Your Daily Journey with God

[Believe]

April 12

GOD CAN’T BE BOUGHT


[Balaam said,] “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD.”
NUMBERS 24:13

In a wealthy culture it’s easy for the rich to believe money is the ultimate resource. Not only can money buy things, but it can also be used to buy people —their favor, their loyalty, or their protection. Some people even believe money can be used to purchase the blessings of God.
A pagan king named Balak (Numbers 22–24) tried to purchase the prophetic ability of a pagan “prophet” (diviner) named Balaam. Balak wanted Balaam to speak a curse upon Israel as they approached the Promised Land. The curse was never spoken, but not for want of a misguided king’s efforts. Much later in Israel’s history, the prophet Micah reminded the people of the Balak-Balaam incident in order that they might be reminded of “the righteousness of the LORD” (Micah 6:5). In other words, God’s favor cannot be purchased, nor His wrath avoided, with money. In the New Testament, Ananias and his wife, Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), and Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25) learned this truth the hard way.
Do you need something from God today? Follow the advice of James: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).


Mature faith does not live by answers to prayer, but by prayer.
R. E. O. WHITE


Your Daily Journey with God: 365 Daily Devotions

 

[Believe]

April 14

STRENGTHEN YOUR GRIP

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
PHILIPPIANS 4:13

How many times have we read an account in the news like this: “When I was sure I wouldn’t survive, I thought of my wife and children. The idea of never seeing them again gave me the strength to hang on. I literally thought I was going to die. Once I survived the ordeal and was reunited with my family, I realized that the pain and anguish were worth it.”

The book of Revelation pictures a future that is going to be painful for those on the earth. Not the least of coming travails are those represented by the four horsemen of the Apocalypse in Revelation 6:1-8. The white horse represents a leader bent on conquering the world; the red horse, worldwide war; the black one, worldwide famine; and the pale horse, death for a quarter of humanity by violent and tragic means. Anyone who becomes a Christian after the rapture of the church —that is, during the Tribulation —will have to ask, “How can I survive?” And the answer will be the same as for Christians who experience suffering now: “through Christ who strengthens me.”

If you are losing your grip on life today, let the promise of seeing Christ face-to-face give you new strength (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Our greatest problem in suffering is unbelief.
GEOFF THOMAS

Your Daily Journey with God: 365 Daily Devotions

 

[Believe]

April 16

SQUANDERED FORTUNE

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
REVELATION 5:1

Huntington Hartford could have had it all as the heir to the A&P fortune. His grandfather had helped found the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company in 1869. It grew to be the world’s largest retail empire, making the Hartford family one of the wealthiest on earth. But Huntington frittered his millions away on frivolous projects and misguided ventures. He died with little left.

That’s not the case for heirs of God. According to Romans 8, if we’re children of God, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. According to Titus, the “elect” are heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 1:1-2). James says we are heirs of the Kingdom that He promises to those who love Him (James 2:5).

Revelation 11:15 proclaims, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.” The joy of being a coheir with Christ is beyond the limitations of our finite minds, but it should bring joy to our hearts today.

Joint heirs with Christ Jesus! I defy you to exhaust that topic, though you should think about it all the days of the next week, nay, though you should muse upon it till eternity commences with your soul.
C. H. SPURGEON


Your Daily Journey with God: 365 Daily Devotions

 

[Believe]

April 30

THE GREAT MULTITUDE

Behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
REVELATION 7:9

Certain Scriptures —Psalm 23, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and John 11:1-44 —comfort us in times of loss as if the Lord Himself were speaking to us. We seldom include Revelation 7:9-17 among those familiar passages, yet it, too, is full of encouragement for the grief stricken.

Revelation 7:9-17 describes those who will be redeemed and then martyred during the Great Tribulation, but much of what it says about them is true for all Christians in eternity. These heavenly saints are clothed in white, representing the righteousness of Christ. They celebrate before the throne with palm branches, representing joy. They sing with all their hearts, serving God day and night, free from hunger, thirst, heat, and care. God has been a shepherd leading them to living fountains and wiping away their tears.

It’s a scene of pure eternal victory, and if our dear ones could speak to us, they’d say, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:12).


Surely if there is rest and peace in following Him by faith on earth, there will be far more rest and peace when you see Him face to face.
J. C. RYLE


David Jeremiah, Your Daily Journey with God: 365 Daily Devotions

 

[Believe]

May 5

LOVE LIKE GOD LOVES

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
ROMANS 5:8

Some people say the world’s best illustration of unconditional love is found in a dog’s response to its owner. They say, “Dogs don’t care if you’re a good person or a bad person —they love you all the same.” Without taking anything away from man’s best friend, there is actually a better example. In fact, the world’s only permanent example of totally unconditional love is the love God has for sinners, for “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Paul Gossman, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Covington, Washington, explains his church’s mission this way: “To establish people firmly in [God’s] unconditional love for them through Christ” and then spread “His love to our local communities and beyond.”[1] Once we have experienced God’s unconditional love, our mission is to manifest that same love to others: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

If you have experienced God’s unconditional love, look for the people in your world with whom that love needs to be shared.

There is nothing the Christian can do to make God love him more, or love him less. God’s love for his people is infinite and unconditional.
JOHN BLANCHARD


David Jeremiah, Your Daily Journey with God: 365 Daily Devotions