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Are You listening to God?

Scripture reading for September 24th: Habakkuk 1-3

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?  Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but You do not save?  Why do You make me look at injustice?  Why do You tolerate wrong?  Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” Habakkuk 1:2-3

Have you ever had questions for God?  Have you asked God for answers, but wondered if He was listening or ignoring your cry?   Habakkuk found himself in such a position.  He was called to speak to God’s people on behalf of God but his words went unheeded by the people.  He began to question God, but God was silent.  God always hears His people but sometimes is slower to respond than we would like.  Sometimes, His response brings more questions!

In this case, God told Habakkuk how He was going to raise up the Babylonians and use them to sweep over the land and destroy it.  (Habakkuk 1:6-11)  These people were a law unto themselves and they were bent on violence.  They were guilty men whose strength was their god.  They were ruthless, impetuous and cruel.  Habakkuk was perplexed that a God Who was holy could use something as vile and lawless as the Babylonians.  Why would God even think of such a thing?

We can read God’s answer to Habakkuk’s complaint because God told him to write it down.  His answer spoke of the time of the end and would prove true.  (Habakkuk 2:2-3)  Babylon was full of pride and evil desires, but God used them to chastise His people for a season.  In the end, Babylon would be punished because sin always brings punishment and death.  God’s people were to deal with these revelations by a simple fact:  “the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.

It really doesn’t matter if we have questions and God doesn’t answer.  It doesn’t matter if, when He does answer, the answer causes more questions.  God’s ways are always righteous and just.  His people must learn to trust Him and live by faith in Who He is!  We please God only when we live by faith!  (Hebrews 11:6)  God promised Habakkuk that He would judge the wicked and bring woe to those who live for themselves.  He also promised to fill the earth with His glory!  (Habakkuk 2:14)

Habakkuk ends his book with a prayer and a psalm.  The prayer is for God to renew His deeds in their day and time.  It’s a great short prayer for revival.  (Habakkuk 3:2) The psalm tells of the splendor of the Lord as He comes to judge the earth and deliver His people.  It ends with a strong statement of faith!  Habakkuk had his focus on the Lord and His just and holy character and nothing else matters!  He is prepared to wait on God, no matter what!  Living by faith is the way of the righteous!

Live by faith–not sight!

Scripture reading for May 24: Job 20-21

Job’s friend Zophar was offended by Job’s warning to be afraid of punishment by God as well! (Job 19:28-29)  Zophar had a belief that the wicked only get by for a short time and then punishment will fall on them here in this life.  He held a strong belief in what he could see, but looks can be deceiving!  Job took exception with his theology and his way of comforting him!

Job stated that often the wicked seem to grow old and increase in power. (Job 21:7)  He observed that they appear to be safe and have no fear or problems.  They mock God and God seems to do nothing.  (Job 21:14, 15)  Some men die fat and happy, others die in bitterness and pain.  The grave swallows them both and we don’t know why.  (Job 21:23-26)

This controversy has been the subject of other writers of Scripture.  Psalm 73 was written by Asaph, a gifted musician in King David’s Levitical choir.  Asaph nearly lost faith when he observed the prosperity of the wicked.  (Psalm 73:2)  He saw that they had health and prosperity and were proud at heart.  They scoffed at man and mocked heaven and nothing seemed to happen.  This almost caused him to slip away from serving God.  Then he entered the sanctuary of God and he understood their final end.  In the end, God would judge them and send them away to everlasting destruction! (Psalm 73:16-19)

We can’t go by what we see!  The righteous live by their faith!  Job’s faith was tested by the taunts of Zophar.  Asaph was being tested by Satan when he began to reason with what he observed in the world.  We are often tempted to join the wicked in their sins and folly.  But when we enter the sanctuary of God and see the truth of His holy Word, we understand that the wicked will not stand in the judgment or sinners before a holy God Who will bring every secret thing into judgment!  (Psalm 1:5-6)  Allow the Lord to bring you understanding today.  If you are involved in sin or wickedness, repent quickly and begin a new path of faith and obedience!  You’ ll never regret it!

Power for salvation!

Scripture reading for June 13th:  Romans 1, Psalm 118, Proverbs 25

Key Scriptures:  Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””

Paul made a faith confession concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He stated clearly that this Gospel was the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.  Faith to believe comes from hearing the Word of God in Christ Jesus.  It is available to everyone, Jew or Gentile, because God does not respect persons.  The Gospel reveals God’s righteousness in the person of Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God.  Those believing in Jesus live by faith in Him, going from faith to deeper faith.  They possess righteousness by faith.

Faith Confession: I believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God, my Savior and the gate of salvation for all people, through His death, burial and resurrection from the dead.  I possess His righteousness now by faith in Him alone and am saved from eternal death.

Psalm 118:14, 19-20 “The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.”  . . .”Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.  This is the Gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.”    

The time is short!

Scripture reading for July 14th:  1st Corinthians 7

Key Scriptures for over-comers:  1st Corinthians 7:29-31  “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.  From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.  For this world in its present form is passing away.”

Living for the Lord means living with a realization that the world and all it’s allurements is passing away!  Christians are to live with their bags packed to leave for their heavenly home at any time.  Jesus has promised to return for His people but they will not know the day or the hour.  They are to live in a state of readiness and be doing what He has asked when He comes for them.  This will require self-discipline and faith in keeping this simple mindset that the time is short and the world passing away!

Observations for over-comers:  Over-comers have great liberty in their lives while here on earth because they walk by faith in Jesus’ promise of a sudden and soon return for those awaiting His coming!  “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven;” . . .”He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,11)

Fully persuaded!

Scripture reading for June 17th:  Romans 4

Key Scriptures for over-comers:  Romans 4:18-22  “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead–since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.  Yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.  This is why “It was credited to him as righteousness.””

Abraham was known in Israel as the father of the nation.  He took God at His word at a time when he was old and his wife was also old and their bodies beyond normal child-bearing ages.  God promised him offspring–an heir that would come from his own body, through whom all nations of the earth would be blessed.  Abraham would also be the father of many nations.  After God spoke to him, Abraham was strengthened in his faith and became “fully persuaded” that God had the power to fulfill His promises, no matter what it looked like in the natural!  This became a credit of righteousness before God!

Observations for over-comers:  Believing God is the essence of all faith and true righteousness.  Believing is the only way to please God and God will reward each person, who like Abraham is “fully persuaded” with eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ!  We, like Abraham, will be credited with righteousness!  “See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright–but the righteous will live by his faith.”  (Habakkuk 2:4)