Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 07, 2025.

SUBJECT : BOASTING IN OUR INFIRMITIES!

Memory verse: "Of such a one will I boast: yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities." (Second Corinthians 12 vs 5.)

READ: Second Corinthians 12 vs 8 - 10:

12:8: Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

12:9: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

12:10: Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.   

INTIMATION: 

To boast in our infirmities is not to despair in them, knowing that the Creator allowed it for His purpose; to show His strength, and power in such weaknesses. It is not for you and I to despair in our weaknesses or infirmities because they can never be any form of limitations to God, but rather an opportunity to demonstrate His power through His grace. 

For emphasis, the apostle Paul said in our memory verse, ‘I am going to boast only about how weak I am and how great God is to use such weakness to His glory.’ Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of grace. Your weaknesses ought to be a limitation, but by His grace you overcome with it.

When the apostle Paul spoke of his infirmities, he was actually glorifying the power of God which was able to help him live with his infirmities. He learned, therefore, to trust in God’s power to deliver. He didn’t trust in his own ingenuity as the false prophets do. If we boast concerning our accomplishments, then we have the tendency to glory in our own ability to perform. 

The apostle Paul had an infirmity—“thorn in the flesh” (which I believe was an eye problem according to his statement in Galatian 4 vs 12 - 15). The infirmity was a chronic and debilitating problem, which at times kept him from working. It was a hindrance to his ministry, and he prayed for its removal, but God refused, instead He promised to demonstrate His strength in him; “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

The apostle Paul was a very self-sufficient person, so the ‘thorn’ must have been difficult for him. Three times he prayed for healing and did not receive it. He received, however, things greater because he received greater grace from God; a stronger character, humility, and ability to empathize with others. In addition, it benefited those around him as they saw God at work in his life. 

God, according to His sovereign plan, doesn’t heal some believers of their physical ailments. We don’t know why some are spared and others aren’t. But God chooses according to His divine purposes. The apostle Paul was a living prove at the time that holy living and courageous faith do not ensure instant physical healing. When we pray fo healing, we must entrust our bodies to God’s care. We must recognize that nothing separates us from the love of God (Romans 8 vs 35 - 39) and that our spiritual condition is always more important than our physical condition. 

The fact that God’s power is displayed in our weaknesses should give us courage and hope. As we recognize our limitations, we will depend more on God for our effectiveness rather than on our own energies, efforts, or talents. Our limitations help develop our worship, because in admitting them, we affirm God’s strength. God told the apostle Paul, “My grace (My favor, lovingkindness, and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.” (Amplified Version.)

The fact that God's power is displayed in weak people should give us courage. When Satan points out your weaknesses, agree with him and fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who understands every weakness of ours, and for the Holy Spirit, who helps our weaknesses. (Romans 8 vs 26.) As a believer, God will not leave you to your own resources to cope with problems. Instead we turn to God to seek pathways for our effectiveness, rather than rely on our own energies, efforts, or talents. Even in your communion with God in prayer, when you don't know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and God answers.

Sometimes, however, God turns a strength into a weakness in order to use us even more. Jacob was a manipulator who spent his life scheming and then running from the consequences. One night he wrestled with God and said, ‘I'm not letting you go until you bless me.’ God said, ‘All right,’ but then he grabbed Jacob's thigh and dislocated his hip. What is the significance of that? God touched Jacob's strength (the thigh muscle is the strongest in the body) and turned it into a weakness. From that day forward, Jacob walked with a limp so he could never run away again. It forced him to lean on God whether he liked it or not. 

Physical infirmities remind us that we live in a physical world, but are looking forward to a realm of dwelling wherein there will be no pain (Revelation 21 vs 4). If there were no pain in this world, then we would not desire a heavenly realm of dwelling that is free of pain. When we are strong in abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own, and that can lead to pride. When we are weak, allowing God to fill us with His power, then we are stronger than we could ever be on our own. God does not intend for us to be weak, passive, or ineffective. However, life provides enough hindrances and setbacks without us creating them. When those obstacles come, we must depend on God. 

“My grace is sufficient.” This one statement concerning the grace of God manifests God’s sufficiency to deal with all aspects of man. God is able to deliver us from this physical world. God is able to deliver us from the power of sin and death. Therefore, whether in the midst of physical suffering or mourning over our sin, we must trust that God is able to deliver us. Such trust in God’s grace will carry us through times of hardship. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You most gracious Lord for Your strength that is made perfect in my weakness. Forever my trust is in You, and I am persuaded that nothing can take away Your love for me. Give me the grace never to shift my attention from You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Is God’s Love Conditional?

