted just like everyone else!

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard something he never heard before. He heard praise from every saved person who ever existed, along with the angels, elders and living creatures! This was no ordinary praise, it was a praise that was unrestrained!

 

My Observations:

• One day I will be able to praise GOD for my salvation and for GOD’s power.
• One day I will be able to praise GOD for getting rid of the thing that caused me to fall over and over throughout life.
• One day I will be able to agree with other people who are praising GOD!

 

Praising GOD seems boring to the world. I mean, temporary drunkenness, mixed with flashing lights, mixed with loud music with great beats must be better that praising GOD, right? Wrong! The praise mentioned here goes on forever and ever!

 

No more waking up to problems on Monday and needing to temporarily escape on Friday. No more wondering if things will work out or not. No more guessing if GOD is with me or not. This praise is permanent, unrestrained and full of relief! I look forward to, one day, truly praising GOD!

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer could not describe the sound?
• Have you ever been so elated that you just wanted to shout with joy?
• Are you looking forward to one day being able to praise GOD for what HE has done for you, and not holding back from your praise?

Raise A Praise

Raise A Praise

Jude 1: ²⁴ To him who is able to keep you from falling and to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence— ²⁵ to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from all ages past, and now, and forever and ever! Amen.

 

============

 

Being asked to be the best man in a wedding was an honor that came with expectations. One of which was to develop a toast to the bride and groom. It was a monumental day, so the toast had to have meaning, but mostly it needed to come from the heart.

 

• I said something about overcoming obstacles in the past.
• I also said something about the work it takes in the present.
• I wished them a wonderful future.

 

Jude finishes his letter upbeat. His note came with a lot of warnings about people who were deceivers pretending to be followers of CHRIST. These heave words may have needed some words of hope. Jude concluded his letter with a praise to GOD.

 

My Observations:

• When things look bleak, raise a praise to GOD.
• When difficulties arise, raise a praise to GOD.
• When you cannot see how this situation or that situation will end on a positive note, raise a praise to GOD.

 

Praising GOD is a weapon versus a feeling. I mean, the Enemy wants to take away my praise to GOD by placing temptation, evil plans against me and pain in my path, so I will close my lips from praising GOD. Little does he know that when I praise GOD in the middle of the storm, HE does remarkable things that causes the Devil to flee.

 

GOD sometimes takes the storm away or provides what I need during the storm so I can survive. HE hear my cry but loves when I sing a praise to HIM even before HE performs HIS miracle. I praise YOU LORD for all you have done, doing and will do in my life!

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the writer is thorough in this praise?
• Are you going through a difficult time?
• Will you use the weapon of praising GOD today without expectations so HIS wonderful plan will be made known to you in HIS time?

Glad For a Reason

Glad For a Reason

James 1: ⁹ Those Christians who are poor must be glad when God lifts them up, ¹⁰ and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant. ¹¹ The sun rises with its blazing heat and burns the plant; its flower falls off, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way the rich will be destroyed while they go about their business.

 

============

 

When I got my first job out of college, I was glad. I rejoiced because now I could pay for the bills I had accumulated. After a number of  job changes and promotions, I had was not satisfied with the level of wealth.

 

• I felt I needed more and I thought of reasons why.
• I looked at what other people were making and felt I “deserved” more.
• After a while I had no praise for what GOD was doing in my life, only complaints about other people.

 

James addressed wealth status. Some people may have mourned their status because they were too poor to do anything. Others may have flaunted their status because their businesses were flourishing. The stern warning to the rich is they could be destroyed trying to maintain their status.

 

My Observations:

• GOD warns us about becoming too wealthy to hear the needs of other people.
• GOD is the one who raises up people to where HE needs them to be.
• GOD tears people down to keep them away from the dangers of wealth.

 

Balance is the pursuit that is difficult. I mean, being too poor makes me cry out to GOD for rescue. On the other hand, being too rich, blinds me to the needs of others, causing me to dream up ways to keep or grow the amounts “I” have amassed. BUT GOD helps with balance.

 

GOD raises people up from poverty to help them see that HE is the answer. HE also sometimes tears the right people down so he or she will not get too prideful. GOD deserves all the praise and honor for what I have. I gladly say GOD is my provider.

 

Challenge

• What is the balance the writer is trying to get to?
• Have you ever gotten some money and stopped praying to GOD?
• Will you recognize your limits and keep praising HIM whether you have only a little or when you have plenty?

