вторник, 26 марта 2024 г.

Grateful obedience


 "But your eyes have seen every great act of the LORD which He did." - Deuteronomy 11:7

Moses reminds God's people of God's great works for Israel and His punishments against Israel's enemies. The purpose of this reminder is for Israel to be grateful and obey God's commandments, not under compulsion, but out of love.

Our eyes have seen the works of God, so our hearts are filled with gratitude. Our hands participate in God's work, and our feet walk in His ways. 

From my diary,

March 26, 2024

понедельник, 25 марта 2024 г.

The Lord listened again!


 "But the LORD listened to me at that time also." - Deuteronomy 9:19

Moses had prayed many times for his people: he had prayed for their sins, idolatry, hardness of heart, and unbelief. If I were him, I might have thought that the Lord would no longer hear my prayers. Yet Moses persisted in prayer and testified, "The LORD listened to me at that time also.”
We can offer the same testimony. However, the fact that the Lord heard us again should never lead us to sin again or to assume that the Lord will hear us this time also. Instead, it should lead us to fervent prayer and strengthen our faith that He always listens to His children's prayers.
I want to pray continually and testify with a grateful heart about the answered prayers: "The LORD listened to me again.”

From my diary,

March 25, 2024

воскресенье, 24 марта 2024 г.

God is faithful



 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God. Deuteronomy 7:9

God's faithfulness assures me; thus, my faith remains steadfast. Worries dissipate, peace endures, and true joy abides. He always keeps His promises. Through His faithfulness, His children find assurance of salvation. His elect are safeguarded from deception. In every circumstance, I recall this truth: God remains faithful.

From my diary,

March 24,   2024

суббота, 23 марта 2024 г.

The Spirit's Guidance: A Sign of God's Family


 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." - Romans 8:14

The word "for" shows that this verse is related to the previous verse. The previous verse talks about putting to death the works of the flesh by the Spirit. He who leaves the works of the flesh alive is not led by the Spirit. He who tries to mortify the works of the flesh by his own strength is not guided by the Spirit either.
God's children are led by God's Spirit. He who is led by the Spirit of God is led by the Word of God. God's Spirit leads God's children to look into the mirror of God's Word. There they see themselves as impure and in need of purification.
The Spirit of God then leads them to the throne of grace to receive mercy, to receive forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus.
God's Spirit guides them in the way of heartfelt obedience. God's Spirit leads them to where Jesus is.

From my diary,

March 23,   2024

пятница, 22 марта 2024 г.

Finding courage in past victories


"Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you." - Deuteronomy 3:21-22
Joshua and God's people could be encouraged and look forward to new victories, remembering that the Lord had already given them victories in the past. Their eyes had seen victories, so their heart could wait for new victories. "So will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass."
I have already had victories in my spiritual life. If my eyes have seen that God has granted victory against some sins and temptations, then He will also grant more victories in the future. My eyes have seen; therefore, my heart is at peace. I should not be afraid of the enemy, and I should leave the war to God. When He fights, I win.

From my diary,

March 22,   2024

 

четверг, 21 марта 2024 г.

Encouragement: A Command from the Lord

"Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it." - Deuteronomy 1:38
The Lord commanded Moses to encourage Joshua. He did not command the angels to do this. God's servants, God's children, should encourage one another. God's Word commands the same to all His children. " Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as also you are doing. " (1 Thessalonians 5:11) He who does God's work should encourage those doing the same work. He who is encouraged by God should encourage others. Those who have doubts should be encouraged with the promises of God; those who are discouraged should be cheered with words of hope. Those who are weary should be encouraged by the Word of God to gain strength to continue the journey. Those who fear must be encouraged by the Word of God to be filled with faith.
Encouragement should be our daily work.

From my diary,

March 21,   2024

 

среда, 20 марта 2024 г.

Encouragement from the Lord


 "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.'" - Acts 23:11

How could Paul be discouraged or afraid if the Lord Himself said to him, "Take courage"? It doesn't matter how many people stood against Paul; the Lord stood near him, and that was enough. The Lord encouraged him by reminding him of Paul's previous works: witnessing about Jesus in Jerusalem, and confirmed that he will do the same thing in the future, testifying about Jesus in Rome.
So Paul was going to live and testify about Jesus, no matter that more than forty people conspired to kill him. The Lord had given him a work to do; how could people interfere with that work?
Those who do the work of the Lord may be forsaken by men, but not by the Lord. Jesus stands beside them and says, "Take courage."

From my diary,

March 20,   2024

вторник, 19 марта 2024 г.

