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Feelings of Inferiority

Published by InTouch Ministries for reading on June 9th.

Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.

Early in my life, I experienced some feelings of inferiority. Because we struggled financially, my mother and I didn’t live in the “right” places, and I didn’t wear the “right” clothes. Even in school, I felt that I did not measure up academically to the other kids. The sense of failure and embarrassment at not being good enough was devastating to me.

The misery of inferiority is never what God intends for His children. Its seed usually takes root in the impressionable hearts of the young and thrives in an atmosphere of comparison. This kind of emotional baggage can have debilitating and enslaving ramifications in every area of life. Feelings of inadequacy may cause avoidance of healthy challenges; low self-esteem cripples personal relationships; and comparison steals contentment.

We need to understand how God sees us. Then, when feelings of inferiority come, we can cling to His accurate assessment rather than our own faulty one. He says we are His workmanship—His masterpieces. Each person is thoughtfully designed by the Creator for His purpose. The differences that cause us to make comparisons and feel discouraged are the very qualities that the Lord created to bring Him glory.

Feelings of inferiority are a hindrance to becoming the people that the heavenly Father designed us to be and a deterrent to fulfilling His purpose for our lives. When it comes to our value, we either accept the truth of His appraisal or decide not to believe Him and instead rely on our own feelings. What will your choice be?

Bible in One Year: Job 39-42 Chapter 39 1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? `Or' canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They cast out their pains. 4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field; They go forth, and return not again. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass, 6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place? 7 He scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searcheth after every green thing. 9 Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave to him thy labor? 12 Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather `the grain' of thy threshing-floor? 13 The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; `But' are they the pinions and plumage of love? 14 For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in the dust, 15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them. 16 She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, `she is' without fear; 17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given the horse `his' might? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane? 20 Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet. 25 As oft as the trumpet `soundeth' he saith, Aha! And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26 Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk soareth, (And) stretcheth her wings toward the south? 27 Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high? 28 On the cliff she dwelleth, and maketh her home, Upon the point of the cliff, and the stronghold. 29 From thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off. 30 Her young ones also suck up blood: And where the slain are, there is she. Chapter 40 1 Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, 4 Behold, I am of small account; What shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further. 6 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8 Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified? 9 Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honor and majesty. 11 Pour forth the overflowings of thine anger; And look upon every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, `and' bring him low; And tread down the wicked where they stand. 13 Hide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden `place'. 14 Then will I also confess of thee That thine own right hand can save thee. 15 Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee; He eateth grass as an ox. 16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the muscles of his belly. 17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his thighs are knit together. 18 His bones are `as' tubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron. 19 He is the chief of the ways of God: He `only' that made him giveth him his sword. 20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field do play. 21 He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen. 22 The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about. 23 Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth. 24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare? Chapter 41 1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord? 2 Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? Or will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee, That thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Will the bands `of fishermen' make traffic of him? Will they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears? 8 Lay thy hand upon him; Remember the battle, and do so no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up; Who then is he that can stand before me? 11 Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? `Whatsoever is' under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame. 13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws? 14 Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror. 15 `His' strong scales are `his' pride, Shut up together `as with' a close seal. 16 One is so near to another, That no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered. 18 His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth. 20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and `burning' rushes. 21 His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth. 22 In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him. 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; Yea, firm as the nether millstone. 25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason of consternation they are beside themselves. 26 If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft. 27 He counteth iron as straw, `And' brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Clubs are counted as stubble: He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin. 30 His underparts are `like' sharp potsherds: He spreadeth `as it were' a threshing-wain upon the mire. 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; One would think the deep to be hoary. 33 Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear. 34 He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride. Chapter 42 1 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. 3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee: 6 Wherefore I abhor `myself', And repent in dust and ashes. 7 And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as Jehovah commanded them: and Jehovah accepted Job. 10 And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him concerning all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold. 12 So Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: And he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemimah: and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16 And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, `even' four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days.

Responding to Disappointment

Published by InTouch Ministries for reading on June 9th.

Matthew 1:18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. 24 And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; 25 and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.

To find examples of wise, godly reactions to disappointment, you’re more likely to turn to Psalms than to Matthew. But the very first chapter in the New Testament tells the story of an upright man’s reaction to painful and disheartening news.

