Will you consider the Hebrews 11:6 challenge for 2023? A slow read through this book may be of help and could be life changing. Find more information here: https://www.heisministries.net/

Links to the Knowing God Devotionals on the Theme: God Is!

My theme for these devotionals is  from Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. “
My goal is to write 52 devotionals – 1 for every week of the year!
I hope you will be blessed and built up in your desire to know God by reading the devotionals and meditating on the Scriptures listed after each devotional.

Knowing God Devotionals on the Theme: God Is!

by Pastor Mark Worden – email: worden.mark@gmail.com

© January, 2013

Devotional 1:  Seeking Idols or God in the New Year

Devotional 2:  God Is!

Devotional 3:  God is Light!

Devotional 4:  God Is Beyond Us!

Devotional 5:  God Is Knowable!

Devotional 6:  God Is Near!

Devotional 7:  God Is Merciful!

Devotional 8:  God Is Holy!

Devotional 9:  God Is Perfect in Justice!

Devotional 10:  God is Righteous!

Devotional 11:  God is Judge!

Devotional 12:  God Is The Lawgiver!

Devotional 13:  God Is King!

Devotional 14:  God Is Sovereign!

Devotional 15:   God is Good!

Devotional 16: God is Faithful!

Devotional 17:  God Is True – part 1

Devotional 18: God is True – part 2

Devotional 19:  God is Wise!

Devotional 20: God is Powerful!

Devotional 21:  God is Spirit!

Devotional 22: God Is our Father!

Devotional 23: God is our Shield! I Know!

Devotional 24: God is Witness!

Devotional 25:  God Is Unchanging!

Devotional 26: God is One!

Devotional 27: God is Eternal!

Devotional 28:  God Is the Giver of Life!

Devotional 29:  God is the Creator!

Devotional 30:  God is our Guide!

Devotional 31: God is Our Shepherd

Devotional 32: God is Jealous

Devotional 33: God is Angry!

Devotional 34: God is Forbearing!

Devotional 35:   God is Patient!

Devotional 36: God is Kind

Devotional 37: God is Not Partial

Devotional 38: God is Gracious

Devotional 39: God is Omniscient (all knowing)

Devotional 40: God is our Physician!

Devotional 41: God is All-Present (Omnipresent)

Devotional 42: God is Infinite

Devotional 43: God is Provider – Jehovahjireh

Devotional 44: God is Peace – Jehovahshalom

Devotional 45: God is our Banner – Jehovahnissi

Devotional 46: God is our Comfort

Devotional 47: God is a Consuming Fire

Devotional 47: God is a Consuming Fire

Fire has a way of getting our attention. It is rather fascinating. Around the campfire as a boy I played with fire.  It burns fingers, shoes, and toes. Fire hurts!  Fire burned down my uncle’s house when I was 9 years old. I learned young that fire destroys.  Subsequently, I came to respect fire from an early age but also enjoyed and appreciated its warmth and beauty around a campfire on a cold evening. Shockingly, possibly to some, the Bible reveals God as a “consuming fire” in both the Old and New Testaments.

What is God teaching us about Himself when Scripture says in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29 that “God is a consuming fire”?   By meditating on the Scriptural contexts of this somewhat puzzling “God is” statement, we can begin to grasp its meaning.  You could pause and read the chapters that form the context of this phrase several times in order to do so.  In Deuteronomy 4 God is reminding the children of Israel of how He had spoken his commandments “out of the midst of the fire” on Mount Horeb.  He is warning them to obey, follow, and worship only Him and receive His blessing or His judgment and chastening if they forget and choose to disobey.  God’s pillar of fire had given them light by night in the wilderness and He had spoken to them from the fiery mount, but He also would bring a fire of judgment upon them if they turned from following Him to worship idols.  In time they did turn from their LORD and God sent stern warnings of His just judgment of fire:

Jeremiah 5:14, Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: "Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.

Ezekiel 22:30-31, And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD.

In Hebrews 12 the message is also one of warning: look to Jesus so you don’t faint in your faith, receive God’s fatherly correction, don’t fail of God’s grace, and listen to His voice. The chapter closes with an application and statement of who God is, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Is this the kind of respect you give God?   Is you worship acceptable?  The fact that God is a consuming fire should strike a healthy fear in our hearts.  Every person will have to stand before God’s judgment seat!  The works of believers in Christ will be judged by fire to determine reward, “for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (I Corinthians 3:13-15). Furthermore, the works of those who reject God and his mercy will be judged (Revelation 20:12-15). They will receive their just retribution and receive the fiery judgment of God in Christ as 2Thesalonians 1:6-10 reveals, “since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”  Have you believed the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets?  It is a matter of fiery importance and eternity!

With Prayer, Mark      

 © January, 2013          

Scripture quoted: ESV – Emphasis added

Verses for our meditation:  God Is a Consuming Fire

Leviticus 9:22-24, Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. 