 

Offerings and Sacrifices

 

Offerings and Sacrifices

Hebrews 13: ¹⁰ The priests who serve in the Jewish place of worship have no right to eat any of the sacrifice on our altar. ¹¹ The Jewish high priest brings the blood of the animals into the Most Holy Place to offer it as a sacrifice for sins; but the bodies of the animals are burned outside the camp. ¹² For this reason Jesus also died outside the city, in order to purify the people from sin with his own blood. ¹³ Let us, then, go to him outside the camp and share his shame. ¹⁴ For there is no permanent city for us here on earth; we are looking for the city which is to come. ¹⁵ Let us, then, always offer praise to God as our sacrifice through Jesus, which is the offering presented by lips that confess him as Lord. ¹⁶ Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God.

 

============

 

“Can’t you get someone else to do it?” was my reply to the request. “No, we need your skills” was the reply to my pushback. I thought of ways to get out of doing the work being thrust upon me. “Perhaps we can outsource this” was my solution. “We need you” was the reply.

 

• I wanted someone else to do what I was supposed to do.
• I felt overloaded and wanted someone else to join in.
• I came up with a solution to pay someone to do what I was supposed to do.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, went into detail about offerings and sacrifices. He mentioned the reason for these was to atone for Jewish people. BUT JESUS, who died outside the city, offered HIS blood as a sacrifice for all.

 

My Observations:

• I can try to pay someone else to tell people about CHRIST, BUT GOD wants me to do it.
• I can try to outsource a singing group to praise GOD for me, BUT GOD wants my praise.
• I can try to give to a group who will serve others for me, BUT GOD wants me to serve.

 

Giving is good, BUT GOD wants more from me than cash. I mean, HE wants me to use my gifts and talents to tell people about JESUS and HE loves when I praise HIM daily! HE wants a direct and active relationship with me that helps me serve those who are hard to serve.

 

HE gives me strength to keep going when I feel like giving up. HE provides for those I cannot provide for. HE opens doors wide, just like HE opens eyes from being blind. I am glad GOD wants my offering of praise and my sacrifice of helping others.

 

Challenge

• What suggestions does the writer give that “pleases GOD?”
• Have you ever thought it was someone else’s responsibility to serve or tell people about CHRIST?
• Will you stop trying to outsource what GOD wants you to do today?

Encouragement

Encouragement

2Corinthians 7: ⁵ Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we did not have any rest. There were troubles everywhere, quarrels with others, fears in our hearts. ⁶ But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us with the coming of Titus. ⁷ It was not only his coming that cheered us, but also his report of how you encouraged him. He told us how much you want to see me, how sorry you are, how ready you are to defend me; and so I am even happier now.

 

============

 

When bad news came, it seemed to arrive in waves. People were dying or getting sick, arguments were popping up over little things and a feeling of being unsettled was in the air. “What is going on!?” I wondered to myself.

 

• I have felt unsettled many times.
• I have seen troubled people in many places.
• I have been worried, scared and full of fear on many occasions.

 

Paul spoke about unrest. He wrote about troubles, quarrels and the biggest problem, fear that goes all the way down into the heart. There seemed like no relief was in site. The he wrote something amazing… “BUT GOD.”

 

My Observations

• GOD sees the calamities I go through and encourages me during the problem.
• GOD knows I will get downhearted and sends the right people at the right time to encourage me.
• GOD feels my pain and anguish and wants me to be encouraged to keep going.

 

Serving GOD ain’t easy. I did say “ain’t.” I mean, when I believed that JESUS was and is the Savior who was raised from the dead, I became eter5nally saved. I wanted to tell other people. But I did not know there would be an adversary who wanted me to remain silent. Each victory of overcoming fear felt like it was met with a larger problem or a bigger fear.

 

At times I felt like giving up and conforming to the world. BUT GOD sent me people who encouraged me to keep going. HE wanted HIS SON to be spoken of by me and many others. HE lifted me up like a surefooted deer. I am grateful GOD thinks enough about me to encourage me when I am downhearted.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the pain the writer was going through?
• What pain have you felt, or are feeling, that has or is bringing you down?
• Do you know you are special and GOD wants you to remain encouraged because only you can reach the people HE wants you to reach?
• Will you encourage someone today?

Amazing Praise

Amazing Praise

Acts 16: ²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. ²³ After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. ²⁷ The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

============

Worried about the situation, I missed many hours of sleep. What would the future bring? Would the problem come up again? Would the people who caused the problem get away with their hatred? All of these questions popped in my mind and I could not answer one of them.

