Answer Me, Please

December 20
Daily Reading – Habakkuk / Revelation 14-15

GOD SAID:

Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

  Yak, yak, yak, blah, blah, blah. Some people will never shut up. There’s not one moment of silence in their life. Would that drive you crazy? What would drive you even crazier is complete silence. It may seem like a blessing at first, but after a while, silence is actually deafening. Couples do it. An argument comes up, one or both get angry, and the silent treatment begins. After a while, little notes start popping up in the house. Neither wants to be the one to give in. The, “I want it my way” attitude kicks in. That is not love. Love is giving and kind. The silent treatment can be a tool, or, it can be a weapon.

    In today’s verse Habakkuk faced the silent treatment of God. First he states the obvious. God cannot be around sin. It’s like shining a light into a closet trying to see the darkness. It can’t be done. So Habakkuk asks; if you can’t look at sin, how is it that you watch all this wickedness, and don’t say or do anything? You see, God has a different schedule than we do. Yes, He would punish those who were punishing Israel. Yet, He also needed to remain silent for now, to allow Israel to realize the consequences’ for their sin. This was probably as hard on God as it was on Habakkuk. Keeping silent with someone you love is hard to do. God’s love only let that silence continue so long, then He spoke up in the next chapter. Silence is a great communicator. However, it must be regulated by love. God prefers to answer us, than to be silent.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Silence is not really golden. However, with very few words you can make a day go from gloomy, to dreamy. You don’t have to say a lot. A simple, sincere; “I Love You” will most often do just fine.

Have you spoken out loud to God today,
and told Him that you love Him?

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

Anger Of The Lord

December 19
Daily Reading – Nahum / Revelation 12-13  

GOD SAID:

Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

  I occasionally like to watch the old western movies. They are for the most part, pretty predictable. There is a loud mouth bad guy, trying to do bad things. There is the sheriff in town, who attempts to be the sole enforcer of the law. He may have a deputy, but always needs more help. Then there is the hero. This person is often very quiet, and peaceful by nature. Not a showoff. Not a bragger. Not too scary. That is, until they run into the bad guy, who in some way pushes their buttons. Then this quiet, peaceful, hero displays his underlying strengths and abilities. He suddenly becomes “Super cowboy,” and rides in to save the day. After that, when all is safe again, he slips back into the background until he is needed again. You just have to love those heroes. They’re strong, wise, and able to do great things, yet they never show off or brag. They don’t have too.

    God is my greatest Super Hero. He’s strong, wise, and able to do the greatest things. Yet, today’s verse says; “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:…” I’m so glad He doesn’t get angry easily. If He did, you and I would be in great trouble. He never dismisses sin, or wickedness. However, He is patient with us, providing a remedy for that sin through His Son Jesus. Which everyone would do well to avail themselves of before they have to face the anger of the Lord.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    When we make Him Lord of our life, the same chapter that warns of His anger, also tells us in Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” He really is always the Hero in all this.

Does God know you trust Him?

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

Age Old Question

December 18
Daily Reading – Micah 5-7 / Revelation 10-11  

GOD SAID:

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

  People have said for ages, “I wish I knew what the will of God was for my life.” I realize that many are looking for a personal answer to their particular life situation. Yet, if we would take to heart what Micah 6:8 tells us, it would touch every conceivable area of our Christian lives.

    “Do Justly.” In plain English, do what is right. That means doing what is right with others, but also, doing what is right toward a Holy God.

   “Love Mercy.” Everybody loves mercy when it’s extended to them. When God, because of His Son Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, does not punish us for our sinful life when we accept Him as Lord and Saviour, but instead promises us a home in Heaven with Him, well friend that is the ultimate picture of mercy. We do not deserve that. Now God wants us to show that mercy to others. To be that picture of Him in this world.

   “Walk Humbly with Thy God.” How in the world can sinful man, even though saved, ever hope to do what’s right, and be merciful to those who may have hurt us? The only way is to walk daily, and humbly, “with thy God.” You notice it didn’t say, “be humble,” as if it’s something that was once done, and over. It says to “Walk Humbly.” It’s a journey through life that never ends. It touches every part of our life, and answers an age old question about God’s will.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        We go on this daily journey to obey God’s will with the help of the Holy Spirit. Gal. 5:22-23 says; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

So, how are we doing?

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

Arise, Depart

December 17
Daily Reading – Micah 1-4 / Revelation 9  

GOD SAID:

Micah 2:10-11 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

  There is an abundance of teachings out there today. You can learn about almost any subject if you simply go onto the Internet and “Google” it, or “YouTube” it. With Artificial Intelligence built into every smart phone, tablet, and computer, you can now just ask Siri, Cortana, or Alexa, to answer most any question. Artificial Intelligence items like the Alexa Devices, Google Home Hubs, or any other number of apparatuses are now able to control most any functions in your home and car. However, they are called “ARTIFICIAL” Intelligence for a reason. They are not intelligent at all. They are machines that simply learn your habits, or, are pre-programmed by you according to your desires, and then they simply respond according to your desires.

    In Micah, God warns people of another form of artificial intelligence. It works almost in the same way. They are “So-Called” Prophets, who learn what it is that you want to hear, and then they spew out that nonsense week after week. They really don’t help you grow closer to the Lord, and His will at all. Instead, for a paycheck or praise, they will churn out message after message of how you are ok in your sinfulness. God, through Micah, warned the people of Israel, “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest:…” Friend, if the word of God does not challenge you to be better, but instead allows you only to feel good about the sinful world you live in, ARISE, DEPART!

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        I’m not saying every message, every week should cause you to feel beat up, and defeated. However, we live in a sin filled world. Sadly, that world has made it’s way into many pulpits. A Holy God, and His Holy Word should always challenge us to be better.

Are you being challenged?

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

Another Chance

December 16
Daily Reading – Jonah / Revelation 7-8  

GOD SAID:

Jonah 3:1-2 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

  There is an old expression used in business that says; “You never get a second chance, to make a first impression.” The idea behind it is simple. People form an opinion of you or your business by the first impressions made. Therefore, always be sure to put your best foot forward in all that you do. While I whole heartedly agree with this premise, I also know that with God, people often get a second chance to make a first impression. We see it today in Jonah 3:1-2 where it says; “And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.” God gave Jonah a second chance.

    God not only gave Jonah a second chance, but Jonah got a second chance to make a first impression. Jonah hadn’t made an impression on Nineveh yet. Honestly, if he had gone to there with the attitude he had originally, it may have cast a negative impression of his God. A message may have been delivered, but with a lackluster attitude. The revival that ultimately took place there, may not have taken place had Jonah gone there initially with a cold, bitter heart. However, when God got his attention, he delivered God’s message with a new lease on life. He still didn’t like the people of Nineveh, but he made a great impression of God before them because he received another chance in life.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        The Bible says when we accept Christ, we become new creatures. We’re actually given a second chance to make a first impression. Sure, it takes time to outlive old mistakes, but if we stay faithful serving God, we gain another chance in life.

Doesn’t God’s do overs sound great?

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