Read 1 Kings 8:22-30.

"And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart" (v. 23).

The theme is woven throughout Scripture: God is faithful and merciful. After God promised Abraham and Sarah innumerable descendants, Abraham broke faith by having a son through Hagar. Yet, God was faithful to grant him the "child of promise" through Sarah. After God established a covenant with the descendents of Abraham, Israel again and again broke that covenant by worshiping other gods. Yet, God mercifully called them into repentance through the judges and prophets. When God promised a never-ending rule of the family line of David, He kept that promise. Although many in the royal line would break that covenant resulting in the exile of the Israelites, God established an unending kingdom in the person of Jesus, whose earthly mother descended from the line of David. In this act of faithfulness, God has shown mercy not just to the covenant breakers of the past, but also to all humanity, including you and me.

God remains faithful and merciful. "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9). (Lyle A.W)

"God is faithful, ever faithful;

He will surely keep his word;

To the uttermost faithful filling

Ev'ry promise I have heard."

-Eliza Hewitt 

We can trust our covenant-keeping God.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12. 

 "For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God" (v. 9).

   Your pastor will relate to this verse. "Laboring night and day" to declare the Gospel is what pastors do. Pastors are motivated to see that as many as possible hear the Gospel and respond to it. They are motivated to preach the Word because they are called by God to do it. They don't want to be responsible for someone under their influence, not making it to Heaven.

Reading the paragraph that contains this verse (vs. 7-12), one discovers that the apostle was deeply concerned about the spread of the Gospel. He knew that his work and character were important channels to seeing God's work grow.

This leads us to a couple of simple conclusions. First, God's Word often speaks through people whose lives and characters reflect His message. Those who are most effective in speaking the Word have allowed the Word to penetrate and change their lives. Second, the Gospel is about change. It transforms believers so that they "walk worthy of God." It's not that Christians have to repay God for His work in our lives. Instead, He adjusts our lives so that we reflect Him in every aspect of living. (Mark D. Avery)

As the Word speaks into our lives, we grow in grace and Christian maturity.

• 
  Read Matthew 25:41-46.
  
  “Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me" (v. 45).
     It was in the 1800s when Charles Dickens faced a difficult situation. His father had mismanaged the finances of the household and, in accordance with English law, was sitting in a debtor's prison. Charles was only ten years old but had no alternative. He had to go to work to support the family. At this young age, he saw much poverty and injustice. The powerful, famous, and rich exploited the powerless with impunity. From these painful experiences, Dickens found the basis for many of his novels. He spoke to the issues of the day. Living in the British Empire during the industrial revolution, he knew from first-hand experience the ugliness of that age.
     Possibly his story, which has been most read, is "A Christmas Carol." In this account, the infamously stingy Ebenezer Scrooge in his own greedy, selfish, and calloused manner runs roughshod over the lives of others. Scrooge sees no need to feel any moral responsibility for the welfare of his fellowman. Through this account, Scrooge tries to convince his readers that love and benevolence can change lives. The ghost of Jacob Marley conveys the understanding that eternal punishment awaits people like Ebenezer Scrooge.
     Jesus pushed this message to a greater extent. The church has a moral obligation to minister to those in need. By our demonstration of love, compassion, and generous assistance in Jesus' name, we, in some spiritual way, are not only ministering to those in need but also to our Lord. The good works that are an expression of our relationship with Jesus Christ bring glory to God. (L.Gayle Woods)
  
  The good works of a Christian are to be an expression
  of our relationship with Jesus Christ
  designed to bring glory to God.

Wednesday, February 17

Read Luke 13:23-30.

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" (v. 24).

Perhaps the person who asked Jesus, "Are there few that be saved?" had heard Jesus' teaching that the Kingdom of Heaven was found in small things. Maybe he was present when Jesus rebuked the leaders of the synagogue for trying to keep him from healing on the Sabbath. He probably had accepted the idea that the Pharisees, with their outward displays of holiness, were the ones who had the way to Heaven figured out, but Jesus showed this view to be false.

Jesus isn't warning people who were considered to be sinners.  To them, he regularly offered mercy and forgiveness. However, He was talking to the religious leaders of His day when He said that many will not be able to enter through the door and gain salvation.  He is also talking to us, the ones who read and write devotionals. We are standing squarely in the  path of his words.

The question for all of is this: have we begun to become like the Pharisees? Are we looking down on sinners? Are we proud of our own righteousness? The Prophet Isaiah reminds us that God doesn't break a bruised reed. Instead, throughout the Bible, we see that God is against those who are proud.  We should examine our hearts to see if pride has taken root and do whatever it takes to dig it out. (Randy Joe Bland)

Has pride taken root in your heart?

Wednesday, February 3

Read Matthew 13:47-52

"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just" (v.49)

Standing in the barn, peering at the feed barrels, I was struggling with identifying which one contained catfish feed, horse pellets, or chicken feed. I had not et learned the characteristics of each type of feed. I soon discovered that catfish feed is little balls. Horse pellets are longer. Chicken feed is smaller pellets. It is no longer a problem to fill the feed bucket with the desired food for the correct animal.

At the end of the world, the characteristics of the wicket and the just will be easy for the angels to distinguish. The just have been transformed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Their lives are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

It will be too late for the wicked to accept God's gift. Their lives have not been changed. Their lives will be recognized by the sins of lust, gluttony, greed, laziness, wrath, envy, and pride. Prepare today to be identified with the just! Jesus paid the price, accept His gift. (Tamara M. Crawford)

There's a great day coming, 

A great day coming,

There's a great day coming by and by,

When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left

                                                                                                                                      -- Will L. Thompson

Does your life emanate righteousness or wickedness?

Wednesday, January 27

Read Mark 12:1-11.