The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: God

  • Study and Know the Things Freely Given

    “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

    1 Corinthians 2:12

    As a Christian, have you taken time to not only read, but study your Bible? Many Believers find the Bible too difficult to understand or know. Is this the conclusion you have come to in your life? If you have not taken the time to read and study God’s Word, you are missing an infinite source of encouragement, help, instruction, comfort and even strength that can be gained nowhere else in this world.

    First, one must acknowledge that from Genesis to Revelation, the entire Bible, is the inspired Word of God. “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). Did you notice the first word, “All”? That really means all of Scripture is given by God. This reveals that all of the Bible is important – for God gave it to us. This should give us complete confidence in every part of it. For a Christian, the Bible is the authority by which we are to live our lives.

    God has given Christians more than the Bible to read. He gave each Christian the Holy Spirit to help us understand what the Bible says. “12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Christians can have an understanding of what the Bible says. Not only are we to believe that the Bible is God’s Word, but that God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us understand what the Bible says. We are to trust God’s Spirit to help us understand it. This should help us recognize that it is not only imperative that each Christian reads the Bible, but also understands it. The more we read and understand it, the more important it becomes in our lives.

    Knowledge without application is pretty much worthless. In reading and understanding the Bible, one must choose to know how to follow its’ teachings. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). It is important to understand that God has a plan for each Christian’s life, however it is up to each individual to choose to walk in that path. Remember what God tells us about David. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). David fulfilled God’s will for his life. How did David know what God expected? He asked God. “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths” (Psalm 25:4). Not only did David ask God to show him God’s way, but to teach him the path God had for his life. The Bible is full of people who have chosen to know God’s ways, and follow in His paths. There are also many people recorded that chose to not follow in God’s paths. Each Christian is to read the Bible to find out what happens in a person’s life when they follow God’s paths, and what happens when people choose to make their own way in the world, disregarding God’s paths. “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). The Bible was written for us to not only come to know Christ as our Saviour, but to follow the examples that are recorded within so we know how to live a life pleasing to God. Paul wrote of this. “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

    Have a confidence that the Bible is completely true. Understand that the Holy Spirit will help Christians understand what the Bible says. Oftentimes, He uses good Bible teachers to help us understand, too (see 2 Timothy 2:2). But none of that will do any good if one does not chose to appropriate what is learned into the heart and life. It is only then that one becomes more like Christ.

    There are many excuses as to why people do not know or understand the Bible. Some people find the Bible too difficult to read, and others may think it takes too much time to read. But what does the Bible teach us? “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2). It is part of what God expects from Christians. To search out matters. It is then that we learn what it is God expects us to do. “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

    Have you taken time to believe the Bible, understanding that God expects you to know it and live your life according to what is written within?

  • Righteousness

    “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:”

    Luke 18:9

    There is a very familiar parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a publican. “9. And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other menare,extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.13. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much ashiseyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14.I tell you, this man went down to his house justifiedratherthan the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14). The reason Jesus told this was to draw attention to the fact that some people “trusted in themselves that they were righteous”. This is a very dangerous thing and everyone needs to understand exactly what this means.

    The word righteous has a very long definition in the Greek. Righteous (Dikaios) means “that which is right, conformable to right … When this absolute justice is applied to man, it is stated that there is no man who in his behavior can fully meet the expectations of God in his life (see Romans 3:10: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one”)…” This very long definition helps one understand what the Bible means when it says righteous. The definition continues, for in Luke 18:9 it has a totally different meaning. Righteous (Dikaios) means “may also apply to the person who establishes his own rules of life. Such was a Pharisee whom the Lord exposed as righteous in himself (see Matthew 9:13: “But go ye and learn whatthatmeaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”; see Luke 18:9: “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:”). Having set up and kept, or pretended to keep, certain standards, the Pharisees called themselves righteous or just in the sight of God. Most of these rules and regulations, however, were not those of inner holiness and conformity to God, but mere performance of external ceremonial ordinances (see Romans 10:3: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”) … The nonbelievers, referred to as heathen, call others righteous or just, as they compare them with their own standards… Christianity must continually combat such a view …” There is much more to this definition, but this section is very interesting in that it deals with man’s definition of righteous – not God’s. Much like the Pharisee in the parable Jesus told.

