From: July 31, 2023
“Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord” (Proverbs 20:12 NLT).
One can have ears and eyes, yet still be deaf and blind. The Lord has made both the physical and the spiritual ability to hear and see. Both are grace. Both are gifts. The physical is obvious, but few recognize the spiritual. The first offers awareness of the physical world, the second makes one receptive to spiritual things through the gospel and believing. One is not the other. Only God gives ears to hear and eye to see.
Jesus often gave this invitation to those who gathered to hear His teaching, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15). He recognized that just because people had ears, it didn’t mean that they would hear the spiritual truth of His teaching. They needed the Lord to open their ears and eyes to perceive spiritual things.
This was God’s calling to Paul and to those who believe: “I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18-19).
We are called to bear witness of the gospel, but only God can give spiritual hearing to the deaf and spiritual seeing to the blind. We can proclaim the light. But only God can give the gift of spiritual receptivity. Only God can save.
PRAYER: Father, open the ears and the eyes of those that are far from You that they might be receptive to the gospel. Give us boldness and conviction as we witness to them of Jesus. May we see a great spiritual harvest in our lifetimes. May we see a spiritual awakening in our land. Let it be so. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 31, 2022
AIM FOR HARMONY IN THE CHURCH
Literally, Paul said that believers are to “pursue peace” and edify one another. Yet, the NLT’s use of the word “harmony” is appropriate because it captures Paul’s desire to preserve unity in the church, while allowing for diversity of individual conscience.
The point of harmony in music is that different parts may be sung, yet as long as they are in the same key, they sound unified and beautiful together. Similarly, even though Jewish background believers may follow a kosher diet and Gentile Christians a different diet, as long as they follow the same Jesus and love one another, there will be harmony.
Paul wanted to make it clear that Gentiles didn’t have to become Jewish in order to become Christians. They didn’t have to celebrate the same holidays, nor eat the same foods. These were cultural distinctives and matters of the conscience, not necessities of the faith. Paul warned believers not to major in the minors, as it were. Don’t focus on disputable matters which divide, instead focus on that which will build one another up in Christ.
Romans 14 is a profound instruction for those that would obey the Great Commission to make disciples of “all nations.” For we are not called to make Americans, nor Democrats or Republicans, but disciples of Jesus Christ. Our pursuit is unity around the gospel of Jesus and building one another up to maturity in Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to live in harmony with one another as believers, always building one another up to maturity in Jesus. Give us peace and unity through Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 31, 2016
In Romans 14, the apostle Paul addresses how Christians should treat one another concerning matters of liberty and conscience. Specifically, he mentions diet, drink and holidays as areas that should be left up to conscience, but not to let our freedom in these areas cause another brother to stumble. Paul is clearly not speaking of doctrinal matters here. Certainly such things as lying, stealing and immorality are sin. He is speaking of disputable matters, like whether eating meat or being a vegetarian is preferable for a believer. This was an especially relevant topic during Paul’s day as Jewish background believers with their kosher diets were now breaking bread with Gentile background believers who had no such dietary restrictions. What is the timeless principle for us today? Isn’t it to put your brother’s welfare ahead of your own?
From: July 31, 2015
One can have ears and eyes, yet still be deaf and blind. The Lord has made both the physical and the spiritual ability to hear. Both are grace. The physical all understand, but few recognize the spiritual. The first offers wisdom of the physical world, the second makes one receptive to the gospel and believing. One is not the other. Only God makes the “hearing ear” and the “seeing eye.” This was God’s calling to Paul and to us: “I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18-19).
From: July 31, 2012
David’s psalm teaches us an important lesson: God is owner and we are His stewards. This is why we should offer the first part of every week, every day and every dollar to God in worship. By offering God our first fruits, we acknowledge His ownership of all.
From: July 31, 2011
How much of our lives do we waste changing our thinking from “mine” to “His?” We only worry about what belongs to us. Why not give it all to God? After all, it’s already His. What still belongs to you today?