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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 26 September 20:
Psalm 112:6-9 – “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
True faith makes you resolute, confident in hard times, steady, fearless, forgiving, and giving. What does how you handle challenges, how you forgive others, and how you give to others say about your faith? Does your confidence, forgiveness, and giving serve as a visible testimony to others of the truth of the Gospel?
From the above verses, why is the righteous person firm hearted, steady, and unafraid of what has happened, what is happening, what will happen, and what might happen? Because he or she trusts God. The “righteous” person trusts they are in ‘right’ relationship with God through Christ, growing in righteousness, mercy, grace, and love while they abide in God’s righteousness, mercy, grace and love. The righteous person has faith (trusting God in the here and now), hope (trusting God with the future – faith projected forward), and love (abiding in God’s love and bearing fruit in God’s love).
- Romans 5:1 — Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 3:4 — Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
- Proverbs 14:26 — In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 — For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
- Romans 15:13 — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
- Hebrews 13:6 — So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
“He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor.” Today’s Psalms point out that those who trust in the Lord give abundantly. It takes genuine faith to give and forgive. Your level of giving isn’t really based on how much you have and how much you think you can get in the future; it is based on how much you believe you have abundantly received and will receive in Christ; it is a question of whether you think you need to provide for your every need or God will provide for your every need and more than you could possibly imagine. Likewise, forgiveness is not about what you think you deserve from others or about defending your rights; it is based on how much grace you feel you have received from God, whether or not you trust God to be your Defender, and whether or not you trust God to obey His command to forgive others as He has forgiven you while you serve as His ambassador and messenger of reconciliation. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Again, how much you give and forgive reveals what you really think about God.
- Luke 6:38 — Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 — Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
- 2 Corinthians 8:3-5 — For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
- Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
- Mark 11:25 — And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
- Colossians 3:13 — Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
- Matthew 6:14-15 — For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- Colossians 3:13 — Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 26 September 20: Pray that God will give you the faith to deal with circumstances and other people in a way the brings glory to His Name.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 