    Another time Jesus used this definition was when He was addressing the Pharisees as they challenged Jesus for eating with publicans and sinners whom Matthew had brought to meet Jesus. It would be important for us to remember that when people choose to follow Jesus (as Jesus’ disciples had), there is usually trouble stirring nearby. “10. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13. But go ye and learn whatthatmeaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:10-13). The scribes and Pharisees (the religious leaders) questioned Jesus – but they did not ask their questions directly to Jesus, instead asking Jesus’ disciples. However, Jesus knew what was happening. He immediately stepped in, and dealt with their challenge of Him eating with sinners. Jesus made it clear why He had come. Jesus had, “not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” If you ponder on that for a bit, understanding what the word righteous means according to what we just read, it might scare you a bit. Jesus told them to learn that they were sick (their self-righteousness would not uphold when they stood before God one day). Until they understood that they were sick (lost, apart from Christ and His righteousness), they would die in their sin and spend eternity in hell. They had to first acknowledge their sin, which leads to repentance. Only a sinner who is repentant before God can receive the righteousness of Christ which gives salvation. “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).

    Have you rejected self-righteousness of your own making and instead chosen to receive the righteousness of Christ?

    How to receive Christ.

  • Faithful Daniel

    “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

    2 Timothy 2:15

    Daniel was faithful to God throughout the captivity days of Judah in Babylon. Not only did God give him the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and interpreting dreams, but God also gave him many visions of what would happen in the future.

    Daniel read God’s Word that had already been recorded. As he read Jeremiah 25:11-12, he understood that it was a confirmation of a prophecy from Leviticus 26:33-35. He realized that God had promised that after seventy years, the captivity in Babylon would end, and God’s people would get to go home (see Daniel 9:2). Daniel also recognized that the captivity was because of the people’s sin. When Daniel read God’s plan, he understood God’s will for him. He did what God said to do; he prayed for forgiveness of sin. Read how his prayer began. “3. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4. And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5. We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments” (Daniel 9:3-5). Read Daniel 9:3-21 for the entire prayer. It was important that Daniel was in God’s will (to immediately repent and pray) so that he would be in a position for God to reveal Himself to him. It is after this prayer that God revealed to Daniel some of the most specific details about God’s plan of redemption.

    After recognizing that Daniel was a great student of God’s Word, we should realize that this was imperative in his understanding of what God was doing in his life and the life of his nation. The more he read God’s Word, the more God revealed understanding to Daniel. Daniel knew that God had a plan, and His plan would come to pass. Daniel is probably the most outstanding character of the Old Testament, yet we have recorded Daniel’s personal confession as he threw himself upon the mercy of Almighty God. The more holy a person is, the more that one will be more conscious of his unholiness. It is then one humbles himself completely before God. This is the condition one must be in to truly hear from God and recognize the plan God has for that life.

    Daniel understood God was moving in the lives of His people. He could do nothing to help, but he recognized the importance of praying according to God’s will. We are to recognize that God has a plan in this day. Although we might not see anything we can do in it, we do have a personal responsibility to pray that God’s will is done in all things. It may be then that God can reveal His specific plan for you.

    See only a few of the things that we should learn from the life of Daniel:

    • to be faithful to speak God’s Words to others;
    • to not compromise our walk with the Lord;
    • to trust God’s protection of our life while we serve Him;
    • to be faithful to read God’s written word (the Bible), knowing that God will reveal Himself and His plans to His people.

    Christians must be very careful to not become guilty of spiritual pride – too proud to confess our sin. It is necessary to continually examine our lives and make sure there is nothing hindering our fellowship and communion not only with God, but with His people. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Remember David. Although he sinned greatly (recorded for us to recognize), he had learned to repent and say “I have sinned” and he was known as a “man after God’s own heart” (see 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22).

    Throughout the Bible, we recognize a principle that the more we study God’s written Word, the more God gives us of His revelation. The more we exercise ourselves in knowing His will, the more He reveals His will to us. God reveals Himself and His plans to those who belong to Him – just as He did to Daniel. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). (See also 1 Corinthians 2:12-13.) Today, we need to read the Bible for answers.

