Open the Bible UK Daily
3 minute daily Bible reflections from Open the Bible UK, authored by Colin Smith, read by Sue McLeish.
Episodes
One More Assurance in Times of Crisis
In love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.Isaiah 38:17When you face an unexpected crisis and your faith is tested, you can say, “I am loved” and “I am saved.” Here is the third thing you can say:I am forgiven“You have cast all my sins behind your back” (38:17). Here’s what God has done in love so that you would be saved from the
Assurance of Faith in Times of Crisis
In love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.Isaiah 38:17When you face an unexpected crisis and your faith is tested, there are three things you can always say for sure. Here are the first two:I am loved“In love you have delivered my life” (38:17). Literally, “You loved me out of the pit.” Nothing is surer in life than the love of G
Faith Prays for What God Has Promised
Oh restore me to health and make me live!Isaiah 38:16Hezekiah responds to the promise of verse 5 with the prayer of verse 16. God said, “I will add fifteen years to your life” (38:5). Hezekiah prays, “Oh restore me to health and make me live!” (38:16).Faith prays for what God has promised. “Lord, do what you have said! Heal me! Give me those 15 years!”My pastor, Derek Prime, would often say, “Pray
Faith Is Strengthened by the Word of God
O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live!Isaiah 38:16It’s hard to be sure of the precise order of events in Hezekiah’s life, but here’s the most likely reconstruction:Hezekiah became sick to the point of death (38:1)Despite being a godly man, he struggled with bitterness (38:15)Isaiah said, “Set your house in order, for y
How God Can Use a Test of Faith for Our Good
It was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction.Isaiah 38:17Notice what Hezekiah says here: “It was for my welfare that I had great bitterness.” How could God use this man’s bitterness for his good? The answer is in verse 15: “I walk slowly all my years.” “Walk slowly” means “walk humbly.” Hezekiah is saying, “I used to think th
An Unexpected Crisis Will Test Your Faith
What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.Isaiah 38:15When you go through an unexpected crisis, your faith will be tested. Hezekiah is writing after he recovered from his illness (38:9). Looking back, he is full of thanksgiving: “He has spoken to me, and he himself has done it” (38:15).The words God spoke
Let Your Anguish Lead You to Jesus—Part 2
I am sure that neither death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:38All Christians will experience anguish. But when you experience anguish, what are you to do? Here are two situations that can lead you to Jesus:1. When you fear being cut off, let your anguish lead you to JesusJesus knows what it is to be cut off. Isaiah says, “He was cut off
Let Your Anguish Lead You to Jesus – Part 1
He [Jesus] has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”Hebrews 13:5Jesus knows what it is to be separated from loved ones. At the Last Supper, He said to His disciples, “I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Mat. 26:29).No one ever loved with a more perfect love than Jesus. With all His heart, He would have want
The Fear that God Might Be Against You
I calmed myself until morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones.Isaiah 38:13Hezekiah feels as if he is being mauled by a lion, and he fears that the lion may be God Himself! And if God is against him, what hope does he have?Why would this godly king fear that God might be against him? A godly man knows that even at his best, he falls far short of what God calls him to be.We can be thankful for t
The Fear of Being “Cut Off” by Death
In the middle of my days I must depart… like a weaver I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom; from day to night you bring me to an end.Isaiah 38:10, 12Your life is like a piece of fabric being formed on a weaver’s loom. The threads are woven together, some of them bright, and some dark. But all of them are woven by God.One day the weaver cuts the fabric from the loom. That’s it! It
The Fear of Leaving Loved Ones Behind
I said, I shall not see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living; I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.Isaiah 38:11Hezekiah knows that he will see the Lord in the world to come. His point is that that he will no longer see the Lord as he has in the past when he has worshipped with God’s people in the temple.When we worship, we behold the beauty of the Lord. David says
The Feelings of a Godly King in the Middle of a Crisis
A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, after he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness.Isaiah 38:9The beginning of Hezekiah’s crisis was shock, the end was hope, but the middle was anguish.Perhaps this is where you are today. You have moved through the shock of being disrupted by a crisis. You have affirmed your hope in God. But now you are feeling the anguish, and it looks like it will o
When Your Life Is Slipping Away, This Will Be the Only Question That Matters
The word of the LORD came to [Isaiah]: “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah… I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.”2 Kings 20:4-5Here in 2 Kings, we get a fuller picture of what happened. Hezekiah is at the point of death, and Isaiah says, “Set your house in order, for you shall die.” Hezekiah turns to the wall and prays (20:1-2).Isaiah leaves, but God says, “Turn b
Things That Only God Can Do
Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?”Isaiah 38:22Hezekiah was sick and “at the point of death” (38:1). It must have been hard to believe that God would heal him. So, God gave him a sign.“Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had
