Bible Pathways - Aug. 18, 2008
August 18
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Our loving and merciful God, like a parent who continues to give a child another chance, comes to an end of mercy and must mete out His judgment. The unbelieving mass of Israelites are dealt with (15:2-3) and the remnant are assured it shall be well (15:11). See why the prophet is told not to marry (16:3-13). The warnings continue in 17 yet God leaves a way out (17:24-25; 18:8-10). Still today we must recognize that God is the Potter, we are the clay (18:1-6).
The only pleasant experience in the prophet's life was fellowship with God. It is as if he said: "In the midst of my sufferings and sorrows, I came upon the promises of God's Word. I accepted them; and indeed my soul was comforted. They led me to enjoy fellowship with my Lord, and to recognize that even my sufferings were for His Name's sake. What a high honor!"
Isn't it strange that when God Himself is the Author of the world's best-selling book, only a few people read all of it? Jeremiah could say: For Thy sake I have suffered rebuke. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy Name, O Lord God of hosts (15:15-16). How many prefer to read the writings of men more than they read the writings of God — or watch more television — or spend more time with the newspaper than they do with the Bible?
Have you found His Word to be the joy and rejoicing of your heart? Peter was led by the Holy Spirit to write: Laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere (pure) milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby (I Peter 2:1-2).
Jeremiah said: I did eat them (Jeremiah 15:16). Reading God's Word is our necessary food (Job 23:12). It's an invitation to Christ to speak to you.
It is so easy to confuse familiarity with knowledge or theory with experience. Many are familiar with certain truths and doctrines, but they have not experienced the transforming power of His Word.
The Bible is not only something to be known but something to be experienced. Jesus also said: Except ye eat the flesh . . . ye have no life in you (John 6:53). A sign of spiritual death is manifested when men can spend days and weeks without reading it (Matthew 4:4). How worthless to have a Bible but never read it. It is a disgrace to any Christian that his Lord should die for his soul on Calvary and, yet, he is not concerned enough to read His Word.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).
Thought for Today:
Being a Christian and not reading the Bible is like getting married and not living together (John 1:1).
Christ Revealed:
By Jeremiah's words to God: Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart (Jeremiah 15:16). Jesus said: The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are Life (John 6:63).
Word Studies:
15:1 be toward =b> be favorable to; 15:6 repenting =b> grieving over and giving you another chance; 17:10 try the reins =b> test the heart; 18:11 frame =b> prepare; 18:15 in a way not cast up =b> on paths of sin, not ways of righteousness.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Shortwave Radio Broadcasts sponsored by a Family's Love for Jesus and in honor of Reverend Edith Cain • Staff: Barbara Jean Lloyd • Government Official: Rep. Louis Gohmert (TX) • Country: Cambodia (12 million) in Southeast Asia • Major languages: Khmer and French • Confused and unsettled at this time • 88% Buddhist; 3% animism and spirit worship; 2% Muslim; .6% Roman Catholic/Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Pray, remembering that there is no one like God (II Kings 19:14-15,19).
Optional Reading: 2 Peter 3
Memory Verse for the Week: 2 Corinthians 4:18
