He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens.And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
The first thing which this passage teaches us is the duty of noticing the signs of the times. The Jews in our Lord’s days neglected this duty. They shut their eyes against events occurring in their own day of the most significant character. They refused to see that prophecies were being fulfilled around those who were bound up with the coming of Messiah, and that Messiah Himself must be in the midst of them. The scepter had departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from between his feet. The seventy weeks of Daniel were fulfilled. (Gen. 49:10. Dan. 9:24.) The ministry of John the Baptist had excited attention from one end of the land to the other. The miracles of Christ were great, undeniable, and notorious. But still the eyes of the Jews were blinded. They still obstinately refused to believe that Jesus was the Christ. And hence they drew from our Lord the question–”How is it that you do not discern this time?”
It becomes the servants of God, in every age, to observe the public events of their own day, and to compare them with the predictions of unfulfilled prophecy. There is nothing commendable in an ignorant indifference to contemporary history. The true Christian should rather watch the career of governments and nations with a jealous watchfulness, and hail with gladness the slightest indication of the day of the Lord being at hand. The Christian who cannot see the hand of God in history, and does not believe in the gradual movement of all kingdoms towards the final subjection of all things to Christ, is as blind as the Jew.
Archive for the ‘July’ Category
Ryle: See the hand of God in history
Posted: July 25, 2012 by Pam Larson in Devotionals/Commentaries, July, LukeTags: Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, J.C.Ryle, Luke, Ryle: See the hand of God in history, Scripture, signs of the times
Such excellent deeds should have excellent praise.
Posted: July 25, 2012 by Pam Larson in Devotionals/Commentaries, July, PsalmsTags: Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, Charles Spurgeon, daily Bible, praise God, Psalms, Scripture, Such excellent deeds should have excellent praise., Treasury of David, worship
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
C. H Spurgeon, commenting on Psalm 150:
There is nothing little about God, and there is nothing great apart from him. If we were always careful to make our worship fit and appropriate for our great Lord how much better should we sing! How much more reverently should we adore! Such excellent deeds should have excellent praise.
Genelogies Show the Spiritual Heart
Posted: July 25, 2012 by Pam Larson in 1 Chronicles, Devotionals/Commentaries, JulyTags: 1 Chronicles, Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, Genelogies Show the Spiritual Heart, Scripture
When you come to a section of the Bible with long lists of people, what do you do? Read faster? Here’s something to ponder from the ESV Study Bible:
The tribal genealogies have been carefully structured to show how the Chronicler conceived of Israel:
Judah (2:3–4:23)
Simeon (4:24–43)
The Transjordanian tribes (5:1–26)
Levi (6:1–81)
The northern tribes (7:1–40)
Benjamin (8:1–40)
The greatest amount of detail is devoted to Judah, Levi, and Benjamin. Judah and Benjamin bracket the lists, while Levi is placed at the center. The significance of this arrangement is discussed in greater detail below; briefly, it indicates that Judah and Benjamin (the core of the old southern kingdom, along with Simeon, whose territory was merged with Judah’s) enclose or enfold Israel, while the Levites provide its spiritual heart.
A “rebelutionary” king
Posted: July 25, 2012 by Pam Larson in 2 Chronicles, Devotionals/Commentaries, JulyTags: 2 Chronicles, A "rebelutionary" king, A radical king, Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, Do Hard Things!, rebelution, Scripture
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images. —2 Chronicles 34:1-3
In the cover flap of “Do Hard Things,”
A generation stands on the brink of a “rebelution.” A growing movement of young people is rebelling against the low expectations of today’s culture by choosing to “do hard things” for the glory of God. And Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge.
You can read more about “The Rebelution” by clicking here.
In today’s Bible passage, we read about Josiah, a young rebelutionary of his time. He begins reigning as king at the age of eight! And by the time he is 16, he is seeking after God and when he reaches 20, he is implementing radical change in his nation.
My prayer: Oh God! Make me more like Josiah! I want to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, walk in His ways and not turn aside to the right or the left! I want to SEEK You and KNOW You!
What is the worst enemy of enthusiasm?
Posted: July 24, 2012 by Pam Larson in 2 Thessalonians, Devotionals/Commentaries, JulyTags: 2 Thessalonians, Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, Dr. John Piper, Scripture, Weary?, What is the worst enemy of enthusiasm?
John Piper, in a sermon, “Do Not Grow Weary in Well-Doing”
Probably the worst enemy of enthusiasm is time. Human beings have a remarkable and sad capacity for getting tired of wonderful things. Almost every one of you can think of something you were enthusiastic about recently, but now the joy is faded. Your first day of vacation on the coast the sunset was breathtaking and made you so happy you could sing. But by the end of your stay you hardly noticed it any more. Vacationers get tired of sunsets, millionaires get tired of money, kids gets tired of toys, and Christians get tired of doing good. At first the excitement of teaching that Sunday School class was strong, but now you have grown weary of well-doing. The thrill is gone. At first you felt clean and strong in the Holy Spirit as you drove the van, taught the Lao English, led the small group, visited the newcomers, started reading the Bible, worked in the emergency shelter . . . but now you have grown weary in well-doing. The inner power and joy have seeped away. It’s a chore. You’ve lost heart.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
The point? Not what a man should do to be saved–but what ought a saved man to do!
Posted: July 24, 2012 by Pam Larson in Devotionals/Commentaries, July, LukeTags: Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, J.C.Ryle, Luke, Scripture, The point? Not what a man should do to be saved--but what ought a saved man to do!, Will Jesus find you "wishing" or "doing"?
And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. —Luke 12:42-43 ESV
J. C. Ryle comments on Luke 12:41-48 at GraceGems.com:
We hear a great deal about people’s intentions, and hopes, and wishes, and feelings, and professions. It would be well if we could hear more about people’s practice. It is not the servant who is found wishing and professing, but the servant who is found “doing” whom Jesus calls “blessed.”