Thank God When He Makes the Means Effective
Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.”2 Kings 20:5There are two ways to lose the path of wisdom. One is to forget the means that God uses. The other is to forget that it is God who uses the means.Isaiah said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil” (Isa. 38:21). But God said, “Behold I will heal
How God Can Use You as a Means of Blessing Others
Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.”Isaiah 38:21What would you think of a person who said, “God will give strength to my body, so there is no need for me to eat”? Or, “God will keep me warm, so there is no need for me to wear clothing”?God gives strength to your body by means of the food you eat. God gives warmth to your body by means of th
Use the Means God Makes Available
Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.”Isaiah 38:21This gives us a clue about Hezekiah’s illness. There was a boil, evidence of an infection raging in his body. And Isaiah told the king to apply a dressing on the infected area, using a cake of figs.Hezekiah did not have the blessing of modern medicine, but this was the means that was available
God Normally Works Through Means
The word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.’”Isaiah 38:4-5Let’s look at the happy ending of Hezekiah’s story. We will see what God did and how He did it. What we find in these verses speaks clearly to any crisis we may face today.Heze
How You Can Have a Clear Conscience Before God
“You have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.”Isaiah 38:17Maybe you will say today, “I have not sought God in prayer, and I don’t have a clear conscience. I can’t say that I have walked before God in faithfulness. I have not served Him with my whole heart. I have not done what is good in His sight. So how can I get a clean conscience? How
Is Your Life’s Work Done?
Hezekiah wept bitterly.Isaiah 38:3When Hezekiah faced this unexpected crisis, the first thing he did was to pray, and the second thing he did was seek to live with a clear conscience. Notice what happened next: “Hezekiah wept bitterly” (38:3).Why did he weep bitterly? Why did Hezekiah not say like Paul, “To depart… is far better” (Phil. 1:23)? Or, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:2
The Second Response of a Godly Person to an Unexpected Crisis
“Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.”Isaiah 38:3Hezekiah’s first response to the crisis was to seek the face of God in prayer. His second response was to seek to live with a clear conscience.Look again at Hezekiah’s prayer. Is he holding up his faithfulness as leverage in his prayer? Some commentato
The First Response of a Godly Person to an Unexpected Crisis
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD.Isaiah 38:2How did Hezekiah respond to this unexpected crisis? How will you respond in a crisis?The first thing Hezekiah did was to seek the face of God in prayer. When Isaiah comes with grim news, Hezekiah turns to the wall and prays. There were any number of questions that the king could have asked. “How long do I have to live? Why
When Bad Things Happen to Godly People
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death.Isaiah 38:1We are looking at the story of a godly king. And yet of this man we read that he became sick and was near death.This was a painful affliction. And it happened at the worst possible time. The king and all of God’s people were suddenly plunged into an unexpected crisis.Anyone who has become sick knows that it changes everyth
God Can Redeem Your Background
[Hezekiah] did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.2 Kings 18:3Hezekiah was one of the best kings God’s people ever had. He was the son of Ahaz, who was one of the worst (16:1–4; 18:1). This reminds us that God can redeem people from the worst background and move their lives in a totally different direction.Here’s what the Bible tells us about Hezekiah:He lived a good and righteous lifeHe did w
When You Face One Crisis After Another
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death.Isaiah 38:1“Those days” is a reference to a time when God’s people were under attack. The king of Assyria had invaded the Promised Land. He began in the north, where 10 tribes had broken away from the line of David. The northern kingdom was overwhelmed, and its people were scattered.This is a story about an unexpected change in the l
The Opportunity Money Provides
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.Proverbs 11:24This seems counterintuitive. Surely if I give freely, I will have less. How does this principle work out in practice?Think about farming. The farmer has a sack of seed. What does he do? He scatters it freely. Then, when harvest comes, the seed comes back to him in greater abundanc
The Priority of Giving
Honour the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty.Proverbs 3:9–10“Honour” means “give weight to.” Give weight to the Lord with your wealth. You do this by laying aside a portion of all that God has given you and giving it back to Him.What should you put aside?“The firstfruits of all your produce.” Firstfruits are the first par
Four Ways Money Will Tempt You
Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.Proverbs 30:8-9Proverbs warns us about four temptations that will come with money.1. The temptation to controlThe people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it
Two Dangers of Money