 Is God’s Love Conditional?

[God] gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:6–8) 

James teaches us that there is a precious experience of “more grace” and God “drawing near” to us. Surely this is a wonderful experience — more grace and a special nearness of God. But I ask: is this experience of the love of God unconditional? No. It is not. It is conditional on our humbling ourselves and our drawing near to God. God “gives [more] grace to the humble. . . . Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

There are precious experiences of the love of God that require that we fight pride, seek humility, and cherish the nearness of God. Those are the conditions. Of course, the conditions themselves are the work of God in us. But they are no less conditions we fulfill.

If this is true, I fear that the unqualified, biblically careless reassurances today that God’s love is all unconditional may stop people from doing the very things the Bible says they need to do in order to enjoy all the peace that they so desperately crave. In trying to give peace through “unconditionality” we may be cutting people off from the very remedy the Bible prescribes.

To be sure, let us proclaim, loud and clear, that the divine love of election, and the divine love of Christ’s death, and the divine love of our regeneration — our new birth — are all absolutely unconditional. 

And let us declare untiringly the good news that our justification is based on the worth of Christ’s obedience and sacrifice, not ours (Romans 5:19, “as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous”).

But let us also declare the biblical truth that the fullest and sweetest experiences of the grace of God and the nearness of God will be enjoyed by those who daily humble themselves and draw near to God.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 06, 2025.

SUBJECT : THE MIRACLE OF THE GRACE OF GOD!

Memory verse: “But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.” (Nehemiah 9 vs 17.)

READ: Nehemiah 9 vs 26 - 31:

9:26: Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast Your law behind their backs, and killed Your prophets who testified against them to turn them to Yourself, and they wrought great provocations.

9:27: Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who oppressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You heard from heaven; and according to Your abundant mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hand of their enemies.

9:28: But after they had rest, they again did evil before You. Therefore You left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard them from heaven; and many times You delivered them according to Your mercies.

9:29: And testified against them, that You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, and did not heed to Your commandments, but sinned against Your judgments, ‘which if a man do, he shall live in them,’ And they shrugged their shoulders, and stiffened their neck, and would not hear.

9:30: Yet for many years You had patience with them, and testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

9:31: Nevertheless in Your great mercies You did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for You are God, gracious and merciful.

INTIMATION:

The “miracle of the grace of God” is the marvelous and profound nature of God’s unmerited favour and mercy to humanity. God is ever-Merciful, ever-Faithful, Loving, and outstandingly Kind. This nature of God is inherent in His attitude of clemency. God extends grace far beyond the usual time by waiting or enduring without complaint or reprisal. The Scripture says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (First Peter 3 vs 9.)

The Scripture, in emphasizing God’s nature, says, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty" (Exodus 43 vs 6 - 7) “By no means clearing the guilty” simply means that God will not ordinarily write off or forgive any sin, you remain guilty until you have repented and come to Him for forgiveness, and He will forgive you. In His kindness God holds back His judgement, giving people time to repent. It is easy to mistake God's patience for approval of wrong way we are living. 

God pardons completely and gives up punishment for all sins and never bring up the offenses again. He withholds punishment deserved by us and gives us His kindness in excess. God's mercy is everlasting and total. The Scripture says, "Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindness, for they are from of old. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies" (Psalms 25 vs 6 & 10.)

In the passage we read today, after exiled Israelites returned and rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem led by Nehemiah, the Israelites assembled with fasting to confess their sins. They gave a long summary of Israel’s history summarizing God’s work in their lives. Israel was devastated by times of intense rebellion and sin. Yet often the people repented and returned to God, He delivered them. The miracle of the grace of God, allowed them to come severally for forgiveness and God forgave them. 

Seeing how God continued to be with His people shows that His patience is amazing! In spite of our repeated failing, pride, and stubbornness, He is always ready to forgive, and His Spirit is always ready to instruct. God puts no limit on the number of times we can come to Him to obtain mercy, but we must come in order to obtain it; recognizing our need and asking Him to help. This miracle of grace should inspire us to say, “O Lord, You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, ever Loving Father”! 

Always take advantage of the “miracle of the grace of God”; if there is a recurring problem or difficulty in your life, continue to ask God for help, and be willing and ready to make changes in your attitude and behavior that will correct that situation. God is ever willing to receive us as we come—our Loving Father!