Journaling the Journey: Lessons from the Travel Journal

"Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the LORD. And these are their journeys according to their starting points." - Numbers 33:2
This chapter caught my attention because it is a travel journal, written by Moses and commissioned by God.
If God commanded to write a diary of the journey of God's people, then it is necessary, and there is something to learn.
What can I learn from this chapter, where we repeatedly see these words: "they moved from," "they camped," "they departed from," "they journeyed from," and a long list of hard-to-remember place-names?
Of course, I cannot remember all these place names, but I can notice that during the entire journey, the Lord guided them, forgave them their sins, freed them from enemies and dangers, and took care of them.
Remembering all this prompts gratitude: when you remember what the Lord has done in your life, your heart is filled with thanksgiving. It also strengthens faith: when you see what miracles the Lord has done in the past, you believe that He will do them in the future. It also prompts caution: when you remember your past sins, you are careful not to repeat them again.
My gratitude journal, prayer journal, and scripture meditation journals are also travel journals that remind me of the progress of my spiritual journey.

From my diary,

March 19,   2024

понедельник, 18 марта 2024 г.

No Exceptions: The Assurance of Forgiveness for Believers


 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." - Acts 13:38, 39

Is there any happier news for a person who sees his sins, repents of his sins, and strives to get rid of them, than this: your sins are blotted out, forgiven? There is one who has completely paid off your debts. Satan loves to read the list of our sins; he knows them by heart, and he has not forgotten any sin. But our Lord has promised those who believe in Him that He will erase and forget our sins; He has removed them from us as far as the east is from the west. Every believer can rejoice, because it is not written, "Many of those who believe are justified," but "everyone who believes." There are no exceptions.

From my diary,

March 18,   2024

воскресенье, 17 марта 2024 г.

A model meeting

"Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God." - Acts 10:33
The meeting at Cornelius' house serves as a good model for any gathering in the Church of Christ to follow. Here, we see punctuality; everyone was ready, with no absences. Cornelius said, "We are all present before God." They were aware of God's presence, and this awareness led to sincerity, reverence, and worship.
They had the right purpose: they had come to hear the Word of God, not just the things that Peter had to say, but everything that God had commanded him. They were willing to listen to not just a few things, but all the things that God commanded. They were not only physically present; their hearts were also present, with no one sleeping or allowing their thoughts to wander. The result was wonderful: the Holy Spirit came upon everyone while they were listening to God's Word. Where there is a longing for God's Word, there is the presence of God's Spirit.

 From my diary,

March 17,   2024

суббота, 16 марта 2024 г.

Fueling zeal and overcome

 

Therefore be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:19
If I want to be among the overcomers, I must be zealous. That zeal should be expressed in hatred of sin and false teachings, wholehearted love for God, longing for God's Word, seeking God's blessing, zeal in serving God, constant prayer, mortification of the works of the flesh. If I have that zeal, I will happily participate in God's work, the purpose of all my work will be the glory of God and the edification of God's children.
That zeal must have the right motives: the shortness of time, the increasing of iniquities in the present age, the constant vigilance of the devil must drive me to zeal. The love of God, my gratitude for His works, my meditations on heavenly glory, the example left by Christ will make me zealous.

From my diary,

March 16,   2024

пятница, 15 марта 2024 г.

May I live and keep Your Word


 "Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word." - Psalm 119:17

Here is a servant who trusts in the bounty of the Lord, expects it in his life, asks for it, and knows that he cannot live without the goodness of the Lord. He asks for God's goodness to live a life that is pleasing to God. He does not want a life for worldly enjoyment, but to live and keep the Word of God. God's mercy keeps him, and he wants to keep God's Word.

From my diary,

March 15,   2024

четверг, 14 марта 2024 г.

A separated people


 "Behold, a people who dwells alone, And will not be reckoned among the nations." - Numbers 23:9

Not only is the Old Testament people of God a separated people, but also the New Testament Church is separated and will not be reckoned among heathen nations. God's people is set apart by God because it is His property bought at a great price. The children of God are different from the children of the world in every way. They live on earth apart from the sons of the world, for their heart is in their eternal home; here they are sojourners and pilgrims.
Spurgeon wrote: "Our place is not in their Vanity Fair, nor in their City of Destruction, but in the narrow way where all true pilgrims must follow their Lord."
We do not share in their sins, therefore we will not receive their plagues.

From my diary,

March 14,   2024

среда, 13 марта 2024 г.

Tell me what you say 'amen' to, and I'll tell you what spiritual state you are in



 "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, 'Amen!' Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 106:48)

Sometimes, I notice on Facebook that some Christians say "amen" to posts that are foreign to the Holy Bible. We can say: "Tell me what you say 'amen' to, and I'll tell you what spiritual state you are in." A lover of God's Word will definitely say "amen" when they hear God's Word. They are able to discern God's Word from human interpretations, so they will not say "amen" when people preach their own thoughts.
One who praises the Lord in their heart will say "amen" when they hear others praising the Lord, speaking about His works, and giving thanks to Him. Someone who desires correction will say "amen" when they hear rebuking messages. One who eagerly awaits the coming of Jesus will say "amen" when they hear people discussing the need to be ready for His coming. A person with a prayerful heart will say "amen" when they hear right prayers and desires those prayers to be answered. They will also say "amen" when listening to a song whose lyrics are inspired by the Word of God.
The word "Amen" speaks volumes about the person who utters it.
In this psalm, the psalmist praises God, recounts His works, and expects God's people to respond with "amen".
"Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!"
Let His children say "amen."