    The events in lives of people recorded in the Bible are nothing if we do not turn them into personal examples of how God expects each and every one of His children to live. We can read about Daniel, acknowledging that God was able to use him mightily to reach kings of enemy nations, revealing God to them – all because Daniel was committed to reading God’s Word and to walk with God, daily.

    Daniel was truly a mighty example of a man who consistently walked with God.

    Do people recognize you as one who studies God’s Word and consistently walks according to His plan?

  • The Handwriting on the Wall

    “And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;”

    Daniel 5:22

    Daniel was now an older man. King Nebuchadnezzar no longer ruled. A new king reigned in Babylon. His name was Belshazzar, and he was King Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson. We know little about him, except for the time he drank wine before his thousands. “1. Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein” (Daniel 5:1-2). Father in this verse means “grandfather.” King Belshazzar called for the vessels from the house of the Lord to be brought to him. Remember King Nebuchadnezzar had stolen the vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem (see Daniel 1:1-2). These vessels belonged in the house of the Lord and were consecrated to God (set apart for a special purpose). Recognize that Belshazzar misused these vessels. “They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone” (Daniel 5:4). Belshazzar was using them to praise false gods (of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone).

    Read what God did. “In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote” (Daniel 5:5). When King Belshazzar saw a hand writing on the palace wall, he was so scared that his knees began to shake together! He sent for his wise men to tell him what the message meant – with a promise of great reward (see Daniel 5:6-7). However, none of them could tell the king what the writing meant. This frightened King Belshazzar even more.

    Nevertheless, when the queen heard what was happening, she told the king that she knew of someone. “11. There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 12. Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation” (Daniel 5:11-12). Notice the reputation that preceded Daniel! Also, recognize the confidence the queen had in Daniel – for we read the king then requested Daniel’s presence. If Daniel would give King Belshazzar the meaning, Daniel would receive great reward (see Daniel 5:13-16). However, Daniel did not want rewards for delivering a message from God to the king (see Daniel 5:17).

    The first thing Daniel did was remind King Belshazzar of his grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, and the response he had made when God spoke to and dealt with him (see Daniel 5:18-21; also see Daniel chapter four). Next, Daniel brought the responsibility of the writing upon the wall to the king. “22. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 23. But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified” (Daniel 5:22-23). Daniel rebuked King Belshazzar for praising the gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood and stone, and not acknowledging God who had given him life.

    Nebuchadnezzar had humbled himself before God, but Belshazzar had refused.

    King Belshazzar had not believed in God like his grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar.

    Read the message God had for King Belshazzar. “25. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 27. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:25-28). King Belshazzar had been “weighed in the balances” by God, and Belshazzar had been found wanting (means “deficient; lacking; to fail”). Although Belshazzar had a great kingdom, he had rejected God. The God in whom Nebuchadnezzar, his grandfather, had believed and trusted. For that, God was going to take the kingdom from Belshazzar and divide it among his enemies.

    Belshazzar fulfilled his promise to Daniel, giving him honor and gifts (see Daniel 5:29). Recognize that it did not really matter that the king declared Daniel to be the third ruler in the kingdom. Why not? “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain” (Daniel 5:30). The handwriting declared King Belshazzar would lose his kingdom that night – and he did. He also lost his life. With that came the demise of the Babylonian reign. Belshazzar no longer lived, nor did he rule over Babylon any more.

    Nebuchadnezzar had a choice. He chose to believe in the one true God.

    Belshazzar had a choice. He chose to disregard the one true God.

    What choice have you made?

    How to choose wisely: Choose the one true God

  • Nebuchadnezzar

    “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”

    Job 42:5

    When Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him, he called his wise men to tell him what his dream was and what it meant. When Daniel was called, he told the king that no man could tell the king his dream and the meaning, but the answer to his dream came from God in heaven (see Daniel 2:28). After Daniel revealed the dream and its meaning, we read King Nebuchadnezzar’s first acknowledgment that the God of Daniel is the one true God. “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret” (Daniel 2:47).

    After the dream of a great image (where his kingdom was the head of gold), Nebuchadnezzar, the king, made a huge image of gold (see Daniel 3). The people were commanded to fall down and worship that golden image when they heard the sound of the music (see Daniel 3:5). Anyone who did not worship it would be cast into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:6). When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not fall down and worship the image, someone told the king (see Daniel 3:12). Though they were captives in a foreign land, and they were rulers there, they had chosen to serve the one true God with their lives.

