15 July
2 Kgs. 2:19-22
God makes bad water wholesome
The water was bad in the city of Jericho where the Prophet Elisha was
staying (2 Kgs. 2:19). The matter was brought to Elisha’s attention
(2 Kgs. 2:19). Elisha healed the water by the word of the Lord and it
became wholesome (2 Kgs. 2:21-22). According to Elisha, it was the Lord
who healed the water (2 Kgs. 2:21-22). Again, this incident shows that
nothing is indeed impossible with God (Lk. 1:37). No adversarial situation
can withstand or resist His power. Nothing is also impossible for the
one who believes in Him (Matt. 17:20). Therefore with faith, God can
do similar and even greater things through us and for us (Jn. 14:12).
He even promised to do so (Jn. 14:13-14; cf. Matt. 7:7-11). He is indeed
ready and able to keep this promise if only we take or present our cases
to Him (cf. Matt. 8:1-3).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please answer me when I call upon you.
2. Father, please make everything wholesome in my life.
16 July
Hos. 2:9-13
God’s judgment follows persistent sin
The theme of punishment for Israel’s unfaithfulness is a re-occurring
one throughout the book of Hosea. Here again the Lord promised to punish
the house of Israel or the Northern kingdom for her unfaithfulness to
Him (Hos. 2:9-13). The punishment is quite sweeping, including an end
to food and clothing (Hos. 2:9), social life (Hos. 2:11), and farming
(Hos. 2:12). The punishment is just and follows their refusal to heed
the call to repentance (see Hos. 2:2-3). God’s attitude to sin
today is the same as it was in Hosea’s time. Anyone who turns away
from sin to God will be shown mercy and live (see Ezek. 18:21-23; Acts
2:38-39; Acts 3:19-20). But whoever refuses to repent and persists in
his sin will be judged without mercy (see Heb. 10:26-31). And God’s
judgment is universal and most certain (Acts 17:31; 2 Cor. 5:10). The
only condition for acquittal is to turn from sin to Jesus Christ (see
Acts 2:38-39; Acts 3:19-20; Rom. 8:1-4).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please give me a truly, wholly repentant heart.
2. Father, please enable me to turn from all sin to you.
17 July
Dan. 2:17-23
God reveals mysteries
Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon ordered the execution of all the
wise men of Babylon for their inability to tell him his dream and its
interpretation (Dan. 2:1-13).When the king’s decree came to Daniel’s
attention, he asked for time and asked his Hebrew friends Hananiah, Mishael
and Azariah to plead with God concerning the mystery, and God heard Daniel
and his friends and revealed it to him (Dan. 2:14-19). Daniel praised
God for revealing it to him (Dan. 2:20-23). Therefore, God knows all
things, and there is no mystery with Him (Dan. 2:22-23; Ps. 139:1-12;
Heb. 4:13). What is hidden from man is laid bare before Him (Ps. 139:1-12;
Heb. 4:13). He knows when we sit and when we rise, when it is well with
us and when we are troubled and afflicted ( see Ps. 139:1-12). Therefore,
and we can count on His care and favour. We can also count on Him to
reveal mysteries, as He did to Daniel (Dan. 2:19).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please reveal all of your will to me.
2. Father, please enable me to live all of my life unto your pleasure
and glory since you know all things.
18 July
Ezek. 3:8-9
God equips His children
When God commissioned Ezekiel, He sent him to a hardened and obstinate
people (Ezek. 3:7). In order for Ezekiel to succeed, God also promised
to make him unyielding and hardened in discharging his commission (Ezek.
3:8-9). By equipping Ezekiel in this manner, his success in discharging
his difficult commission is guaranteed. Without God’s enablement,
Ezekiel’s success in his hard commission would not have been possible.
This is what God always does for His children. He never sends without
equipping adequately for the task (see Exod. 31:1-11; 1 Cor. 12:7-11,
28-31; cf. Matt. 28:18-20). As far as God is concerned, as is the task,
so is the enablement (see Exod. 31:1-11; 1 Cor. 12:7-11, 28-31; cf. Matt.
28:18-20). We can count on God’s enablement and provision whenever,
wherever and whatever He sends us (Ezek. 3:8-9; Exod. 31:1-11; 1 Cor.
12:7-11, 28-31; cf. Matt. 28:18-20).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please equip me for the tasks you have entrusted to
me.
