From: July 15, 2024
‘Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”’ (1 Chronicles 21:13 ESV).
When David sinned against the Lord by calling for a census of Israel, the prophet Gad brought a word of warning to him from the Lord. God was going to judge Israel because of David’s sin, but He allowed David to choose from three possible judgments. David chose to put Israel in God’s hand. He repented of his sin and entrusted himself to God’s righteous judgment and great mercy.
The fact that the Lord gave David a choice in His judgment seems a strange part of the story. Since when does a judge let the convicted choose his sentence? Or when does God give such a choice?
Yet the Word of the Lord offers such a choice to us today. We may choose to stand on our own human merits and receive the due judgment for our sin. Or we may choose the mercy of God by repenting of our sin and believing on Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of God, as Lord and Savior.
Choose God’s great mercy.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess our sin. For we are tempted to depend on men and numbers rather than God, just as David did. Lord forgive us according to Your great mercy in Christ Jesus. Teach us to depend on You alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 15, 2023
“No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people” (Romans 2:29 NLT).
Paul explained that the Jewish sign of circumcision was not sufficient to please God without the accompanying evidence of a heart changed by the Holy Spirit, which is the result of the new birth. Paul could’ve just as easily said that baptism, or church attendance, or some other outward religious work, was insufficient without a new heart. For only God can change the human heart.
And the one whose heart has been changed by God will seek the approval of God rather than men. For the one who is born again wants what the Father wants and seeks the Father’s approval in all things.
Whose approval do you seek? Whose applause do you long to hear? Praise God, for we have received the Father’s approval by believing and receiving His Son. For the Father is “well-pleased” (Mark 1:11) with His beloved Son.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that we have received Your approval by receiving Your Son, Jesus. Now, help us to walk by faith in the One who has saved us and given us new and changed hearts. Help us to be filled with Your Holy Spirit at all times, so that our every thought and inclination are pleasing unto You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 15, 2022
HAVE YOU LEARNED TO OVERLOOK WRONGS?
Are you easily angered or offended? If so, this is not the fault of others as you often feel, but it is your own self-disposition that perceives every word, a dig, and every look, a personal slight. You are looking for offense and you always find it.
Give your self-image to the Lord. Find your identity in Him. Let Christ show you a better way. Give Him your hurts and experience real healing. For hurt people, hurt people. But people who have received Christ’s healing are able to share His grace and comfort with others.
Finding your true identity and healing in Christ, you will have His self-control. You will develop the reputation of being un-offendable. For you will have taken on the meekness of Christ. This meekness is not weakness, but strength under control. For godly meekness is not thinking less of yourself, but rather, it is not thinking of yourself at all.
So, be “sensible” and stop taking everything so personally. Start living according to the unoffendable and glorious life of Christ!
PRAYER: Dear Father, even when we had offended You with our sin, You sent Your Son to offer Himself for our salvation. Teach us to be like You. Fill us with Your Spirit that we might bear spiritual fruit. Empower us to forgive others as You have forgiven us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 15, 2016
Are you easily angered or offended? If so, this is not the fault of others as you often feel, but it is your own self-disposition that perceives every word, a dig, and every look, a personal slight. Give your self-image to the Lord. Let Christ teach you of your own self. Find your identity in Him. Then, you will have His wisdom to be slow to anger. You will develop the reputation of being un-offendable. For you will have taken on the meekness of Christ. And meekness is not weakness, but strength under control. Meekness is not thinking less of yourself, but rather, it is not thinking of yourself at all. So, it is “good sense” to stop taking everything so personally. And to start living according to the unoffendable and glorious life of Christ.
From: July 15, 2015
When David sinned against the Lord by calling for a census of Israel, the prophet Gad brought a word of warning to him. God was going to judge Israel because of David’s sin, but He allowed David to choose from three possible judgments. David chose to put Israel in God’s hand. He repented of his sin and entrusted himself to God’s righteous judgment and great mercy.
Today, the Word of the Lord offers a choice to us. We may choose the mercy of God by repenting and receiving the Son of David, Jesus the Christ. Or we may choose the judgment of God by choosing to stand on our own merits.