September 8, 2006 - Proverbs 3-5 and II Corinthians 1
It is impossible for me to understand how people live without knowing the Lord and having a growing relationship with Him. That must be why there is so much stress related illness, and it must be why people do so many things to kill the pain or to run from it. God loves them all so much, and He wants them to find the peace and joy that come through knowing Him, but Satan has deceived them into thinking that turning to the Lord would not meet their needs. We must do everything we can do to show them the love of Christ before it is too late.
As I read His Word today, God showed me the benefits of knowing Him. The first benefit is gaining wisdom, since we come to know the Author of wisdom. As we grow in Him, we grow in wisdom, and as we live as He designed us to live, we have all of His blessings. As you read Proverbs 3-5, allow the blessings of wisdom to overwhelm your soul. Mark them, and see how many you are experiencing right now. Then, see how many are lacking in some way. Ask the Lord to help you know Him better, so you can have His wisdom and experience these blessings.
The same is true about II Corinthians 1. Do you know God as the Father of mercies? (v.3) Do you know Him as the God of all comfort? My experience has been that most Christians are upset about something, or there is a hurt in their lives that is effecting them in a negative way. They try to compensate for it, or they try to meet that need in some human way. They never get relief. They never find the peace and resolution, until they find the mercy and comfort of God. That is what Paul tells us here. We who have found God's comfort are to show others how to receive it. We have no idea how our own testimony could help another person until we take time to sit down with them and to share what God has done for us and what He can do for them. I pray that all of us would be ready to share God's comfort with others on a daily basis.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 6-7 and II Corinthians 2.
As I read His Word today, God showed me the benefits of knowing Him. The first benefit is gaining wisdom, since we come to know the Author of wisdom. As we grow in Him, we grow in wisdom, and as we live as He designed us to live, we have all of His blessings. As you read Proverbs 3-5, allow the blessings of wisdom to overwhelm your soul. Mark them, and see how many you are experiencing right now. Then, see how many are lacking in some way. Ask the Lord to help you know Him better, so you can have His wisdom and experience these blessings.
The same is true about II Corinthians 1. Do you know God as the Father of mercies? (v.3) Do you know Him as the God of all comfort? My experience has been that most Christians are upset about something, or there is a hurt in their lives that is effecting them in a negative way. They try to compensate for it, or they try to meet that need in some human way. They never get relief. They never find the peace and resolution, until they find the mercy and comfort of God. That is what Paul tells us here. We who have found God's comfort are to show others how to receive it. We have no idea how our own testimony could help another person until we take time to sit down with them and to share what God has done for us and what He can do for them. I pray that all of us would be ready to share God's comfort with others on a daily basis.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 6-7 and II Corinthians 2.