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Wonderful Counselor

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6b NIV).
He is a God who searches hearts and minds (see Revelation 2:23). He is the One who knows your future (see Jeremiah 29:11). He is the One who can tell you whether He has kept an open door ahead of you. If so, no one can shut it (see Revelation 3:8).

He is the One who can give you the treasures of darkness and riches stored in secret places (see Isaiah 45:3). He is the One who will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go and counsel you and watch over you (see Psalm 32:8). This is your God; your Wonderful Counselor.

His name says so. It is beyond understanding/Wonderful (see Judges 13:18). He guides you in the paths of wisdom. There is nothing hidden from His eyes for they are like blazing fire (see Revelation 1:14). His concern for you is great.

He says He will look on you with favor (see Ezekiel 36:9). Whatever plans that others have made to topple you will be thwarted because the Bible says, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30 NIV). Yes, He is your Wonderful Counselor.

Have you known His ways? Have you experienced His counsel. When He does so, even at night your heart will instruct you (see Psalm 16:7). He is the One who “teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you you should go.”

But many do not seek His counsel. They follow their own ways. So He laments, “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river” (see Isaiah 48:17, 18). The same God is the One who longs to gather you under His wings like a hen gathers her chicks. But are you willing (see Luke 13:34)?

He is “wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom” (see Isaiah 28:29). He knows how long the furnace is to be kept heated for you; what discipline you should pass through and what instrument to use to shape you to be your best.

These processes will not go on forever. For He is the Wonderful Counselor who knows when you will reflect His image for wisdom dwells in Him.

So be of good cheer. Think much on His name. And may He be to you a Wonderful Counselor at all times!
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And He Will Be Called

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6b NIV).

Let us for a moment think of those who heard this prophecy when it was first delivered by Prophet Isaiah. They would have wondered at the strange words of it. For it talked about a child. But what a child he would be.

A son who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! This was something the mind would not have grasped. Nor would they have fully understood its meaning.

Even John the Baptist had to be specifically given the sign of the Holy Spirit resting on Jesus for him to recognize the child of this prophecy (see John 1:33, 34). So let us too give up our familiarity with this lovely prophecy and approach it with wonder and awe.

We find here Jesus described. The prophet might have had difficulty describing the miracle of the God-child. He would have wondered how God could become man and dwell with sinful humanity?

How could God the Glory of Israel become a child? Remember Isaiah had seen the glory of God (see Isaiah 6) and the New Testament says that in this incident he saw Jesus’ glory (see John 12:41)!

The result of words failing the prophet at this marvel was the lovely titles of Jesus being described. Those names are great descriptions in themselves.

The simple question now is, “How dear to you is the name of Jesus?” I am sure that the name of someone you love is dear to you. The very mention of that name would bring memories and loving thoughts of that person to your mind. Maybe it will bring a smile on your face and joy in your heart.

Does the name of Jesus bring such fond affections to you? If not, this is the right time to think on His name. As it is said, if you need to appreciate the brilliance of a diamond or the beauty of a gem, you will have to look at it from different angles. One look and one angle is not enough.

The names described here have been given to help us appreciate Jesus better from different angles. So take time to think on them.

Finally, think about the name Jesus itself. His name talks about His mission; to save us from our sins (see Matthew 1:21). There is power and healing in His name (see Acts 3:16) and demons are subject to it (see Luke 10:17).

There is salvation in His name for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which they shall be saved (see Acts 4:12). And God has exalted Jesus and given Him the name that is above every name.

A day is coming when at the name of Jesus every knee will bow (see Philippians 2:9, 10)!
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Immanuel

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).

The eternal question is, “Whom will you trust?” Will you trust your own plans or will you accept the sign that God has given you. This unique sign is that “the virgin will be with child.”

God gave man such a sign to tell the world that He is the God of the impossible. Yes, with God all things are possible.

This child, the prophecy said, will be called Immanuel. It means “God with us.” When Jesus was born, this prophecy was fulfilled in Him. Yes, this Jesus is God with us.

A God who is near; and not far away. A God who participates in your life and is concerned about you.

A child who calls forth your worship. A king before whom you will bow down. And present gifts to. A God who is humble enough to be a child. Yes, He is God with us.

Immanuel is God’s own doing. Even today God is taking the initiative to be born in your life. Do you have room for Him? The fact is that even today many do not want this sign. Why? Because you cannot remain indifferent to it.

You need to trust in Him. Or else choose to go about trusting your own methods. Such choices never end; instead it confronts you every day.

Every moment in life that calls for trust in God revolves around this sign–the child born of a virgin. Would you accept God’s plan for your life or trust your own?

Finally, God with us, is a significant moment in history. Yes, God acts in human history. In spite of all the darkness that is in the world, God sent hope to us in Jesus– the light of the world!

Even today, your life needs this sign. And your heart needs to trust this sign. Can darkness remain when He comes? Will not God with us bring courage into your heart and drive out fear? Did He not come that He may ever remain with you; and then you remain with Him for ever?

The simple question again is: Will you trust this sign that God has given you; or will you trust your own plans?

In the original context of this prophecy, King Ahaz of Judah was asked to keep calm and not to be afraid (v.4). This was when two other kingdoms allied together to attack his kingdom. He was further told that, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (v.9b).

To a hesitant Ahaz, God Himself gave a sign. Yet, Ahaz was unwilling to trust God. What about you?
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My Advocate Is on High

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high . . . on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend (Job 16:19, 21 NIV).

Job longed for someone to plead his cause with God (Job 9:33). Like him we too might come to a point in life where we feel the need to have an advocate with God.

The good news is that the Bible says we have One to plead our cause with God. Though Job might not have fully understood the role of his advocate in heaven, we have been given the privilege to know much more about Him. His name is Jesus!

During His life on earth, Jesus spoke a parable. That parable talks about a man who planted a fig tree in a vineyard. But when the master came to look for fruit in it, he did not find any.

So he said to the caretaker of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?” (Luke 13:7 NIV). But then the caretaker pleads to the master to give the fig tree one more year; one more chance.

During that time he promised to dig around it and fertilize it. He also said that if it did not yield fruit even after such efforts the master may feel free to cut it down.

Think about it. What if that caretaker had not spoken on behalf of that fig tree? In a similar fashion, what if our advocate in heaven does not speak on your behalf? But He does. The Bible says that Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf when we sin (see 1 John 2:1).