Deuteronomy 4:23-24, Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. 

Deuteronomy 9:1-4,  "Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, 'Who can stand before the sons of Anak?' Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the LORD your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the LORD has promised you. "Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, 'It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you. 

1 Kings 18:22-24, Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." 

Ezekiel 22:28-31, And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD." 

Amos 7:4-6, This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, the Lord GOD was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. Then I said, "O Lord GOD, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!" The LORD relented concerning this: "This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD. 

Zechariah 13:9, And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" 

1 Corinthians 3:10-15,  According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

 

2Thesalonians 1:5-10, This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering-- since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 

Hebrews 12:25-29, See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. 

2 Peter 3:9-12,  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 

Revelation 20:12-15,  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Devotional 46: God is our Comfort

Have you ever experienced having the wind knocked out of your lungs?  If you have, you will likely never forget that frightening experience. Sometimes life brings blows that figuratively knock the wind out of us—emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  Can you remember a time when you were without strength, hope, and the will to go on as you sat “gasping for breath”?   A situation where everything seemed to be tumbling down upon your head and you felt so very weak?   Where did you find comfort in your time of distress and need?  Often God uses others to point us to Himself when they have previously experienced God’s comfort.  

The Psalmist of Psalm 71 testifies that focusing on who God is during trying times brings comfort to those who trust in who He is.  After dwelling on the righteousness and mighty deeds of God the Psalmist says in verse 21-22a, “You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God.”  Hope and comfort came as the Psalmist remembered God’s character!  Comfort was also something that he expected to experience “again”.  Once you find your comfort in God you realize that none other gives such comfort as He gives. 

Again the Psalmist shows that meditating on God’s faithfulness to His word brings comfort as Psalm 119:48-52 reveals, “I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.” 

Comfort is something that you really don’t understand until you have been comforted in God, because truly He is the “God of all comfort” as 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 makes absolutely clear: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

I would encourage you to list out the times and ways in which God has comforted you.  Then ask God to help you share His comfort with others.  There is more than enough comfort in our great God to spread around to a world in need of His comfort.  

May the Lord help us to live out the Apostle Paul’s admonishment in 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

  

With Prayer, Mark         © January 2013         Scripture quoted: ESV – Emphasis added

Verses for our meditation:  God is our Comfort

Psalm 71:19-21, Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?  You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.

Psalm 86:15-17, But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

 

Isaiah 40:1-2, Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 

Isaiah 49:13, Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. 

Isaiah 52:9, Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. 

Isaiah 66:12-13,  For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

 

Jeremiah 31:12-13,  They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. 

Act 9:31, So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

 

2 Corinthians 7:5-7, For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

New Year Devotional: Seeking Idols or God in the New Year

Listen to a 4 minute audio version: 
Download: http://pastormarkworden.sermon.net/da/1199923943
Playback: http://pastormarkworden.sermon.net/da/1199923943/play

May the Lord grant you a blessed New Year!  As I typed the previous greeting, my mind wondered, “What would make this coming year more blessed for me and those whom I’m writing?”  How we answer that question will reveal what is really important to us.  Our answer will reflect whether we think of blessings in God’s terms or our terms.  If we seek the blessings of life without seeking the Giver of blessings, we make the blessings an idol that comes before God.  We must guard our hearts from seeking some possession, position, or person that we think is necessary to bring blessing and happiness.  Anything or anyone that we put before God becomes an idol.  We would do well to start the year out in self-examination by asking this question: “Is there something or someone in my life that is more important than God?”  Whatever it is is your idol!
I believe that having lives truly blessed of God will require us to acknowledge our idols, pull them down, and cast them out of our hearts.  Then we need a growing and deepening knowledge of our God by seeking Him diligently through His natural revelation (His creation) and His special revelation (the Scriptures). Paul’s prayer for the believers at Ephesus reveals our need for knowing God:

Eph 1:16-21, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (emphasis added).

Will you pray this prayer for yourself and others? Can we really go another year without becoming more serious about seeking God?  We have not because we ask not!
For the past few years I have been  seeking to know God better by searching the Scriptures and writing on the theme “God Is”.  The Bible is replete with verses and passages that tell us about who God is and how we can relate with Him.  My theme verse for the devotionals is Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (emphasis added).
May this coming year be filled with adventure in diligently seeking to know God! Will you join me in a quest to know God more fully and intimately as you seek Him?  We can find our greatest satisfaction, pleasure, and fulfillment in Him and Him alone!  May “grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2). 

Blessing to you in this New Year!