Joseph—Jesus’ earthly father—was a righteous person. A godly man wants a wife who shares his desire to honor and obey the Lord, and Scripture indicates that Mary was exactly that sort of woman ( Luke 1:45-55 45 And blessed `is' she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him. 51 He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. 52 He hath put down princes from `their' thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree. 53 The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy 55 (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever. ). So imagine how stunned Joseph must have been when Mary returned from a long visit with her relative Elizabeth and told him that she was pregnant. Moreover, she was claiming no man had touched her.

No matter how Joseph looked at the situation, it appeared grim. And yet Matthew 1:20 20 But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. says that he “considered”—in other words, he sought a wise, righteous response. God entered Joseph’s life in a dramatic way to confirm Mary’s story and put a stop to his plans for a quiet annulment.

The Lord turned Joseph’s mourning into great purpose. Mary had told the truth—strange and startling though it was. The couple would bear the intense public censure of a too-soon pregnancy, but Joseph stopped thinking about what others would say. God had sacred work for him: to raise the Messiah, alongside a faithful woman.

Followers of Christ should seek a godly response to disappointments they face. Since the Lord always has a plan, the wisest reaction is to anticipate the good He can do and await His timing. God certainly blessed Joseph for his willingness to seek God’s kingdom first (Matt. 6:33).

Bible in One Year: Job 39-42 Chapter 39 1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? `Or' canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They cast out their pains. 4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field; They go forth, and return not again. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass, 6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place? 7 He scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searcheth after every green thing. 9 Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave to him thy labor? 12 Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather `the grain' of thy threshing-floor? 13 The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; `But' are they the pinions and plumage of love? 14 For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in the dust, 15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them. 16 She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, `she is' without fear; 17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given the horse `his' might? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane? 20 Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet. 25 As oft as the trumpet `soundeth' he saith, Aha! And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26 Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk soareth, (And) stretcheth her wings toward the south? 27 Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high? 28 On the cliff she dwelleth, and maketh her home, Upon the point of the cliff, and the stronghold. 29 From thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off. 30 Her young ones also suck up blood: And where the slain are, there is she. Chapter 40 1 Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, 4 Behold, I am of small account; What shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further. 6 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8 Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified? 9 Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honor and majesty. 11 Pour forth the overflowings of thine anger; And look upon every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, `and' bring him low; And tread down the wicked where they stand. 13 Hide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden `place'. 14 Then will I also confess of thee That thine own right hand can save thee. 15 Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee; He eateth grass as an ox. 16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the muscles of his belly. 17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his thighs are knit together. 18 His bones are `as' tubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron. 19 He is the chief of the ways of God: He `only' that made him giveth him his sword. 20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field do play. 21 He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen. 22 The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about. 23 Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth. 24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare? Chapter 41 1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord? 2 Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? Or will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee, That thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Will the bands `of fishermen' make traffic of him? Will they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears? 8 Lay thy hand upon him; Remember the battle, and do so no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up; Who then is he that can stand before me? 11 Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? `Whatsoever is' under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame. 13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws? 14 Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror. 15 `His' strong scales are `his' pride, Shut up together `as with' a close seal. 16 One is so near to another, That no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered. 18 His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth. 20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and `burning' rushes. 21 His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth. 22 In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him. 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; Yea, firm as the nether millstone. 25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason of consternation they are beside themselves. 26 If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft. 27 He counteth iron as straw, `And' brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Clubs are counted as stubble: He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin. 30 His underparts are `like' sharp potsherds: He spreadeth `as it were' a threshing-wain upon the mire. 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; One would think the deep to be hoary. 33 Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear. 34 He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride. Chapter 42 1 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. 3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee: 6 Wherefore I abhor `myself', And repent in dust and ashes. 7 And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as Jehovah commanded them: and Jehovah accepted Job. 10 And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him concerning all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold. 12 So Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: And he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemimah: and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16 And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, `even' four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days.

The Danger of a Hardening Heart

Published by InTouch Ministries for reading on June 10th.

Hebrews 3:7-11 7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tried `me' by proving `me,' And saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways; 11 As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

The Hebrews who left Egypt had concrete proof of God’s existence and commitment to them. Yet when the time came for them to claim their promised land, they hardened their hearts against the Lord and refused to believe He would give them victory over the people living in Canaan. So they rebelled, resisting Joshua and Caleb’s pleas and coming up with justifications for their disbelief.