Realizing the extent of God’s forgiveness helps us forgive those who fail us, even ‘seventy times seven’ if necessary; “Then the apostle Peter came to Him and said, “Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I did not say up to seven times, but seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18 vs 21 - 22)

The Jewish religious teachers then taught that people should forgive those who offend them but only three times. The apostle Peter trying to be especially generous, asked Jesus if seven (the “perfect” number) was enough times to forgive someone. But Jesus answered, “Seventy times seven,” meaning that we shouldn’t even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.“ This miracle of grace is God’s nature, and is a yardstick for us. 

Jesus said, “Take heed yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17 vs 3 - 4.) The implication of Jesus’ teaching here shows that it doesn’t matter how many times someone offends you, if the person comes repeatedly, as many times as you are offended, and asks for forgiveness, you must forgive. That is being godly; showcasing the nature of God—His profound nature of abounding in mercy.

To rebuke does not mean to point out every sin we see; it means to bring sin to a person’s attention with the purpose of restoring him or her to God and to fellow humans. When you feel you must rebuke another Christian for sin, check your attitude before you speak. Do you love that person? Are you willing to forgive? Unless rebuke is tied to forgiveness, it will not help the sinning person.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are gracious and merciful, ready to pardon, slow to anger, abounding in kindness, and ever Loving! I desire the impartation of Your wonderful and marvelous nature in my life. Endue me with the spirit to love and live like You, always abounding in Your miracle of grace, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Love One Another Gladly

 Love One Another Gladly

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

No one has ever felt unloved because he was told that the attainment of his joy would make another person happy. I have never been accused of selfishness when justifying a kindness on the basis that it delights me. On the contrary, loving acts are genuine to the degree that they are not done begrudgingly.

And the good alternative to begrudgingly is not neutrally or dutifully, but gladly. The authentic heart of love loves kindness (Micah 6:8); it doesn’t just do kindness. Christian Hedonism forces this truth into consideration.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. (1 John 5:2–4)

Read these sentences in reverse order and notice the logic. First, being born of God gives a power that conquers the world. This is given as the ground or basis (notice the word “For”) for the statement that the commandments of God are not burdensome.

So, being born of God gives a power that conquers our worldly aversion to the will of God. Now his commandments are not “burdensome,” but are the desire and delight of our heart. This is the love of God: not just that we do his commandments, but also that they are not burdensome.

Then in verse 2 the evidence of the genuineness of our love for the children of God is said to be the love of God. What does this teach us about our love for the children of God?

Since love for God is doing his will gladly rather than with a sense of burden, and since love for God is the measure of the genuineness of our love for the children of God, therefore our love for the children of God must also be done gladly rather than begrudgingly.

Christian Hedonism stands squarely in the service of love, for it presses us on to glad obedience, not just begrudging obedience.

Who Invented Religion?

 Who is the creator of religion, God or man? It seems that religion is a human invention, devised to enslave people mentally under the pretext of gospel. The early Christian church, as described in Acts Chapters 2-4, exemplifies a genuine commitment to Christianity, where followers mirrored Jesus Christ's actions and teachings. It was others who referred to them as Christians due to their dedication to practicing their faith. In contrast, contemporary religion has fostered a reliance on human spiritual authorities, promoting a servile mindset that undermines genuine worship. This has led to fragmentation, strife, and prejudice among individuals. The underlying motivations of religious leaders appear to be driven by a desire for control, exploitation of resources, wealth accumulation, and mental enslavement. Observing religious centers reveals these dynamics, which hinder the establishment of justice and peace. Ultimately, it is crucial to develop a personal relationship with God through prayer, scripture study, and practical application of its teachings to experience transformation as a Christian, rather than merely following religious doctrine, which can lead to disconnection from God, as exemplified by the Pharisees and Sadducees in the Bible.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 05, 2025.

SUBJECT : GOD BRINGS GOOD OUT OF BAD CIRCUMSTANCES!

Memory verse: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8 vs 28.)

READ: Genesis 50 vs 17 - 20:

50:17: Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

50:18: Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

50:19: Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

50:20: But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

INTIMATION:

Circumstances are never so bad that they are beyond God’s help. We need never despair because we belong to a loving God. We don’t know what good He may bring out of a seemingly hopeless situation. No problem is too complicated for God if you are willing to let Him help you. Any trial a believer faces can ultimately bring glory to God because God can bring good out of any bad situation. 

When trouble comes, do you grumble, complain, and blame God, or do you see your problems as opportunities to honor Him? God can even use our sins for good purposes if we are sorry for them and seek His forgiveness. When we confess our sins, the way is opened for God to bring good from a bad situation.