The lesson is one which many, unhappily, shrink from giving, and many more shrink from receiving. We are gravely told that to talk of “working,” and “doing,” is ‘legalistic’, and brings Christians into bondage! Remarks of this kind should never move us. They savor of ignorance or perverseness. The lesson before us is not about justification, but about sanctification–not about faith, but about holiness. The point is not what a man should do to be saved–but what ought a saved man to do! The teaching of Scripture is clear and express upon this subject, A saved man ought to be “careful to maintain good works.” (Tit. 3:8.) The desire of a true Christian ought to be, to be found “doing.”
If we love life, let us resolve by God’s help, to be “doing” Christians. This is to be like Christ. He “went about doing good.” (Acts 10:38.) This is to be like the apostles, they were men of deeds even more than of words. This is to glorify God–”Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.” (John 15:8.) This is to be useful to the world–”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16.)
There is a limit to praise only if there is a limit to God.
Posted: July 24, 2012 by Pam Larson in Devotionals/Commentaries, July, PsalmsTags: Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, praise God, Psalms, Sam Storms, Scripture, Unlimited Praise for a Limitless God!, worship
Here is Part 2 from a commentary on Psalm 148-150 by Sam Storms of Enjoying God Ministries:
Second, the focus of such adoration is always and ever God alone for who he is and what he’s done. We do not worship the world or revere the reflection. We fix our hearts on the Original, the Source, the First Cause of all subsequent causes (see Ps. 148:5-6, 13-14).
We are to “praise him for his mighty deeds” and “according to his excellent greatness” (Ps. 150:2). There is a limit to praise only if there is a limit to God. Ah, but there is an infinite plenitude to his greatness that our worship could never exhaust.
Third, worship is an exhilarating experience, both for God and us! We are to “be glad” in our Maker and to “rejoice” in our King (Ps. 149:2). We are to “exult in glory” and “sing for joy” (Ps. 149:5a), even while on our “beds” (Ps. 149:5b). Whether as we go to bed, or perhaps during seasons of sleeplessness, or as we rise up in the morning, or even when laid prostrate from affliction, let praise fill our hearts and mouths.
Why is worship so pleasing and satisfying? Because, as C. S. Lewis noted,
“all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless . . . shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it. . . . Except where intolerably adverse circumstances interfere, praise almost seems to be inner health made audible” (94).
I think we delight to praise what we enjoy, said Lewis,
“because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed” (95).
In worship we see and God is seen, and in both is unrivaled pleasure, ours and his! We enjoy him who is eternally enjoyable and he enjoys being exalted in our enjoyment!
God commands that we “praise his name with dancing” and make “melody to him with tambourine and lyre” (149:3) because he “takes pleasure” in his people when they do (149:4a).
How great is God’s love and mercy!
Posted: July 24, 2012 by Pam Larson in 2 Chronicles, Devotionals/Commentaries, JulyTags: 2 Chronicles, Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, God's mercy, How great is God's love and mercy!, Marvelous Mercy for Manasseh, Scripture
Manasseh’s Repentance
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention.Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. —2 Chronicles 33
What a beautiful story of grace, mercy and repentance!
- God was speaking to Manasseh, but he did NOT pay any attention.
- God brings trouble, which gets Manasseh’s attention. “When he was in distress,” he turns to God in prayer and humbles himself.
- God hears, is moved and answers. “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God!”
Anybody out there have a similar story? Indeed, Romans 5:8 states, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s grace and mercy is truly amazing!
The word must run in triumph
Posted: July 23, 2012 by Pam Larson in 2 Thessalonians, Devotionals/Commentaries, JulyTags: 2 Thessalonians, Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, Dr. John Piper, God's Word, His Truth Will Triumph, Scripture, The word must run in triumph
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. —2 Thessalonians 3:1
John Piper, in a sermon, “The Power that Wields the Weapon”
This text gives tremendous significance to prayer in God’s victorious purposes. We could state the doctrine like this: Through prayer the word of the Lord overcomes obstacles and reaches a glorious victory.
The word of the Lord is pictured as an athlete running in a race to attain the prize of glory. An athlete is glorified when he wins and is recognized and acclaimed as superior to all the others in the race. So the word of the Lord is running in the world. It will one day win the race of words—the race of philosophies and theories and worldviews. It will be recognized and acclaimed as superior to all other words and philosophies—IF we pray! “Pray for us that the word of the Lord may speed on in triumph.”
Now just think of it. Almighty God has spoken. If he is God, it is sure that his word will accomplish all his purposes. God’s truth must win the race of words, but the text says, “Pray that the word will be victorious!” I take this to mean that God will indeed cause his word to be glorified, but he does not intend to win the victory without prayer. Or to put it in the most amazing way, he does not intend to win without giving you a part in the victory.
This is simply amazing. God’s whole purpose of creation and redemption hangs on the success of his word. Jesus said that the gospel must first be preached to all the peoples (Mark 13:10) before the end will come. In the end there will be people in the kingdom from every tongue and tribe and nation (Revelation 5:9). The word must run in triumph to those peoples if the purpose of God is to be accomplished. If his word fails, if there are insurmountable obstacles, then the new heaven and new earth abort.
Therefore, since God does not intend to win the race of words without the prayers of his people, the very purpose of God in creation and redemption hangs on your prayers.
The Lord of peace himself
Posted: July 26, 2012 by Pam Larson in 2 Thessalonians, Devotionals/Commentaries, JulyTags: 2 Thessalonians, Bible, Bible daily, Bible reading, Bible study, daily Bible, Scripture, The Lord of peace himself
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
John MacArthur, in a sermon, “Peace in Every Circumstance”