Devotions – Page 25

CATEGORY ARCHIVES: Devotions

None Like You

Posted by Karah

Pause

Meditate on ways God is unique and set apart from us, His creation. How does His greatness and majesty set Him apart? Ask Him to prepare your heart for what He has to teach you today.

List your three best friends, then list the celebrities you think they most closely resemble. Why did you choose that particular celebrity for that friend?

We like to make comparisons, mostly because they help us to understand things better. Comparing a friend to someone else helps you explain to others what he or she is like. But while comparisons may work for people, they don’t really work when it comes to God.

Read Jeremiah 10:6-7,10, focusing on verse 6.

“Yahweh, there is no one like You. You are great; Your name is great in power.”
—Jeremiah 10:6

• According to these verses, who can you compare God to?

• There’s no one like God. What does the fact that He is incomparable have to do with His majesty? Explain.

Respond

Write your own psalm or poem, contrasting God from all other living beings. For example: Humans remember wise sayings, but God creates those sayings.

Behind the Story

Jeremiah wrote these verses in hope of motivating the Israelites to worship God. They had turned away from Him, and Jeremiah was quite certain that they would now be invaded and carted off to foreign lands where the inhabitants worshiped false gods. In preparation for this impending invasion, he highlighted the truths about God’s majesty and greatness. If he could help the people remember that God is the One True God, perhaps they would turn to Him during their captivity, rather than running after the false gods of their future captors.

The Point

Everything in creation can be compared to something, but there is no comparison for God. He stands alone in His majesty and greatness.

Memory Verse

Write out Psalm 145:3-4 on a sturdy sheet of paper or index card. Replace key words and phrases with symbols or write them in a different color to help you remember them.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

All Dressed Up

Posted by Karah

Pause

Take a few moments to sit outside or take a walk. How is God’s majesty evident in His creation? Praise Him for revealing His majesty through the world He has made.

“The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; The Lord is robed, enveloped in strength.”

—Psalm 93:1

Read Psalm 93 in its entirety in your Bible. Re-read verse 1, then list several synonyms for each of the following key words. For each word, circle the synonym that you think most closely resembles God.

Reigns: rules, governs, leads, controls

Majesty:

Strength:

• What are some things you would describe as being majestic? Why? How is God’s majesty different than those things?

• “Robed in majesty” calls to mind the regal robes a king would wear after a decisive victory. It pictures grandeur, stateliness, and dignity. Knowing that, what does it mean to say God is majestic?

Respond

Meditate on the truth that God defines majesty. He is regal, stately, a King who reigns forever. As that truth sinks in, praise God that His majesty isn’t just an act He puts on, but is at the center of His being. Journal your praise.

For further study on how God is clothed in majesty, read Psalm 104:1-13.

Behind the Story

Psalm 93 is an enthronement psalm, which means that it boldly declares God to be the sovereign, majestic King over the entire earth. It is part of a group of psalms (93-100), written as worship songs, which celebrate God’s reign. It places God’s sovereignty and majesty in direct opposition to the sinful state of this world, demonstrating that, despite the depravity of humanity, God’s reign is mighty and sure.

The Point

God doesn’t just look majestic or carry Himself in a royal manner. He defines majesty. He is clothed in it, wrapped in it, and made up of it. It is who He is.

Clean Hands, Pure Heart

Posted by Karah

Pause

Look over the last few devotions, recalling what you’ve learned about God’s justice. Spend some time praising God for who He is—just, always right, always good.

Read Isaiah 1:16-18 and consider the questions that follow:

“Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. “Come, let us discuss this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool.

—Isaiah 1:16-18

Where do you see God’s desire to fight injustice in this verse? Underline any words or phrases that highlight how you should respond to injustice.

According to this passage, what is God’s attitude toward sin?

God called His rebellious children to repent of their sin and return to Him so they could live lives full of His compassion and justice. How has He done the same in your life?

Respond

• Thank God for His compassion toward you and His gift of salvation in Jesus. Ask Him to help you see others through the lens of His love and compassion.