He does that continuously for He lives forever. Yes, He has a permanent priesthood: “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Such a high priest meets our need” (Hebrews 7:25, 26a NIV). See, Jesus intercedes for you in God’s presence.

In yet another passage, the same truth is revealed thus: “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34 NIV).

So you can be bold when Satan accuses you, because you have been washed by the blood of the Lamb. Therefore Jesus is pleading for you before God (read Zechariah 3:1–5 for better understanding of Satan’s accusation and the Lord’s reply; read also Revelation 12:10b, 11a).

Jesus has such earnestness in pleading for you because He is not ashamed to call you brother/sister (Hebrews 2:11b) and He is not unable to sympathize with your weakness. This is because He too was tempted in every way, just as you are tempted today. But He did not sin.

So He understands the pressure of temptation on your life. But when tempted, you can do this: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).

You can do so in hope because Jesus your brother is there as your advocate on your behalf before God’s holy presence.
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Those You Allow to Remain Will Become

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live (Numbers 33:55 NIV).

This was an instruction to the Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land. So it does not hold a physical relevance for us today. But it has great spiritual relevance. Therefore learn from it.

The sin of the people living in that land was great. Therefore God purposed to destroy them. But God allowed a time of 400 plus years to pass before He allowed the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land (Genesis 15:16).

And He wanted the Israelites to destroy those people completely. He wanted this to happen not only because their sin was great; but also because He knew that those people would corrupt His children and lead them into sin.

In Christian life too, there are conquests to be made. When God comes into your life, He shows you the Promised Land. The Bible says that “we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17 NIV).

That means that whatever God has given to Jesus Christ, He has given to you too, because you are God’s child. But like the children of Israel you will have to fight “the good fight”; a battle of faith and win your spiritual blessings.

This is your responsibility even though God “has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3 NIV).

Winning that battle also means the removal of sinfulness from your life. That is why God warns you today through the example of the Israelites. They failed to drive out the sinful people of that land in spite of specific instructions from God to do so. And they became barbs in their eyes.

Ah, how painful they can be! They cannot be dislodged easily without hurting your eyes badly. And the people also became thorns in their sides. Wherever they turned they came into contact with sinful practices. All this happened because they allowed them to remain.

Look at your life honestly. What all things have you allowed to remain? Do you not clearly know that God wants those sinful things to go from your life? But you are not willing to do so.

Are you happy with them remaining in your life? You might not like to answer that question because they are barbs in your eyes and thorns by your sides. They are giving you trouble; aren’t they?
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He Will Be like a Refiner’s Fire or a Launderer’s Soap

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap (Malachi 3:2 NIV).

Do you desire to have God come to you? If yes, think again. Do you really want Him to come to you? You might think why such a question has to be asked.

There is a reason. The reason is that the coming of God to you cannot be neutral. It cannot be without something happening to you. Yes, the nearness of God brings change.

Sometimes that change may not be to your liking. Therefore the need to ask the question, “Do you really want God to come to you?”

The point to be noted is that there can be no meeting between a holy God and sinful man without man being changed to meet Him. For God does not change. And He cannot have a dwelling with man who is full of sin. Therefore when He comes, He changes people.

But this changing is not superficial. It involves the heart of man. He will be like a refiner’s fire. That means there will be intense heat. It will bring out the worst in you and expose it before His light. Will you endure that moment?

That is a time when you will see yourself from God’s eyes. It will be painful. That is because you will suddenly realize how much unworthy things were there in you.

All that will have to be purified and done away with when God comes to you. So the question is, “Do you really want God to come to you?”

Again, He will be like the launderer’s soap. There will be a lot of scrubbing to purify. This is because filth on the inside of the heart leaves its marks on the outside of man too. For sin leaves stains. It cannot be easily rubbed off.

But when God comes to you, He will work on the inside first. The fire does that work. Then He continues His work by removing the stains on the outside.

Then, what was ugly becomes transformed to something beautiful; and what was crooked becomes straight. But this cannot happen without you being willing to have God come to you!
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See What God Has Done!

There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, “See what God has done!” (Numbers 23:23 NIV).

There is a special grace given to God’s children. And you need to know it. No sorcery or divination can work against you as long as you are under the protection of God (especially under the protection of the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross of Calvary).

Remember that the one who uttered the above words was a man (Balaam) who came to put a curse on Israel; but was unable to do so because he found out that “The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them” (v.21b). If you too realize that then you can rest confident in God; no matter what threats are against you.

But do not think that your God is passive. He waits to act. And He acts when the time is ripe and right. If God brought you out of trouble (from Egypt), then He also knows how to lead you on.

But you need to know that when God protects you from sorcery and divination, you have to guard yourself against temptations that come to ruin you in other forms. The Israelites allowed the enemy to make inroads into their spiritual protection by indulging in sexual immorality later (see 25:1).

What you need to know is that the enemy is always alert to any opportunity to make you fall. So take care to stay in the safety zone of God’s protection always.

But the greater result of God being with you is a testimony that the world will say of you. They will say: “See what God has done!” You need to remember that when God delivers His people He does so in public view: “They marched out boldly in full view of all the Egyptians” (Numbers 33:3b NIV).

So too it will happen in your life when God does something for you. Others will acknowledge the work God has done in your life. The Psalmist too had this prayer: “Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O Lord, have done it” (Psalm (109:27 NIV).

May you too pray that God’s deliverance in your life will be a visible testimony to others. Let them say: “See what God [not you] has done!”
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A Sudden End

Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth (Zephaniah 1:18 NIV).

A sudden end! How terrifying that would be! Yet it is sure to come as definitely as the sun will rise. Wealth will not save any man on that day. The rich are called to weep and wail because of the misery that is going to come upon them.

Their wealth will rot and their gold and silver will get corroded because they have hoarded wealth in the last days (read James 5:1–3). The day of the Lord will bring swift destruction; especially on the wealthy.

A sudden end! God is a jealous God. There is a limit to His patience. When the time He has set gets over; He will act. The door of grace and mercy will be shut then; and the time given for repentance will be proclaimed, over.

Jesus warned us to be careful. He said that you will be pulled down under the weight of the anxieties of life if you are not watchful. Then the day of the Lord will close on you unexpectedly like a trap (read Luke 21:34). He further added that it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.