No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money.Matthew 6:24If money is a blessing, how can it also be a danger? Because money is a power. It lures us as a rival god and then makes increasing demands. It will seek to take control of your life. Money is a great servant, but it is not a good master.We must all give an account for what we did with the money God has entrusted to us. The
Where Riches Come From
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich… The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.Proverbs 10:4, 22Solomon affirms the reward of hard work. But then he goes on to say that the blessing of the Lord makes one rich. So, which is it, Solomon? Does it depend on our hard work, or does it depend on the Lord?If you put these two statements together, t
How Jesus Approached His Work
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”John 17:4If we want to have the joy that Jesus had, we need to live like Jesus lived. This was His approach to the work the Father gave Him to do:Jesus began earlyThe sluggard was slow to start but at the age of twelve, Jesus was in the temple (Lk. 2:49). He gave Himself to the Father’s business, and He did it out of l
A Powerful Description of Laziness
Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.Galatians 6:9Author and professor Rebecca DeYoung describes laziness or sloth as “resistance to the demands of love.” Then she talks about what can all too easily happen in a marriage—a husband and wife get into an argument, and they retreat to different parts of the house. It’s easier to stay at a miserable
The Surprising Motive of the Hard-Working Person
I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.Proverbs 24:30–31Picture a wise man walking in the countryside. First, he goes past a field of ripening corn. Then he goes past a vineyard with clusters of grapes on the vine. Then he goes past a little ve
The Profile of an Unproductive Person
The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.Proverbs 20:4Here is how Proverbs describes the sluggard, or the unproductive person:He is slow to startThe sluggard does not plough in the autumn (20:4). This draws attention to the long-term effects of putting off the things we need to do. There is a season for ploughing, for sowing, and for reaping. Ploughing is
Wisdom for Work
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.Proverbs 19:24We are looking today at the theme of work, or more precisely, its opposite.The book of Proverbs introduces us to a tragic character whose life ends in ruin. The name of this character is the sluggard. He is referred to 14 times.The sluggard is presented in comic terms, like when you see a caricature
How You Can Bless Others with Your Words
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.Psalm 19:14Your words will be a blessing when you have:An open earLet every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger (Jas. 1:19). Having an open ear means listening to the words of others. It also means listening to the Word of God. “Incline your ear, and hear the word
Four Prayers for Wise Words
“What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.”Matthew 15:18The Proverbs encourage us to speak in certain ways, and to avoid speaking in other ways. Let’s frame four prayers from the book of Proverbs, asking for God’s help with our words.Lord, help me to speak with restraintThe heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things (15:28).Words pour
Two Very Surprising Effects of Our Words
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.Proverbs 18:21What you say comes out of you, but it also goes down inside you. It goes to the stomach (18:20). Your own cursing will go deep down into your own soul. They are bitter fruits, and they will make your soul sick. You will eat your own words.The tongue is the means by which we bring great help or ha
Why Your Words Matter
Death and life are in the power of the tongue.Proverbs 18:21We have looked at the way of wisdom in relation to friends and family, and today we come to wisdom in our words. There are more proverbs on what we say than on any other subject. The tongue is the means by which we bring the greatest help or harm to others.There is death in the power of the tongueThere is one whose rash words are like swo
The Power of Example
My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live.Proverbs 7:1-2The only commands that are life-giving are the words and commands of God. But here is a father who has made God’s words his own: “My teaching. My words. My commandments.” What he commends to his son is what he pursues himself. That is the power of example.If you are a parent, a great motivat
Wisdom for Parents
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.Proverbs 22:6Remember that the Proverbs are not promises. Still, this is a stunning statement: Your influence in the lives of your children goes deeper than you may think. It will still be with them, even when they are old!The thief on the cross lived his life in rebellion against God, yet he said to the thief
Wisdom for Children
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.Proverbs 10:1You might be surprised to hear that the largest number of proverbs relating to family life are addressed to parents and to children. Let’s begin with God’s wisdom for children.Always seek to bring joy to your parentsHonour your father and your mother (Ex. 20:12). The word honour means “give weight to” or “rega
Wisdom for Husbands and Wives
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord.Proverbs 18:22Your spouse is a gift from the Lord. These are the words of Solomon to his son Rehoboam, and this wise father commends marriage to his son as a good thing. Marriage is a good gift from the Lord.We live in a culture that flaunts freedom. “Who wants to be tied down?” The Bible has a very different view of marriage.