God responded with harsh discipline: 40 years of wandering in the desert until those adults who resisted Him were dead (Num. 14:33-36). Because He considered the lesson about their resistance and discipline so important, the Lord reiterated it in the New Testament (Heb. 3:7-11). He didn’t want people to repeat the Israelites’ mistake of hardening their hearts against Him.

The way to a hardened heart is gradual. It begins with unbelief—that is, hearing but not accepting all or part of God’s Word as true. Instead, a person rebels, choosing to manage his or her affairs without the Lord. This involves ignoring the conscience or justifying unscriptural behavior; eventually, the heart becomes so calcified that the individual is no longer affected by the whisper of God’s Spirit.

It is dangerous to persist in choosing our own way. Not only does the Lord discipline those who rebel against Him; He also withholds opportunities and blessings. If we take seriously God’s warning not to harden ourselves against Him, then we must choose to be obedient. Over time, as our heart grows more tender and receptive, we’ll find that we are unable to make a wrong move without being convicted by the Spirit.

Bible in One Year: Job 39-42 Chapter 39 1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? `Or' canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They cast out their pains. 4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field; They go forth, and return not again. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass, 6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place? 7 He scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searcheth after every green thing. 9 Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave to him thy labor? 12 Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather `the grain' of thy threshing-floor? 13 The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; `But' are they the pinions and plumage of love? 14 For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in the dust, 15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them. 16 She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, `she is' without fear; 17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given the horse `his' might? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane? 20 Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet. 25 As oft as the trumpet `soundeth' he saith, Aha! And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26 Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk soareth, (And) stretcheth her wings toward the south? 27 Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high? 28 On the cliff she dwelleth, and maketh her home, Upon the point of the cliff, and the stronghold. 29 From thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off. 30 Her young ones also suck up blood: And where the slain are, there is she. Chapter 40 1 Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, 4 Behold, I am of small account; What shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further. 6 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8 Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified? 9 Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honor and majesty. 11 Pour forth the overflowings of thine anger; And look upon every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, `and' bring him low; And tread down the wicked where they stand. 13 Hide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden `place'. 14 Then will I also confess of thee That thine own right hand can save thee. 15 Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee; He eateth grass as an ox. 16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the muscles of his belly. 17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his thighs are knit together. 18 His bones are `as' tubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron. 19 He is the chief of the ways of God: He `only' that made him giveth him his sword. 20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field do play. 21 He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen. 22 The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about. 23 Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth. 24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare? Chapter 41 1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord? 2 Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? Or will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee, That thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Will the bands `of fishermen' make traffic of him? Will they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears? 8 Lay thy hand upon him; Remember the battle, and do so no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up; Who then is he that can stand before me? 11 Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? `Whatsoever is' under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame. 13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws? 14 Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror. 15 `His' strong scales are `his' pride, Shut up together `as with' a close seal. 16 One is so near to another, That no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered. 18 His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth. 20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and `burning' rushes. 21 His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth. 22 In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him. 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; Yea, firm as the nether millstone. 25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason of consternation they are beside themselves. 26 If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft. 27 He counteth iron as straw, `And' brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Clubs are counted as stubble: He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin. 30 His underparts are `like' sharp potsherds: He spreadeth `as it were' a threshing-wain upon the mire. 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; One would think the deep to be hoary. 33 Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear. 34 He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride. Chapter 42 1 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. 3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee: 6 Wherefore I abhor `myself', And repent in dust and ashes. 7 And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as Jehovah commanded them: and Jehovah accepted Job. 10 And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him concerning all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold. 12 So Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: And he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemimah: and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16 And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, `even' four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days.

Daily Bible - June 10

Published by Grace To You for reading on June 10th.

Reading for Today:

2 Kings 7:1 Chapter 7 1 And Elisha said, Hear ye the word of Jehovah: thus saith Jehovah, To-morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be `sold' for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. –8:29
Psalms 72:8-16 8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River unto the ends of the earth. 9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; And his enemies shall lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall render tribute: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; All nations shall serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy when he crieth, And the poor, that hath no helper. 13 He will have pity on the poor and needy, And the souls of the needy he will save. 14 He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence; And precious will their blood be in his sight: 15 And they shall live; and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: And men shall pray for him continually; They shall bless him all the day long. 16 There shall be abundance of grain in the earth upon the top of the mountains; The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
Proverbs 18:12-13 12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor `goeth' humility. 13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
John 18:19-40 19 The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing. 21 Why askest thou me? Ask them that have heard `me', what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said. 22 And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? 24 Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. 25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore unto him, Art thou also `one' of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not. 26 One of the servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? 27 Peter therefore denied again: and straightway the cock crew. 28 They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. 29 Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should die. 33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him. 39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 40 They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.)