A sudden end! It is going to be universal. Like when it happened during the days of Noah. The people of that time were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage; but then the flood came and destroyed them all (read Luke 17:26, 27).

Again at the time of Lot too it was like that. People were preoccupied with the daily and routine business of life that they had no time for God. But the end will come and then it is going to take many by surprise.

The end will be swift and complete. No one; not one, who neglects God, will escape judgment.

This prophecy speaks of a sudden end that is universal. But does it not have a personal application too? Think about it. Do you know when the summons of death will reach you?

Even while you are saying: “Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry,” God is saying, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you” (read Luke 12:19, 20).

Are you prepared to meet God? What will you do if a sudden end is destined for you? Remember, there is no planning in the grave where you are going; but only rotting and then unlimited burning in the fires of hell.
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I Will Punish Those Who Are Complacent

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, “The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad” (Zephaniah 1:12 NIV).

After having said that the day of the Lord is near, the prophet talks about people who are complacent and what God plans to do to them. Complacency comes from a feeling of satisfaction.

Complacent people do not look for change. But they are settled where they are. That is why the image of “wine left on its dregs” is used here. Dregs refer to the last drops of any liquid which gets mixed up with some of its solid particles and settles at the end of the cup.

It is useless; but it remains so and sometimes stains the cup in which it is found too. Many Christians are like this. Because of their complacency, they become useless.

Many things contribute to their complacency. For example, if they had gathered much wealth they then think they have no need of God. And slowly God is forgotten.

Again, they will look at the warnings given by God and see that He is not taking any immediate action. Then they think that God will not do anything bad to them.

So they reason that He is neither going to do any good even if they obeyed Him. So they continue to neglect God and remain complacent.

But God is watching. Not only that, He is going to search for such people with lamps. See, when someone searches for something with a lamp, that means that he is intently searching for it and will not stop until he finds what he is looking for (read Luke 15:8).

So also God will not stop searching until He spots out the people who are complacent.

As you look at the Risen Jesus’ message to the Churches, you find a special word of warning to the complacent Church at Laodicea. This warning seems to have foreseen the times the Church is passing through today.

The people in her are neither hot nor cold; but lukewarm. These people had high opinion about themselves; but Jesus pointed out their utter nothingness.

And the warning is that Jesus will spit such people out of His mouth. The prophet Zephaniah too paints a picture where the complacent will not escape but will certainly be punished.

You too can take warning from it; repent of your complacency and be saved!
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But When It Lifted, They Would Set Out

Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out (Numbers 9:21b, 22 NIV).

Think about a faithful dog in a home. Imagine that the dog is lying down in the living room. The members of the family are talking with each other.

Suddenly the Master of the house gets up to go to the lawn outside. As soon as he gets up; the dog also gets up. The faithful dog is ever watchful. At the first indication of movement it is also ready to go.

This is the readiness that should accompany a child of God. He should be ever watchful to know His Master’s moves. Then he can also follow. The Israelites, likewise, were ready by day or by night to move.

Secondly, the Israelites did not plan the agenda. It was God who decided when to move and when to encamp. This is a truth much lost to the Christian world today.

This has happened because the spirit of self-will so much taught in the secular world has penetrated the heart of a Christian. He feels compelled to act and do something soon.

Therefore he finds it difficult to wait for God. The difficulty is much severe in the modern context where everything is fast-paced. But remember that you don’t have a choice if you have trusted God to make the moves.

If at all you make the moves even after trusting God; that means you have a difficulty waiting for God.

Finally, where to go and where to encamp, was God’s decision again. See, God knows the mountaintops as well as the valleys. He knows the well-watered plains and also the parched desert sands. The choice of the next resting place would determine the direction God wants you to take.

So obedience is required from your part. In other words, when God directs, you follow. It is orders issued and orders obeyed; nothing more and nothing less.

To sum up, three things are mentioned here:

One, a readiness to move when God moves.

Two, leaving to God the decision of how long (a brief period or a lengthy period) to stay at one place.

Three, leaving to God the direction you are to take in life.

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They Are to Light the Area in Front of the Lampstand

Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand” (Numbers 8:2 NIV).

A Christian is called to shine. But he has no light of his own. Instead he is given the ability to shine. It comes from above, from God Himself.

The lampstand here was made of gold. It had a shine of its own. But that did not give it the ability to give light. In a dark place a gold lampstand without a burning light in it is of no use.

Similarly, you cannot be of use to God unless God gives you the ability to give light. For that He has to light you from within.

Again, God’s instructions show that care was to be taken when the lamps were set up. Light given from above has to be taken care of. Otherwise it will be put out. The lamps were to be kept burning. For that oil was to be supplied (see Exodus 27:20).

Similarly, you should take care of the light that God has put within you. Neglect on your part will put out that light and God will hold you responsible.

Again, the lamps were not just burning anywhere; but before the Lord (see Exodus 27:21). That means you should always be conscious that your duty is before the Lord. That will enable you to have a sense of God’s calling in your life.

It will give you a sense of purpose in life. Therefore always have a remembrance that you are called to stand and shine before the Lord.

Another important thought is that the light was not to be wasted. You might ask, “How can a wastage of light happen?” It can happen if the lamps are not set up properly. To avoid that, they have to be set up in such a way as to light the area in front of the lampstand.

So also in your life. God has given you light that you might shine for His glory. And that light should not be hidden. It should be made visible (refer to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14–16).
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From Inside the Fish Jonah Prayed to the Lord

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God (Jonah 2:1 NIV).

Disobedience to God is costly. It not only puts you under His wrath but also causes others to suffer because of you. This is shown by the way the sailors of the ship in which Jonah sailed suffered.

But then God has not finished dealing with you yet. He will cause the wind and the waves to obey His cause. And He will provide a chance for you to think again about your disobedience. God did so by providing a great fish to swallow Jonah.

But from inside the fish Jonah prayed. A prophet who enjoyed hearing from God now found himself cut off from God. This is a painful experience. It is distressing. Are you going through an inside-the-fish experience?

There are many lessons to be learned. But the most important one is to feel for yourself what it means to be cut off from the Presence of God. Remember that Jonah never understood the plight of the people of Nineveh who were destined to be cut off from God for ever.

