Resting in the Faithfulness of God

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

When plans are frustrated or life just seems to fall apart in some way, people often wonder, Has God deserted me? Why hasn't He answered my prayers? The Bible offers encouragement for such times by assuring us of the Father's faithfulness: "Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments" (Deut 7:9).

Five attributes of God make this possible. First, He is omniscient, which means He knows everything, including our every need, thought, frailty, desire, and life situation in the past, present, and future. Next, the Lord is omnipotent, or all-powerful, so nothing is too hard for Him (Jer. 32:17). Then, He is omnipresent--since He exists everywhere at once, He is never beyond reach.

In addition, our heavenly Father cannot lie. Everything that He says is true and reliable. And lastly, God is unchanging. Our circumstances and the world around us may seem to be in a constant state of flux, and the Lord may even modify the way He chooses to interact with mankind in different generations. But His character is always the same. So when Scripture tells us that God is faithful, we can rest confidently upon that promise.



Circumstances can be painful. But even when situations seem overwhelming, believers can trust that our sovereign Lord knows all, is in control, and lovingly works everything for His children's good. We can rest confidently knowing that the unchanging God of all creation is taking care of us.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

Days of Rest and RetrainingActs 9:43

"Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon."


Thoughts for Today:For a Jew to stay in a tanner's home was unheard of in Peter's day. A tanner worked with dead animals which made him ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:40), and therefore a Jew who came in contact with him would become unclean as well. So for Peter to actually stay "for some time with a tanner named Simon" would have been outrageous and created quite a stir within the Jewish community.

I believe God was using this period of rest to retrain Peter, who was the leader of the church. Up until this time (about 8 years had passed since the Spirit had come at Pentecost), the Gospel had been preached almost exclusively to the Jewish people. This was, as we know, contrary to the Lord's instruction (Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation"). I think one of the things that held the church back from embarking upon the Lord's "Great Commission" was their own prejudices based upon tradition. The Lord was retraining the disciples related to this issue when in Matthew 15:11 He said, "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean [nor does unwashed hands from verse 20], but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean." In other words, it is what's inside a man (his character and his heart) that matters most, not what he eats, drinks, or touches.

Staying with a tanner was a big step for Peter (and the new church) -- it was also one of the beginning points in overcoming prejudice and tradition as we will see in Chapter 10.


Questions to Ponder:We all have traditions and prejudices that we observe -- that are not necessarily scriptural. What are some of yours? Slacks, coat and tie were once the requirement for attendance at church -- things have really changed. New generations will continue to push the envelope on what is an instruction from the Lord versus a prejudice, tradition or preference. How do we remain current and relevant yet scripturally correct? Do you see any prejudices or traditions in your own life you need to rethink?

Toni Smothers    [email protected]    www.writingforthemaster.com            

His Excellency
Scripture Reading for the day: Psalm 95
Scripture Quote:“for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture,the flock under his care.” Psalm 95:6(NIV)

     In Psalm 95:6, we read that the LORD is the greatest God and King over everything. His excellency as Creator is unmatched throughout the universe. Yet He would call us His own. In the Old Testament times, when idol worship and blatant disobedience prevailed, He still loved us. He wanted His people to come to Him with joy and gratitude. And even today, we also may approach our Heavenly Father with an indescribable gladness - Even though we fail Him repeatably, He has chosen us to follow Him and through Christ we are redeemed.

     We are His sheep and He supplies our green pasture. God goes before us to set up the best possibilities despite Satan's efforts to the contrary. We stubbornly refuse His guidance so we can ignorantly, “do it our way,” only to find that we end up in more trouble than we can eradicate ourselves. Jesus has already experienced everything that we have. He is always close and willing to answer our call for help. We need only remember that our hope lies in His hands, not ours - And, that's pretty excellent!

Meditation for the day: “Hope springs eternal...” Alexander Pope   . Where does your hope come from?

Memory Verse: ”Come, let us bow down in worship,let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” Psalm 95:6(NIV)

The Lure of Momentary Pleasure

Genesis 25:29-34

You probably read the story of Jacob and Esau today and thought, I can't believe Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. How foolish! But let's think beyond birthrights and soup. Is there anything of true value that you are trading for something of lesser worth? In other words, what is your "bowl of soup"?

Have you pursued wealth and a career at the expense of family? Maybe your busy schedule has kept you from spending time with God in His Word each day. Some people become involved in extramarital affairs, trading the well-being of their family for the satisfaction of lustful desires. Others sacrifice their health by consuming harmful or addictive substances, or even by overindulging in food. The list of ways we make foolish, shortsighted choices is endless.

Some of the decisions we make today could rob us of the blessings God wants to give us. When you yield to temptation in a moment of weakness, you're actually sacrificing your future for momentary pleasure. We can't afford to live thoughtlessly, basing our decisions on immediate desires or feelings. Since the principle of sowing and reaping cannot be reversed, we need to carefully consider what we are planting. The harvest will come, and we'll reap what we have sown--and more than we've sown.



Are you contemplating anything that could have serious long-term ramifications if you yield to the yearning? A wise person evaluates choices by looking ahead to see what negative consequences could follow a course of action. Don't let "a bowl of soup" hinder God's wonderful plans for you.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

Toni Smothers          [email protected]                    www.writingforthemaster.com

Be An Overcomer

Scripture Reading for the day:  I Corinthians 16:15-18

Scripture Quote: “for there is a wide open door for a great work here, and many people are responding. But there are many who oppose me.” I Corinthians 16:9 (NASB)

            God constantly gives us opportunities to move ahead in life. He is always with us, patiently waiting for us to grow closer and learn more. But whenever we move closer to God, there is always increased opposition from the enemy. God longs for us to reach our full potential and overcome the many temptations and obstacles Satan slams us with. He wants us to be overcomers.

            When you step out in faith and the opposition comes, stand firm – Then, as you can, press on toward the goal. We must remember that Jesus is with us and that He is our source of strength. The price we pay now is nothing compared to the treasures that await us in heaven. Trust what God has promised all who love Him and obey His commandments.

Meditation for the day: “I learned that life is not just a destination but a journey. While the expedition can be long and arduous, it can be full of beauty and pleasure as well.” Wayne Holmes in, ‘The Heart of a Father’

Memory Verse: “but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.” I Thessalonians 2:2 (NASB)