DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 3.18.23

 LivingWaters “A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.” (Songof Solomon 4:15) There are eight verses in the Bible with the phrase “living water,” four in the Old Testament, four in the New. All beautifully describe a spiritual truth under the figure of a flowing stream of refreshing water. The first of these (in our text above) is a portion of the description of the lovely character of a bride as seen by her coming bridegroom, almost certainly symbolic of the Lord and His people. But then, through the prophet, God laments that “my people...haveforsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah2:13). “They have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters” (Jeremiah17:13). One day they shall return, however, and Zechariah prophesies that “living waters shall go out from Jerusalem....And the LORD shall be king over all the earth” (Zechariah14:8-9). In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus appropriated this metaphor to Himself as He spoke to a woman of Samaria. “If thou knewest the gift of God...he would have given thee living water” (John4:10; see also v. 11). “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John4:14). Later in Jerusalem, He cried out to all, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said [referring, no doubt, to the above Old Testament passages], out of his belly shall flow riversof living water” (John7:37-38). Then in the last book of the Bible is found a special promise for those who die for the Lord’s sake. “[He] shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation7:17). HMM -------------------------- Madein Christ “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,and redemption.” (1Corinthians 1:30) The Greek word ginomai, translated “is made” in this verse, is most fascinating. It is rendered many different ways—“become,” etc., as well as “be made.” Most often it is simply translated “be.” It basically means “begin to be,” or “be caused to be.” It is even applied to the work of Christ in calling the universe into being. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John1:3). “Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews11:3). It is frequently used also to denote the marvelous work of Christ in and on the believing Christian. As our text says, He becomes wisdom to us who lack wisdom; He is made our righteousness, although we were sinners; we who are unholy receive our sanctificationin Him; and when we were lost, He became our redemption. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become [same word, ginomai] the sons of God” (John1:12). All that Christ is, we are made through His great sacrifice for us. Note some of the other things we are made in Christ, by His grace. We are “made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians2:13). We are “made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus3:7). “We are made partakers of Christ” and also “made partakers of the Holy Ghost” (Hebrews3:14; 6:4). In fact, when we receive Christ, old things pass away and “all things are become [same word] new” (2Corinthians 5:17). These wonderful attributes are given to us and appropriated right now by faith and will be accomplished in full perfection when Christ returns and “we shall see him as he is” (1John 3:2). HMM -------------------------------------- AVoice from Heaven “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were openedunto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew3:16-17) We have not only the solemn endorsement of our Lord for the ordinance of baptism by His submitting to it (to fulfill all righteousness, Matthew 3:15), but also such a glorious demonstration of baptism as will never occur again. In this event, we see the presence of all three persons of the holy Trinity—God the Son who is baptized, God the Spirit who descends like a dove and rests upon Jesus,and God the Father who audibly speaks from heaven. This is a clear indication that Christ’s redemptive mission involved the eternal counsel of all three persons of the Godhead. Interestingly, we also see evidence of the trinitarian counsel at the beginning of man’s creation in Genesis 1:26: “Let us make man in our image.” And again the triune God makes a profound declaration at the beginning of the New Testament journey of Christ Jesus to redeem and save mankind, created 4,000 years prior, who had fallen intototal depravity in the Edenic rebellion (Genesis3). In the Lord’s baptism account, “a voice from heaven” is also significant because of the previous instance of God speaking from heaven in the giving of the law on Sinai (Exodus20). Our Father in heaven wanted to mark both occasions with special honor. Profoundly, the introduction of the gospel was heralded by the Father’s words proclaiming, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” JPT ---------------------------- Limitationson God's Promises “Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah31:37) The people of Israel, in spite of all God had done for them, continually rebelled against Him, even turning to other gods. One might think God would have destroyed them and started again, but He had made a promise first to Abraham, then to Isaac, and then toJacob that this nation would be His special people, and He would not break that promise. In our text God reveals the “conditions” under which He would cast off Israel, but they are such that there is no possibility of their being met. If heaven above can be measured: Neither Abraham nor Jeremiah could have had any concept of the number of stars or the depth of space. Now, with modern telescopes, we see unthinkable distances and even farther and farther as our technology increases.Estimates of the radius of the universe now stand at around 46 billion light-years, and no end is in sight. If the foundations of the earth [can be] searched out beneath: Sometimes scientists claim they know more about the sun than they do the earth. But in reality, only one percent of the earth’s radius has been explored. The pressures and temperaturesthat exist deep inside the earth are unthinkably great, and we don’t even know how matter acts under those conditions. The promise to Israel is secure. Scripture is likewise full of “exceeding great and precious promises” (2Peter 1:4) made to the believer. Our text indicates God’s attitudes toward His promises. We need not worry that He will keep His Word. JDM ------------------------- TheFinger of God “This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with hisfinger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.” (John8:6) During His earthly ministry, Jesus never wrote a book or any other