DON'T STOP SHORT OF THE BLESSING

SCRIPTURE: 2 King 5:1-4

VERSE FOR TODAY: Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart ( Psalm 119:34, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Trust and Obey"

A mother had just finished a two garage sale. She was exhausted. Her children begged her to go with them to the woods at the back of their property to see the fireflies. She was convinced that she could not make this trek and used what seem to her last ounce of strength to say, "No."

They not to be easily persuaded. They begged her to go, saying she could drive the little way to the woods. So in the car they piled, and off to the woods they bumped for what she expect to be a not unpleasant sighting of fireflies.

To the mother's great surprise, however, they were greeted by a spectacular display of fireflies lighting up the woods. In a moment's of wonder and amazement, bone-deep exhaustion drained away, leaving her feeling deeply rested and blessed. She came close to missing s blessing.

Naman came close to missing a healing

 Elisha,'s instruction didn't seem sensible

Fortunately, he also some nagging voices; they encourage him to Obey. We may be too fatigued for fireflies, but may we never stop short of God's will for us because obedience and faithfulness seem impractical or unnecessary.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Dear, help us to trust You when the way is confusing and help us to obey when we think we see a better way. Amen.

WHO IS ON THE LORD SIDE?

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 20:1-6

VERSE FOR TODAY: When the priest Pashur son of Immer, the chief officer in the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah saying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten, and put in the stocks (Jeremiah 20:12, new International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "I Would Be True"

Sometimes strange things happen in "holy" places! Hilkiah found "the book of the Law in the house of the Lord." Isaiah saw the Lord "high and lifted up" on the temple. Joab found death at horns of the altar. Jeremiah found persecution and suffering at the temple gate, and at the hands of its chief officer. Blessing or curse?

People are more human than anybody! They can rise to the height or sink to the depths. Pashur's story show us that it is possible to pervert the highest office. In the eyes of the people, a servant of the Lord, working in a place dedicated to the worship of the Lord, he somehow failed. He failed his office, he failed his people, and he failed God. 

We have seen those who have suffered unjustly, or have endured pain, yet have come out of the experience with faith in God strengthened, and witness strong. Jeremiah story tells us that neither great injustice nor suffering can destroy the soul truly filled with the Spirit of God.

There are some people who attend church" but are unaffected by the worship experience. But others find God and a Savior there.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord God, help us to remember that our destiny is not determined by places and things we encounter on life's journey, but only by our faith and obedience to Jesus, who died for us. In His name, we pray Amen.

STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:22-37

Verse for Today: But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says' (Ezekiel 3:27, New International Version). 

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Speak, Lord, in the Stillness"

Today's Scripture passage sounds like a contradiction. First God tells Ezekiel to be silent, then He tells him to speak. God said, "When I speak to you, I will open your mouth." Ezekiel was to speak only God's words. Witnessing for the Lord can be fruitless if it is done in the confidence of the flesh. We can only speak effectively for God when we know what He wants us to say. Moses is an example of one who did not trust in his own power to speak for God. He said, "o Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to [me]... I am slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10, New International Version). God reminded Moses that He made his mouth and that He would help him speak.

Before we speak for God, we need to stop, look to, and listen for, God to speak to us. The opened ear comes before the opened mouth. We cannot hear God speak unless we listen for Him. It is necessary for us to listen and know Him.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Father, "May the words of my mouth...be acceptable in thy sight." These are the words You gave us to speak. May we have listening ears and obedient hearts to speak as You have instructed us to and to be silent as Your Holy Spirit directs. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, we pray Amen.

BEYOND DISAPPOINTMENT

PERHAPS YOU'VE SEEN the video of the little boy who learns he's getting another sister. In the middle of his meltdown he lamented, "It's always girls,girls,girls,girls!" It is an amusing glimpse into human expectations, but there's nothing funny about disappointment. It saturated our world. One story from the Bible is steeped in disappointment. Jacob agreed to work 7 years for the right to marry his boss's daughter Rachel. But after fulfilling his contract, Jacob got a wedding night surprise. In the morning he discovered not Rachel but her sister Leah.

We focus on Jacob disappointment, but imagine how Leah must have felt! What hopes and dreams of hers began to die that day as she was forced to marry a man who did not love or want her?

