He that is not faithful in a little, will not be faithful in much, as he that giveth entertainment to a small temptation will also to a greater, if put upon it.
—Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 6:309
—Puritan Thomas Manton, Works 6:309
July 23: Finding God in Sheol
#Devotional
2 Samuel 11:1–12:31; 2 Peter 1:1–8; Psalm 139:1–24
We’ve all felt distant from God. Sometimes it’s sin that makes us feel separated from Him; other times it could be a lack of prayer. Either way, when we feel apart from God, God has not moved away from us. God never moves—we do. But we can find solace in the words of Psa 139: “O Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought from afar” (Psa 139:1–2).
We spend so much of life explaining ourselves to others. Trying to manage perceptions is a norm in our society—especially for those of us in fast-paced work environments. There’s nothing wrong with this as long as our motives are pure, we’re being honest, and we’re not obsessed with what others think. But it’s certainly comforting to know that with God, we never have to explain ourselves. He already knows. He has already searched us—and He is always present.
The psalmist writes, “You barricade me behind and in front, and set your hand upon me.… If I ascend to heaven, there you are, and if I make my bed in Sheol [the ultimate symbol of darkness in the Ancient Near East], look! There you are. If I lift up the wings of the dawn, and I alight on the far side of the sea, even there your hand would lead me, and your right hand would hold me fast” (Psa 139:5, 8–10). God is in all places. We may accept these concepts intellectually, but our minds become distracted when we’re feeling alone. Loneliness is heart work, as Psa 139 portrays.
Psalm 139 concludes with the words, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there is in me the worship of false gods, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psa 139:23–24). The God who created the universe is waiting for us. He is ready to find our false gods and cast them out. He is ready to help us acknowledge His work of goodness and order in the world, and to alleviate the anxiousness we feel. Only He who is all-knowing and all-present can bring us ultimate comfort. Only He can close the gap we feel.
What false gods are you fighting? What anxiousness do you need to ask God to cast out?
#Devotional
2 Samuel 11:1–12:31; 2 Peter 1:1–8; Psalm 139:1–24
We’ve all felt distant from God. Sometimes it’s sin that makes us feel separated from Him; other times it could be a lack of prayer. Either way, when we feel apart from God, God has not moved away from us. God never moves—we do. But we can find solace in the words of Psa 139: “O Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought from afar” (Psa 139:1–2).
We spend so much of life explaining ourselves to others. Trying to manage perceptions is a norm in our society—especially for those of us in fast-paced work environments. There’s nothing wrong with this as long as our motives are pure, we’re being honest, and we’re not obsessed with what others think. But it’s certainly comforting to know that with God, we never have to explain ourselves. He already knows. He has already searched us—and He is always present.
The psalmist writes, “You barricade me behind and in front, and set your hand upon me.… If I ascend to heaven, there you are, and if I make my bed in Sheol [the ultimate symbol of darkness in the Ancient Near East], look! There you are. If I lift up the wings of the dawn, and I alight on the far side of the sea, even there your hand would lead me, and your right hand would hold me fast” (Psa 139:5, 8–10). God is in all places. We may accept these concepts intellectually, but our minds become distracted when we’re feeling alone. Loneliness is heart work, as Psa 139 portrays.
Psalm 139 concludes with the words, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there is in me the worship of false gods, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psa 139:23–24). The God who created the universe is waiting for us. He is ready to find our false gods and cast them out. He is ready to help us acknowledge His work of goodness and order in the world, and to alleviate the anxiousness we feel. Only He who is all-knowing and all-present can bring us ultimate comfort. Only He can close the gap we feel.
What false gods are you fighting? What anxiousness do you need to ask God to cast out?
❤3
July 23 - Jesus Christ’s Amazing Ministry
#LifeOfChrist
“This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases’” (Matthew 8:17).
Even excluding the miraculous healings, Jesus’ ministry was unprecedented and amazing. “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks” (John 7:46). The man born blind, whom Jesus healed, told the Jewish leaders, “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man [Christ] were not from God, He could do nothing” (John 9:32–33).
When Jesus healed the paralytic, the onlookers “were awestruck, and glorified God” (Matt. 9:8), and after He expelled a demon they said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel” (v. 33). When He stood before Pilate, Jesus did not say a word in His own defense, “so the governor was quite amazed” (Matt. 27:14).
Everything about our Lord was astonishing, excellent, and humanly beyond explanation. It is hard to understand how anyone who witnessed His preaching and miracles, or has even just read about Him in the gospels, can still refuse to accept and obey Him. Some are drawn by His charisma and power, and they marvel at the things He taught and did, but they still take nothing to heart and don’t believe. Sometimes they are willing to call themselves Christians, but they need a commitment that is more than superficial—one that perseveres in faith to the end.
Ask Yourself
Think of all the things that are truly amazing about Christ. If you were asked what you love the most about Him, what would you say? You never want to be at a loss to share the specific ways He makes life distinctly abundant.