To prevent that God had asked him to go and preach repentance. Yet he did not care enough for God’s cause or for them. And God taught Jonah a lesson. And he learned that well.

Yes, Jonah prayed from inside the fish. Wherever you find yourself because of disobedience to God; there might be another chance. Maybe God is using the inside-the-fish experience to teach you and call you back to repentance; to Himself.

If you are inside the fish today, know that God has provided the fish. It is not an accident; it was planned by God. So pray. It can rise to the throne of God from inside the fish and the waters. There is hope yet. For He hears and answers prayer.

Yes, remember your God again. Salvation comes from Him. Many fail to call for help during the inside-the-fish experience. That is a costly mistake.

Imagine what would have happened if Jonah never bothered to pray? He would have perished. But many others in such situations don’t pray.

So friend, this is your God-given chance. You are inside the fish. Pray. He will hear and answer you. From inside the fish you can do nothing else but pray!
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A Famine of Hearing the Words of the Lord

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land-not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11 NIV).

The Bible says that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Therefore a famine of hearing the words of the Lord can be devastating. And we are almost at the verge of it. 

Today God’s Word is preached to those with itching ears (Read 2 Timothy 4:3-5). Truth is not a popular commodity today. In fact, it never was. So, we are actually beginning to experience a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

The surprising thing to note is that this famine is God-ordained. Now why would God do that?

He does so when men reject the truth for popular teachings. People go for popular teaching because it makes them comfortable.

But God’s Word always demands change. The truth confronts, rebukes, corrects and also disciplines. That is sometimes painful. It reveals our sins.

And the Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to bring conviction of sin. That is why it is the Sword of the Spirit. So, when people resist His Word, God sends a famine.

A famine causes hunger and thirst to set in. The next verse says that “Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord.” The result is also predicted: “But they will not find it.”

What a tragedy! Take warning today. Do not take for granted the opportunities that you have to read and study God’s Word for a famine is coming. Take time to hide God’s Word in your heart (Psalm 119:11) and meditate much on it (Psalm 1:2, 3).

Who knows what changes can happen tomorrow, that will deny you the opportunities to read and study God’s Word?

Finally, the Bible warns to allow you to take wise action. Joseph was given the interpretation of a dream. It concerned a famine yet to come.

But God also gave him wisdom to find a solution. He stored grain during the plenty. This stored grain lasted during the famine sustaining the lives of many.

You can also do so today. Store God’s Word in your heart today; that you may have an abundance even during the famine.
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Glorious Things Are Said of You, O City of God

Glorious things are said of you, O city of God (Psalm 87:3 NIV).

Have you ever realized your privilege in being a child of God? Or for that matter have you ever realized the privilege of being a citizen of heaven; the city of God?

Even though this Psalm talks about the earthly Zion, it points to deeper truths than that. Now the question is, “What are these glorious things that can be said about this city? Or more specifically, about you?

The first thing is that there is a belonging. This is not a city which is orphaned. It belongs to God. See, you are not alone. You belong to God. When Jesus said that He would send the Holy Spirit He said: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18 NIV).

So the glorious thing that is spoken about you is that you belong to God. The city of God bears the imprint of God. Wherever you look you see His glory and magnificence. Let others see the light shining in your life and say that you shine forth so because you belong to God.

Secondly, God makes His dwelling in His city. There will come a time when the hope of ages and the desire of all nations will make a physical dwelling with man. That indeed will be glorious; when people will see God and have tears wiped away from their faces.

The Presence of God can make such a difference in your life even today. Create in your heart a space, a throne and welcome your God to dwell in it. Then others will speak of the glorious thing that God dwells within you.

Thirdly, God makes a distinction between those who are citizens of this city and those who are not. Paul wrote that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and John wrote that books will be opened at the end of time; especially the book of life (Revelation 20:15).

So, God keeps a record of all those who belong to this city. A consciousness of your citizenship will help you live a life worthy of holding a heavenly passport. Then glorious things will be said of you.

Finally, people rejoice over this city. It becomes the center of all their affection (All my fountains are in you–v.7b). Because God has made it glorious. And you too have a part in it.

Peter wrote: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5 NIV). Realizing your role in it causes you too to rejoice over the glorious things that are said of Zion, the city of God.
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When We Were Overwhelmed by Sins, You Forgave

When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions (Psalm 65:3 NIV).

This verse gives us a glimpse of the enormous burden of sin. A man who has never been overwhelmed by his consciousness of sin has never understood forgiveness in a real sense.

A real understanding of what sin is creates in you a sense of being overwhelmed. It has nothing to do with the number of sins one has committed.

But many people count the number of sins they do and if they are few think that they are better Christians than their neighbor. This reflects a lack of knowledge of the nature of sin.

Sin cuts open fresh wounds in the heart of God. And God suffers from those wounds because He forgives His children. See, if God immediately killed off His children whenever they sinned, He need not have had to suffer.

But knowing that His children are behaving in ways that are against Himself (He is holy), His laws and His love creates pain in the heart of God. To keep His children and to bring them back, He forgives. But that forgiveness is costly to God.

When you realize the sorrow in the heart of God over sin in you; you experience the overwhelming. You see the repulsiveness of sin to God. You then are able to see the grieving heart of God.

You experience true forgiveness when you say to God that you too have begun to understand what it costs God to forgive you. Only when you see the cost of the blood that flowed on the cross will you feel overwhelmed by your sin.

Until you realize that you have not known what forgiveness is. You have not understood what God’s love is. Your religious experience is simply shallow.

Remember that God is full of mercy in His dealing with you. The moments when you come to know the utter repulsiveness of sin in your life and feel overwhelmed by it (see Psalm 40:12), God takes the initiative to forgive you.

You do not earn it. But it is a God-given gift. It is then that you learn to love God much; for He has forgiven you much!

The Bible calls a man forgiven thus as blessed (see Psalm 32:1, 2); and because of God’s unlimited forgiveness He is feared (see Psalm 130:3, 4). May the forgiveness of God become real to you today even as you are overwhelmed by your sins!
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I Will Make a Distinction

But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow (Exodus 8:22, 23).

God cares for His people. He makes a distinction between them and others who do not trust in Him. He has methods to make it known too. He also specifies a time as to when some sign to make this distinction clear is to occur.