Notes:

2 Kings 7:6 6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. the Hittites and…Egyptians. Sometime before the arrival of the lepers, the Lord had made the Syrians hear the terrifying sound of a huge army approaching. They thought the Israelite king had hired two massive foreign armies to attack them. The Hittites were descendants of the once-great Hittite Empire who lived in small groups across northern Syria (1 Kin. 10:29). Egypt was in decline at this time, but its army would still have represented a great danger to the Syrians.

2 Kings 8:10 10 And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou shalt surely recover; howbeit Jehovah hath showed me that he shall surely die. recover…die. Ben-Hadad wanted to know whether or not he would recover from his present illness. In response, Elisha affirmed two interrelated things: 1) Ben-Hadad would be restored to health; his present sickness would not be the means of his death. 2) Ben-Hadad would surely die by some other means.

2 Kings 8:11 11 And he settled his countenance stedfastly `upon him', until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. he was ashamed. With a fixed gaze, Elisha stared at Hazael because it had been revealed to him what Hazael would do, including the murder of Ben-Hadad (v. 15). Hazael was embarrassed, knowing that Elisha knew of his plan to assassinate the Syrian king.

Psalms 72:10 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall render tribute: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Tarshish…Seba. Countries near and far which brought tribute to Solomon (1 Kin. 4:21; 10:1, 23, 24; Is. 60:4–7; Jer. 6:20). Tarshish is probably in Spain; Sheba, a kingdom in southern Arabia (modern Yemen); and Seba, a North African nation.

John 18:36 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. My kingdom is not of this world. By this phrase, Jesus meant that His kingdom is not connected to earthly political and national entities, nor does it have its origin in the evil world system that is in rebellion against God. If His kingdom was of this world, He would have fought. The kingships of this world preserve themselves by fighting with force. Messiah’s kingdom does not originate in the efforts of man but with the Son of Man forcefully and decisively conquering sin in the lives of His people and someday conquering the evil world system at His Second Coming when He establishes the earthly form of His kingdom. His kingdom was no threat to the national identity of Israel or the political and military identity of Rome. It exists in the spiritual dimension until the end of the age (Rev.11:15).

DAY 10: Why was the trial of Jesus conducted by the Romans rather than the Sanhedrin?

Jesus was led from the trial before Caiaphas to the Praetorium in John 18:28 28 They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. .This was the headquarters of the commanding officer of the Roman military camp or the headquarters of the Roman military governor (i.e., Pilate). Pilate’s normal headquarters was in Caesarea, in the palace that Herod the Great had built for himself. However, Pilate and his predecessors made it a point to be in Jerusalem during the feasts in order to quell any riots. Jerusalem became his praetorium or headquarters. It was “early morning.” The word is ambiguous. Most likely, it refers to around 6:00 a.m. since many Roman officials began their day very early and finished by 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. Those who brought Jesus did not go into the Praetorium “lest they should be defiled.” Jewish oral law gives evidence that a Jew who entered the dwelling places of Gentiles became ceremonially unclean. Their remaining outside in the colonnade avoided that pollution. John loads this statement with great irony by noting the chief priests’ scrupulousness in the matter of ceremonial cleansing, when all the time they were incurring incomparably greater moral defilement by their proceedings against Jesus.

“What accusation…?” (v. 29). This question formally opened the Roman civil phase of proceedings against Jesus. The fact that Roman troops were used at the arrest proves that the Jewish authorities communicated something about this case to Pilate in advance. Although they most likely had expected Pilate to confirm their judgment against Jesus and order His death sentence, Pilate ordered instead a fresh hearing in his presence.

When Pilate told them to take Jesus back and try Him themselves, the Jews objected on the basis that “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death” (v. 31). When Rome took over Judea and began direct rule through a prefect in A.D. 6, capital jurisdiction (i.e., the right to execute) was taken away from the Jews and given to the Roman governor. Capital punishment was the most jealously guarded of all the attributes in Roman provincial administration.

By a Roman crucifixion, it also fulfilled “the saying of Jesus” (v. 32) that He would die by being lifted up (3:14; 8:28; 12:32, 33). If the Jews had executed Him, it would have been by throwing Him down and stoning Him. But God providentially controlled all the political procedures to assure that, when sentence was finally passed, He would be crucified by the Romans and not stoned by the Jews, as was Stephen ( Acts 7:59 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon `the Lord', and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ).