2. Father, please enable me to look up to you alone for all my needs.
19 July, 2017
Jer. 2:13
The evil of forsaking God
God charged the Israelites of Jeremiah’s time with two sins, forsaking
Him and turning to other gods (Jer. 2:13; cf. Jer. 2:9-12). For God,
this was a most appalling and horrible sin (Jer. 2:12). And the gods
they turned to were worthless idols and no gods at all (Jer. 2:11). These
sins were responsible for their downfall (see Jer. 52:3). These two sins
are still very common today. Like the Israelites of Jeremiah’s
time, many today have also forsaken God and turned to other gods that
are no gods at all. As far as these two sins are concerned, the world
is as guilty today as the Israelites of Jeremiah’s time, if not
much more. God’s attitude to these two sins has not changed. He
hates them as He did then (cf. Mal. 2:16). Therefore we must turn away
from all other gods and worship and serve Him only (Matt. 4:10; cf. Exod.
20:3). Like the Israelites of Jeremiah’s time, we will certainly
be ruined if we persist in forsaking Him and worshipping and serving
other gods (see Jer. 52:3). But if we return to Him with all our hearts,
we will certainly find mercy and live (see Prov. 28:13; Ezek. 18:27-28).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please keep me from ever forsaking you.
2. Father, please take away every factor that would cause me to forsake
you.
20 July
Jn. 2:5
Obedience is the key to miracles
After telling Jesus that there was no more wine at the wedding at Cana
in Galilee, Jesus’ mother went on to tell the servants at the wedding
to do whatever Jesus told them to do (Jn. 2:5). The servants obeyed (Jn.
2:7-10). Their obedience contributed to the miracle of turning the water
into the best wine (Jn. 2:7-10). Thus, obedience is the key to our miracles
and blessings (see Jn. 9:6-7; Deut. 28:1-4). It is the proof of true
faith (see Jn. 14:15, 17). Disobedience, on the other hand, is a mark
of unbelief and an obstacle to our miracles and blessings (see Jn. 14:24).
As Mary told the servants above, true believers must obey God totally
in order to experience God’s miracles and blessings (see Deut.
6:5). The Lord delights in our obeying Him totally than in anything else
(see 1 Sam. 15:22-23). To obey God half-heartedly or partially is useless
and is like not obeying Him at all (see 1 Sam. 15:1-35).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to obey you totally.
2. Father, please take away anything in my life that could make me disobedient
to you.
21 July
Jn. 2:24-25
Jesus knows all men
According to the passage, Jesus knows all men (Jn. 2:24). He does not
need anyone’s testimony about another, because He knows what is
in each one (Jn. 2:25). The Scripture has made this point repeatedly
and consistently (Ps.139:1-12; Matt.9:4; Jn.6:64; Jn.13:11). Nothing
about everyone is hidden from God (Ps.139:1-12; Matt.9:4; Jn.6:64; Jn.13:11).
Therefore, it is futile to try to hide what we are from Jesus (Ps.139:1-12).
We can be successful in hiding what we are from our fellow human beings,
but not from Jesus (Ps.139:1-12; Matt.9:4; Jn.6:64; Jn.13:11). Instead
of pretending before men to be believers when we are not, we can come
to Jesus just as we are. Jesus came to seek sinners, not those who pretend
to be righteous (Lk.5:31-32), and is ready to forgive all our sins if
we repent and turn to Him (Acts 2:38-39). He does not drive away anyone
who comes to Him in penitence (Jn.6:37; cf.Jn.1:12-13).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please teach me to know that you know all things about
me.
2. Father, please keep me from trying to hide anything from you.
3. Father, please take and accept me in Christ just as I am.
22 July
1 Kgs. 8:24
God keeps all His promises
While praying to dedicate his temple, Solomon noted how God kept His
promise to David his father (1 Kgs. 8:24). According to him, God promised
and fulfilled what He promised (1 Kgs. 8:24). As Solomon discovered,
God is a promise keeping God. He has always been faithful to all His
promises. In fact, not even one of His promises has ever failed (see
Jos. 21:45; Jos. 23:14; 1 Kgs. 8:56). All His promises have been fulfilled
(see Jos. 21:45; Jos. 23:14; 1 Kgs. 8:56). No matter how many promises
God has made, they are “yes” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). With
this attribute, God is worthy of all our trust. We can put all our trust
in Him without any fear of being disappointed (see Rom. 10:11).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to put all my trust in you.
2. Father, please let all your promises to me be fulfilled.
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