The first sign of distinction that God promised was that no flies would be in the land of Goshen while the rest of Egypt would suffer from them. But to focus on the sign is to miss the point that God is making here!

Instead, the point to note is why God was willing to make a distinction. It was to prove to the unbelieving Egyptians that the Israelites were not alone.

Instead, God wanted them to know that He was with the Israelites in the land. That was God’s purpose in making the distinction. And if you focus on that it will be a great source of encouragement to you today.

Know that God makes a distinction in your life not to prove your greatness. But instead it is to let the unbelieving world know that God is with you. He is with you in the land of your humiliation, groaning and suffering.

The distinction that He is going to make in your life would make the presence of God in your life abundantly clear to others. The distinction is thus God the Savior’s declaration of solidarity (expression of His oneness) with His people:

“In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them” (Isaiah 63:9 NIV).

Finally, you need to note that God makes this distinction a part of His saving plan for your life. He knows the right time to make this distinction and also the continuance of it.

The continuance is important because the unbelieving world might not readily acknowledge the presence of God with you unless they see a continuance of distinction.

For one event of distinction can be dismissed as chance. But a few of them happening continuously will make even the hard-hearted Pharaoh’s realize that God is with you in the land of your misery!
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Saul Died Because

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death …. (1 Chronicles 10:13, 14a NIV).

Saul died. In his death, he leaves behind death-principles that can work death in you and me if we are not watchful. For the Bible says: Saul died “because . . . .”

Interestingly it does not say that he lost his life in battle. That is how it happened. But the real reasons are cited here.

Those are the death-principles we should be watchful about. Otherwise our death certificate too will be written along those lines. That would be truly tragic.

Saul, it is said here, was unfaithful to God. As we look back at Saul’s life, we find that though there are moments of courage in his life, there was not much of devotion to God in his life.

He might have known God with his head, but the heart never played a great role in his relationship with God. And loyalty is a matter of the heart. Is it not?

Or have you not seen a dog wag its tail and bark with joy when it met its master? That is a good picture of loyalty. Staying by its master’s side! And it has much to do with the heart.

Saul sadly had little heart in his religion. It was one of the death-principles that was at work in his life. Possibly in yours too, right now.

Again, Saul had strange ideas about obedience to God. Once he could not wait a few more seconds to keep the word of the Lord. He said he had felt compelled to disobey.

On another instance he tried to please people; more than he wanted to please God. Still he tried to make it look as if he was obeying God by sacrificing to God. But God through Samuel told him that God is more pleased with obedience than sacrifices!

Another death-principle at work in Saul’s life–his inability to keep the word of the Lord. Is this a problem in your life too?

Finally, Saul dug his own grave by consulting a medium for guidance. This was something which God had clearly forbidden in the Bible (see Deuteronomy 17:9-14) in obedience to which Saul had actually expelled mediums from the land. But when he did not get an answer from God he sought them again.

Should you seek demonic sources (see Isaiah 8:19) and make yourselves liable to destruction? Make sure that such a death-principle is not at work in you.

Saul died a violent physical death; but make sure that you read carefully the reasons God says that led to his death!
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If the Lord Delights in a Man’s Way

If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand (Psalm 37:23, 24 NIV).

A child of God is God’s delight. God watches over him all the time. He therefore need not fear losing the way. But that does not mean that there won’t be pitfalls on the way. These hidden dangers which are not easily visible can make one stumble.

If it is sin that caused you to stumble, then there is One who will take up your cause (read 1 John 2:1). If it is something else like loss, discouragement or some unforeseen difficulty, then again “underneath are his everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

So dear child of God, you need not worry how you are going to safely walk your spiritual journey on earth. The secret is God delighting in your way! How can that happen?

First of all, you need to prepare your ways before God. That means your ways should be open before God. There should be nothing that makes you hide your thoughts from Him.

Secondly, you should not trust in your own understanding. Always remember that God’s wisdom is available to you if you ask. He will give divine wisdom to you that no man on earth can find fault with.

Thirdly, you have to seek God’s counsel at all times. See, a way to travel means you have to walk. And walking or traveling is a step by step process. So you need to check with God often to see that you are in the right track. If these things are right, then God will delight in your way.

Further, God will make your steps firm. Since He delights in your way, He will show favor on whatever you do. He will arrange circumstances in such a way that you will be blessed in “your coming and going” (Psalm 121:8).

He will give you a mind at peace, and single-mindedness of purpose. And you will walk steadily and make progress because God has made your steps firm.

He will also remove far from you those things in you that caused you to stumble. This He does by gentle restoration every time you stumble. Instead of condemning you, He makes it possible for you to be strengthened.

He gives you grace and courage and willingness to reject those sinful things that cause stumbling. This happens because He delights in your way. It is a result of your delighting in Him (see v. 4).

That means you cherish, love and honor what is dear to God. It is then that God will uphold you with His hand!
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Jezebel!

Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she painted her eyes, arranged her hair and looked out of a window (2 Kings 9:30 NIV).

Look at Jezebel: She is painting her eyes and arranging her hair when Jehu, the one who is to destroy her, arrives. She knows that Jehu had murdered the king already. But still she asks, “Have you come in peace?”

The original Jezebel was an entirely wicked queen who promoted idol worship in Israel and also killed the prophets of the Lord. But our concern today is understanding Jezebel in a modern context.

For this we need to refer to Revelation 2:20 where the risen Jesus talks about a prophetess. She called herself Jezebel. Now when someone calls himself or herself by some name, it means that that person is in complete agreement with the original personality who bore that name.

And this prophetess was misleading the servants of God into sexual immorality by her teaching. And she was unwilling to repent even though time was given her to do so.

Today, we find the teaching on sexual purity getting corrupted day by day. As a Christian, when one tries to fight sexually impure thoughts and flee from it, Jezebel appears through a window.

She looks attractive because she has painted her eyes and arranged her hair. She asks whether you have come in peace. Most Christians fail right here.

They had come so far to kill her by God’s command and anointing. But when they see her face, they are deceived. They think her harmless and proclaim peace to her. Then, like the original Jezebel, she will kill you, the prophet of the Lord!

But Jezebel has to die. And she can die only a violent death. That is why Jehu asked that she be thrown down a window. Would you do that today? That is the only way sexually impure thoughts will die. It has to die violently.