document, so far as we know, but it is recorded that He wrote with His own finger in the sand and that what He wrote turned away those who had sought to stone a woman caught breaking one ofGod’s Ten Commandments. The woman was repentant, however, and Jesus forgave her, evidently indicating this by what He wrote with His finger on the ground. This He could do because He, as God, had written this very commandment Himself with His own finger long before. “And he gave untoMoses... two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exodus31:18). Moses testified: “And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly” (Deuteronomy9:10). There are only two other references to the “finger of God” in the Bible. When the Lord through Moses brought the great plagues upon Egypt, Pharaoh’s magicians were able to imitate Moses’ first few miracles, but soon their deceptive “magic” could no longer compare,and they had to confess, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus8:19). There is one final mention of God’s finger in the New Testament. When the Pharisees charged that His power to cast evil spirits out of demon-possessed people had been given to Him by Satan, He affirmed rather, “I with the finger of God cast out devils” (Luke11:20). Jesus is able both to forgive sins and to defeat Satan because He is the Creator of the universe and all its laws. HMM -------------------------------- OurEternal Guide “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me withthy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” (Psalm73:23-25) Note Asaph’s sole dependence on his eternal and loving God. But his attitude didn’t begin this way. The psalmist had acknowledged being envious of the prosperity of the wicked (v. 3). He experienced a radical turning point after he came to worship God in HisSanctuary (v. 17). Bathing his mind with the truth of God’s Word, Asaph remembered God will ultimately judge the wicked (vv. 17-20), and he showed a deep sense of repentance (vv. 21-22). The psalmist’s accusatory attitude at the beginning of this psalm isreplaced with a quickened spirit that cleaves closer to God in godly delight. Contextually, three tenses may bring out the fullness of the phrase “continually with thee.” One commentator translates: You took hold of my right hand—past You always guide me with your counsel—present You will receive me with glory—future Note how this mounting experience of salvation complements the great theological sequence also found in Romans 8:29, encompassing the finished work of God from election to glorification. Notice also the paragraph’s thrust from the opening theme where God aloneis “continually with thee” to Asaph’s supreme confession “Whom have I in heaven but thee?” Believer, can you picture the psalmist humbly on his knees with arms raised in praise and worship, realizing God’s compassionate grasp? This truth is sustaining me this day. How about you? CM ------------------------------ What Is Childlike Faith? - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Dear brothers and sisters, don�t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters ofthis kind. �1 Corinthians 14:20 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/what-is-childlike-faith/- Listen Some people seem to grow up before their time. While it�s great to be responsible, take care of yourself, and be resourceful, you don�t have to do all of that at the age offive. Responsibilities will come soon enough. What a different life childhood is. Some people don�t realize this, but you can�t be a child again. The Bible teaches that, as Christians, we are to be childlike in our faith. Jesus said, �I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children,you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven� (Matthew 18:3�4 NLT). That means we need to humble ourselves and realize that we don�t have all the answers. It means we need to come in complete dependence on God, putting our faith in Him. Andas the years pass by and our faith deepens, we need to keep a sense of childlike simplicity and wonder. There are some areas of the Christian life in which we are to be childlike. We don�t need to know all the intricacies of evil. On the other hand, there are areas in our lives in which we need to grow up spiritually. Sometimes we behave like spoiled children when we should be behaving like mature peopleof God. The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, �Dear brothers and sisters, don�t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes toevil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind� (1 Corinthians 14:20 NLT). There is nothing wrong with being spiritual babies when we�re new in the faith. But as the years pass by, we need to become mature, while still maintaining a childlike faith. ------------------------------------ Mature People of God - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won�t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us withlies so clever they sound like the truth. �Ephesians 4:14 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/mature-people-of-god/- Listen When we begin as Christians, when we put our faith in Christ and are born again, we start out as spiritual babies. This is true of every person, regardless of how young orold we are. Some grew up in the church and have always been familiar with the Bible, worship, and prayer. They made their own personal commitment to the Lord despite the fact that theirparents raised them in the church. They realized their walk with the Lord needed to be their own. And that is a wonderful thing. Others came in cold from the world. I was one of those people. I had no background in the church and no understanding of the Bible. I had never worshipped God before, knewnothing about prayer, and knew relatively nothing about Jesus. Basically, I was ignorant. So, when I came into the faith, it was like a new world to me. I had a new outlook on life. I remember hearing the Bible for the first time when Pastor Chuck Smith spoke,and I had never heard anything like it before. It was mind-boggling. I realized that I had so much to learn. There are some Christians, however, who have known the Lord for years yet are still spiritual babies. They need to be spoon-fed spiritual truths. They still need to be dazzled.And they are still looking for something new. It is time to grow up. It�s time to be mature people of God, with a faith that sustains us, instead of living on fickle emotions that come and go. It is also time to find younger believers and helpthem grow up to spiritual maturity as well. There are false teachings and other things that can lead us astray. We need to be mature so that we can apply proper biblical