From my diary,

March 13,   2024

вторник, 12 марта 2024 г.

The Path to Joy: Seeking the Lord


 "Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! "- Psalm 105:3.

A heart that seeks the Lord is a heart that rejoices in the Lord. He who seeks the Lord's face, His presence, His power, His Word, has many reasons to rejoice. There is fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11). His statutes rejoice the heart (Psalm 19:8). God's power gives victory over sin, and victory brings joy. So the joy of those who seek the Lord is assured. If there is a lack of joy in the heart, then there is a lack of longing for the Lord.

From my diary,

March 12,   2024

понедельник, 11 марта 2024 г.

The hireling and the good Shepherd

"The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. " - John 10:13
"... I lay down My life for the sheep." - John 10:15
The hireling is selfish and indifferent, working only for money. The sheep do not need such a shepherd. Jesus laid down His life for His sheep. He is a selfless, caring Shepherd; His flock need not fear the coming of a wolf. The hireling's sheep are not safe; when the wolf comes, the hireling will flee. Blessed are those who belong to the flock of Jesus.

From my diary,

March 11,   2024

 

воскресенье, 10 марта 2024 г.

God's Thoughts and Ways Above Ours: they didn't know the important things


 The question of disciples of Jesus: “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” (Luke 9:54)

The rebuking answer of Jesus: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:55-56)
The Samaritans did not receive Jesus, and James and John were so angry that they spoke these words. This question shows what they knew. They knew that the attitude of the Samaritans towards Jesus was wrong, they knew what the prophet Elijah did, they knew that before doing anything they should ask Jesus, they knew that if the Lord allows them, they can do the same thing that Elijah did. But they didn't know two important things: they didn't know what spirit they were from, they didn't know why Jesus came. Jesus rebuked them and reminded them that the purpose of His coming was not to destroy people's lives, but to save them.

Topical meditation 2024
March 10

суббота, 9 марта 2024 г.

God's Thoughts and Ways Above Ours: Ananias' hesitation and the answer of Jesus


 The hesitation of Christ’s disciple: "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem." (Acts 9:13)

The answer of Jesus: 'Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.'" (Acts 9:15)
What Ananias had heard about Paul was true. Paul had done much harm to the Lord's saints in Jerusalem and was coming to Damascus to arrest the believers in Jesus. But God knew more about Paul. He who persecutes the followers of Christ will become a follower of Christ himself; he is a chosen vessel to testify to the name of Christ before the Gentiles and Jews. He who persecuted Christ's disciples will himself be persecuted and suffer for the name of Jesus.
In the transformation of Saul to Paul, we witness the profound wisdom and sovereignty of God, who turns persecutors into proclaimers, demonstrating His ability to use even the most unlikely vessels for His glory.
Topical meditation 2024
March 9

пятница, 8 марта 2024 г.

God's Thoughts and Ways Above Ours: Sinful man or son of Abraham?


 People’s complaint: “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!” (Luke 19:7)

The words of Jesus: “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9)
People only saw Zacchaeus as a sinful man. He was a tax collector, a person who defrauded people. They knew he was sinful. Jesus knew that this sinful man would make haste and come down and receive Him with joy. He knew he was a son of Abraham and would repent. Zacchaeus longed to see Jesus, and Jesus saw his longing, his effort to see Him. Not only did Zacchaeus see Jesus, but Jesus also saw Zacchaeus.
People knew he was a rich man who had deprived others. Jesus knew that he would give half of his possessions to the poor and repay fourfold those whom he had deprived.
Jesus doesn't think like people think: He has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Topical meditation 2024
March 8

четверг, 7 марта 2024 г.

God's Thoughts and Ways Above Ours: question of men and question of Jesus


 Question of men: "'Why this waste? " (Matthew 26:8)

Question of Jesus: "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me." (Matthew 26:10)
I've meditated on this story many times before, especially since it's about my favorite biblical heroine. This time, the questions caught my attention. The first question was asked by those complaining about Mary of Bethany's action, and they called her deed 'a waste.' The second question was asked by our Lord to the complainers, showing His approval of Mary's action, and called her action a "good work." He also mentioned for whom the good deed was done: for Jesus.
Mary did not think about what people would think or what appreciation they would give to her action; she just wanted to show her love, gratitude, and dedication to Jesus. She did it for Jesus, not for attention. When we do anything for Jesus, no matter how many people disapprove, Jesus will approve.
God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. The stark contrast between how men viewed Mary's actions as 'a waste' and how the Lord deemed it 'a good work' emphasizes the incomprehensible depth of God's wisdom and love.

Topical meditation 2024
March 7