    King Nebuchadnezzar was angry (see Daniel 3:13), but he gave them a second chance to bow to the golden image – with the warning, “but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15b). Read their answer, “17. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Daniel 3:17-18).

    Not only did God spare their lives, miraculously, but Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God as the most high God. This is the second time recorded that Nebuchadnezzar recognized God, and His dealings in the lives of the young men from Judah. Nebuchadnezzer said, “Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort” (Daniel 3:29).

    Daniel chapter four is different. It is written by King Nebuchadnezzar. It begins with a declaration from King Nebuchadnezzar that this is his personal testimony of how he came to know the one true God.

    It began with a dream of which none of his wise men could declare the meaning. “But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream …” (Daniel 4:8). Notice that Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that he had named Daniel after his god, but he recognized that the spirit of the one true God was within Daniel. He told Daniel his dream (see Daniel 4:10-18).

    After hearing the dream, Daniel was troubled. He understood that it was bad news for Nebuchadnezzar, yet good news for his enemies (see Daniel 4:19-26 for the interpretation of that dream). Read a key part: “That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (Daniel 4:25). Moreover, read the invitation Daniel gave to King Nebuchadnezzar. “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity” (Daniel 4:27). Daniel counseled him to turn from his sins.

    Just as God warned in a dream, “All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar” (Daniel 4:28). One year later, Nebuchadnezzar said, “… Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). While the words were in his mouth, God spoke telling Nebuchadnezzar that, “The kingdom is departed from thee” (Daniel 431b). God proceeded to tell him that he would be driven from men to live with the beasts of the field and eat grass for seven years. It happened that same hour (see Daniel 4:33). But at the end of that seven years, recognize what happened. “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34). Understand what took place. Once Nebuchadnezzar recognized the God, his understanding returned and he was reestablished in his kingdom (see Daniel 4:36). Read the declaration made by King Nebuchadnezzar. “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37). When Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God and what God had done in his life, Nebuchadnezzar was changed – for now he knew God.

    Nebuchadnezzar had to come to the same place Job had reached: “5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6). He had heard of God, but now he knew Him.

    Have you come to the place where you have not only heard of God, but know you know Him?

    The only way to know God is through His Son, Jesus. Click here to learn how to know God.

  • Words of Encouragement

    “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

    Jeremiah 29:11

    Jeremiah always delivered the messages God gave him faithfully, even when it was difficult for him. He chose to obey God, calling Judah to repent and return to God. Jeremiah had little, if any, hope of God’s people truly repenting and returning to God, yet he faithfully obeyed. What courage! As you read the book of Jeremiah, you will understand that the people did not repent, so God allowed the enemy to take them captive and destroy Jerusalem. Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of his beloved city, and his people carried captive to a foreign land.

    God gave Jeremiah a message to send to the people who were taken captive before God allowed the Babylonians to besiege Jerusalem. They were words of encouragement that are read by many even today.

    Read some of the letter that Jeremiah sent to the Jews of the first captivity. “Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon” (Jeremiah 29:1). We are to understand that this is the first carrying away of captives by Babylon (see Jeremiah 29:2). Read the message. “4. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; 5. Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; 6. Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. 7. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace” (Jeremiah 29:4-7). First, he wanted them to understand they would be in Babylon for a while, so they needed to take up residence. They were to build houses, plant gardens, get married, and have families. Most importantly, they were to pray unto the Lord. They were not to listen to the false prophets who were speaking among them. “8. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. 9. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:8-9). The Israelites were to understand that they would be there for seventy years. After that seventy years, their discipline would end, and God would allow them to return back to the land God had promised them. “10. For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive” (Jeremiah 29:10-14). God loved His people and did not want them to have troubles, but His people needed to learn that they had to seek God with all of their hearts – and then they would find him. God had a plan and a reason for that captivity. During their time in Babylon, God’s people finally learned to seek the Lord.

