Jesus tells us in Mark 10:18 that no one is good – except God alone. And the Old Testament prophet Zechariah lauded, “How great is God’s goodness.” (Zechariah 9:17) Which are all wonderful reminders in times we need a stronghold & refuge. For even when you’re not okay…God is still good. Even when your heart is broken…God is still there. Even when the whole world seems to be crashing down around you…God’s promises will never fail. That’s because God’s goodness doesn’t depend on your situation or the circumstances that you’re battling at the moment. Furthermore, God’s goodness has nothing to do with you or your predicament, but everything to do about grace & mercy…transcending all earthly things. So always remember this – God is still good…even when life is not.
Category: Daily Inspirational Devotional
Job 14:1,5 ” Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. Man’s days are determined; You have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
Here Job is lamenting the futility and brevity of life. For ever since the Fall of Adam & Eve, mankind’s easy & peaceful existence has given way to frustration, turmoil, and commotion… our lifespan boundaries put into place & strictly enforced. Or as the Psalmist tells us, “Our days of existence are short and hard.” (Psalm 39:4) but we also know that God controls our destiny (Psalm 31:15) So we can then pray, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
Nahum 1:3 ” The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.”
The entire Book of Nahum denounces the Assyrian capital of Nineveh as the great enemy of God’s chosen people. It shows Nahum’s profound sense of justice while showcasing God’s power and universal dominion over all…while answering the questions God’s people had: “Why has God forsaken us? & Are God’s promises empty?” Nahum declared that God was indeed, “a refuge in times of trouble.” (Nahum 1:7)…which is a timeless message even today, and one we must not forget…for God remains totally in control even in the midst of suffering, persecution, and oppression.
Satan didn’t tempt Adam & Eve to commit some unspeakable sin…he just tempted them to question the Word of God.
And even today the devil’s mode of operation hasn’t changed…for why fix what has worked so well all this time? The Apostle Paul warned both Timothy & Titus about false teachers who ruined sound doctrine by questioning & quarreling about God’s Word. In I Timothy 6: 3-5 Paul cautions the young Timothy about taking the bait & falling into their trap of controversy, divisiveness, and contention. For as Paul points out to Titus, It’s only the pure Truth of the Gospel and the unadulterated Word of God that is capable of bringing the blessings and renewal that he speaks about in Titus 3:1-9.
I Corinthians 14:33 ” For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”
The Apostle Paul was instructing the Church in Corinth in orderly worship by showing that God doesn’t just value order & peace…but rather these are part of His very character and being. (II Thessalonians 3:16) Paul encouraged that everything in Church be done in a fitting and proper manner…that the Service be organized, well-planned, respectful, well mannered, and polite. For disorder and confusion can only threaten the unity & peace of the Body. So when the Church comes together we are to build each other up with mutual edification, encouragement, and love… all in an orderly manner.
Proverbs 18:2 ” A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.”
Everyone seems to be very opinionated nowadays…obstinately adhering to their personal opinions without first seeking Godly wisdom and insight. Charles Spurgeon wrote of this, “Do not ask God to confirm your opinion, but ask Him to make your opinion conform to His Truth.” Many a person will blurt out their opinion on something, whether they have any knowledge about it or not, refusing to first do a Biblical Truth litmus test. Or they will stubbornly push opinions they agree with on everyone that may be far from God’s Truth. Either way, as this Proverb tells us, their folly will be exposed & revealed in light of God’s wisdom & insight..
Matthew 13:44 ” The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
This Parable that Jesus taught is about the hidden Kingdom of heaven…its meaning obscured from most of the crowds that were gathered around Him. But for those who believed by faith that He was truly the Messiah, they discovered the priceless value and were gladly willing to sacrifice anything & everything in order to obtain it. We see this illustrated by Paul in Philippians 3:7-8 when he talks about counting everything he had and had done in the past as refuse, or as another translation says dung…flinging away in disgust whatever interfered with, “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
John 16 7-8 ” But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment…”
Jesus’ going away was necessary for us to enjoy the permanent Presence of the Holy Spirit…the third person of the Trinity. Yes, a person, not some cosmic force, in order that we may have a relationship with Him. (II Corinthians 13:14) The Counselor comes to encourage, comfort, guide, teach, exhort, admonish, and reveal truth…while witnessing about Jesus and undertaking His office while Jesus is away from the world. But just as Jesus’ Presence convicted unbelievers (John 15:22-24), the Holy Spirit exposes & convicts mankind’s inexcusable guilt & world-view of selfishness, greed, lust, and violence…but specifically rebukes humanity of the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ.
Psalm 119:96 ” To all perfection I see a limit; but Your commands are boundless.”
If you’re like me, there’s only a few things that I really strive for perfection in doing…the rest is like, “That’s good enough!” But fortunately enough for us, God doesn’t look at things that way. Everything God does has no defect in design, character, or effect… and is always completely righteous. His Word is also perfect, eternally valid…and speaks to all people at all the time. “The Lord will give what is good…” Psalm 85:12 tells us, and that’s because His ultimate goal is heavenly perfection in every thing.
” God does not give us overcoming life – He gives us life as we overcome.” Oswald Chambers
The Apostle John had much to say about overcoming, both in the Books of John and I John. In John 16:33 we hear Jesus telling His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In other words, Jesus is giving them hope, but also realism…peace but also warning them to prepare to endure in the face of troubles. Later in I John 2:13 & 5:4 he writes more about overcoming the world and the evil one…that our overcoming victory is possible by resisting temptation and keeping faithful to God’s Word…for the battle is already won by our union with God in Christ…and it cannot be broken.
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