Only then will this statement come true in your life too: “But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands . . . so that no one will be able to say, `This is Jezebel.’ ” Yes, Jezebel has to die a violent death in your life too so that no trace of her can be found again in your life!
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I am the God of Bethel

I am the God of Bethel (Genesis 31:13a NIV).

God remembers His encounters with you. He also reminds you of them. Here, Jacob is reminded of Bethel. God goes one step further and says, “I am the God of Bethel.”

Thus God was owning that experience of Himself that Jacob had at Bethel in a very special way. It was at Bethel that Jacob had the dream of a stairway (or ladder) with its top reaching to heaven.

Angels were ascending and descending on it. Above it stood the Lord. This was the experience of Bethel. God was telling Jacob that the same God is speaking to him now.

Perhaps the message to Jacob was that, God changes not. Even though Jacob’s circumstances underwent much changes, God had not changed.

When God had met Jacob at Bethel, Jacob was a deceiver. At this point in time Jacob had been deceived many times instead. But in spite of all that, God was telling Jacob that He remained the same.

This is an assurance to you too. When tides and times change, do not get alarmed; for your God changes not.

Again, God was telling Jacob that He remembers the promise He had made. Because at Bethel God had promised great blessing to Jacob and also promised to watch over him wherever he went to bring him back to the same land.

So now, God wanted Jacob to note that none of the promises made had been forgotten. So dear friend, no matter how forgetful you are, God does not forget the promise He had made to you.

Finally, God also remembers what you said and what you did in response to His revelation of Himself to you. Jacob had made a vow and also anointed a pillar there when He had recognized the God of Bethel then.

These kind of acts of worship are reminders that God uses to remind you of the reality of the vows you had made. Otherwise you will forget what you had said to God.

At Bethel, Jacob in essence had said that He will cling to God and the place Bethel will be God’s house and he will give a tenth to God; if God would watch over him and bring him back to the land. Now God was telling Jacob, “It’s time!”

It was time to move and go back to his land. And fulfill his vows too. The God of Bethel reminds you too that it is time to fulfill your vows to Him, for He is going to take you back to the land of promise!
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For I have Seen All that Laban Has Been Doing to You

And he said, “Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you” (Genesis 31:12 NIV).

God has seen what someone else has been doing to you. Even though the other person is powerful and can manipulate circumstances to make you the loser, there is someone who is watching.

Therefore take heart. At the right time He will make His rescue-plan known to you.

When Laban tried to reduce Jacob to nothing, Jacob tried some techniques to get the good flock of Laban. For when Jacob had said that his wages would be the streaked, speckled or spotted lambs from the flock, Laban had removed every single one of them (Genesis 30:34).

So Jacob had to start from nothing to get his own flocks. He used peeled branches in all the watering troughs where the flocks mated to get his share of streaked, speckled and spotted lambs as his wages. He thus became prosperous. And he thought that his technique had worked.

But this changed the attitude of Laban and his sons toward Jacob. That is quite expected; isn’t it? But Jacob had to learn a lesson. He had to learn that it was not his technique that brought him all the healthy flock and the prosperity.

Instead it was God, who was watching all that Laban was doing to Jacob (Even Laban’s cheating Jacob by changing his wages ten times!). So God spoke to Jacob in a dream. In this dream Jacob saw that all the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.

By this God wanted Jacob to know that it was He who changed the situation in favor of Jacob.

So no matter what others are doing to you, you can know that God is watching. Even when the circumstances look totally without hope, God can change the situation in your favor. Remember, that it is not your wisdom that counts; but the One who gives you the wisdom.

This Jacob acknowledges thrice in his brief conversation with his wives, Leah and Rachel: “But the God of my father has been with me” (v. 5), “However, God has not allowed him to harm me” (v. 7), and finally, “So God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me” (v. 9).

So be encouraged today. In your misery do not trust in your techniques. Instead trust in God who is watching all that is being done to you.
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A Voice from Above as They Stood with Lowered Wings

When they stood still, they lowered their wings. Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings (Ezekiel 1:24z–25 NIV).

Heaven can teach us. Here we find the heavens opened. In this vision Ezekiel sees four living creatures. They had two wings to fly and two wings to cover their bodies. Now we find them lowering their wings when they stood still.

Let us think about ourselves. How still can we be? We love action; don’t we? That is good. We find the living creatures move in this vision too. But when they stood still, it was a perfect stillness.

This is what is most difficult to us. Even when we stop our outward activity our minds are restlessly flapping its wings. That is not good. It prevents us from enjoying the presence of God.

Now look at the activity of the living creatures for a moment. And note its impact too. In verse 24, you find the sound of their wings described when they moved. It was “like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army.”

Impressive! But now look at what happened when they stood still with lowered wings. A voice came from above. This is most important. It was God speaking!

The point is clear. Feverish activity should stop at times. Even when Christian activity can raise a voice that is impressive, it can never be a substitute for hearing God speak. But to hear Him speak, we have to lower our wings and allow all noise of our activity to subside.

Only then can we hear God speak. Though He can shout above all our noise, He waits for the audience to be still. Can we we be still before Him with lowered wings? That is the most important question today.

Hearing God can only happen when we stop our activities. We should be in a posture to listen. God demands our undivided attention. Even if our activity is busy work for God; even as the living creatures were busy in God’s work, there are times when a lowering of wings is called for. Then we need to stand still.

It is the time God speaks from “above” from a much higher plane than we are. That is the time we will be given wisdom and a plan of action. Remember it comes from above: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17a NIV).
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Strengthen Your Position and See What Must Be Done

Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again (1 Kings 20:22 NIV).

This prophetic message is important because it was given immediately after a big victory in war. See that it is not a message of congratulation on that victory. Instead it is a message to be on guard. It is therefore worthy of our attention.

In Christian life we often encounter temptations. If we rely on God we win. Like how the king of Israel had won the war here. Then we make the biggest mistake. We take the victory for granted. We are not on our guard any more. We think that the enemy will give up because of the victory we won. This is the sure beginning of our defeat.

The prophetic message becomes important because of this attitude that we have. Remember that there is no point in life when temptations may not come.

Jesus had to face temptations. That means that temptations come to the best of men. And as we read the account of the temptations Jesus had to face it is written: “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13 NIV).