Wisdom for Brothers and Sisters
A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.Proverbs 18:19If you have a good relationship with your brother or sister, cherish it and guard it, because Proverbs reminds us that close relationships are vulnerable to deep wounds that don’t heal easily. “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city.” You see this in the Old Testam
How to Find a Best Friend
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.Proverbs 18:24The Lord Jesus Christ is the best friend you can ever have.1. Jesus will always be with youHe says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:4). No one else can say this to you. In every adversity, in life and in death, Jesus is the friend who will always be with you.2. The word
How to Be a True Friend
Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbour who is near than a brother who is far away.Proverbs 27:10What are the qualities of a true friend? How can you be a better friend? Proverbs gives us a profile of a true friend.1. A true friend is presentDo not go to your brother’s house in the day of your cal
Guard Your Friendships Carefully
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbour’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.Proverbs 25:17Proverbs gives us two ways to guard our friendships:First, by being considerateThe easiest way to kill a good friendship is to become demanding. Here is a person who becomes friends with his neighbour, but then he overdoes it! Eventually the neighbour has had enough.Be considerate not only of
Choose Your Friends Wisely
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.Proverbs 13:20The people with whom you are closest will have the greatest influence in your life. The character of the friends you choose will rub off on you. And the deeper a friendship becomes, the more like your friend you will become. Friendship can bring you great good or do you great harm, depending on the
Be Intentional with Your Friendships
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgement.Proverbs 18:1In Proverbs we are looking at what it means to follow the way of wisdom in five areas: friends, family, words, work, and wealth. Today, we begin by looking at friendship.“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire” (18:1). That is, he is concerned about himself. And if you are only concerned ab
“The Fear of the Lord” Is Not Fear of Punishment
With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.Psalm 130:4To “fear the Lord” means to love Him so much that His frown would be your greatest dread and His smile would be your greatest delight.There is a fear that love removes, and there is a fear that love brings.The fear that love removes is the fear of punishment. There is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).The
What Is Your First Reaction to “the Fear of the Lord”?
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.Proverbs 9:10What is your first reaction to “the fear of the LORD”? If you have endured a religion based on fear, you may say, “I had enough of that when I was young; I don’t want anything to do with it now.”If that is what you feel, look at the good that is promised here, and see if you may discover some
Three Benefits of Wisdom
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.Proverbs 3:16–17Here are three things that wisdom brings to us:1. Long lifeLong life is in her right hand (3:16). If you eat a proper diet, you will enjoy better health than if you live on junk food. That doesn’t guarantee you will never have cancer, but the genera
What’s in It (Wisdom) for Me?
