Category: Daily Inspirational Devotional

The Bible speaks a lot about discipline…but most times we bristle at that word. That’s because our selfish pride and egotism usually takes offense when anyone tries to correct us. But it tells us very bluntly in Proverbs 12:1, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” When we reject wise counsel, we are just undisciplined fools running wild and far from the Way of the Lord. For when we are corrected, these wise words fall on deaf ears and are futile as if spoken to a hardened heart. But it tells us here that if we listen to Godly counsel we will be honored in the end. So remember, “It’s better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:5)

This Psalm is known as an Imprecatory Psalm, which involves praying to invoke God’s wrath upon the wicked. It starts by pointing out to God all the evil around us…which is funny if you think about it, since God sees and hears all and obviously knows everything about the wicked already. But it’s a way for us to voice and acknowledge what’s happening around us. The Psalm continues with examples of righteous anger…things that make God angry…sin, oppression, having His Name blasphemed…in other words, opposing things that oppose God. All the while remembering God’s glory can be shown and men brought to a saving knowledge of Christ, “Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek Your name, O Lord.” (Psalm 83:16) Finally, the end of this Psalm shows us that we need to firmly lay any retribution or vengeance in God’s capable hands…giving it all over to Him. Or as verse 18 says, “Let them know that You, whose Name is the Lord – that You alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

John is writing about the Second Coming of Christ here in the first part of Revelation, but if we go to the last Chapter of the Book we hear the Lord say three times, “Behold, I am coming soon.” Three times in Chapter 22 Jesus unequivocally is explicit in His words…”I am coming back.” So why does the world doubt His return? Is it because it’s been so long since He ascended into heaven and our definition of “soon” was a long time ago…so maybe He’s not coming back at all. Or maybe it’s because the world thinks it can get along well without Jesus so there’s really no need for Him to return. But Jesus reassured His disciples of His return in Matthew 16:27, “For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory.” And if we look at the Greek words for “is going to come” in this Scripture, we see that the meaning is – something about to happen with absolute certianity. Jesus did not tell His disciples that if He felt like it He might come back…No, He told them it was already a done deal and they didn’t have to worry about it. So the next time you might have some questions about Jesus’ return, remember this verse… “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2)

It may be hard to imagine, but God intended us to go through all those difficult times in our past…every dark, sad, and hard situation was designed by Him to bring us closer that we might reach out. Sure there were many things we had no control over, but that doesn’t mean God still wasn’t orchestrating every detail. These verses not only show God’s sovereignty over our lives, but demonstrates the ultimate plan and purpose for each of His intentions.

In order for God to work in anyone’s life there has to be desire and a willingness for change. But when the heart and mind are hardened against anything of God it’s very difficult…but never impossible for God to work. Many places within this Book God admonishes His people to rid themselves of their offenses and get a new heart and new Spirit. He even proclaims in Ezekiel 11:19 that, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new Spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” So why is this exchange so vitally important? Stoney hearts are filled with pride, rebellion, and selfishness…while hearts of flesh have a desire for forgiveness and restoration. Hearts of stone are filled with deception and self-will…while hearts of flesh see ourselves as we truly are, weak, mortal beings desperately in need of a Savior.

As a brand new Christian, the zeal we have for all things God is impressive. We speak boldly about the Lord and what He has done in our life, and we share the Gospel Message anytime we have the opportunity to. But then trials enter our life and we all question our new-found faith…is it strong enough to withstand this trial…am I going to be able to hold fast to my hope in God, or will I give up? Other times, we are enticed by worldly things from the past, and again our faith will be questioned…will I squander this gift from God for momentary pleasure…or reject His love for selfish pride? The key to all this is found in the word perseverance…which is hope under pressure. The Bible tells us that the testing of our faith develops perseverance and we should throw off everything that hinders us and run our race with that same perseverance. Trials will come and go, it’s just part of living in a very broken world, but they don’t have to make us hesitate or question our faith every time. We are to persevere with confidence, holding fast to our eternal hope in Jesus Christ…knowing we’re doing the Will of God.

Zerubbabel led the first group of dispirited Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. Haggai was the first prophet that ministered to them there. The Word of the Lord had come to Haggai, revealing God’s message to Zerubbabel and the people that Daniel’s prophecy from old was going to take place in the promised rebuilding of the city and the return of His people. (Daniel 9:24-26) As for Zerubbabel, God was selecting him as the chosen one to accomplish this huge task…setting His seal of ownership, pledge, and guarantee on him.

These words are words to live by and serve others. We all have doubts…times when our mind is divided by confusion, fear, or anxiety. But we need to give grace to others when they find themselves going through those same times of doubt…giving them Biblical encouragement not condemnation. The idea of snatching a burning stick from the fire speaks of literally plucking someone from the fire of Hell by means of the Gospel Message, thus saving them from Spiritual death. Finally, Zechariah 3:2-5 tells us about Joshua’s filthy clothes (soiled garments defiled, and stained from sin) being exchanged for clean ones…or the removal of his iniquities. Grace, mercy, and fear of God…good words to live by.

Many places in the Bible you will read the phrase, “Burning with anger.” So what happens when anger is kindled and ignites within us? Well, first off, it clouds our thinking…like thick smoke swirling up from our burning wrath…we can’t see or think straight. Next, we tend to act first and think later…reacting rather than behaving with good judgment. Finally, burning anger opens the way to hatred which opens the way to the ultimate expression of hatred – murder. So how can we douse the burning anger within us? James 1:19-20 gives us excellent advice to follow, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” In other words, when we feel anger coming on we need to stop and really listen to the other person. And that means not waiting until they take a breath so we can charge right in, but listening intently. We next need to allow the conversation time to develop, asking questions and again listening before we speak. Finally, we need to act but not react…putting out the fire before it can spread.

With a great hoard of enemy soldiers marching towards them, King Jehoshaphat found himself and the people of Judah powerless before them. But it tells us earlier in verses 3 and 4 of this Chapter that, “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord.” They readily admitted they were helpless and had no idea what they could do to save themselves…yet they firmly believed God could intercede on their behalf and save them. There are times in all our lives when we come to the end of ourselves…powerless over disease that wracks our body, helpless over the loss of a spouse, defenseless as we watch a loved one die. But that’s when our eyes need to be on the Lord and not the situation…or as Psalm 25:15 tells us, “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.”