Tag: Psalm 4:1
Works tested by fire
Scripture reading for August 3rd: 1st Corinthians 3, Psalm 4, Proverbs 30
1st Corinthians 3: 10-15 “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds on it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw–each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”
Paul emphasized that as a preacher for God, his job was to lay a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of each spiritual building. After that foundation, each person was responsible for how they built their lives on that foundation. The life of faith and good works that we chose or the life of living in the flesh will each be tested by fire at the judgment seat of Christ. The works will be tested by fire. Some believers will lose their reward because of works of flesh. Others will have a rich reward. All will still experience salvation. Our prayer should be for daily guidance in building on the solid foundation of Jesus.
Psalm 4:1, 3 “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!” . . .“But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the solid foundation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Thank You for those who preached the Word of faith that I might hear and believe. Thank You for hearing my prayers and guiding my life each day into the works You have prepared for me. May my life and works bring glory to Your Name and expand Your kingdom rule to all who hear the Good News.
Proverbs 30:7-8 “Two things I ask of You; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, . .”
Help in our weakness!
Scripture reading for June 23rd: Romans 8
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Romans 8:26-28 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
The Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit is the best gift in many ways! The Holy Spirit comes into us and gives us a new heart that now wants to do God’s will. The Spirit brings the life and truth of God’s Word to life in us. The Spirit helps us in our human weakness of both body and mind. Paul says that the Spirit, through our prayer language, intercedes for us with groans, or spiritual language, that is beyond our ability to express in human words. The Holy Spirit perfectly knows the mind of God and our heart as well, and His interceding enables us to understand that God is working all things for our good and His purposes.
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers allow the Holy Spirit to pray through them at all times, empowering them in weakness and times of seeking God’s will. This act of faith brings assurance that God is working for our good to fulfill His calling for us. “Answer me when I call to You, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress, be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:1)