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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 10 June 2023:
Isaiah 35:4 – Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”
Faith is a belief in God that governs what you think, decide, say, and do. Faith changes your entire outlook and approach. Faith causes you to do what seems crazy to those without faith. Faith isn’t anxious because it trusts God with the future, anticipating God’s perfect providence into the future, while anxiety always imagines the worst possible outcomes. If you are anxious today, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God… will come and save you.”
Isaiah 35:4-6; 8, 10 — Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy…. even if they are fools, they shall not go astray…. everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Do not fear or be anxious child of God. Be strong; fear not! God brings healing and wholeness, and God’s goal is to restore holiness, gladness, and joy to His children. Our perfect Father never abandons or ignores His children who He loves beyond our understanding. We usually can’t answer the ‘why’ questions, but we can trust the He has a perfect plan beyond our imagination. Today’s Psalms remind us of God’s “steadfast love” and that He “stands at the right hand of the needy one.” I like the way God’s protection is described in Psalm 91 – “Under his wings you will find refuge.” Be strong; fear not!
“It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.” God’s ways protect even the fool if he will follow them. You don’t have to understand why, just obey. We all act foolishly sometimes, but take comfort that your foolishness doesn’t separate you from God’s love or negate His perfect plan. Life is a continual course correction of repentance, renewal, and recommitment. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
From Henry T. Blackaby — The nation of Israel was designed to have a place where other nations of the world could come to worship the true God. The temple in Jerusalem was to be the center from which the good news of God’s salvation would spread to every corner of the world. But those who were supposed to be God’s people forsook Him and practiced every kind of sin. Rather than being ambassadors for God, they disgraced His holy name. Rather than attracting the nations of the earth to God, they became stumbling blocks to those who were seeking the true God. The Israelites fell so far from God’s original intent that God judged them and sent them into exile. Yet God promised that one day His people would be an avenue by which others could find salvation. It is God’s desire that anywhere there is a Christian, God has a way for people to learn of His salvation (Rom. 10:14-15). Whenever an unbeliever meets a Christian, the unbeliever ought to be face to face with everything he needs to know in order to follow Christ. Sadly, however, Christians can be like the Israelites of Isaiah’s day. We can be so involved in our sin that we are completely disoriented to God, ill-equipped to direct others to Him. If our lives are filled with hypocrisy, we may turn people away from God, rather than helping them come to Him. If our lives are filled with doubt or anger, we will impede others from coming to Christ. Our lives ought to be a highway of holiness, providing easy access to God for anyone around us who seeks Him. Ask God to remove any obstacle in your life that hinders others from coming to know Jesus.
Psalm 67:2, 3 — …that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
God blesses us primarily to reveal Himself to a watching world, not simply so we can have what we want for our own comfort and security. Your goal should be that people see God’s power in your life and praise God, not you.
Psalm 67:7 — God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Our goal is that our lives would be used by God to turn the whole world to Jesus Christ. Don’t let anything about you distract people from Jesus. It is not about you. It is all about Jesus.
Proverbs 10:3, 4 – The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
The Lord does provide, but, in no small part, by the guidance He provides us through His word. God’s word commands, and God expects, the righteous to work hard. We can’t throw out the ‘grace’ card as an excuse not to do our part and then expect God to miraculously make up for our lack of fidelity.
Proverbs 10:5 – He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
You will either face the daily pain of personal discipline or the ultimate pain of regret. At the moment of need, you cannot make up for what you didn’t invest in. You must build up over time for the inevitable “rainy day” whether it be in finances, health, relationships, etc.
Proverbs 10:7 – The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
You will be remembered for your character more than for your talent, personality, wealth, intelligence, or personal achievements.
Proverbs 10:8 – The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
Some people want to say what they think; but wise people want to hear what God has to say about a matter. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. Trust in God, not in your own understanding.
Proverbs 10:22 – The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
If your riches have added sorrow, they were not acquired God’s way. Whatever we achieve outside of God’s will only causes unwanted sorrow in the long run. God gives blessings without sorrows, but in our lack of faith, we add sorrows. God promised Abraham a son, yet in his lack of faith, Abraham chose to have Ishmael in his own way, cause generations of sorrow. God promised Jacob the inheritance, yet in a lack of faith, Jacob tried to steal it, causing generations of sorrow. Don’t add sorrow to God’s blessings through fearful, prideful disobedience.
Proverbs 10:23 – Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
Wise people mourn sin; they don’t make light of it.
Proverbs 10:25 – “When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.”
One thing is certain in life: the tempest is coming, everyone will go through it, and how you go through it reveals the foundation of your life and the strength of your faith. Those who build their lives on the foundation of Jesus can withstand any storm. Jesus said it this way — “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27) “Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 10 June 2023: See to live today in a way which will perfectly reflect Jesus and cause people to want to follow Him rather than follow you. Be the light in a dark work today, and show people The Way, The Truth, and The Life – Jesus!
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 