Aug 23 2009
August 23, 2009
Reading for today: Judges 21:13-25 and 2 Thess. 2:16-17
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25
Without a strong leader, people often fall into sin because doing what we “feel” is right is different for everyone. This is why we so desperately need a Savior who is the Truth; because there are absolute truths that do not change, and our Lord is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Who is Lord of your life: you or the Lord you claim?
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 2Thes. 2:17.
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> Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here!” Exodus 33:15
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> God’s presence is infinitely better than the presence of all outward comforts. God is with His people to counsel them in all doubtful and difficult cases, and to defend and secure them against all their enemies and opposers.
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> A sound sincere Christian can never have enough . . .
> power against sin, nor
> strength against temptation, nor
> weanedness from this world, nor
> ripeness for heaven, nor
> of the presence of the Lord.
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> The special presence of God with His people, is a most sovereign antidote.
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> Troubles will be no troubles,
> distresses will be no distresses,
> dangers will be no dangers–
> if God’s presence is with you.
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> Mountains–will be molehills; stabs at the heart–will be as scratches upon the hand; if God’s presence is with you.
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> God’s special presence will turn . . .
> storms into calms,
> winter nights into summer days,
> prisons into palaces,
> weakness into strength,
> poverty into plenty,
> death into life.
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> Just so, while a Christian enjoys the singular presence of God with him, he will make nothing of this affliction and that affliction, of this trouble and that trouble, of this loss and that loss. God’s presence makes . . .
> heavy afflictions–light, and
> long afflictions–short, and
> bitter afflictions–sweet.
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> A man in misery, without this gracious presence of God, is in a very hell on this side hell. God’s gracious presence makes every condition–to be a little heaven to the believing soul. There is nothing, there can be nothing, but heaven–where God is specially present.
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> “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1