God works in “all things” (not just isolated incidents) for our good. This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good. Certain things can happen in our lives for the ultimate purpose of God to be fulfilled in our lives. Note that God is not working to make us happy but to fulfill His purposes. 

Note that the promise in our anchor Scripture is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are called by Him, that is, those whom the Holy Spirit convinces to receive Christ. Such people have a new perspective, a new mind-set. They trust in God, not in worldly treasures, their security is in heaven, not on earth. Their faith in God does not waiver in pain and persecution because they know God is with them. 

There are some personalities in the Scriptures that God demonstrated in them His concept of bringing out good out of bad circumstances. In the passage we read today, the experience in Joseph’s life, who was sold to slavery by his brothers out of envy, taught him, and teaches us also, that God brings good from evil for those who trust in Him. He overrules people’s evil intentions to bring about His intended good results. In Joseph’s case, He brought good from the brothers’ evil deed, Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation, the butler’s neglect, and seven years of famine. Trust God enough and wait patiently for Him to bring good out of bad situations you face.

Although Joseph’s brothers didn’t kill him outright, they wouldn’t expect him to survive for long as a slave. They were quite willing to let cruel slave traders do their dirty work for them. Joseph faced a 30-day journey through the desert, probably chained and on foot. He will be treated like baggage, and once in Egypt would be sold as a piece of merchandise. 

His brothers had wanted to get rid of him, but God used even their evil actions to fulfill His ultimate plan. He had sent Joseph ahead to preserve their lives, save Egypt, and prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel. God is sovereign. His plans are not dictated by human actions! Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for Him to bring good out of bad situations you may be in? 

Jesus was a close friend to the family of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. After the sisters informed Jesus that Lazarus was seriously sick, Jesus responded that the sickness would not lead to his permanent death. Jesus delayed before going to the family to see His sick friend. Lazarus did die. He was buried and was already four days in the tomb before Jesus came.

However, Jesus knew that He would raise him from the dead because He was nearing the end of His ministry. He needed to work the great miracle in order to agitate the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus would be glorified through the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection. This would be the final miracle to stir the religious leaders to great jealousy, and thus, they would take Him to the cross. His eventful death on the cross, His burial and resurrection from the dead occasioned the salvation of man, and hope for eternal life.

God is still who He is; unchanging and dependable, our refuge and our strength, our very present help in trouble. He has promised that those who put their trust in Him, will never be put to shame. Anchor your life in Him, and your victory in life’s circumstances is assured. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are so faithful and compassionate. Your thoughts for me is of good, and I will not despair in any circumstances of life I find myself because I am persuaded that Your loving kindness and tender mercy is available to bring good out of any seemingly bad situation I may be in. You, O Lord that promised is faithful and will do it, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Do You Neglect Your Salvation?

 Do You Neglect Your Salvation?

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:3)

Is there a sense of greatness in your mind about your salvation? Or do you neglect it?

Do you respond to the greatness of your salvation? Or do you treat it the way you treat your last will and testament, or the title to your car, or the deed on your house? You signed it once and it is in a file drawer somewhere, but it is not a really great thing in your mind. You rarely think about it. It has no daily effect on you. Basically, you neglect it.

But when you neglect your great salvation, what are you really neglecting? Here’s what he is saying when he says, “Don’t neglect your great salvation!”

Don’t neglect being loved by God. 

Don’t neglect being forgiven and accepted and protected and strengthened and guided by almighty God. 

Don’t neglect the sacrifice of Christ’s life on the cross. 

Don’t neglect the free gift of righteousness imputed by faith. 

Don’t neglect the removal of God’s wrath and the reconciled smile of God. 

Don’t neglect the indwelling Holy Spirit and the fellowship and friendship of the living Christ. 

Don’t neglect the radiance of God’s glory in the face of Jesus. 

Don’t neglect the free access to the throne of grace. 

Don’t neglect the inexhaustible treasure of God’s promises. 

This is indeed a great salvation. Neglecting it is very evil. Don’t neglect so great a salvation. Because if you do, will there be an escape from judgment? That’s what the writer asks: “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

So, being a Christian is a very serious business — not a sour business, but a serious business. We should be blood-earnest about being happy in our great salvation. 

We will not be deflected by this world into the fleeting and suicidal pleasures of sin. We will not neglect our eternal joy in God — which is what the goal of this salvation is. We will gouge out our eyes rather than be lured away from such a great salvation.