    The following verse is quoted often today: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). This is a very encouraging verse. However, I would like you to consider something. In order for God’s people to come to this place in their relationship with God, they had to be taken captive from their homes because they had refused to repent of their sin and turn to God. It was only in their captivity, when they finally repented, that God was able to give them these encouraging words. “12. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13). It would be good for us to repent and turn from sin much sooner than the Israelites did. It would prevent much heartache. “10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:10-13). Time is short. Repent and believe today!

    Have you chosen the things of this world instead of repenting and trusting in Jesus?

    Trust in Jesus: How to be saved

  • Allow God to Work in You

    “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”

    Philippians 2:13

    Jeremiah was of the lineage of the priests, yet God ordained Jeremiah as a prophet before he was even born. Jeremiah spoke during the days of the last five kings of Judah. While Josiah was king, he began eliminating idolatry and cleaning out the Temple. While repairing the Temple, a copy of the Law was found. King Josiah read the law, leading Judah to one final time of repentance and reformation. King Josiah was the last good king.

    There were many good things happening in the land of Judah when God called Jeremiah. However, the days were not always good. The final four kings of Judah were terrible men! They led the people away from God and into idolatry. Jeremiah spoke during these years as well. Jeremiah preached until they were carried away captive during the reign of King Zedekiah. This tells us that God called Jeremiah during the final years of Judah’s existence. He prophesied for the final forty years of their time in the land of promise before Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple burned.

    However, there is something especially unusual that we read at the beginning of the book of Jeremiah. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God called Jeremiah to be His prophet before God even formed him in the womb, and God had already sanctified him. Sanctified means “to pronounce clean; consecrated (set apart) to God.” The word ordained means “putting forth a voice.” God had set Jeremiah apart to serve Him by speaking God’s Words to the nations (including us today).

    However, like most people, Jeremiah’s initial response was, “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). Most people feel quite inadequate when God calls upon them to do something for Him – but keep in mind that God also knew you before you were formed in the womb (see Psalm 139:13-16 for an understanding of this). Moreover, if God did not know you could do it, He would not have asked. (“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” Philippians 2:13.)

    God responded to Jeremiah much as He would probably respond to any who think they cannot do what God called them to do. (Think back to Moses for a minute; remember, he too, did not think he could do what God asked. Nevertheless, review God’s response in Exodus 4:10-12.) Read what God said to Jeremiah. “7. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:7-9). God called, prepared, sent, and promised to be with Jeremiah. God encouraged Jeremiah just as he had encouraged many before him.

    The messages God gave Jeremiah to speak were often difficult for him to deliver, but we can read from God’s Word that Jeremiah was always faithful. He delivered messages calling Judah to repent and return to God. He was not even afraid to speak the words of God to the kings of the land. Jeremiah prophesied for over forty years.

    We are to remember what the Bible teaches. God never gives us anything to do that He will not help us complete, if we will only trust Him (just like Jeremiah and many other people in the Bible).

    • Read how Moses encouraged Joshua who was to lead: “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” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
    • Remember that God encouraged Joshua. “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1:5).
    • Paul encouraged Timothy, a young preacher in the New Testament. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
    • Even today, we are encouraged. “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6).

    God is not limited. If God calls someone, no matter their age, God can use them. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). We are to recognize the call God has upon our lives and remain faithful to Him and the commands He gives us through His Word, the Bible. God will probably never give us a task as difficult as Jeremiah’s, yet we are still to be faithful. Be encouraged to make it your goal to allow God to work in you and do of His good pleasure.

    Have you recognized the plan God has for your life, and are you allowing God to work in you?

  • Who is Jesus to You?

    “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?”

    Matthew 16:15

    Most people remember that Micah was the Old Testament prophet who declared Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). But other than that, most people do not take time to hear the message God gave Micah to deliver. Micah called the people to “hear” God’s Words. He warned them that God saw their sin, and judgment was coming because of habitual sin. He declared that there would be a time that the Jewish people would not be considered a people (Assyria and Babylon carried them captive from their land, ending the kingdom years). However, God promised that He would restore them as His people – one day.

