Real Wisdom

 October 25
 Daily Reading – Jer. 7-9 / 1 Tim. 2-3

GOD SAID:

Jeremiah 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      It would almost seem as if the prophet Jeremiah was writing these words to the people of today. In the technological society we live in, education seems to be the benchmark of success. Yet all our wisdom seems to cause us to need more wisdom to continuously compete. One benefit derived from all this wisdom, it has brought us to a day and age where people live longer. Health and exercise have taken front row in the minds of many today. If we live healthier and wiser we live longer and can get more things, more wealth. Still, at the end of it all, our health does seem to fail us. No matter how well we have taken care to do all we can, this body begins to break down. The relevant wisdom we had 20 years ago, has become obsolete. Microchips replaced transistors; MP3’s have taken over CD’s. Time marches on. The money we saved over a lifetime, isn’t as valuable as it once was. In fact, it costs everything we have just to live.

      Man’s wisdom, might, and money will someday all fail him. Yet, one type of wisdom never fails. Understanding that God is the owner of all there is in heaven and earth. That He not only supplies all our needs, but also supplies things above our needs at His discretion. Our main role in life is to continuously look to Him for guidance and trust Him to supply. If you were wise enough to accept Christ as Saviour, Jesus never fails. Real wisdom finds its strength and wealth in Jesus

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    In a hymn we sing it says; “Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails, heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails.” How long is never? For Jesus never is forever. Jesus will be yours for eternity.

Education, Strength, Money, or God. Which do you think is more reliable?

     

Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Read, Study, And Obey

 October 24
 Daily Reading – Jer. 4-6 / 1 Tim. 1

GOD SAID:

Jeremiah 5:15 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      I live in a multi-cultural community. Each group brings with them part of their culture, and many, their own language. Now friends, I have enough trouble with English, let alone try to be like Apostle Paul who spoke many languages. I’ve been on an elevator with people speaking another language, and immediately felt uneasy. I’ve also been out visiting in neighborhoods, knocked on a door and had someone greet me that didn’t speak English. Have you ever noticed that everyone becomes a sign language expert when a person does not understand them? Or for some reason we think if we yell the words they don’t understand, somehow that will help.

      Communication is something we all need in our life. Not only to be understood, but also to understand what people are saying. In today’s verse we read that God sent a nation to capture Israel, “a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.” The children of Israel could not plead for help, mercy or anything. They didn’t speak the language. Nor could they respond to any of their commands because they didn’t understand them. For many, this became a death sentence as they were viewed as rebellious. God’s word is clear and understandable. Yet, we must be willing to listen, read, study, and obey exactly what it says. To enjoy life we must communicate with God and with others, clearly, and in love.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    It’s never enough to just say words if they mean nothing to your hearer. Don’t be afraid to ask for an explanation or to be sure your words were understood. It’s easier to take a moment to be clear, than to spend a day of apologizing later.

Has God’s Word been made clear to you?

     

Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Relationship That Works

 October 23
 Daily Reading – Jer. 1-3 / 2 Thess. 3

GOD SAID:

Jeremiah 2:27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Children are naughty by nature? You tell them “Don’t get into the cookies.” A minute later, the child is gone. Where are they? In the cookie jar, enjoying what you told them not to. Then, when you walk up behind them and ask, “what are you doing,” it scares the socks off them. Why? Not because they’ve realized cookie’s will spoil their appetite for the nutritious meal you’ve planned. Nor because they’re sorry that they’ve done this and will never do it again. (Yeah right!) Why are they upset? “THEY GOT CAUGHT!”

Before you get too upset with the little one’s, think about this. When times are going good and everything’s ok, do you spend as much time communicating with God as when things are bad? If things are going good, we find lots of things to do besides spending time praying. An occasional “thanks God” seems sufficient. But let things get bad and we’re on our knees crying, “Oh God help us.” The worse things are, the more time we spend with Him. Yet, it’s often not until WE GOT CAUGHT! Caught neglecting God. Caught making other things more important than God. Caught falling in love with something else, until it becomes an idol that has taken the place of God. I wonder if sometimes God doesn’t allow trying times in our life, just so we’ll stop, and talk with Him a bit. Our lives become so complacent with God and others that we spend days, busy around each other, but we never really talk. It’s time to talk to those we love.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Could it be that our days would be better and less trying if we spent more of our good time with one another and God, and not just our sad times? I love to talk with happy people more than I do mad people. I believe God does too!

How much time have you spent with those you love?

     

Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Remembered No More

 October 22
 Daily Reading – Isa. 63-66 / 2 Thess. 1-2

GOD SAID:

Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Have you ever thought to yourself, I really wish I could just forget all about some of my past. Maybe it was an argument you had with someone you love. It got heated, and before you knew it, you said something that really hurt them. Even though you have apologized a hundred times, those words you said still haunt your memories. Maybe it was a severe illness that is behind you now, however the thought of it returning someday seems fresh in your mind every time you get sick again. We all have things we wish we could erase from our past. If not erasing them, at least remember them no more.

      For some, it’s a particular sinful habit that seems to find it’s way back into their thoughts. As a Pastor, I have been asked, “why doesn’t God just wipe our sins from our memories when He forgives us of them.” I believe the answer is, we still live in a sin filled world. If God erased the pain of our sinfulness from our memories, we would be very likely to repeat them again. Suffering again the shame of hurting the Lord.

      God has promised us a day when all of our sins and sorrows will be remembered no more. Isaiah 65:17 says that in the New Heaven and Earth the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. Just as God remembers our sins no more, we will also be granted this wonderful privilege when we live in a place where no sin abounds.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    This promise is only for those who find themselves in the New Heaven and the New Earth. Those who find their dwelling place in hell, in outer darkness, will not be granted such eternal delight. What a sad existence that will be, eternally haunted by the past.

Are you ready to forget?

     

Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Really Long Verse

 October 21
 Daily Reading – Isa. 59-62 / 1 Thess. 5

GOD SAID:

Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Would you like to know about a really long verse in the Bible? It may not be long in the amount of words used, but it sure is long in the time to which it refers. Isaiah 61:2 talks about “the acceptable year of the LORD” and “the day of vengeance of our God.” Jesus read this passage of scripture in the Synagogue in Luke 4:16-21. He read up to the point of where He said “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,” and then He stopped, and closed the book. Why? Well in Luke 4:21 He answered that question when He said “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” The day of the acceptable year of the LORD, as we know now was the first coming of the Lord had come. These people were faced with a choice. They could believe Jesus was God in the flesh, or believe He was liar. They made the wrong choice and tried to kill Him.

      We today are still faced with the same choice. The first part of the verse became fact in the person of Jesus Christ. However, there is a part to this verse yet to come that we will have to deal with. “The day of vengeance,” has not yet come. This will happen at the second coming of our Lord to the earth. A lot has happened between His first coming and our awaiting of His second coming. Nevertheless, just as sure as part one of this verse is a fact of the past, part two of this verse is just as much a fact coming yet in our future.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus. His grace was sufficient then, but many rejected it. His grace is sufficient today. However, He will not always extend that grace. Now is the time. Today is the day of salvation

So what have you, or will you do with this truth today?

     

Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12