Sincerely in Christ,

Mark

Selected Bible Verses to End and Start the Year

Revelation 4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Revelation 5:11-13, “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

Isaiah 40:25-31, “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”
“Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Matthew 9:36-38, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

Devotional 42: God is Infinite

Many doctrinal statements and creeds refer to God as being infinite.  According to Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary the word infinite means, “Without limits; unbounded; boundless; not circumscribed.”  He mentions that the word can be “applied to time, space and qualities.”  Then he says, “God is infinite in duration, having neither beginning nor end of existence. He is also infinite in presence, or omnipresent, and his perfections are infinite.”  Clearly, the man who gave us our first American English dictionary had a high and reverent view of God.  No doubt, he came to have this understanding of God through the Scriptures.  How do you view God?  Do you see Him more clearly through your Bible reading?  Do you think of him as beyond measure and without limits in His Being and Nature? 

Having covered many of God’s attributes in these devotionals, we can sense that they all seem to have this infinite quality of being without limits and boundless.  However, there appears to be only one verse in the KJV that directly uses the word infinite in relation to God.  It is in reference to His understanding.  Psalm147:5 says, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”  The ESV translates the verse this way, “His understanding is beyond measure” which clearly gives the meaning of being infinite.  Logically, for God to be infinite in understanding He would also have to be infinite in knowledge (omniscience), infinite in location (omnipresent), and also infinite in time (eternal). Furthermore, God’s infinite understanding makes His love, grace, mercy, kindness, and judgment without measure as well. Truly our God is infinite or without limits in all of His attributes!

So then, how can the truth about God being beyond measure affect our daily lives?  I find it instructive that the Bible specifically says that God’s “understanding is infinite” because each day we, His creatures, need to understand.   We will never have true understanding in this world until we acknowledge God!

First, we must live our lives knowing and acting upon the truth that understanding is a gift from God:

Exodus 31:3, And I have filled [Bezaleel the son of Uri] with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

It then should not be surprising that Scriptures tells us “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).  Can you see how understanding becomes synonymous with knowing God?

Secondly, we must avoid the daily temptation to lean upon our own understanding by remaining humble and dependently trusting of God:

Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Thirdly, we must call upon the Lord for wisdom and understanding as Scripture exhorts us to do:

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Knowing God, whose understanding is infinite, is awe-inspiring!  Let’s worship Him together!

With Prayer, Mark       © October, 2012         Scripture quoted without reference: ESV – Emphasis added

Verses for our meditation:  God Is Infinite in Understanding

Job 12:13, With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. 

Psalm 147:1-7, Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!

 

Isaiah 40:28, Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

1 Chronicles 22:11-13, [David speaking to Solomon, said,] Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. 

1 Kings 3:7-12, [Solomon prayed,] “And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?" It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 

1 Kings 4:29-31  And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 

Daniel 1:17, As for these four youths [Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego], God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 

Colossians 2:1-3,  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

1 John 5:20, And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

God is Patient!

“God Is” Devotional # 35

In the last devotional we meditated on the forbearance of God.  Now, we will consider a paralleling attribute—His Patience! While forbearance refers primarily to God’s withholding of righteous wrath and judgment, God’s patience includes the attitude He keeps and the work He does while restraining His judgment.  

The Apostle Peter encourages believers to “count the patience of our Lord as salvation” (1 Peter 3:16).  Noah Webster lists one of the connotations of patience as “perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion.” God in patient perseverance and loving consistency has been working His plan to redeem mankind and justly deliver repentant individuals from the consequences of sin.  Therefore, God’s patience with us includes His plan of salvation for us by sending His Son into this world to complete His redemptive work on the cross.  Jesus was born to die upon Calvary! All this reveals God’s persevering patience with us.   
While sharing his own salvation testimony, Paul clearly says that in Jesus Christ we see the perfection of patience:

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

How did Christ show His “perfect patience” toward Paul as an example to us who would believe in Christ for “eternal life”?   To answer this we must consider another connotation of the word patience: “the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness.”   Certainly, Jesus demonstrated this kind of patience in the events that lead to the cross and in the very act of hanging on the cross in agonizing death.  However, the context of 1 Timothy 1:15-17 does not seem to point to Christ’s patient suffering on the cross.  Then to what does it point?  It must point to Christ’s patience with Paul when he persecuted His followers, even to death!  Jesus taught that how people treat His followers, those who bear His name, is in reality how they are treating Him (Matthew 25:31-46). When Paul consented to the death of Steven (Acts 8:1) he was in reality persecuting Christ.  Furthermore, by the grace and power of Christ, Steven patiently suffered as a testimony to His Savior, Jesus Christ who patiently suffered with Him in suffering.  It was after this that Jesus appeared to Paul on the Damascus road and displayed His patience with Paul as a testimony to all that there is forgiveness in Christ when we turn from our sin to Christ in repentance—a change of mind and heart about who we are and who Christ really is (Acts 9).  Paul called Him Lord and obeyed the instructions that were given to him.   Jesus Christ had been perfectly patient with him, when he did not deserve it. What an example to us!  