The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.Matthew 7:14Proverbs describes what it looks like to follow Jesus Christ. It lays out the life to which wisdom calls us, the life of a disciple of Jesus.We are going to look at what it means to follow Jesus, what it means to follow the way of wisdom in regard to your friendships, your family, your words, your
The Point of the Proverbs
Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?Proverbs 8:1In Proverbs 8, wisdom speaks, but whose voice is this? The answer is found in the New Testament.Jesus is described as the wisdom of God: “You are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God” (1 Cor. 1:30). “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2-3).So, when we read in Proverbs th
How to Read the Book of Proverbs
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom.Proverbs 3:13Wisdom is the skill you need for putting together a successful life—or to put it another way—wisdom is “life skills.” Over these next days, we’re going to look together at what the Bible has to say on practical issues like friends, family, words, work, and wealth.We will be talking here about the skills of building friendships, raising children, and
The Kind of Sorrow God Wants You to Experience
Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.2 Corinthians 7:10There are two kinds of grief (or sorrow). Worldly sorrow brings death. You can be full of regret and never change; you can be sorry without repenting. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. Godly sorrow leads to real and lasting chan
Where You Will Find the Courage to Repent
‘He arose and came to his father.’Luke 15:20The prodigal son was absolutely miserable. But it takes courage to go back home. How do you find the courage to begin the long journey home? You find the courage when you believe that there will be a welcome. And this is the promise of the gospel.The father in Jesus’ story is more generous than the son would ever have dared to imagine. The father, filled
Where the Prodigal Son’s Repentance Came From
“The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’”Luke 15:12In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, the younger son gets his money and goes to live as far away from his father as he can. But he squanders his money, and then Jesus says, “A severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need” (15:14).So, he got a job feeding pigs, and t
This Shows What You Truly Think of Jesus
And he answered, “I will not.”Matthew 21:29What an obnoxious son! His father asked him to go work in his vineyard, and he said to his face, “I will not.” There’s hostility, rebellion, and defiance! “You’re not going to tell me what to do.”The grandmothers would be saying, “Oh, what a shame! What a pity he isn’t like his brother.” Then Jesus tells us about a remarkable change: “But afterward he cha
The Danger of an Empty Profession
“A man had two sons.”Matthew 21:28Jesus told a parable about a father who asked his two sons to go work in his vineyard. One son said, “I will not,” but later he changed his mind (repented) and went. The other son said, “I will, sir,” but he didn’t.The second son’s response was immediate, positive, and polite! Grandmothers who saw this clean-cut lad would be very impressed, “He’s such a good boy!
If You Have Doubts About Your Heart
Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.Romans 6:13Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the German Christian leaders who stood against the Nazi regime. Bonhoeffer was an inspiration to many. But when he looked into his own heart he wasn’t so sure. He expressed this conflict in a poem called “Who Am I?”, written from his prison cell shortly before he was martyred.“Who
How to Offer Yourself to God
Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.1 Corinthians 10:31Suppose you spent 8 hours a day sleeping, 8 hours working, 3 hours eating, and 2 hours travelling to and from work. You would have 3 hours leftover. Now, if you gave 2 of those to your family, then you would have just 1 hour left!Many people think “offering yourself to God” means doing some ministry. That’s a great thing to do. But if
Offer Yourself to God in Your Present Circumstances
Present yourselves to God...Romans 6:13God showed Joseph in a vision the great purposes that He had for him. But his brothers sold him to slave traders who took him to Egypt, and he ended up in prison.Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes: Why am I here? What use can a man be to God in a prison? But Joseph exercised faith, pursued integrity, and ministered to the men God placed next to him. Then God step
Repentance Involves Giving Yourself to God
Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.Romans 6:13Notice what the apostle Paul says just before this: “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness” (6:13). Paul is talking here about the possibility of offering yourself to sin—your capacities, what you can do with the skill of your hands, the creativity of your mind, and so on.This is
Repentance Cannot Be Confined to Certain Things You No Longer Do
You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.1 Thessalonians 1:9This is a great description of repentance! Notice the negative and the positive: “You turned… from idols”—that’s the negative. These people stopped doing certain things that were displeasing to God. More than that, they started doing other things that are pleasing to God. “You turned to God… to serve the living and tr
Learn How to Kill Your Sin
If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.Romans 8:13John Owen says that putting your sin to death involves the following:1. A habitual weakening of sinEvery time you say “no” to the flesh you weaken its power.2. Constant fighting and contending against sinSin’s root remains in us, so don’t expect an end to your stru
