No One Needed To Tell Him About Human Nature, For He Knew What Was In Each Person's Heart.

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No One Needed To Tell Him

About Human Nature,

For He Knew What Was In Each Person's Heart.

Scripture

John 2

23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 

24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 

25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.

Observation

Riots, murder, arson, rape, corruption, robbery, social injustice, lying, all of those and a whole more comes from within our hearts. We are watching every day what is in people's hearts.

What almost always misses the news are the stories of people doing good! Do you remember when the Corona virus pandemic first began there were lots of stories of people doing good.

But those stories quickly took a back seat when the horrific story of George Floyd hit the news.

We have watched peaceful legitimate protests quickly hijacked by those who only wanted to only loot and destroy. Now taking advantage of the social unrest we have Anarchist who have gone to the streets in several cities with the goal of bringing down and destroying our government.

All of this is a reminder to me of the description of the human heart described in Jeremiah 17:9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”

Galatians 5:19-23

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 

20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 

21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

You and I are sinners. We too are capable of horrendous sins.

If we are believers in the Lord Jesus and if we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives then our lives will produce the kind of fruit described in Galatians 5:22!

I don't know about you but that is the kind of fruit that I want people to see in my life!

Application

I am giving Jesus the Number One place in my heart!

How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, our bent towards wickedness doesn't surprise You. I know that is the reason that You left heaven and came down to earth was to rescue us from the wickedness of our old nature. Thank You for giving me a new nature. I don't have to live in sin. Every day I have a choice. Those who do not have Jesus as their Lord and Savior only have the old nature and it is impossible for them to be any different from what they are. But I do have Your Holy Spirit and You do expect me to live differently from those who are lost. Help me to do just that!

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 63,64; Psalms 107; John 2

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But Do Not Forget This One Thing, Dear Friends: With The Lord A Day Is Like A Thousand Years, And A Thousand Years Are Like A Day.

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But Do Not Forget This One Thing, Dear Friends:

With The Lord A Day Is Like A Thousand Years,

And A Thousand Years Are Like A Day.

Scripture

2 Peter 3

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Observation

Why doesn't Jesus just come back right now? Why doesn't He come and straighten out this mess? The answer to that question is found in 2 Peter 3:9. God is not on our time table, in fact, God is not limited by time like we are.

The only thing holding God back is His love and compassion for those who are still lost. He is patient and He doesn't want anyone to perish … and that is why we are still here!

One day … One day very soon … the Gospel will reach that last unreached people group and Jesus will come back with a shout!

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Application

There are still people who I want to see come to Jesus! So I am okay if Jesus waits a little while longer!

How about you? Are you ready for the Lord's return?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as much as I want to see Jesus return I still have loved ones who need Jesus. I pray for their salvation. I am so glad that You are patient and I am glad that You do not want anyone to perish. Soften the hearts of those close to me who refuse to live for You. I pray for them to believe.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 57,58,59; Psalms 103; 2 Peter 3

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He Was Despised And Rejected – A Man Of Sorrows, Acquainted With Deepest Grief.

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He Was Despised And Rejected –

A Man Of Sorrows,

Acquainted With Deepest Grief.

Scripture

Isaiah 53

2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
    like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.

3 He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
    And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
    he did not open his mouth.

8 Unjustly condemned,
    he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
    that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
    for the rebellion of my people.

9 He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave.

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

Observation

The prophet Isaiah wrote Isaiah 53 about 700 years before the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I didn't include the entire prophecy but when you get a chance read the entire chapter so you can see for yourself just how accurate Isaiah describes our Lord and what He went through for us.

If you are going through physical and/or emotional suffering right now or maybe both, it is helpful to know that God understands suffering. He has felt it.

If you are suffering injustice, if you have been wronged by someone, Jesus certainly understands what you are going through. He was Perfect. He never sinned. And yet look what He endured so that we could have eternal life.

Don't try to get revenge. Don't try to get even. Let God take care of it!

Romans 12:19

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
    I will pay them back,”
    says the Lord.

Application

When I suffer, either physically or emotionally, I will trust in the Lord to get me through the difficult time.

How about you?

Psalm 30:5

.. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Isaiah 43:2-3

2 When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord, your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ...