• Take a hard look at yourself. Are there any areas of your faith where you’re just going through the motions, looking good on the outside, but rife with sin on the inside? Admit them to God today and ask Him to make you as white as snow.

• For further study on God’s love for the defenseless, read Jeremiah 7:5-7, 22:3; Zechariah 7:10; Matthew 23:23, 25:31-46; and James 1:27.

Behind the Story

Isaiah was a prophet in Jerusalem around 700 B.C. He lived in a time when the Israelites had turned their back on the Lord. While they went through the motions and rituals of their faith, their hearts were far from God. He called this corrupt, rebellious people to repent and return to Him and His ways. Today’s passage stresses an important truth: God doesn’t care how good we look on the outside or the things we do. He cares about our hearts and how we live out the ordinary days of our lives.

The Point

If you’re a Christian, God has called you to a new way of life characterized by His compassion and love, especially in our treatment of the defenseless, poor, and forgotten.

Example

Posted by Karah

Pause

Concentrate for a moment on the presence of pain and suffering in the world. What troubles you most? Lift these troubles to God, trusting that He is already at work in those situations. Ask Him to prepare your heart for how He might use you to fight injustice.

Parents often tell their kids to be a good example. Think back over your life. Who has been a good example to you over the years? How?

As a Christian, you don’t have to search for an example of how to live your life. Through His actions, His Word, and Jesus’ earthly example, God has told us how to live. He is our example. As you think about this concept, read Deuteronomy 10:17-19 in your Bible. Where do you see God being an example to us?

“He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. You also must love the foreigner, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” —Deuteronomy 10:18-19

• The words “fatherless” and “widow” point to people who have no one to defend them. Who are those people in your life?

• A foreigner is a stranger, someone who doesn’t fit in, a wanderer, an alien. Who are the people in your life who just don’t fit in?

• Verse 19 is a directive to follow God’s example in our dealings with the defenseless, homeless, and different. Does your attitude toward these people reflect God’s? Why or why not?

Respond

Look over the names you listed earlier. Pray over them, asking God how He would have you reach out to the fatherless, widows, and foreigners in your life. Record any actions He brings to mind. Circle one that you will take this week.

Behind the Story

Moses first spoke the words recorded in Deuteronomy 10 to the Israelites. Now 40 years after their exodus from Egypt, they were poised to enter the Promised Land. Moses took the opportunity to remind the people of their covenant with God and how He expected them to live their lives. Moses did all of this knowing that he would not lead his people to their destination. For more on that, read Numbers 20.

The Point

God calls His children to follow His example. Because He fights injustice and stands up for the defenseless, homeless, and overlooked, we should, too.

God’s Point of View

Posted by Karah

Pause

Ponder this quote:

“Job clung to God’s justice when he was the best example in history of God’s apparent injustice. He did not seek the Giver because of his gifts; when all gifts were removed he still sought the Giver.” —Philip Yancey in Where Is God When It Hurts?

Imagine you’re faced with a decision. In trying to decide what’s right or wrong, where would you turn for an answer—the Bible or People Magazine?

You probably chose Scripture, which is good. But think about the voices of the world—celebrities, people in positions of power—who define what injustice is and tell us how we should respond to it. As Christians, we should look at injustice from a biblical point of view. We shouldn’t let celebrities or powerful people dictate our definition of injustice or color our response to it.

“Many seek a ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the Lord.” —Proverbs 29:26

Read Proverbs 29:25-27. What are some examples of injustice you see in the world?

What does this passage teach you about trusting God and His justice more than the world’s?

According to these verses, who is the source of true justice? Do you live like you believe that? Why or why not?

What do these verses teach you about how to respond to injustice?

The Point

As followers of Christ, we should not let popular thought or people in power define injustice or dictate how we respond to it. We must look to God, whose very character is just, and His Word, responding with compassion, love, and absolute trust in Him.

Respond

• Ask yourself: Does my definition of and response to injustice in this world line up with God’s? List one area of injustice you will trust to Him this week.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see injustice from God’s point of view and respond like He does. Jot down one way you will actively respond to injustice in your family, school, or community as God would have you to.

