"Word of God Speak"

November 6, 2011 (Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3-4)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” Galatians 3:3 NLT

Observation: The Galatian believers had become fascinated and deceived by the false teachers’ arguments, almost as though an evil spell had been cast on them. They had taken a step backward in their faith when they insisted that the Jewish Laws must be kept. Paul reminds them that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. We don’t, nor can we, earn salvation by keeping the law. We are not made right with God by our ability to keep the rules, we are made right with God by faith, and faith alone. We strive to keep the commandments of God, not to win His favor, but because His favor is upon us. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are given a new nature, a nature that longs to please God.

Application: Christ didn’t come to do away with the Law, but rather to fulfill it. The Law was meant to reveal our sins to us; it did then, and it still does today. Our works do not save us, and contrary to popular belief, our works do not save others either. It is faith in Jesus Christ that saves. It is by His Spirit that we are molded into the people God wants us to become. Keeping a list of do’s and don’ts doesn’t make one “more saved” than others. However, being obedient to God’s standard of holiness does make God well pleased with us. God is pleased when His children, because of their great love for Him, choose to be obedient to His standards. It is by His Spirit that we have the ability to please Him, not of ourselves.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your word that reproves, rebukes, corrects and instructs me. Give me wisdom to know what’s right and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Thank You for Your strong right arm that fights for me and wins! Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day. In Jesus name, Amen!

November 5, 2011 (Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “And this is what He (God) says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'” Job 28:28 NLT

Observation: People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold. They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock. They know how to dam up rivers and streams to create lakes. They know how to build super computers that enable people to communicate with others thousands of miles away. They know how to build great ships that sail around the world, and great vessels that travel into outer space. But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? God alone understands the way to wisdom; He knows where it can be found. He says to all humanity, ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom and to forsake evil is real understanding.’

Application: We claim to live in the era of “no fear” yet the evidence of our fears is apparent for all to see. Will the stock market crash? Is the tumor growing inside me cancer? Will I have enough money to pay my mortgage this month? Is my job secure? Will I ever be able to retire and enjoy the easy life? A lot of fear surrounds us, but is it the right kind of fear? Our culture teaches us to fear all the wrong things and leads us away from the one fear that can rescue us and lead us to true wisdom, the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and to forsake evil is real understanding. If a person continues to walk in wickedness they have neither true wisdom nor real understanding.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the blessings You give. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day. Thank You for the true wisdom You provide through my healthful fear of You. Help me forsake all evil so that I can experience real understanding. Give me the wisdom to know what’s right and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard, in Jesus name, Amen!

November 4, 2011 (Job 26-27; Mark 15-16)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.” Mark 16:11 NASB

Observation: The resurrected Christ has risen and appeared to Mary. She went and told the disciples but they refused to believe her. Even though Jesus foretold them of this time they still refused to believe it could be happening. So Jesus appeared to two of the others, still the remaining did not believe them either. Finally Jesus appeared to the eleven and He reprimanded them because of their unbelief and hardness of heart. (Mark 16:11-14)

Application: Jesus has foretold us of events to come as well. Yet we refuse to believe them when they begin to happen just like the disciples did. Jesus told us in the last days people would not endure sound doctrine, yet we act astonished and amazed when we see this take place. Jesus warned us that in the last days good would be called evil, and evil would be lifted up as good. We shouldn’t be shocked or surprised when what Jesus says comes to pass. We need to believe the words He spoke and rejoice when we see them happening.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your word that never fails! Thank You for the forewarning of things to come, eradicate our unbelief and forgive us. Help me trust in You and believe in Your word and rejoice when I see these things coming about. Jesus come quickly and receive those who belong to You as Your own. Save those who are to be saved, deliver those who are to be delivered, set free those who You have determined should be set free, condemn and punish those who refuse to believe in You, in Jesus name, Amen!

November 3, 2011 (Job 25; Mark 13-14)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23 NASB

Observation: Jesus told us everything we need to know in advance. He left us the warning signs we could look out for. He knew that false Christ would arise and try to deceive people into following them instead of Christ. There’s an old saying that says misery loves company, well, deception loves company too!