Additional Resources

June 10 - Example of the Birds

Published by Grace To You for reading on June 10th.

“‘Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns,and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?’” ( Matthew 6:26 26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they? ).

Many birds live in northern Galilee, and it’s likely some flew by as Jesus was teaching. As an object lesson, Jesus called attention to the fact that birds do not have intricate and involved processes for acquiring food.

Like every creature, birds receive their life from God. And He provides them with an abundance of food resources and the instinct to find those resources for themselves and their offspring. The Lord asked Job, “Who prepares for the raven its nourishment when its young cry to God?” ( Job 38:41 41 Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, `And' wander for lack of food? ). The obvious answer is: God does.

If God is so careful to provide for such relatively insignificant creatures as birds, how much more will He take care of those He created in His own image and who have become His children through faith?

This doesn’t mean Jesus is suggesting that birds do nothing to feed themselves. But they never worry about where their next meal is going to come from. They gather food until they have enough, and then go about whatever other business they may have until time for the next meal.

Use this example of a bird’s worry-free life and adopt the same attitude for yourself.

Ask Yourself

It really is worth reiterating that birds don’t sit around waiting for their needs to be met. Keep your eye to an open window one morning, and you’ll see just how industrious they are. How does this help you understand Jesus’ words better? In what ways have laziness and other lacks of good character increased your worry quotient?

Additional Resources

Integrity Proves God's Faithfulness

Published by Grace To You for reading on June 10th.

“Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm” ( Daniel 1:18-20 18 And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm. ).

God always equips you for the tasks He requires of you.

Daniel and the other young men deported in 606 B.C. received three years of intense training under the watchful eye of the commander of King Nebuchadnezzar’s officials. At the conclusion of their training, they were presented to the king for his personal evaluation. The results were impressive indeed. Of all those who were trained, none compared to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Beyond that, they were found to be ten times better than all the wise men in the entire kingdom of Babylon! Consequently, at the age of only seventeen or eighteen, they were made the king’s personal servants.

Why were these young men so superior to their peers? It wasn’t simply their training, because each man had received the same education. The difference was their character and the faithful provisions of their God, who granted them special knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom (v. 17). They were so righteous and wise that even those who did not believe in their God were compelled to acknowledge the quality of their lives. That’s the impact every believer should have on those around them!

God wants you to live the kind of life that silences those who would seek to malign you or your God ( 1 Peter 2:15 15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: ), and He has provided every spiritual resource for you to do so ( 2 Peter 1:3 3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; ). Therefore, when you live with integrity, you prove to others that God really does accomplish His work in those who love Him.

Suggestions for Prayer

Make a list of spiritual resources that are yours in Christ, then praise Him for each of them.

For Further Study

Read Psalms 119:97-104 97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word. 102 I have not turned aside from thine ordinances; For thou hast taught me. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! `Yea, sweeter' than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way. .

What are the psalmist’s attitudes toward God’s Word (His “law”)?
What steps did he take to ensure that godliness would be evident in his life?

Additional Resources

Applying the Word Without Delay

Published by Grace To You for reading on June 10th.

"If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was" ( James 1:23-24 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ).

Always respond immediately to what you know to be God’s will for you.

Men, have you ever been at work and touched your face, only to realize that you forgot to shave? Perhaps you were distracted by your wife's call to breakfast or by one of the kids. Ladies, have you ever been out in public and suddenly realized that you forgot to apply some of your makeup? Those are common occurrences that illustrate what it means to hear God's Word but fail to respond.

James 1:23 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: says, "If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror." "Looks" doesn't refer to a casual glance but to a careful, cautious, observant stare. This person is taking a good, long look at himself. Hearers of the Word are not necessarily superficial or casual in their approach to Scripture. They can be serious students of the Word. The fact is, some seminary professors or Sunday School teachers are not true believers. Some even write commentaries and other Bible reference works. Your response to the Word—not your depth of study alone—is the issue with God.

Despite the hearer's lingering look, he failed to respond and the image reflected in the mirror soon faded. That's reminiscent of Jesus saying, "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart" (Matt. 13:19). The Word was sown but it bore no fruit. The man looked into the mirror but he made no corrections.