Behind the Story

Verse 26 doesn’t prohibit seeking help through government institutions or even the legal system. It does, however, call believers to place more faith in God than human institutions. How would truly living this way change our society?

Memory Verse

Read over and memorize Isaiah 1:17.

The Standard

Posted by Karah

Pause

Go to a place outside where you can see the vastness of the sky, landscape, or even the ocean. Dwell on how immeasurable it seems, how infinite. Then, understand that God is even more infinite. Praise Him for being bigger than you can imagine.

Read Proverbs 2:7-9 in your Bible. These verses contain an “If-Then” pattern. Underline the conditions; put a box around the results.

“He stores up success for the upright;

He is a shield for those who live with integrity

so that He may guard the paths of

justice and protect the way of His loyal followers.

Then you will understand righteousness, justice,

and integrity—every good path.”

—Proverbs 2:7-9

The Hebrew word, tōm, implies genuineness and reliability; sometimes translated “honest” or “honorable.” Who do you know who exemplifies integrity? How?

What does it mean that God will “guard the paths of justice”?

The Hebrew word mishpāt, means “to govern.” It calls us to render decisions based on God’s justice, not our own. How does the world seek to define justice? How is it different from God’s definition?

Respond

• The world’s definition of justice is sometimes thinly veiled revenge. That’s what justice will be to you, too, unless you get to know God and pursue His ways. What steps will you take to know Him better this week? Write one below.

• For further study on the benefits of pursuing integrity and justice, read Psalm 84:11 and Proverbs 10:9, 20:7, 28:18, and 30:5.

Behind the Story

Proverbs is a genre of writing known as Wisdom literature. Most ancient cultures had some form of Wisdom literature, which was designed to educate people about how to deal with ordinary matters of life. Biblical Wisdom literature is unique, though, because it asserts that God is the starting point for true wisdom (Prov. 1:7, 9:10).

The Point

Because He is just, God is the standard for what is right and wrong. His justice will ultimately prevail, not the world’s warped definition.

Always Right

Posted by Karah

Pause

Think about the things you’ve done this week when your motives weren’t quite right, or the ways you tried to manipulate a situation to your advantage. Now, thank God that He isn’t like that.

Read Deuteronomy 32:1-4.

The Rock—”His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true.” —Deuteronomy 32:4

“The Rock” points to God’s stability, strength, and enduring nature. How have you seen God’s stability and strength on display lately?

God doesn’t just do what is right some of the time, and He doesn’t have an angle. There is no hint of injustice with Him. Why is it important that God always does what is right?

What is the relationship between partiality, favoritism, and injustice?

Respond

Read the remainder of Moses’ song in Deuteronomy 32. It details the Israelites’ history and how God had always been at work in their lives. If you were writing a song to describe God’s work in your life, what lyrics would you use? What examples of God’s justice and faithfulness toward you would you include? Jot down your ideas.

Behind the Story

Moses’ use of words and phrases like “fall like rain,” “settle like dew,” and “showers” is not just poetic. Instead, they point to the gentleness of Moses’ teaching and his belief that God’s Word would soften the hard soil of the peoples’ hearts and produce obedience. He didn’t call for a storm that would rage against the people, but a quiet shower and a soft dew that would gently bring the people in line with God. How has God’s Word done that in your life?

Memory Verse

Write Isaiah 1:17 in your journal, on your mirror with a dry erase marker or on a note card. Underline the key words or phrases. Read over it several times today.

The Point

All of God’s ways are just. Even when circumstances seem hard, unfair, or beyond your understanding, God’s ways are always perfectly right.

Firm Foundation

Posted by Karah

Pause

Turn off all distractions and focus your mind on God. Think about the words you would use to describe Him and His character. Spend a few moments simply praising Him.

The foundation of a building is the base upon which everything else is built. The foundation bears the load of the entire building and supports its structure. If it’s crooked, warped, or not level, the building won’t be as strong as it should be. Imagine a house built on a faulty foundation, then sketch your idea below.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; faithful love and truth go before You.” —Psalm 89:14

Read Psalm 89:13-14. Verse 14 reveals some of the core components of God’s character. Underline them as you discover them, then think through these questions:

• What does it mean to say that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne (or rule)? What does it teach you about how He rules? (God’s rule and sovereignty are based on righteousness and justice. He can only do what is right, just, equitable, and fair.)

