“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

James 1:2-3

One morning recently I woke up discouraged.  It was kind of like, I “got out on the wrong side of bed”!

“…unto you that hear shall more be given.”

Mark 4.24

“…unto you that hear…”

This is a very interesting statement.  For those of us who are listening…

Listening to what?

Sometimes I have tried to study while an exercise class is going on in the Hall next to the office here at the church/community centre – I can hardly think -  much less hear!

“…unto you that hear…”

“...ye shall blow an alarm...”

Numbers 10.9

Do you have an alarm on your house?

We don’t.  We do have a couple of fire alarms, but not an alarm like the above verse is talking about.  Mainly because we live in a very quiet neighbourhood and a fairly peaceful country.  If things changed we could get an alarm... on our physical house.  But what about our spiritual houses?

“If ye love me…”

John 14.15

In the verse above Jesus is saying, “If ye love me…”

The first thing I think is, “Who am I that I could love Him like He has loved me!?”  But then I realize, Jesus expects me to address what He is saying.  He is saying, “If ye love me…”.

“If ye love me” what?  “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  The word “keep” here means, to guard (from loss or injury, by keeping the eye upon)”.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for…….…”

Psalm136.1

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy…

Time for a quiz – multiple choice!

A.O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for a while, for people who are really good.

B. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for a lifetime!  After that… well who knows.

C. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

“Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling”

Isaiah 51:22

When I read this recently, all I could think was – Thank You Lord!

Thinking about being unsaved, and without Christ, my hands held a “cup of trembling”!  But when the nails went into the hands of Christ… no more “cup of trembling”

Thank You Lord for taking this fear and dread and worry – this “cup of trembling” away from me!

“What is man…?”

Job 7.17

What sort of question is this?  “What is man…?”

Man is… well, man is…

Man is probably the most vulnerable of all of God’s creation, “vulnerable” meaning WEAK!

By himself, can man - run like a cheetah?  Swim like a fish?  Fly like an eagle?  Or even a pigeon?  Climb like cat?  Drink like a camel?  Eat like a grizzly – then sleep like one?  If only!

Does man have claws, talons, fangs, poisonous venom or even a repulsing bad smell…?  Well, you know what I mean.

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Matthew 12:49

I had just finished reading through the Prophets of the Old Testament, and even though I know they speak of many blessings along with telling of God’s judgement - I was a little weary.  I was kind of worn out.  The year 2020 had caught up with me… (These devotions are from our church Bulletin this time a year ago.)

“And walked in the statutes of the heathen…”

2 Kings 17:8

Why did they do this?  Why did they go along with the customs and religion of the heathen people who lived around them?  They were the children of Israel, they knew the Lord.  So why do that rather than obey the Word of God?

Because it was easier, and they liked that lifestyle better!

It was easier.  Well, it was easier, for a while…

Of course, it’s easier to just do whatever we want to do.  Or find things we agree with and go along with them…  Sort of an attitude of “everybody else is doing it”, so it must be okay.

But what does God say?

“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”

Proverbs 4:25

Don’t get distracted!  Don’t get side-tracked!  Keep looking straight ahead!  “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”

Whatever it is that God has given you to do – keep doing it!  That is living by faith.  That is being faithful.  And that has all of God’s blessings and takes advantage of His promises!  (Think Hebrews 11 – “The Hall of Faith” chapter in the Bible!)

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