DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 7.29.23

The Blessing of Forgiveness - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. �Proverbs 28:13 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-blessing-of-forgiveness/- Listen If you want to know the intricacies of a subject, the best thing to do is find an expert, someone who has far-reaching experience with it. Although David is rightfully known as one of the greatest saints in Scripture, identified uniquely as the man after God�s own heart, he is also known as one of the greatestsinners in Scripture. On one hand, we remember him for his heroic exploits and tender heart toward God and others. On the other hand, we remember him for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba as wellas his sin of murder in an attempt to cover it up. Clearly, he had missed the mark. Clearly, he had had fallen short of the law�s demands. As a result, his life became crooked and twisted, and he reaped the results of hissins. But God also gave David a second chance. In Psalm 32 he wrote, �Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!� (verse 1 NLT). Davidwas speaking of what God had done for him. Then in verses 3 and 4, David described the futility and misery of unconfessed sin: �When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Dayand night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat� (NLT). It�s miserable to live in unconfessed sin. Proverbs 28:13 tells us, �People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receivemercy� (NLT). We can�t put sin in a compartment and think that�s the end of it. Sin stinks. Its stench will permeate everything and mess up every aspect of our lives. That is why it needsto be dealt with. ------------------------------------------ TooHard for God? “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the timeof life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis18:14) This rhetorical question posed to Abraham by the Lord was in response to Sarah’s doubts concerning His promise that they would have a son. It would, indeed, require a biological miracle, for both were much too old for this to happen otherwise. With God, however,all things are possible, and He can, and will, fulfill every promise, even if a miracle is required. This same rhetorical question was asked of the prophet Jeremiah. “Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah32:26-27). The One who created all flesh, who raises up kings and puts them down, could surely fulfill His promise to restore Israel to its homeland when the set time was come. But Jeremiah had already confessed his faith in God’s omnipotence. “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee” (Jeremiah32:17). The God who called the mighty universe into being would not fail to keep His promise and fulfill His will. Actually, the word translated “hard” in these verses is more commonly rendered “wonderful,” or “marvelous,” or an equivalent adjective, referring usually to something miraculous that could only be accomplished by God. For example, “marvelous things did he...inthe land of Egypt” (Psalm78:12). “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone” (Psalm86:10). The first occurrence of the word (Hebrew pala), however, is in our text for today. There is nothing—no thing—too hard for the Lord, and we should never doubt His word! HMM ----------------------- WhenGod Repents “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” (1Samuel 15:29) There are a number of Scriptures that speak of God repenting. For example, in the days before the great Flood, “it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth” (Genesis6:6). In the same chapter containing our text, God said: “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments” (1Samuel 15:11). Yet, the Scriptures plainly teach that God changes not. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent” (Numbers23:19). Bible critics have made much of this apparent “contradiction” in the Bible. There is no contradiction, of course. The words translated “repent” in both Old and New Testaments are used of actions that indicate outwardly that a “change of mind” has occurred inwardly. It’s precisely because God doesn’t repent concerning evil that His actions will change toward man when man truly repents (this human “repentance” can go either way, changing from good to evil, or vice versa), and God will respond accordingly, since He cannot change His own mind toward evil. Thus, He said concerning national repentance, “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them” (Jeremiah18:8). That is, if the nation truly repents, then God will change His own projected course of action. He seems outwardly to “repent” specifically because He cannot repent in His inward attitude toward good and evil. God has greatly blessed America in the past, but America’s people have drastically changed in recent years. Can the time be long coming when God must say: “It repenteth me that I have so favored this apostate nation?” HMM ------------------------- Waterand Spirit Conversion “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter intothe kingdom of God.” (John 3:5) John 3:16, the most quoted Bible verse in history, is declared by our Lord Jesus Christ at a private meeting with Nicodemus, a “ruler of the Jews” (John 3:1)who was a key member of the Pharisees (John 7:47-50). If you only focus on the famous words “for God so loved the world,” the rich color of our Lord’s pointis entirely missed. Nicodemus also missed Christ’s point, asking, “How can these things be?” (John 3:9). The great prophet Ezekiel has the answer: “ForI will take you [future restored Israel]…[and] sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean….A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit….and [I will] cause you to walk in my statutes” (Ezekiel36:24-27). Having New Covenant implications with Israel’s future conversion, this passage clearly describes anyone in the kingdom who repents and trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. In fact, unless the Lord transforms our hardened hearts, we cannot be in His kingdom.The water and Spirit point to the hidden work of the