We have also sinned against God. I shamefully remember ridiculing Christians before I came to Christ in humility.  If God could forgive Paul, He can also forgive me in Jesus Christ.  How about you?  Have you felt that your sins are so bad that God would certainly never forgive you?  Then find comfort in Christ’s perfect example of patience with Paul.  God is not a respecter of persons and will certainly be patient with you as well.  God is love!  Out of His Love comes patience!  I Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient”.  

Will you worship the Lord with me today and praise Him for His patience and then go the next step and pray for His grace to be patient with others as you wait for His coming?  James 5:7 says, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.”  Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

With Prayer, Mark |   
                     
© December, 2011 Scripture quoted: ESV – Emphasis added

Verses for our meditation:  God Is Patient!

Romans 2:2-5, We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man–you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself–that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

1 Timothy 1:15-17,  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:4, Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

1 Peter 3:18-20, For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
2 Peter 3:4-9,  They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:13-15a, But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation.

James 5:7-11, Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Romans 12:10-21,  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A Testimony of God's Faithfulness

Has God been faithful to you? I would love to hear your stories of God’s faithfulness.  I encourage you to follow the Psalmist’s example and not conceal, but declare and sing of God’s faithfulness as the following verses challenge us:

Ps 40:10, “I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.”

Ps 88:11, “Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?”

Ps 89:1, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.”

I would like to tell you some of the highlights of God’s faithfulness to me:

1.      God was faithful to pursue me in grace when I tried to push Him out of my life from age 16 to 18 by putting my faith in an evolutionary explanation of the origin of life instead of recognizing Him as the Creator.

2.      God was faithful to grant me a heart of repentance when I yielded to His love expressed in the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1-11) and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior on the third Sunday of August, 1978.  

3.      God was faithful to make me a new creature in Christ; He began changing my desires from the moment I surrendered and truly believed and trusted in Him with my whole heart.

4.      God was faithful in leading me to Churches that taught and preached the Bible—where, although the pastors and congregations were not perfect, they for the most part had a heart for God and encouraged me to be faithful to our faithful God:

First Conservative Baptist Church, Roseburg, Oregon – Pastor Roy Campbell
Westside Baptist Church, Eugene, Oregon – Pastor Greg Kaminski
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Roseburg, Oregon – Pastor Dale Johnsen
Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Greenville, SC – Pastor Jessie Boyd & Mark Minnick
Temple Baptist Church, Richland, WA. – Pastor Michael Gilchrist
Jordan Valley Baptist Church, West Jordan, Utah – Pastor Harley Johnson
New Israel Baptist Church, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil – Pastor Sergio

5.      God was faithful to always give me direction as I waited upon Him in prayer for guidance and wisdom to make the big decisions of life: where he wanted me to go to college, who He wanted me to marry, where and how He wanted me to serve Him.

6.      God has been faithful to forgive me when I confess my sin (1 John 1:9-10).

7.      God was faithful to help me be a better dad when I was struggling.  His Word gave me wisdom beyond myself – Click hear to read the Bible study that changed my parenting.

8.      God was faithful to give me the perfect help meet in my wife, Tammie, who is submissive yet not a doormat, supportive yet not flattering of my sinful ego, and sharpening yet not critical.  God was faithful to restore my wife’s health when she became so ill while we served in Brazil.

9.      God has been faithful to provide for all of our needs in 25 years of marriage and ministry. When we were about out of food, He provided in miraculous ways.  When our mode of transportation broke down, He provided means and funds for it to be fixed.  When we needed wisdom for family and ministry relationships, He gave wisdom for the asking like He promised.  When we needed a place to rest our heads, He always put on the hearts of His people to take us in with loving assistance, which also gave us the opportunity to be a blessing in return.

10.  When the burdens of life and ministry were too hard to bear ourselves, God was faithful to give us sustaining grace.

11.  God was faithful to give me six challenging and good years as Pastor of First Baptist Church where it was a joy to see His word take root in the hearts of those who had ears to hear.

12.  God has always been faithful to slow me down when I need slowed down and to speed me up when I needed speeded up. 

As we wait on the Lord for future direction, we have no doubt that we can trust in our faithful God.  I am reminded of something I wrote to Tammie Rich before she became Tammie Worden:

We can praise God for His providential hand of leading in the past;
We can look forward in faith to what He will do in the future;
but we must concentrate on keeping His commandments consistently today!

What was true for our lives over 25 years ago is true for our lives today; however, I would add another thought: We can only do it by the faithful enabling grace of God.  The grace of God is what I preached on this past month while doing some pulpit supply at Grace Bible Church:  You can listen to the message by clicking on the sermon title: Grace at Grace.  Down load the message: Mp3
I praise God for His faithfulness!  Will you?    
With prayer, Mark R. Worden

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 ¶ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (KJV)