Prayer

Heavenly Father, there is so much injustice in this world. Don't let me try to get even when I am wronged. Help me to forgive and let You take care of paying the person or persons back. I realize that I am a sinner just like they are and I have wronged people in the past too. Thank You for being a God of grace and mercy. Help me to be full of grace and mercy too.

I pray for those who are locked in the prison of un-forgiveness! Give them the capacity to forgive so they can be set free!

Thank You Jesus for suffering for me. Thank You for paying the price for my sins with Your own body on the cross.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 53,54,55,56; 2 Peter 2

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By His Divine Power, God Has Given Us Everything We Need For Living A Godly Life.

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By His Divine Power,

God Has Given Us Everything We Need

For Living A Godly Life.

Scripture

2 Peter 1

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 

4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 

6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 

7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

Observation

Promises, Promises, Promises – you and I have made them, but we have not kept them all. God on the other hand, has given us thousands of promises in His Word, and He will keep every single one of them! We can count on His faithfulness, we can count on Him to keep each and every promise that He has made to us!

Are you making excuses for not living a godly life?

You don't have to stay where you are!

Living an ungodly life, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, is a choice, a choice that you are deliberately making, because according to 2 Peter 1:3 “God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.”

Application

God has given me everything I need to live a godly life and that is what He expects me to do.

How about you?

Matthew 6:33

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me everything that I need to live a godly life. Now help me to do just that. Help me to put You first and nothing else in Your place. Guard my eyes from things that will draw me into sin.

Philippians 4:8

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 50,51,52; Psalms 92; 2 Peter 1

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Give All Your Worries And Cares To God, For He Cares About You.

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Give All

Your Worries And Cares To God,

For He Cares About You.

Scripture

1 Peter 5

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Observation

This verse does not say, “Give some of your worries”, no, this verse says, “Give all” … and right now, at least for most of us, we have plenty of things that we could be worried about.

If we spend our time doing that - worrying about this and worrying about that – we will have accomplished absolutely nothing!

Here is why we should give “all” of our worries and cares to God – …because He cares about us. That's right! He cares about you!

Here is a verse that I just love, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23

Not only does God care about me, He delights in every detail of my life! Pretty amazing isn't it! He cares about you the same way that He cares about me!

He is what King David says about God's love for us:

Psalm 18

1 I love you, Lord;
    you are my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.

3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies.

19 He led me to a place of safety;
    he rescued me because he delights in me.

You and I can't worry and trust God at the same time.

Let me ask you, “Is your God big enough to handle your problems?

Trust Him!

Matthew 6:27, 30

27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Application

I will trust God with the things that cause me to worry. I will give them to Him.

How about you?

Psalm 56:3

3 But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, every time I begin to worry please remind me of just how big You are! Nothing is too hard for You. Thank You for caring for me. I don't deserve it and You know that better than anyone else. It is amazing that You would delight in the details of my life. Thank You for always watching out for me.

Psalm 55:22

22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 46,47,48,49; 1 Peter 5

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When You Go Through Deep Waters, I Will Be With You. When You Go Through Rivers Of Difficulty, You Will Not Drown. When You Walk Through The Fire Of Oppression …

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When You Go Through Deep Waters, I Will Be With You.

When You Go Through Rivers Of Difficulty, You Will Not Drown.

When You Walk Through The Fire Of Oppression …

Scripture

Isaiah 43

1 Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.

Observation

Trouble is something that is unavoidable. All of us try our best to avoid it, but trouble is coming our way. We are either presently in trouble, just got out of trouble, or we are getting ready to get hit with trouble.

It is not if … but when!

Like it or not (and none of us like it) trials and difficult times are a part of life. Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”

God doesn't promise us trouble free lives. He promises us that He will be with us as we go through the trials of life. Yes, He will be with us as we go through difficult times. 

Trust Him!

Application

When I am going through a difficult time I will seek the Lord's face. I will hold on to the promise that Jesus has given me Matthew 28:20b “... And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

How about you? How will you handle trouble when it comes your way?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for taking such good care of me. I know that you are holding me in Your hand and no one can pluck me out of Your hand. I am secure. No matter what happens You are right there to protect me. Nothing can touch my life without Your permission. Nothing! I know that You are constantly working in my life.

I pray for the person who reads this blog. Help them to trust in You when they are clobbered by adversity. Give me them strength. Help them to walk by faith.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 43,44,45; 1 Peter 4

> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.