• There were times when I got worried.
• There were times when people caused problems for me.
• There were times when the situation seemed like there was no way out.

Paul and Silas received a horrible beating for speaking about JESUS. After being jailed, they began to sing praises to GOD. This comforted the prisoners around them. Paul and Silas had no idea what would come next. GOD shook the jail with an earthquake and opened all the doors and their chains. Their praise enabled them to desire no harm to come to the jailer.

• GOD loves when I use praise instead of worry.
• GOD loves when I use praise as a weapon against fear, doubt and worry.
• GOD loves when I use praise in situations that seem hopeless to me.

Praise has some amazing effects that I do not understand. I mean it seems like “I” should have all the solutions or should rely on other humans to provide answers. GOD loves when I simply praise HIM without expectations. This shows HIM that I know HE has the situation under control.

When I am scared, worried, angry, frustrated, blamed or persecuted, the HOLY SPIRIT enables me to praise GOD. I am grateful GOD provides relief through praise.

• Are you going through something?
• Is someone harming you because of your relationship with JESUS?
• Will you sing praises to GOD without expectations, knowing HE went though persecution just like you?

Great Report

Great Report

Acts 4: ²³ And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴ So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, ²⁵ who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

============

Excited that I got a good grade in a class, I ran back to tell everyone! I ran up the steps to my floor and ran down the hall. Not watching my footing, I slipped and fell hard with my arm extended as if I were going to catch a ball. Nothing was broken, I had to wear a sling for a few weeks. When people asked me what happened, I told them about my good grade!

• When something good happens I want to tell everyone.
• When something good happens I want to shout about it.
• When something good happens I want to raise my voice no matter who is around.

Great things were happening to the growing group who followed JESUS. Peter and John came back from being threatened by the church leaders and told the crowd what happened. When everyone heard, they screamed and shouted with praise!

• GOD wants me to mention the great things HE has done in my life.
• GOD wants me to be excited about what HE is doing right now in my life.
• GOD wants me to focus on what HE is doing so I can give a great report to someone who needs to hear it.

GOD spoke through David saying “Why did the rulers of the earth stand against our LORD?” I mean even death could not hold HIM. This is great news to share with those who can hear it. GOD wants me to mention salvation in the face of death and destruction.

Mentioning a great report uplifts those who are down. Unfortunately many conversations are not about JESUS or HIS salvation. Each negative word mentioned is a step further away from HIM. Soon the speaker cannot hear or even mention HIS true name. BUT GOD is the remedy. HE provides a way back to HIM by HIS grace. I am grateful HE accepts me back. HE is great!

• What words are you prominently speaking?
• Do you speak great news or negative news in difficult times?
• Will you turn to GOD and allow HIM to fill you with great news that is overflowing from your heart so you cannot help but to tell everyone today?

Jealousy Control

Luke 15: ²⁵ “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

²⁸ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. ³⁰ But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

³¹ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. ³² It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

============

Listening with anticipation I waited to hear who won the top employee award. When they announced this other person, I immediately got upset. I mean this person didn’t do half as much as I did and he constantly asked me questions. This day of celebration was over for me.

• There were times when I was jealous instead of celebratory.
• There were times when I was not happy for “that” person because I was envious.
• There were times when I felt I “deserved” better than “that” person.

JESUS speaks about the dedicated brother who “followed all commandments” and did everything right, yet felt slighted when his father threw a party for the one who wasted money. The father’s perspective was interesting. He gets a party but “All I have is yours.”

• GOD says to me “Do not want for anything.”
• GOD says to me “I AM with you always.”
• GOD says to me “I have rewards for you that you cannot see right now, but have patience.”

“Why does this person have it so easy and I have it hard?’ was my question to GOD on many occasion. I mean it seemed “unfair” that people who never profess GOD seem to have it easy while I was struggling day to day serving HIM. “What good is it anyway?” I exclaimed.

GOD reminds me that my rewards are in heaven for everything I do here on earth. When I sincerely serve HIM, I get excited when someone else gets more than me. GOD fills my heart with the fact that HE has a great reward for me because I can enjoy seeing what HE is doing in other folk’s lives. Praise for others brings rewards.

• Are you struggling so much that you get jealous when someone else gets something?
• Do you feel mad at GOD for not giving you more?
• Will you open your heart wider for others and add praise to GOD when they get a temporary windfall?
• Can you praise GOD today for the rewards in heaven HE is storing up for you?