Holy Spirit (who’s like the blowing wind, John 3:8) in producing cleansed and renewed hearts (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5). After Nicodemus asked, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John3:18). That evening, Nicodemus walked away undecided and unchanged. What’s your response to our Lord’s urgent call? CM -------------------- Christin Suffering and Triumph “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and whichis to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation1:8) In the final book of the Bible occur seven great “I am” assertions by the glorified Christ, all speaking of His ultimate victory. However, in the book of Psalms occur seven vastly different “I am” statements by Christ, all speaking prophetically of His sufferings.These are in four of the wonderfully fulfilled Messianic psalms, all written 1,000 years before Christ, yet each psalm cited in the New Testament is fulfilled by Christ. “But I am a worm, and no man” (Psalm22:6, comparing Christ to a mother “scarlet worm” who dies so that her young may live, and in so doing gives off a scarlet fluid that protects and nourishes her young). “I am poor and needy” (Psalm40:17). “I am...a stranger unto my brethren” (Psalm69:8). “I am full of heaviness” (Psalm69:20). “I am poor and sorrowful” (Psalm69:29). “I...am as a sparrow alone upon the house top” (Psalm102:7). “I am withered like grass” (Psalm102:11). In contrast to these lonely sufferings of Christ, there are the glories that shall follow. The first of the seven “I am’s” of Revelation is our text above, and four of the others proclaim the same great truth (Revelation1:11, 17; 21:6; 22:13). The self-existing One, the “I am,” Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who created all things (Alpha), will one day triumph and make all things new forever (Omega). Listen to the other two wonderful testimonies: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,I am alive for evermore” (Revelation1:18). “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Revelation22:16). HMM --------------------- Fora Little While - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. �1 Peter 1:6 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/for-a-little-while/- Listen Often when we go through valleys in life, they�re not of our own making. But God allows them to bring changes in our lives. The apostle Paul, who hadn�t done anything that would bring God�s punishment, experienced what he described as a thorn in the flesh (see 2 Corinthians 12:7). In fact, thiswas a result of his seeing the glory of God. The Lord allowed this difficulty in his life to keep him humble. Then there was Joseph, who, through no fault of his own, went through tremendous hardships in his life. But God allowed them. Job is another example. It wasn�t because of his sinfulness that Job went through suffering. In reality, it was because of his righteousness. Sometimes we go through hardships not because we�ve brought them on ourselves. Instead, we go through them because God is doing a work in our lives. And though trials and difficulties may last for a while, they don�t last forever. In 1 Peter 1:6 we read, �So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though youmust endure many trials for a little while� (1 Peter 1:6 NLT). When David wrote Psalm 23, he didn�t say, �Even when I crawl through the darkest valley� or �Even when I curl up and die in the darkest valley . . .� Rather, he said, �Evenwhen I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me� (verse 4 NLT, emphasis added). David was moving forward. You may not be experiencing any difficulties right now. But when that day comes, Psalm 23:4 will be more precious than ever. Suddenly it will ring true as it never has beforein your life. He will be with you through the valley. You don�t have to be afraid. ---------------------------------- A Tap From the Shepherd - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. �Psalm 23:4 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-tap-from-the-shepherd/- Listen Have you ever had a tap from the Lord to move forward? Perhaps you were growing complacent as a Christian or maybe even lazy. So, God spoke to your heart and said, �Get up.Move. Do something.� Or maybe through a set of circumstances God reminded you of the importance of moving forward. Writing in Psalm 23, David said, �Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfortme� (verse 4 NLT). In David�s time, shepherds used the rod not only for discipline; they also used it along with the staff to lead the sheep forward. The sheep would get lazy sometimes. Aftera time of grazing in green pastures and drinking from peaceful streams, the sheep would lie on their sides and fall asleep. So, a shepherd would have to give them a good push with the rod and staff. But shepherds also used their rods and staffs to number the sheep. They would hold out their rods and staffs and count them as they passed by. In the same way, we need to remember that God knows who belongs to Him. Jesus said, �My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life,and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father�s hand� (John 10:27�29 NLT). God has numbered us. He knows who we are. We are a part of His family. And that brings comfort to us. He is there to number us. He is there to guide us. And when necessary,He is there to lovingly discipline us as well. ------------------------- Pavement for His Feet - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Each time he said, �My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.� So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work throughme. �2 Corinthians 12:9 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/pavement-for-his-feet/- Listen The apostle Paul, who had the incredible experience of being caught up into Heaven and seeing things that he couldn�t even describe, said that he was given a thorn in theflesh, a messenger of Satan to torment him. Three times he asked God to take it away. But here was God�s response: �My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.