Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life. (Jeremiah 21:9)
King Zedekiah sent to Jeremiah, a couple of his officials who told him this: "Inquire now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us."(Jeremiah 21:2)
But the counsel of the Lord that Jeremiah gave them was of destruction and impending catastrophe. Yet there remained a way to remain alive and that was by surrendering to the enemy.
The king and the people of Judah were being punished for their sins. Time and again, God had warned them through Jeremiah the prophet of punishment but they chose to persist with their sinful ways and now death and destruction were at their door step. God gives people enough chances to repent of their sins, but when they ignore those warnings, disaster finally hits them.
The Apostle Paul writes of how the Israelites suffered God's wrath for their unfaithfulness and then writes, " These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Corinthians 10:11, 12)"
Friday, December 7, 2012
DBB-61
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.(Isaiah 54:10)
What a great promise to a nation and people who often backslid and faced the wrath of the Almighty. God's compassion is what each of us can rely upon at all times. The Apostle Paul writes to the Romans, " He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?(Romans 8:32)"
There comes times in the lives of believers when faith is not up to the mark, yet in those circumstances one can rely on the compassion of God.
King David, passing through fiery trials with Saul and his armies always seeking to kill him once said that he would one day die at the hands of Saul. Yet, we read of God's compassion and faithfulness in David's life in the 1st book of Samuel.
David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. (1 Samuel 23:14)
We too can trust in God's compassion and faithfulness in our lives. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
What a great promise to a nation and people who often backslid and faced the wrath of the Almighty. God's compassion is what each of us can rely upon at all times. The Apostle Paul writes to the Romans, " He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?(Romans 8:32)"
There comes times in the lives of believers when faith is not up to the mark, yet in those circumstances one can rely on the compassion of God.
King David, passing through fiery trials with Saul and his armies always seeking to kill him once said that he would one day die at the hands of Saul. Yet, we read of God's compassion and faithfulness in David's life in the 1st book of Samuel.
David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. (1 Samuel 23:14)
We too can trust in God's compassion and faithfulness in our lives. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
DBB-60
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." (Matthew 8:16, 17)
Jesus, was and is still the healer and deliverer. He has not changed. When sick, we can still pray and seek a healing from him. Of course, there are many who do not believe in this simple fact anymore, but we must trust in God's Word rather than in men's opinion. There are others who opine that the following verses from Isaiah 53 speaks only about spiritual sickness and healing and not bodily healing.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4, 5)
The gospel writer Matthew allays all such doubts by writing that the bodily healings and deliverances that Jesus effected was just the fulfillment of what Isaiah prophesied long back.
We can still believe and see the glory of God as Jesus heals our sicknesses and delivers us from satanic attacks which manifest as bodily ailments or mental troubles.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
DBB-59
Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; (2 Timothy 2:11)
Dying to sin is not an easy mission. Yet, for believers in Jesus Christ this is a must. As Paul the Apostle writes to the believers in Rome, "We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Romans 6:2-8)
It's a challenge that every believer has to take up and win with the help of the Holy Spirit of God. The Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)"
Are you a new creation?
Dying to sin is not an easy mission. Yet, for believers in Jesus Christ this is a must. As Paul the Apostle writes to the believers in Rome, "We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Romans 6:2-8)
It's a challenge that every believer has to take up and win with the help of the Holy Spirit of God. The Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)"
Are you a new creation?
Monday, December 3, 2012
DBB-58
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:6)
Always remember that your Saviour can bless you abundantly whatever your condition be at present. Commit your way to him and trust in him, is what the Psalmist advices us. Only each of us know how much we have committed ourselves to the Lord. Perhaps there may be total commitment is certain areas of our life, but only partial commitment in others. But a total commitment is what God asks for. This is what King Solomon advised his people after becoming king: But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time."(1 Kings 8:61) Sadly, he himself did not live as he preached and finally fell in disfavour with the Lord. We can all learn from this truth that Hanani the seer told Asa, king of Judah: For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him............(2 Chronicles 16:9).The blessing for committing our way to the Lord is that he will make our righteousness shine like the dawn and the justice of our cause like the noonday sun.
DBB-57
Then Leah said, "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons." So she named him Zebulun. (Genesis 30:20)
Six sons she bore for Jacob, but still she yearned for love and honour from him. She named this son "Zebulun" meaning "dwelling" hoping and expecting that Jacob would finally dwell with her and give her the love that she desired from him. That she was not loved is made clear from what Moses writes: When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb..................... (Genesis 29:31)
Also we read of certain statements made by Leah herself: "Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon. (Genesis 29:33)....later she gave vent to her frustration while confronting Rachel: "Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband?
Obviously she desired better treatment from Jacob.
Are you craving for love from anyone close to you? The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)" Thank and praise God for all that he has done for you and he will bless you even more.
Six sons she bore for Jacob, but still she yearned for love and honour from him. She named this son "Zebulun" meaning "dwelling" hoping and expecting that Jacob would finally dwell with her and give her the love that she desired from him. That she was not loved is made clear from what Moses writes: When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb..................... (Genesis 29:31)
Also we read of certain statements made by Leah herself: "Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon. (Genesis 29:33)....later she gave vent to her frustration while confronting Rachel: "Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband?
Obviously she desired better treatment from Jacob.
Are you craving for love from anyone close to you? The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)" Thank and praise God for all that he has done for you and he will bless you even more.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
DBB-56
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (Psalm 91:15)
The "I will" statements in this verse and a few others in the same Psalm are very comforting. As believers, we all need assurance at several junctures in our lives and we can readily receive it by meditating on God's Word. God will answer us, he will be with us in trouble, he will deliver us and he will honor us. If we have any doubts regarding who is in charge of all matters in our life, this verse says it all. When we dwell in the shelter of the Most High, we will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. God will be our refuge and our fortress. God is good and he cares for you and me. He sent his son to the cross for our sake and since we have put our trust in him, he will answer us in our times of need. Let us glorify his holy name this day.
The "I will" statements in this verse and a few others in the same Psalm are very comforting. As believers, we all need assurance at several junctures in our lives and we can readily receive it by meditating on God's Word. God will answer us, he will be with us in trouble, he will deliver us and he will honor us. If we have any doubts regarding who is in charge of all matters in our life, this verse says it all. When we dwell in the shelter of the Most High, we will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. God will be our refuge and our fortress. God is good and he cares for you and me. He sent his son to the cross for our sake and since we have put our trust in him, he will answer us in our times of need. Let us glorify his holy name this day.
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