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But Those Who Trust In The Lord Will Find New Strength. They Will Soar High On Wings Like Eagles. They Will Run And Not Grow Weary.

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But Those Who Trust In The Lord Will Find New Strength.

They Will Soar High On Wings Like Eagles.

They Will Run And Not Grow Weary.

Scripture

Isaiah 40

28 Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

29 He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.

30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 41

10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Observation

Christians that I talk to in the hospital when I am visiting them will often say, “I just don't know how people who don't know the Lord make it through difficult times like this?”

When I hear them say something like that I am really encouraged. I am so glad to hear them say that because I know that they are trusting in the Lord to get them through their crisis!

What or who do you rely on when you are in a crisis?

Tomorrow's daily Bible reading has another great promise to help us get through difficult times. Maybe I will write about it tomorrow!

Isaiah 43:1-3

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
    O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord, your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ...

Application

I will trust in the Lord and soar with the eagles!

How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have no equal. No one else has held the oceans in his hand. Only You have measured off the heavens with Your fingers. You are the only One who knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale. No one is able to advise You. No one knows enough to give You advice or teach You! You don't need anyone's advice. You don't need anyone to teach You. No one needs to tell You what is right or what is good, or what is just! (Isaiah 40:12-14 personalized as a prayer back to God.)

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 40,41,42; 1 Peter 3

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For The Lord's Sake, Submit To All Human Authority –

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For The Lord's Sake,

Submit

To All Human Authority –

Scripture

1 Peter 2

13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 

14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 

16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 

17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

Romans 13

1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 

2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 

3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 

4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 

5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

Observation

What we see happening in our country in several large cities, is anarchy. Riots and destruction caused by those who believe that there should be no government at all.

It might sound like a good idea, but it is not.

God's Word speaks to this and those who penned those Sacred Words in Scripture knew exactly what it felt like to be locked up in jail. They experienced first hand punishment at the hands of local government and yet they knew that as imperfect as any government may be, it is instituted by God.

We live in a dangerous time – you and I must look at current events from God's perspective, from what God says in His Word.

We live in a sinful world, so government, any government will always be less than perfect and will always be in need of reform, and our police, sure there are a few (very few) that need to be replaced, but both government and police are essential to our well being.

Chaos, violence and murder, exactly what we see happening around our country, that is what happens when those responsible to govern don't govern and police are not allowed to police.

Application

I will support those who risk their lives everyday to protect me and my family.

How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us see clearly how to live our lives. Show me what is right and what is wrong. Don't let me be hoodwinked by evil. Don't let me be led astray by false teachers or evil leaders. Give me wisdom, Lord. Give me discernment. I pray for our President and all of our national leaders. Give them wisdom. I pray for our local leaders in our state. Help them to make good decisions. Raise up godly leaders to lead us, Lord. Raise up godly leaders.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38,39; Psalms 75; 1 Peter 2

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The Earnest Prayer Of A Righteous Person Has Great Power And Produces Wonderful Results.

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The Earnest Prayer

Of A Righteous Person Has Great Power

And Produces Wonderful Results.

Scripture

James 5

13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 

14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 

15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 

17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 

18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

Observation

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power … I think that there are two key words in that phrase … earnest and righteous! The word “earnest” means believing and heartfelt, and the word “righteous” means someone who is living in a right relationship with God. It doesn't mean a person who is perfect, but it means someone who is striving to live in obedience to God. James makes the point that Elijah was just as human was we are.

Today's Old Testament daily Bible reading about King Hezekiah and his prophet Isaiah and their dependence on God when faced with seemingly certain destruction (2 Kings 18,19 and 2 Chronicles 32) provides a great example of what James is saying to us about the power of prayer.

2 Kings 19

14 After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord. 

15 And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. 

16 Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.

17 “It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. 

18 And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. 

19 Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”

35 That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.

Application

Today's Bible reading is a reminder to me to always pray and never give up!

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Luke 18:1

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

17 Never stop praying.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to pray first! Help me to talk to You about the small things in my life as well as the big ones. I know that more than anything else You desire a relationship with me – a Father and son relationship. So help me to trust You with every detail of my life.

Help our nation through this difficult time. I pray for godly leaders who will lead us and who will get us back on the right path.

I pray for an end to this pandemic. You are all-powerful! Nothing is too hard for You!

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 18,19; 2 Chronicles 32; James 5

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