Application: How do we take heed? Or maybe the better question is how are we failing to take heed? As Christians our first priority should be God and learning His word and precepts. I believe most who profess to know Christ fail in this area. We trust far too much in someone else’s interpretation without ever opening the pages of God’s word to see for ourselves. Christ has given us the answer to every problem. He has given us the encouragement we need to face any obstacle. He has provided nourishment for our souls that this world knows nothing of. All of this is found within the pages of His Holy Word.

Prayer: Lord, I praise and lift up my hands in worship to You this morning. You’re the awesome God who reigns forever and ever. Thank You for Your word that provides for us in so many ways. Place a hunger and thirst for Your word within each person that proclaims to have a relationship with You. Let our actions match our profession daily, in Jesus name, Amen!

November 2, 2011 (Job 23-24; Mark 11-12)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.” Mark 11:13 NASB

Observation: Jesus went to the fig tree looking for some fruit. The tree had leaves of profession but no fruit. It was not the season for figs yet Christ still expected to find fruit. He said to the fig tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again” and it came to pass. The next morning the tree had withered from the roots up.

Application: Jesus is looking for fruit in our lives as well. Often times we have leaves of profession, but no fruit. When we say, “I’m a Christian, I believe in Jesus” we are waving our leaves, but is there any fruit? If Jesus came unto you today what would He find? He expects us to have some fruit at all times! We must be instant in season and out of season. It’s not enough to just profess Christ, we must produce evidence of His life in us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for providing fruit in my life. You water my soul with Your Spirit and feed me with Your word. Thank You. Increase the production of fruit in my life. When You come unto me may You find fruit that is pleasing in Your site and accepted by Your hand. Provide fruit in season and out of season, in Jesus name, Amen!

November 1, 2011 (Psalm 121; Mark 9-10)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:48 NASB

Observation: A blind beggar named Bartimaeus wanted a miracle from Jesus. And he wasn’t going to be silenced by the others around him. They looked at him as second class and sternly told him to shut up! Even though he was blind he could see better than them all. When he heard Jesus was walking by he saw his healing just inches away. His faith made him well and immediately he began following Jesus.

Application: We often look down at others that may not look the same as us. Maybe they’re different in color, size or from a different country. Maybe they’re young or old, rich or poor. Maybe they’re blind, deaf, mute, or crippled. Regardless of the difference they could be seeing God more clearly than you! When a person is crying out to God for mercy don’t deny them, don’t hinder them, in fact you really should do all you can to help them reach Jesus. And if you’re the one that’s being told to “pipe down”, never give up in your quest to reach Jesus!

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your blessings, mercy and grace. You’re an awesome God! Help me I pray see others the way you see them. If I hear of someone crying out for You grant me the blessing of helping them. Remind me not to tell them to pipe down but instead to lift up my voice with them seeking You! May I sow seeds of mercy to others so that a harvest of mercy is available when I need it, in Jesus name, Amen!

October 31, 2011 (Job 22; Mark 7-8)

From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:

Scripture: “He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.” Mark 7:9 NASB

Observation: The Pharisees and scribes were experts at tradition but neglected the commandments of God. They were so careful to keep their hands washed, yet their hearts were filthy with sin. They put their tradition above and before God’s commands, and they used their tradition as an excuse to justify their actions.

Application: When our tradition become more important than God’s commands we have went astray. God’s ways must be put first and His standards we must uphold. Our tradition should be built around God’s standards and His commands so that they bring honor and glory to Him. Never should our tradition stop us from doing God’s commands. God is first, our tradition is somewhere further down the list of things that are important. If we are experts at anything, it should be experts in obedience to God’s commands.

Prayer: Father praise and honor to Your name! You are God and no other is greater than You. Lord I struggle with being an expert in obedience to Your commands. Please forgive me. Help me submit completely to You and Your commands. Lord may I never allow or use tradition as an excuse to disobey Your commands. Create in me a clean heart and a right spirit that honors You by keeping Your commandments. In Jesus name, Amen!