understanding. ----------------- Never Stop Growing - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have wonyour battle with the evil one. �1 John 2:13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/never-stop-growing/- Listen I like to be around new believers. I like the questions they ask and the statements they make. Best of all, I like their zeal. They�re excited about what Christ has done forthem. New believers are the lifeblood of the church. Of course, they need older believers to help them get grounded spiritually. But older believers also need new believers to remind them of what really matters in life. Olderbelievers need to maintain their spiritual zeal. It�s cute for babies to be babies. There is nothing like a newborn, especially your own. And as babies get a little older, it�s fun to watch them do childlike things. Butit�s not so adorable anymore when your child is eighteen years old. We cannot remain babyish forever. We have to grow up. When it comes to spiritual growth, we need to remain childlike with the excitement and thrill of a new Christian. But at the same time, we need to mature and grow in our faith. The apostle Peter dealt with this truth when he wrote, �Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation� (1 Peter 2:2 NLT). New believers are often emotionally oriented. The Christian life is all new to them, and their emotions go back and forth. That is fine when someone is young in the faith. But it�s sad when someone who has known the Lord for a period of years is still fickle spiritually. They have no clear viewpoint or direction in life and don�t really knowwhat they believe. That is understandable when you are new in the faith. But it is tragic when you are not. ------------------------------ TheWinds of the World �The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and thewind returneth again according to his circuits.� (Ecclesiastes 1:6) This is one of the Bible�s many scientific insights, written long before such a process was discovered in the modern science of meteorology. The basic circulation of the atmosphere (which generates the winds of the world) is �toward the south� near the ground,which then �turneth about unto the north� aloft. The heated air near the equator expands and rises, then flows north to replace the colder, heavier air that has descended to the ground in the polar regions. This simple north-south-north cycle is complicated, however, by the earth�s rotation. Further complexities are introduced by the different topographical features of the surface (oceans, mountains, etc.), but the end result is a general circulation of the wholeatmosphere, which �whirleth about continually, and...returneth again according to his circuits.� None of this was understood at all until very modern times, but this ancient verse in Ecclesiastes corresponds beautifully to modern science. In fact, it was not even known until recent times that air had weight, but the patriarch Job had noted about 4,000years ago that �he...seeth under the whole heaven; to make the weight for the winds� (Job 28:24-25), and this fact is essential to the atmospheric circulation. This is only one of many scientific principles implied in the Bible ages before men discovered them in their scientific research. In contrast, there are no demonstrable scientific errors in the Bible. This is not really surprising, for the same God who wrotethe Word made the world! In Jesus Christ �are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge� (Colossians 2:3). HMM -------------------- New Doesn�t Always Mean Improved - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophetsin the world. �1 John 4:1 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/new-doesnt-always-mean-improved/- Listen When I was a new Christian, I wanted to find a shortcut to spiritual maturity. I didn�t want to wait fifteen to twenty years to learn and grow. I wanted spiritual maturityovernight. I was always looking for an angle: What can I do? Where can I go? Is there a book that I can read? Is there one experience that I could have in my life that would bring me to instant spiritual maturity? That is a trait of youth. You want something, and you want it now. New believers can be that way, and so can immature believers. They don�t want to wait for something. Theywant it now. Another trait of youth is they like new things. Young Christians can be that way too. They like things that dazzle them. When the apostle Paul visited Athens, he met the high council of the city. They said to him, �Come and tell us about this new teaching. . . . You are saying some rather strangethings, and we want to know what it�s all about� (Acts 17:19�20 NLT). The next verse adds this detail: �(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas)� (verse 21 NLT). That is typical of the mentality of youth. They like something that�s new. However, we need to be careful. As we mature, we realize that just because something is new doesn�t mean it is better. We can be looking for a new experience, truth, or revelation and get ourselves into a lot of trouble. Instead, we need to apply judgment and realize that we�re potentiallyvulnerable. If we can�t find it in the Bible, then we don�t need it from someone else. The Bible is the arbiter of truth. ------------------------------- Psalm104's Creation Song �Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.� (Psalm104:1) This psalm captures a historical event recorded in the first scroll of Moses� inspired text�God�s creation of all things. Many scholars, even those casting serious doubts on the historicity of Genesis, concede to the chronological order of this song. Examinecarefully the prose, capturing the wonder, exuberance, and praises of God�s creative finger�and ponder how these inspired words relate to life then and now. Both Psalm 104 and Genesis 1 portray God as our Creator, showing how He owns us as His creation and how He is to be praised. The psalm takes the reader from the waters of creation to the terrible waters of the Noahic Flood when they were at their highest, covering �all thehigh hills� (Genesis7:19-20; Psalm 104:6-9; 2 Peter 3:5-6). Scholars have noted the parallels between Psalm 104 and Genesis 1.1 Day 1: Light (Psalm104:2a) Day 2: Creation of the firmament, waters above (vv. 2b-4) Day 3: Dry land appears, formation of plants (vv. 5-18) Day 4: Luminaries indicating times and seasons (vv. 19-23) Day 5: Creatures (vv. 24-26) Day 6: Gift of life by God for animals and man (vv. 27-30) Believer, never allow anyone to discount the historicity of Genesis 1�2. This magnificent psalm underscores and confirms the literalness of creation�s historical record. CM ------------------------------