Sin Is Like a Wild Animal
“Sin is crouching at the door.”Genesis 4:7Sin is a power. It has life and vigour in it. That means you have to track it down and deal with it, or it will destroy you.In the story of Cain and Abel, Abel brought God an acceptable sacrifice, but Cain did not. So Cain became angry. God said, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not d
Learn How to Stalk Your Sin
My sin is ever before me.Psalm 51:3Once you have identified an area of sin that you need to deal with, start watching for its movements in your life. Suppose you are stalking pride, lust, laziness, or unbelief. Ask yourself, “When am I most vulnerable to this? In what ways do I see it being expressed?” John Owen wrote extensively on this subject in the 17th century, and his most famous book is cal
Use the Bible as a Tool for Self-Examination
Examine yourselves.2 Corinthians 13:5Using the Bible as a tool for self-examination is good to do on a regular basis. It is also good to set aside some particular times for self-examination.On a regular basisWhen you read the Bible ask yourself, Is there a promise to believe, a command to obey, or a sin to avoid? Try to see if what you are reading points to a sin that could be lurking in your life
How God Reveals Our Hidden Sins
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin.James 1:15James is using a picture here—desire conceives. The point about conception is that it is a hidden thing. Nobody knows when it actually happens, and it only becomes evident later on.When the impulse to sin remains hidden, undetected, and unchallenged, sin will grow. James speaks about sin, “when it is fully grown” (1:15). Sin grows, and
Why the Christian Life Is Always a Struggle
Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.James 1:14It is clear that we will all be tempted. There is no if here: “Each person is tempted when…” Every Christian will be tempted throughout the entire course of his or her life.James is talking to Christian believers, and he is reminding us that sin is not out there in the world, it is in here in each of our lives.When you
How to Read the Bible, Worship, and Pray
“Please show me your glory.”Exodus 33:18This is how people pray when they see that lasting change begins with knowing God.Think about the difference between Job and Esau: Esau wanted to change, but he couldn’t because he was far from God. Job changed because in all his pain he just kept on seeking after God.The way you see the glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ: God “has shone in our hear
The Relationship Between Your Comfort and Your Repentance
Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.Genesis 24:67The word comforted is the same word Job used when he said, “I repent.” There is a wonderful comfort in repentance. You could translate Job 42:6: “I repent and comfort myself in dust.”What comfort could there possibly be for Job in the dust? He has finally resolved his conflict with God. Being out of sorts with God is a terrible thing for a
What Is Your Prevailing Attitude Toward God?
“I lay my hand on my mouth.”Job 40:4In a nutshell, this is how Job responded to his encounter with Almighty God. It is very different than his attitude toward God beforehand!What is your prevailing attitude toward God right now? Is it one of complaining? Is it questioning? Or is it resenting?What would your prevailing attitude be if you saw God’s glory? You would have complete confidence in Him fo
How to Live with the Pain of Your Unanswered Questions
“I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”Job 42:3The breakthrough in Job’s life came through a fresh glimpse of the greatness and glory of God. The encounter was devastating. God asked Job nearly 40 questions:“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (38:4)“Who determined its measurements?” (38:5)“Who laid its cornerstone” while
If You Have a Complaint against God, You’re Not Alone
“I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.”Job 10:1Job was a man of faith, a strong believer. But his faith had been stretched to the limits. He believed in God, but he struggled with God, so he poured out his questions and complaints.Job wasn’t the only believer to complain like this. Some of the Psalms express similar questions and c
A Curious Story of Repentance
“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”Job 42:5-6Job got what he asked for – a clear, direct, audible encounter with God. But afterwards Job said, “I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” What did Job repent of?God doesn’t accuse Job of any sins. Instead, He vindicates Job and is angry with his frie
What Is the Real Cause of Our Suffering?
When Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place… to show him sympathy and comfort him.Job 2:11Job had some friends who were worried about his spiritual condition, and so they came to comfort him in his loss. They should be commended for that.These friends felt quite sure that Job’s suffering must be a direct consequence of some sin in his l
Meet a Man Who Endured Great Suffering
“There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.”Job 1:8Job was one of the finest men who ever lived. Listen to what God said about him: “There is none like him on the earth.” Imagine having God say that about you!The story of Job is about how he became the target for a focused attack from Satan, and God allowed it. One day, the bottom fell
Where All Repentance Begins
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.Acts 5:31God says that He “gives” repentance. You say, “Isn’t repentance our responsibility?” Yes, but it is God’s grace that makes it possible.That’s why David says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart!… See if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psa. 1
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