    After hearing that God would discipline His people (showing He truly loved His people), remove idol worship from them (only allowing place to do what is right – worshiping the one and only true God), and promising to restore them one day, recognize something else. “18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19). Did you notice the final question Micah asked as he was closing the book? He asked “Who is a God like unto thee?” God in that verse means “might; power; strength.” God wanted to be more than a name to His people, He wanted to be a reality to them – someone they deemed as all powerful; one who can do anything. God would never fail to keep a promise He made to His people, so they were to live on that hope, remembering to watch for that Promised One (Jesus who was to come). No matter how far away from God the Israelites strayed; God would not forsake His people forever. One day, when they recognize Jesus as their Lord (see Hosea 5:15 and Philippians 2:6-11), God will fulfill His promise to them. Because He is a merciful God, He will take those sins and cast them into the depths of the sea, where they can never be retrieved – never to be seen again. The book ends with this reminder: “Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:20). This is another reminder that God will keep His promises – including sending Jesus.

    Just as Micah called God’s people to “hear,” we too, are to “hear” God’s Words today. Even Peter, as he preached in the early church, said. “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe” (Acts 15:7). Peter understood the importance of preaching the Gospel message so people could believe. What is the word of the Gospel? How can one believe?

    There is nothing anyone can do (no works: see John 6:28-29) that can save anyone. How then can one be saved? One must recognize his or her sin, asking for forgiveness from God, and believe that He will save one (through faith in His Son, Jesus). Only belief in Jesus as the One who came to pay the penalty for sin can save. Jesus told them how. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Once one recognizes that a life apart from Jesus, there is a decision to be made. One must decide who Jesus is to him or her. Remember what Jesus asked his disciples. “13. When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14. And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17. And Jesus answered and said unto him,Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealeditunto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-17). Each person must choose if they will recognize Jesus for who He is: “the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Christ means “anointed, that is, the Messiah.” Messiah means “Christ, the anointed; the Saviour of the world.” Just as God’s people in the Old Testament had to decide just who God was to them, today, one must decide who Jesus is to them. Is He your Saviour, the one who came to forgive your sins, giving you a new life in Christ? “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

    Be encouraged to understand the importance of hearing and obeying God’s Words, deciding who Jesus is to you. Also, remember that Christians are to be living examples in the world today. What kind of an example do you want to be? One like Judah and Israel (who failed miserably and were eventually carried away from their homeland, disciplined), or do you want to be an obedient example, like Jesus – who obeyed his Father unto death, even the death of the cross (see Philippians 2:8).

    Who is Jesus to you?

    Find out How to be Saved Here

  • A Heart for God

    “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”

    Psalm 14:2

    In the life of King Hezekiah, we can read of a hope for someone whose family does not know of God or the things of God. Remember, King Hezekiah was the son of a terrible king of Judah. King Ahaz had not only forsaken God, but also worshiped idols – even sacrificing a son to the false god Molech. He replaced the worship of God with idolatry, and then finally “… and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD …” (2 Chronicles 28:24b); “… and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 28:25b). In spite of all of that, Hezekiah knew God and pleased Him in all that he did. “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done” (2 Chronicles 29:2). Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king and reigned for twenty-nine years. “He 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).

    How was Hezekiah able to come to know God, knowing the family into which he was born? Read the following encouraging verse: “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29). One has to seek God.

    We can read many of the things that Hezekiah did as king of Judah revealing the process to seek and find God. We can recognize that King Hezekiah took the time to seek God’s Word so he would know what God required to reestablish the relationship that had been severed by the previous bad kings. See where King Hezekiah began. In the first month of the first year of King Hezekiah’s reign, he “opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them” (2 Chronicles 29:3). His kingship began the right way. He then called the Levites together. “And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place” (2 Chronicles 29:5). They had to begin by cleaning themselves, and then the house of the Lord (the Temple).

    King Hezekiah acknowledged something very important. “For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs” (2 Chronicles 29:6). He recognized that the people had turned away from God, doing evil. Not only did he recognize the sin of the nation, Judah, but he also recognized God’s chastisement upon His people (see 2 Chronicles 29:8-9). What was in King Hezekiah’s heart? “Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us” (2 Chronicles 29:10). Hezekiah had to have his heart right before God.

    Hezekiah then gave direction to the Levites. After declaring what needed to be done, the work began. The Temple was cleansed (2 Chronicles 29:11-19). They restored the service in the Temple and the relationship with God. “And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped” (2 Chronicles 29:29). When it was done God’s way, the people could worship God. After this, King Hezekiah sent letters to all of Judah, calling them to keep the Passover. Hezekiah led the people by example when he brought great offerings into the house of the Lord (see 2 Chronicles 30).