Perhaps there's something God's Word is instructing you to do that you've been putting off. If so, delay no longer. Don't be a forgetful hearer!

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask God to teach you to be more disciplined in responding to the dictates of His Word.

For Further Study

Read Matthew 13:1-23 Chapter 13 1 On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach. 3 And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some `seeds' fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them: 5 and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them: 8 and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He that hath ears, let him hear. 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not. 18 Hear then ye the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, `then' cometh the evil `one', and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side. 20 And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; 21 yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth. 22 And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. , noting the various soils and what they represent.

Additional Resources

When Reason Serves Rebellion

Published by John Piper for reading on June 10th.

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” ( Proverbs 22:13 13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets. )

This is not what I expected the proverb to say. I would have expected it to say, “The coward says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’” But it says, “sluggard,” not “coward.” So the controlling emotion here is laziness, not fear.

But what does laziness have to do with the danger of a lion in the street? We don’t say, “This man is too lazy to go do his work because there is a lion outside.”

The point is that the sluggard creates imaginary circumstances to justify not doing his work, and thus shifts the focus from the vice of his laziness to the danger of lions. No one will approve his staying in the house all day just because he is lazy.

One profound biblical insight we need to know is that our hearts exploit our minds to justify what our hearts want. That is, our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right.

This is what the sluggard is doing. He deeply desires to stay at home and not work. There is no good reason to stay at home. So what does he do? Does he overcome his bad desire? No, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire.

Doing the evil we love makes us hostile to the light of truth. In this condition, the mind becomes a factory of half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions and lies — anything to protect the evil desires of the heart from exposure and destruction.

Consider and be wise.

Morning Devotional by C.H. Spurgeon for June 10th

Published by C.H. Spurgeon for reading on June 10th.

Romans 14:8 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

IF God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion. It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for immortality that we should tarry here. It is possible for a man to be taken to heaven, and to be found meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, though he has but just believed in Jesus. It is true that our sanctification is a long and continued process, and we shall not be perfected till we lay aside our bodies and enter within the veil; but nevertheless, had the Lord so willed it, He might have changed us from imperfection to perfection, and have taken us to heaven at once. Why then are we here? Would God keep His children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? Why is the army of the living God still on the battle-field when one charge might give them the victory? Why are His children still wandering hither and thither through a maze, when a solitary word from His lips would bring them into the centre of their hopes in heaven? The answer is—they are here that they may "live unto the Lord," and may bring others to know His love. We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the "salt of the earth," to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for Him, and as "workers together with Him." Let us see that our life answereth its end. Let us live earnest, useful, holy lives, to "the praise of the glory of His grace." Meanwhile we long to be with Him, and daily sing—

"My heart is with Him on His throne, And ill can brook delay; Each moment listening for the voice, 'Rise up, and come away.'"

Evening Devotional by C.H. Spurgeon for June 10th

Published by C.H. Spurgeon for reading on June 10th.

John 5:39 39 Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;

JESUS Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the Bible. He is the constant theme of its sacred pages; from first to last they testify of Him. At the creation we at once discern Him as one of the sacred Trinity; we catch a glimpse of Him in the promise of the woman's seed; we see Him typified in the ark of Noah; we walk with Abraham, as He sees Messiah's day; we dwell in the tents of Isaac and Jacob, feeding upon the gracious promise; we hear the venerable Israel talking of Shiloh; and in the numerous types of the law, we find the Redeemer abundantly foreshadowed. Prophets and kings, priests and preachers, all look one way—they all stand as the cherubs did over the ark, desiring to look within, and to read the mystery of God's great propitiation. Still more manifestly in the New Testament we find our Lord the one pervading subject. It is not an ingot here and there, or dust of gold thinly scattered, but here you stand upon a solid floor of gold; for the whole substance of the New Testament is Jesus crucified, and even its closing sentence is bejewelled with the Redeemer's name. We should always read Scripture in this light; we should consider the word to be as a mirror into which Christ looks down from heaven; and then we, looking into it, see His face reflected as in a glass—darkly, it is true, but still in such a way as to be a blessed preparation for seeing Him as we shall see Him face to face. This volume contains Jesus Christ's letters to us, perfumed by His love. These pages are the garments of our King, and they all smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia. Scripture is the royal chariot in which Jesus rides, and it is paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem. The Scriptures are the swaddling bands of the holy child Jesus; unroll them and you find your Saviour. The quintessence of the word of God is Christ.