So the devil never gives up. So we have to be on our guard always.

But, the prophetic message says further: “Strengthen your position!” See, battles against sin leave us exhausted and depleted of our resources. We need to replenish our energy and our resources.

One practical way of strengthening ourselves is to hide God’s word in our heart (Psalm 119:11). Another way is to seek God in prayer. These are ways in which to strengthen our position.

Finally, the prophetic message says: “See what must be done.” It means that a victory does not mean that it is time to relax yet.

There are things to be done. Only then can we win the next battle. Only then can we maintain the victory won last time. Yes, we need to prepare for the battle ahead because the enemy will attack again! That is why this prophetic message has been given in advance!
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For He Has Not Despised

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help (Psalm 22:24 NIV).

The feeling of being despised can affect believers too. It need not be taken as a sign of lack of faith. But it can be understood as a natural human reaction and emotion.

David went through this. He felt like a worm who was scorned and despised by the people. They did not treat him with respect.

More than that what pained him most was the fact that they despised him because of his unwavering trust in the Lord.

This feeling of being despised can become big when troubles surround the believer. David had his phases of trouble. He felt as if God had abandoned him. He cried out: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” (v.1).

During those times human help may not be available too. These are times when your best friends might not understand your agony. Then it is quite natural to think that God has forsaken you.

If you are thinking like that today, know that you are not alone. Many believers have passed through this valley of despair.

The biggest difficulty comes when you do not receive an immediate answer from God to your cries for help. Then it is quite natural to think whether God also despises your prayer. This is because you think that God is also looking at you in the same manner that people are treating you.

But God is not like men. He does not despise His children especially when they trust in Him and cry out to Him for help. You are precious to Him and He gives attention to you when you cry out to Him.

Know that there is nothing wrong in feeling abandoned by God. Jesus, on the cross, too felt like that. But you need to get beyond that phase and come back to quiet assurance that God hears and listens to your cry.

You are not a nobody before God. You are one for whom His Son Jesus endured the abandonment of God. Therefore, know in your heart once and for all that God does not despise you. He knows your suffering and your afflictions.

For God turned His face away from His Son on the Cross so that He will never have to turn His face away from you!
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And the Spirit of the Lord Began to Stir Him

And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol (Judges 13:25 NIV).

It is a blessed thing to have the Spirit of the Lord’s stirring in your life. The very word “stir” makes us feel a movement. Maybe a slight one. But still intense enough for us to feel it. You cannot ignore it anyway. It is a slight unrest.

It is a kind of push which says, “Its time to start. Its time to move. Its time to get things done.” And it is the Holy Spirit Who does that in your life. Praise God for His stirring in your life.

Now why did the Spirit of God stir Samson? First of all, Samson had a task ahead. He was born with a mission to fulfill. He would be used by God to begin the deliverance of the Israelites from the Philistines. But how was Samson to know he was to begin, unless the Spirit of God was going to stir him?

Are you any better today? No. You too need to know when to begin the task that God has kept for you. The Holy Spirit alone can tell you the right time. When that time comes you will know by His stir in your life.

Secondly, as you read verse 25, it says that Samson grew and the Lord blessed him. Of course, Samson was endowed with great strength of body. That was to equip him for the great physical feats he would perform later. Therefore growth is mentioned here. But can it be applied spiritually to you?

Yes. Many times people think that they can do some mighty things for God without growth in their lives. This is not so. The Spirit of God began to stir Samson after he grew. You need to grow in God’s grace and knowledge of God’s Word. Only when you have grown will the Spirit of the Lord stir you.

Finally, that verse again says, the Lord blessed him. Yes, you need the blessing of the Lord on your life. Today, people think of blessing as material, financial or health-related. But as you look at a tragic moment in Samson’s life sometime later it is written: “But he did not know that the Lord had left him” (Judges 16:20z NIV).

From that it is clearly seen that the blessing of the Lord is His continual presence in your life. Only when that blessing comes upon your life will the Spirit of the Lord begin to stir you.

Never try to do a work for God unless the Spirit of God stirs you. If you try on your own, you will not succeed for your work will not have God’s approval.
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Morning, I Lay My Requests Before You and Wait in Expectation

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation (Psalm 5:3 NIV).

God wants us to live life one day at a time. For the day is a God-given unit of time for man’s sake. Therefore it is best to begin each day by meeting with God.

A day which begins with a meeting with God has tremendous strength and blessing. It has to be experienced to be understood.

The morning prayer can be a time to tell God your needs of the day. This is not a listing out of things to be done. No. But it is like telling God to be actively involved in your day’s activities, needs and duties.

It is like inviting God to participate in your life that day. Such an attitude lifts prayer from a recital of needs to an intimate sharing with God.

Again, you come to know God as a person through such talk. He listens to you. Even in normal life, how lifted up in your heart you feel when someone sympathetically listens to you; don’t you?

How much more so you should be encouraged to have someone who has the willingness and power to act in your situation!

But that is not all. There is more for you to do than simply laying your requests before God. You need to act out your faith in His willingness and ability by waiting in expectation. This is one of the joys of prayer.

Yes, waiting can often be anxious. But waiting in expectation is not anxiety. But a calm looking forward to that day to see how God is going to meet your expectation.

The anxious part of waiting is that you do not know how God is going to meet your expectation. But you need to learn not to worry about how God is going to do something.

Instead waiting in expectation is an eagerness to have God participate in your day. He might do so in ways that you may not recognize when it happens.

But at the end of the day when you look back to something that had happened, you might say, “Oh, it was God. I did not know it then . . . Father, thank You for helping me today.”
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Solomon Has Taken His Seat on the Royal Throne

Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne (1 Kings 1:46 NIV).

First of all we see God’s grace in action here. For Solomon’s parents, David and Bathsheba first met in an adulterous relationship. It was followed by murder. And then a series of tragic events in David’s family and kingdom as a result of these sins.

But in the midst of such gross moral failure, God was working out a plan of His grace. He gave David a son to rule to his kingdom.

Secondly, we see the truth that God alone can exalt a man (Psalm 75:6–7) demonstrated here. Adonijah, another son of David, was trying to get the kingdom for himself. He was handsome and born next after Absalom, who had earlier lost his life when he tried to be king of the land.