    Once they reestablished the service to the Lord, and the relationship was restored, they had work to do. They removed all of those high places where King Hezekiah’s father worshiped and even broke down all of those images the people worshiped. “Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all…” (2 Chronicles 31:1). They had to eliminate. The period of King Hezekiah’s reign has been called the greatest revival Judah experienced.

    Read what God did for Hezekiah for seeking Him with all of his heart. “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). God made King Hezekiah to prosper.

    Who does not seek after God? “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4).

    What should we do? “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Psalm 63:1).

    Also read the following: “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God” (Psalm 14:2). God knows when someone seeks after Him, for He is watching and waiting! Just as King Hezekiah sought God early, we should, too. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs 8:17).

    Have you sought God, desiring your heart to be right before Him, cleaning your life and eliminating all things contrary to God?

    How to be Saved

  • Prepare Your Heart

    “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”

    Proverbs 4:23

    David was Israel’s greatest king, Remember that David understood that God saw man’s heart. He recorded: “23. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). We can read in the New Testament God’s declaration about King David: “… he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). God knew David’s heart was seeking after God’s own heart.

    In looking into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah (because the kingdom split), we find that “heart” is in more than ninety-one verses in 1 Kings – 2 Chronicles. Heart mean “the totality of man’s inner nature, the place where wisdom and understanding reside…” Often times we find they either did or did not prepare their heart. Prepare means “make ready; be steadfast and faithful; actual preparation for a future event, especially spiritual preparation.” (Prepare is only in 5 verses in 1 Kings – 2 Chronicles.) However, remember part of King David’s prayer just before Solomon became king: “O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel … prepare their heart unto thee” (1 Chronicles 29:18). Read some others:

    • Rehoboam (a foolish king): “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD” (2 Chronicles 12:14).
    • Jehoshaphat right before he made many reforms: “Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, … and hast prepared thine heart to seek God” (2 Chronicles 19:3).
    • Right before King Jehoshaphat died: “… for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 20:33).
    • King Hezekiah’s prayer right before they observed the Passover: “18. … But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one 19. That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers …” (2 Chronicles 30:18-19).

    We also understand that some had (and some did not have) a perfect heart. Perfect means “complete, whole, perfect”. David encouraged Solomon to have a perfect heart: “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts …” (1 Chronicles 28:9). However, Solomon did not have a perfect heart: “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 11:4). Keep in mind that there were only eight good kings out of nineteen (and one illegitimate queen) in Judah. Read about some of the following kings of Judah, as one looks at their hearts:

    • Abijam (a bad king): not perfect heart: “… and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 15:3).
    • Asa (a good king): perfect heart: “… nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days” (1 Kings 15:14).
    • King Amaziah: good king, but not with a perfect heart: “1. Amaziah … did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart” (2 Chronicles 25:1-2).
    • Uzziah (a good king) who was marvelously helped until he was strong (see 2 Chronicles 26:15): “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction…” (2 Chronicles 26:16).
    • Hezekiah (a good king) as he prepared before Sennacherib’s invasion: “And in every work that he began … to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). However, right before God extended Hezekiah’s life: “24. In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. 25. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 32:24-25).
    • Josiah ( a good king): “Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD” (2 Chronicles 34:27). Also see about Josiah: “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him” (2 Kings 23:25). Josiah was the last good king in Judah.
    • Zedekiah (a bad king): “12. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself … but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel” (2 Chronicles 36:12-13). Zedekiah was the last king before Judah was carried into captivity.

    With the exception of King Josiah, the kings seemed to become worse in their hearts toward God (and we only looked at eight of the kings of Judah). The condition of many king’s hearts are not even declared for us to know. We do know that God knows all hearts.”20. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; 21. Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:20-21).

    Why is the heart so important to consider? The Bible is given for our instruction (see 2 Timothy 3:15-17). And the Bible is full of examples from which we are to learn (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-12). But above all, remember to apply the following verse: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Keep means “to guard; protect; preserve”.

    Do you understand the importance of guarding and protecting your heart with all diligence, preparing your heart to please God?