Tag: future
“Fear not!”
Scripture reading for July 29: Isaiah 44-48
Comfort is needed when people have been through the fire of judgment or discipline. God is a God of all comfort and one of the ways He comforts us is to encourage us not to be afraid. It is said that the term “fear not” or variations of this phrase is used 366 times in the Bible. This means that there are enough verses for every day of the year–even leap year! God knows we need this encouragement. Let’s look as some things God encourages us to not be afraid of and see our hope begin to rise!
In Isaiah 43:1-3, God tells His people to not be afraid when they pass through the rivers or walk through the fire. He has redeemed them and they belong to Him. He promised to be with them and protect them no matter what the trouble. He will ransom them and redeem them and gives His word!
In Isaiah 44:1-5, God tells His people to not be afraid for their children! We can trust the Lord to pour out His Spirit on our offspring and His blessing on our descendants. When we follow the Lord and live by faith, God takes care of our kids! He is able to guide them and help them to choose to walk by faith too! Let’s say “amen” to this promise and live free from fear for our children’s future.
In Isaiah 44:6-8, God encourages His people to not be afraid of the future. He is their redeemer and is the Almighty Lord who has all power and knowledge. He knows the future and holds it in His hands. He is a Rock for those who are in fear of the future. Trusting in Him can make us truly free!
The last thing we can give up fearing is old age and the weakness and frailty associated with it. “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you, I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:3-4) Sounds like God can handle us in old age, too, doesn’t it? What’s there to be afraid of anyway? We are people of faith and please God by trusting Him in everything! “Fear Not!”
Sin has consequences
Scripture reading for March 23: 1 Samuel 27-31
Have you ever been curious about what will happen in the future? If we had that information, we feel that we could get rich, save ourselves from disaster, or control the world. God warns us not to seek any source other than Himself for this information! (Leviticus 19:31) He is the only source of Truth because He alone knows the things to come! (Isaiah 42:9)
Saul lived in rebellion and was tormented by an evil spirit. He had tried to seek the Lord, but God no longer answered him through the priests or prophets. (1st Samuel 28:5-6) He was living in fear and desperate for direction. He, himself, had banned all witches, mediums, and sorcerers from the land. But now Saul sought out a medium to ask for the spirit of Samuel to be brought up from the dead. A spirit, like Samuel, appeared and spoke prophetically to King Saul one last time, pronouncing his coming death the next day and telling him the reasons why. There was no visible remorse or repentance.
1st Samuel 28:18-19 “Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out His fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with Me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
True to the Word of Samuel, Saul and his sons died the next day. Saul was wounded and asked his armor bearer to put him out of his misery. The armor bearer was terrified and refused, so Saul fell on his own spear, taking his own life! Even in his death, Saul took matters into his own hands! (1st Samuel 31:2-6).
Are you doing something right now that you know is in disobedience to God’s Word? In what ways did God show Saul mercy and demonstrate His patience? If you need to repent, today is the best time.
“But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1st John 1:9)
Rejoicing in Hope!
Key Scriptures for December 13th: 2nd Timothy 4, Titus 1-3
Key Scriptures: Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Paul, writing to Titus, emphasized the basic truth of salvation by grace through faith. Because of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we have obtained mercy, washing from sin and renewal by the Holy Spirit in new birth. We stand justified before a Holy God because of what He did for us, not anything we did or can do for Him. We not rejoice in our promised inheritance in God’s household–eternal life! What amazing hope we eagerly expect!
Rejoicing in hope and a future: “”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. The you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)