Now in a secret way Adonijah had made plans with some among the priests and the military to make himself king. But they forgot the fact that exaltation comes from God and not through some cunning means. God toppled their plans.

Thirdly, we find here that God’s purposes will stand. Solomon was God’s choice (1 Chronicles 28:5–6) to build God’s temple. The task was great. The temple to be built had to be magnificent. And Solomon was the one who was to do the work. He will for ever be known as the one who built God’s temple.

This purpose of God would stand in spite of the plans of others. Take courage from this in your life. No matter what plans are being formed against you, God will fulfill His purpose through your life.

Finally, we find the speed and finality with which God worked here at the right time. The plans made by his brother actually sped the process of Solomon becoming king! Cheer up, we have a God who says: “In its time I will do it swiftly” (Isaiah 60:22z NIV).

So, never be afraid when others are busily planning to topple you and take away from you what rightly belongs to you. The Bible says: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30 NIV).
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There Will Be a Day when Watchmen Cry Out

There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 31:6 NIV).

What is fascinating in this verse is the changed role of watchmen! By duty, their role is to stand guard and report of any sign of danger.

But here a day is spoken about when they will be encouraging people to go to Jerusalem to meet God. Of course, this day will come to pass when Jesus reigns in Zion.

But does this verse have any personal significance for you? Yes, it does!

This talks about God restoring you to Himself. In spite of the punishment and the wounds He inflicted on you, He is going to gather you back to Himself.

You might have experienced His scattering in your life. But now He is going to gather everything together and give you rest.

He also is going to build you up again. There will be joy. And there will be fruitful labor in your work. That is the time when the watchmen in your heart will have a different role.

See, this is the time that the peace of God will rule your heart. Your days of being tossed and scattered here and there by spiritual forces will end because the Prince of Peace, Jesus rules your heart with mighty power.

No force of evil can attack when He is on the throne. Then the watchmen will urge you to get near to God.

Weep and pray (v.9), for you are celebrating God gathering you to Himself. Remember, there was a time when sin ruled your heart, in the “hills of Ephraim” (see Hosea 8:11).

That was a time when your heart was divided. Your love was not for God but for others who refused to acknowledge God. But now return to your God.

Can’t you hear the voice of the watchmen? “Come.” It is an invitation. It is a loving urging. The watchmen of your heart are encouraging you to go and meet your God. Weep and pray as you return to your God! “Make your praises heard (v.7)!”
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How Beautiful Your Sandaled Feet!

How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! (Song of Songs 7:1a NIV).

At first look, a person might wonder why God has included Song of Songs in the Bible at all! It is a very genuine thought.

Why should such descriptions of physical beauty be described in such romantic, sexual and exciting language in the Bible? Isn’t it wrong?

The problem is not with God nor with the Bible but with us. We live in a sex-saturated world where through advertisements and the media we are constantly bombarded with sexual thoughts. So our thinking about sex has been corrupted by the devil to unimaginable extremes. That is the problem.

We need the help of the New Testament to understand the answers. In the Book of Titus it is written, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure” (Titus 1:15a NIV). Though written in a different context, it can be applied to the area of physical intimacy and sex within marriage.

Remember that when God created Adam and Eve, “The man and his wife were both naked, they felt no shame” (Genesis 2:25 NIV). But it was sin that brought shame. So, God by including the Song of Songs and its description of physical beauty is trying to tell His children to restore the beauty and intimacy that is possible in marriage.

You also need to remember that the physical element in marriage is important. Though the Bible elsewhere talks about a wife’s enduring qualities (Proverbs 31:10–31, 1 Peter 3:3–5), in the Song of Songs God is showing that a husband and wife should learn to appreciate the physical features and beauty of each other. This is something that can keep romance, love and affection for each other alive even in tough times.

Paul, talking about marriage pointed out that the body of the husband also belongs to the wife and vice versa (1 Corinthians 7:3–6). He talks here about fulfilling the sexual needs of each other within marriage.

Jesus underlined the fact that God established marriage and a man shall be united to his wife and they shall become one flesh (Matthew 19:4–6). One flesh talks of an intimate union. Such a union is best achieved and expressed by sexual intimacy within marriage. That is why Solomon talked about marriage in very clear sexual terms in Proverbs 5:18–19.

You also need to remember that the Bible speaks of your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20). So your body is not bad. Paul argued along these lines when He said that Christ loved the Church, His body. He said that husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies and wives must respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33).

So coming back to the original question, it is to teach us the sanctity of marriage and the intimacy and beauty that God has commanded within it, that God included such exciting description of physical beauty in the Bible. Cherish God’s values of sex and guard your mind against corrupting it into the base level of lust; even within marriage!
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The Third Entrance

Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and had him brought to the third entrance to the temple of the Lord (Jeremiah 38:14a NIV).

The title of this piece, “The Third Entrance of the Temple” would have made you curious; isn’t it so? Possibly yes.

The Third Entrance stands for a secret meeting between a believer and God’s messenger. Here the inquirer is Zedekiah the king and the messenger of God is the Prophet Jeremiah.

First of all there is a question to be asked. It concerns your future. You know that things on the outside are not looking good. You also know that God is demanding you to do something. But you are not willing.

Yet you would like to ask God about your future. It is not a genuine seeking because in your mind you have already decided not to go God’s way. The question asked is thus the first significance of the Third Entrance.

Secondly, there is the message. Even though your inquiry is not based on sincerity or love for truth, God still repeats His former message to you. God doesn’t change His purposes concerning you. Therefore God repeats His message.

Even though you may not like the message, know that it contains the prescription to save your life, the lives of your loved ones and possibly your business too. The message delivered is thus the second significance of the Third Entrance.

Thirdly, there are objections. The most important of them concerns false fears. You want to please people. Therefore you are afraid of them. When you think like that you forget that God is able to take care of you when you decide in His favor.

Your fear of people is just a lame excuse not to carry out God’s message. The objection that you raise is thus the third significance of the Third Entrance.

Finally, there is a call. The call to obey God. The messenger will tell you the consequences of not obeying God in clear terms too. So you are without excuse. The messenger will also tell you that God will manage your fears and save you out of them. Therefore the best possible option is to obey which is the final significance of the Third Entrance.

One last thought: No one has heard the conversation between you and God’s messenger. So now it is between you and God. Decide for yourself whether to obey God or not!
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