� Paul then concluded, �So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me� (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT). Trials are part of the Christian life. Jesus said, �I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But takeheart, because I have overcome the world� (John 16:33 NLT). Of course, we all cringe when we come to the mouth of some long valley that seems to loom endlessly before us. Yet it is during hardships that we can experience God�s presenceand power in a unique and special way. God will reveal Himself in the valleys, in the difficulties of life. On one occasion when Jesus sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee, a horrendous storm whipped up. They were afraid the waves would overtake them and drown them. It wasso bad that they despaired of life. Then suddenly they saw Jesus walking to them on the water. Commenting on this story, the great Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan said, �He is coming over the very waves you are most afraid of. The very waves that threaten to buffetand break you to pieces are the pavement for His blessed feet.� Sometimes the very things we fear the most are the tools that God will use in our lives to bring us closer to Him. ---------------------------- ThatOld Serpent �And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousandyears.� (Revelation20:2) This prophetic vision given to John leaves no doubt as to the identity of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. That �old serpent� (literally, �that primeval serpent�) who deceived our first parents into rebelling against the word of God is none other than theDevil, or Satan, often viewed in Scripture as typified by a �great dragon� (Revelation12:9), the fearsome animal of ancient times, probably the dinosaur. His ultimate doom is sure�he will be bound a thousand years, then finally be �cast into the lake of fire...tormented day and night for ever and ever� (Revelation20:10). At present he is not bound, for �your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour� (1Peter 5:8). We must be sober and vigilant, �lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices� (2Corinthians 2:11). His devices are manifold, but all are deceptive (he was the most �subtle� of all God�s creatures, Genesis 3:1), malevolent, and designed to turn us away from the true Christ. �But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ� (2Corinthians 11:3). He is a great deceiver. He can appear as a fire-breathing dragon or a roaring lion, deceiving us into fearing and obeying him instead of God. He can also be �transformed into an angel of light� (2Corinthians 11:14), deceiving us into trusting the �feigned words� of his �false teachers� (2Peter 2:3, 1) instead of the Holy Scriptures of the God of creation. Our recourse against his deceptions is to �put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil� (Ephesians6:11). HMM --------------------------- Choose It - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! �Psalm 32:2 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/choose-it/- Listen Without a doubt, one of the great blessings of being a Christian is that God gives His children second chances. He knows we�re not going to be flawless. Even when we�ve failedmiserably, He gives us the opportunity to put it all behind us. And He can dramatically turn things around. When it comes to the subject of sin�something that, unfortunately, we�re all very familiar with�we have two ways to approach it. We can confess it for what it is, turn fromit, and know the happiness of being forgiven. Or, we can try to conceal it and then ultimately know the misery of being found out and reaping what we�ve sowed. The devil is cunning. He knows how to present sin so that it has a certain appeal. And because of the short-term pleasure that sin offers, many people don�t think of the long-termrepercussions. But make no mistake about it. The Bible warns that our sin will find us out (see Numbers 32:23). Sometimes it happens immediately. And sometimes it happens after a period of time. When the people of Israel were preparing to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land God had promised them, Moses posed this challenge from God: �Today I havegiven you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!� (Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT). �Choose it,� God was saying. �You can walk with Me, or you can walk away from Me. You can live, or you can die.� We have a choice in the matter. It�s amazing that some people would consciously choose death. But that is essentially what we do when we choose to go against God and His Word. --------------------------- GoodCourage �Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, whichI sware unto their fathers to give them.� (Joshua1:6) This admonition to be strong and of �good courage� (Hebrew amass) is given some 10 times in the Old Testament, plus another nine times using a different word (chasaq). The first occurrence of amass is in Deuteronomy 3:28, where it is translated �strengthen�: �But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.� Christians today surely need good courage to face a dangerous world with all its temptations and intimidations, but nothing today could compare to the challenge facing Joshua. Trying to lead a nondescript multitude of �stiff-necked� desert nomads into a landof giants and walled cities would surely require courage beyond anything we could imagine today. But Joshua had access to invincible resources, and so do we. �Be strong and of a good courage,� God told him. �Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest� (Joshua1:9). Giants and walled cities are no match for the children of God when He goes with them, for �if God be for us, who can be against us?� (Romans8:31). God did go with Joshua, and the Israelites defeated the giants, destroyed the walled cities, and took the land. And we have the same promise today, for �he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is myhelper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me� (Hebrews13:5-6). Courage is really another name for faith, and �what he had promised, he was able also to perform� (Romans4:21). HMM -------------------------