Psalm37:4 tells us, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Are we to believe that God fearing people are never disappointed? No, the Psalm clearly shows that the writer sees injustice all around him. But he takes the long view: "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him" (v.7). His conclusion: "The meek will inherit the land" (v.11). 

In the end ,it was Leah whom Jacob honored and buried in the family grave plot with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah (Gen.49:31). And it was through the lineage of Leah who in life thought she was unloved that God blessed the world with our Saviour. Jesus brings, restores hope, and gives us an inheritance beyond our wildest dreams.

STEADFAST IN YOUR RESOLVE

Now it came to pass, when they come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51

It is easy to become distracted in the Christian life! The moment you understand what God wants you to do, it will seem as though everyone around you requires your time and attention! When the time came for Jesus to go to the cross. He "set His face" toward Jerusalem, so that nothing would prevent Him from accomplishing His Father"s will. So obvious was His resolve to go to Jerusalem that the Samaritan, who hated the Jews, rejected Him because they recognized that He was a Jew traveling through their village to the hated city of Jerusalem.

Jesus determined not to disgrace him His mission, but He took time to minister to many people along His way. He sent out seventy disciple i to surrounding town (Luke10:1). He healed lepers (Luke 17:11-19). He continued to teach His disciples (Luke 15:1-32). Jesus did not refuse to minister to others as He went to Calvary, but ultimately He refused to be deterred from His Father's will.

If you know what God wants you to do, set your sights resolutely toward the goal with full determination to accomplish it (Proverb 4:25). Your resolve to go where God is leading ought to be evident to those around you. Beware of becoming so sidetracked by tve opportunities around you that you lose sight of God's ultimate goal for you. Do not succumb to the temptation to delay your obedience or discard it altogether. Once you have received a clear assignment from God, your responsd should be unwavering obedience. 

LOFTY AND LOWLY CALLING

"Now it's required that those who have given a trust must prove faithful."

1 Corinthians 4:2

Picture yourself standing before God on the day that He rewards believers. You are longing to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," but as you glance to your left you notice Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China. To your right stands Corrie ten Boom, the saint who put her life on the line to hide Jews from the Nazis. Somehow, you feel a little small and insignificant.

There's no need, God is only looking for you to be faithful in what He's called you to be and do. No matter if your calling is lofty or lowly, it is faithfulness for which The will commend you on that day when all believers stand before Him. That means that your faithfulness may be rewarded by God with as great a glory as that reserved for the evangelist of this world! 

And one more thing: if your calling in life seems lowly, you are likely to receive a greater commendation. Why? Because deeper kind of obedience is necessary when submitting to God in a low calling it's tough to remain faithful to God through poverty kit pain. The one who is faithful in tough times catches God's eye.

Jeremiah Burroughs says, "You have a principle within you of grace, a principle that raises your lowest actions to be higher in God's esteemed than all the brave, glorious action that are done in the world." 

That means that in God's eyes, Alexander the Great can't hold a candle to your lowest actions to be higher in God's esteemed than all the brave God's eyes, Alexander the Great can't hold a candle to your faithful service as you maintain a godly home. Julius Caesar's victories pale in comparison to your victories over temptations and trials. So remember: God required you to be faithful. That's enough that's everything.

HOW TO HAVE PEACE

WE HAVE  PEACE WITH GOD Through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

ROMANS 5:1

THE KAMPPI CHAPEL of Silence in Helsinki, Finland stands out in its urban setting. The curved structure, covered with wood, buffers the noise from the busy city outside. Designers created the chapel as a quiet soace and a calm environment for visitors to compose themselves." it is a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Many people long for peace, and a few minutes of silence may soothe our minds. But the Bible teaches that real peace with God comes from His Son. The apostle Paul said comes from His Son. The apostle Paul said, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Roman 5 :1). Without Christ, we are enemies of God because of our sin. Thankfully, accepting Jesus' sacrifice reconciles us to God and ends the hostility thqt existed between us (COL.1:19-20). He now sees us as Christ presents us--"holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation" (v. 22).

Having peace with God does not ensure problem-free living. However, it does steady us during difficult times. Jesus told His followers, "In this world you will have trouble," but He also said, "In me you may have peace" (John16:33). Because of Christ, the true peace of God can fill our hearts (COL. 3:15).