May we never forget to entreat the Lord for those who are under affliction and to also give our thanks for answering prayer.
Hymn for the Day
Sons of God redeemed by blood, Raise your songs to Zion's God; Made from condemnation free, Grace triumphant sing with me.
Calvary's wonders let us trace, Justice magnified in grace; Mark the crimson streams and say, Thus my sins were washed away.
Wrath Divine no more we dread, Vengeance smote our Surety's head; Legal claims are fully met, Christ hath paid the dreadful debt.
Lamb of God!? Thy death hath giv'n Pardon, peace and hope of heav'n; It is finished; let us raise Songs of gratitude and praise.
(Tune: "Depth of Mercy" Pg.233)
He Will Sustain You!
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved (Ps. 55:22).
The promise is not that the Lord will remove the load we cast upon Him, nor that He will carry it for us--but that He will sustain us so that we may carry it.
He does not free us from the duty - but He strengthens us for it.
He does not deliver us from the conflict - but He enables us to overcome.
He does not withhold or withdraw the trial from us - but He helps us in trial to be submissive and victorious, and makes it a blessing to us.
He does not mitigate the hardness or severity of our circumstances, taking away the difficult elements, removing the thorns, making life easy for us - but He puts Divine grace into our hearts, so that we can live sweetly in all the hard, adverse circumstances.
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9).
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil 4:23
- Unknown
LOVE OF THE FATHER 1 John 2: 12-17
The apostle three kinds of believers found in a local church. Fathers are those who have been longest in the faith, young men are those who have been in the faith the next longest behind the fathers (usually middle-aged believers) and little children are newly born-again believers, babes in Christ. Here is important instruction for the good of each believer now, as well as for the good of those younger believers among us who are the future of this church. Love Not the World, Neither the Things in It.
Believers have no reason to love this world. We are born of the Spirit of God from above; we are not of this world. God the Father chose us unto salvation in Christ before ever even making this world. Christ Jesus has redeemed us out of this world. Our citizenship is in the kingdom of God, not of this world. But in this world we face difficulties.
With every phase of life comes a new challenge. The fathers have looked forward to enjoying their golden years and are apt to indulge in things of this world. Likewise, the middle-aged believer is coming into more of this world than he has ever had or is on the downhill side of middle age wanting to kick up his heels while he can.
Yet, we must remember that Christ our everlasting Father laid up for his children, perfect righteousness, by laying down his life for us. Likewise, it is up to the fathers and the young men in the faith to lay up for the little children in Christ, rather than loving this world. All that is in the World is not of the Father but of the World.
Is Satan whispering in your ear saying, "Has God said? Oh, that is not what he means." Satan got Eve to look at the fruit-lust of the eyes. He told her it was good for food-lust of the flesh. He told her it would make her wise-pride of life. As soon as Adam ate, he experienced the lust of the eye-I am naked!; Lust of the flesh-I need a cover for me!; Pride of life-I can cover myself!; And they blamed others for it all.
Did God teach these lusts? No, all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Believer, we only overcome the wicked one, by abiding in Christ. Will we heed his word or our own lusts? Instead of going after the world, go after the Father! Everything in this world that appears most precious, important and valuable to our flesh is marked for destruction. Do not take my word take God's word, "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof." - Pastor Clay Curtis