#LifeOfChrist
“This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: ‘He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases’” (Matthew 8:17).
Even excluding the miraculous healings, Jesus’ ministry was unprecedented and amazing. “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks” (John 7:46). The man born blind, whom Jesus healed, told the Jewish leaders, “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man [Christ] were not from God, He could do nothing” (John 9:32–33).
When Jesus healed the paralytic, the onlookers “were awestruck, and glorified God” (Matt. 9:8), and after He expelled a demon they said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel” (v. 33). When He stood before Pilate, Jesus did not say a word in His own defense, “so the governor was quite amazed” (Matt. 27:14).
Everything about our Lord was astonishing, excellent, and humanly beyond explanation. It is hard to understand how anyone who witnessed His preaching and miracles, or has even just read about Him in the gospels, can still refuse to accept and obey Him. Some are drawn by His charisma and power, and they marvel at the things He taught and did, but they still take nothing to heart and don’t believe. Sometimes they are willing to call themselves Christians, but they need a commitment that is more than superficial—one that perseveres in faith to the end.
Ask Yourself
Think of all the things that are truly amazing about Christ. If you were asked what you love the most about Him, what would you say? You never want to be at a loss to share the specific ways He makes life distinctly abundant.
DAY 23: How can Luke’s authorship of Acts be defended when his name is not mentioned in the book?
https://telegra.ph/DAILY-BIBLE-07-23
https://telegra.ph/DAILY-BIBLE-07-23
Telegraph
DAILY BIBLE
Reading for Today: Ezra 7:1–8:36 Psalm 88:1-5 Proverbs 21:21-22 Acts 23:16-35 Notes: Ezra 7:6 a skilled scribe. Ezra’s role as a scribe was critical to reinstate the nation since the leaders had to go back to the law and interpret it. This was no small task…
To start a men's ministry, begin simple:
- Gather a few men
- Open the Bible
- Pray together
- Talk honestly
- Choose one act of service
- Build consistency before complexity
- Gather a few men
- Open the Bible
- Pray together
- Talk honestly
- Choose one act of service
- Build consistency before complexity
❤3
The richest person on earth is the one that has Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
❤4
Jesus Christ once left heaven for earth in humiliation, He will return again soon, in exaltation.
❤3
I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
❤2
Dear Daughter,
Grow together in the Word this summer 📖
Read Scripture. Discuss truth. Apply it side by side.
Iron sharpens iron.
'As iron sharpens iron, so one sharpens another' (Prov 27:17).
What are you studying together?
#DearDaughter #GrowInTheWord #StrongMarriage
Grow together in the Word this summer 📖
Read Scripture. Discuss truth. Apply it side by side.
Iron sharpens iron.
'As iron sharpens iron, so one sharpens another' (Prov 27:17).
What are you studying together?
#DearDaughter #GrowInTheWord #StrongMarriage
❤1
This creates a false choice. Christians are commanded to care for the needy and proclaim God's truth. Jesus fed hungry crowds, but He never treated physical needs as more important than spiritual ones. Remember, Jesus fed people, and He also taught them, saying, "Man shall not live by bread alone."
❤1
Make your marriage a house of prayer! 🏡🙏
Two people praying together are powerful in God’s kingdom! Matt 18:19 ❤️
How often are you praying together? #StrongMarriage #July
@StudyBibleFam
Two people praying together are powerful in God’s kingdom! Matt 18:19 ❤️
How often are you praying together? #StrongMarriage #July
@StudyBibleFam
❤1
Elon musk is a trillionaire and like the rest of us will leave this earth with nothing but his soul someday.
Elon, you need Jesus Christ, we all need Him.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Elon, you need Jesus Christ, we all need Him.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
❤1🤷♂1
Public schools can teach gender ideology, encourage children to question their biological sex, and celebrate nearly every belief system. Yet reading the Bible is treated as controversial or even harmful.
Why is Christianity the one worldview so many believe must be kept out of the classroom?
Why is Christianity the one worldview so many believe must be kept out of the classroom?
👍2
When I have learned to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.
CS Lewis
CS Lewis
❤3
Open the Bible today. Not because you are trying to earn God's love, but because you desperately need His truth.
❤4
“Many appeal to Christ for salvation who do not appeal to him for sanctification. This is false.”
—Puritan Samuel Bolton, The True Bounds of Christian Freedom, 33
—Puritan Samuel Bolton, The True Bounds of Christian Freedom, 33
The world trains men to wake up and chase comfort.
Scripture calls men to wake up and pursue Christ.
One path leads to ease and regret.
The other leads to faithfulness and eternal reward.
Choose wisely today.
Scripture calls men to wake up and pursue Christ.
One path leads to ease and regret.
The other leads to faithfulness and eternal reward.
Choose wisely today.