• What does it mean to say that God is just? How would you define justice?

Respond

Mull over these thoughts: What would our world look like if God wasn’t just? What if God was corrupt? Where would you find hope, stability, or purpose? As you realize how important God’s justice really is, praise Him for it. Thank Him that He is a good God whose way and rule is always right! Journal your response.

Behind the Story

Psalm 89 is classified as a psalm of lament, a psalm in which the writer brings a concern or complaint to God. The writer of Psalm 89 recognized the power and the goodness of God, but also saw the devastation and destruction God’s people faced. If God is really loving, good, powerful, and perfect, how can His people be suffering? It’s a question many wrestle with today. We, like the psalmist, will ultimately find our footing in the firm foundation of God’s faithful justice.

The Point

One of the core components of God’s character is His justice. He alone determines what is right and fair, and He will always do what is right. He is the very standard for what is right and wrong.

Tell the World

Posted by Karah

Pause

Ponder this quote and ask God to prepare your heart for what He has to teach you:

“If [God] is unchanging, it follows that he could not be unfaithful, since that would require him to change. Any failure within the divine character would argue imperfection and, since God is perfect, it could not occur.” —A.W. Tozer

Read 2 Peter 3:8-13 in your Bible. If God is unchanging, He is unchanging in His promises. What things does God promise in these verses? Underline any promises you find.

“But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.” —2 Peter 3:10

These verses point out that God has promised judgment and it will come one day, “like a thief.” How does knowing this change the way you think about sharing your faith with others? Explain.

We live in a world where few people actually do what they said they would—and most consider that God falls into the same category. How does a deeper understanding of God’s unchanging character help you to explain that isn’t true?

Respond

• There is an urgency reflected in this passage that we sometimes don’t seem to feel today. Ask God to renew your desire to share the gospel.

• Think of the people you interact with on a daily or weekly basis. Begin praying by name for those you know don’t have a relationship with Jesus. Ask God to prepare their hearts and provide opportunities for you to share your story of salvation. Write down the name of two people you’ll be praying for.

Behind the Story

Peter wrote 2 Peter to expose false teachers infiltrating this band of believers and to counter their influence with the truth. He was particularly concerned with his readers’ spiritual maturity and their denial of Jesus’ return, a key doctrinal error. In chapter 1, Peter challenged his readers to grow in their faith, believing a growing Christian would be less susceptible to false teachings. How are you growing in your faith?

The Point

God is unchanging, and He has promised that judgment will come. Knowing this, we must share the gospel so that others may come into a relationship with Him.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Weighing In

Posted by Karah

Pause

Focus your thoughts on Jesus today. Spend some time worshiping Him through your favorite worship song.

Because God is unchanging, we must live with integrity, being the same behind closed doors as we are in public. Consider Proverbs 11:1-3 in your Bible. Underline the qualities God hates; circle those He honors.

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.”

—Proverbs 11:3

• Dishonest scales are a kind of fraud. Living without integrity is, too, because you say one thing and do another. Are there areas of your life in which you’re doing that? Explain.

• Humility involves an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, while integrity suggests wholeness, actually being who you seem to be. Why do you think integrity and humility are so important to God? Are they characteristics you can truly see in your life? Why or why not?

Respond

Think about those areas of your life or faith that are dishonest, where you’re trying to look one way but really living another way. Confess them to God. Record one way you will commit that part of yourself to Him and live honestly this week.

Behind the Story

In ancient times, scales were often made of two bowls connected by a crossbar. To determine an accurate weight, merchants would put items with known weights on one side and the purchase on the other. Merchants could easily cheat their customers by using scales that weighed heavily or weights that were not as heavy as they looked.

Memory Verse

Review James 1:17, then create a rhythm or tune that fits the verse. Repeat the verse several times throughout the day, using the rhythm or song to help you recall it.

The Point

To be God’s child is to be like Him: living a life that matches our words. God expects integrity and humility to characterize His children.

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