Opening Prayer: Lord, we are convinced of Your existence and have made You the Lord of our lives. We believe and trust in You and Your Word completely. We believe, Help our unbelief. Help us see the nail prints in Your hands and the wound in Your side (Adapted from Mark 9:24). We honor and glorify Your holy name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!
Today’s Bible Verse: Psalm 119:73-76
Your hands made me and formed me; give me the understanding to learn your commands. May those who fear You rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in Your word. I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness, You have afflicted me. May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant.
Associated Scriptures:
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He can keep what I have committed to Him until that Day (2 Timothy 1:12).
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which can make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
Correlative Quotes:
The fear of God is not a left-handed grace, as some have called it; it is quite consistent with gladness; for if even the sight of a comrade gladdens the God-fearing, how glad must they be in the presence of the Lord himself! We do not only meet to share each other’s burdens but to partake in each other’s joys, and some men contribute largely to the stock of mutual gladness. Hopeful men bring gladness with them. Despondent spirits spread the infection of depression, and hence few are glad to see them, while those whose hopes are grounded upon God's word carry sunshine in their faces, and are welcomed by their fellows.[1] – Charles Spurgeon
Let us pray unto God that He would open our understandings; that as He has given us consciences to guide us, so also He would give eyes to these guides that they may be able to direct us aright… All our studying, and hearing, and reading, and conferring will never be able to do it; it is only in the power of Him who made us do it. He who made our consciences, He only can give them this heavenly light of true knowledge and right understanding, and therefore let us seek earnestly to Him for it.[2] – William Fenner, 1600-1640.
All God’s servants have common grounds of comfort: every one of God’s servants may plead with God as David does. The comforts of the word are the common portion of God’s people.[3] – Thomas Manton.
Author’s Notes:
INTRODUCTION
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
Paul begins his statement of eternal security with the words: For I am convinced. Paul was a devout Jew. He was a Pharisee of the highest order of Pharisees. He had dedicated his life to destroying the new Christian movement. Then on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6), Paul was blinded by the light of Jesus. As a result, he was convinced since Paul saw the risen Christ.
Thomas had not been with those who saw Jesus at first. He was skeptical. About a week later, all the apostles were gathered together and Jesus appeared to them again. Jesus challenged Thomas to put his fingers in the nail prints and his hand in Christ’s side. Once he placed his fingers in the nail prints and his hand in Jesus’ side, not only was Thomas free from any doubt, they were all positive. He was the risen Christ.
In this scripture, Paul says: Jesus appeared to more than 500, Many are still alive.
Today is the day to believe. Romans 10:9-10 says:
If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
The message of scripture is hope. There is no other hope of eternal life but through Jesus and His blood sacrifice. His resurrection is all the proof we need. 1 Corinthians 15:14 tells us: And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
THE FAITHFUL SERVANT
The Creator has the right to make the rules. John 1:3 explains: Through Him, all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made. Whether we like the rules or don’t like them, God made the rules. He is sovereign (1st Chronicles 29:11-12). He is God the creator of all things.
Our greatest possession is God’s Word, the Bible. It has an enormous impact on every area of our lives. We must read, comprehend, and personalize this book to know our pathway.
Every word is truth. God’s book is designed to lead us to His righteousness. We are to conform to those actions which allow us to grow spiritually. His Word is the source of knowledge, understanding, wisdom, application, and transformation. These steps to spiritual growth are dependent on reading the Bible.
We were reborn to live according to the purpose of God. Salvation requires God’s expectation that we will respond to the change taking place in us. As we travel a road filled with the world’s affliction, we must lean on Jesus through His Spirit who lives in us. It is the Spirit who directs us through the moguls of life. Life’s path is slippery. We need the balance provided by Christ to finish the course.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
God is benevolent. He cares about everything in His creation. God loves all people and wishes that none should perish (John 3:16). However, He is not only a loving God but a just God. His love is in perfect balance with His righteous judgment. He expects the same from us. We are to show kindness to all people.
God loves His children unconditionally. We are expected to follow His example. We practice unquestionable love when we fellowship with others who believe. The comfort coming from shared love is indescribable. It is a deep and lasting feeling since it has a foundation in God’s love.
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:22-23).
God’s promises are all centered around His unending love for His children. He says in Deuteronomy 31:6: I will never leave you nor forsake you! He is speaking of us, His servants. If God’s words are true, and they are, there is no greater assurance than this statement.
Spiritual Application:
The assurance of our salvation has its support in God’s loving nature. His love cannot be measured by the finite minds of mankind. We cannot completely understand nor can we practice unconditional love. His limitless love confirms God’s comfort. Our deepest concerns, worst sufferings, and our deepest longings are all under the watchful care of the Maker.
Lessons within the Lesson:
Does reading the Bible comfort us during times of stress? Read 2 Corinthians 1:2-6.
Why is it so important that we have continued assurance in our relationship with Jesus? Read Hebrews 10:21-23.
What should be our response to the sovereignty of God? Read 1st Chronicles 29:11-12
Interpret John 1:1-3 and 14 in light of Christ’s importance to us.
[1] Charles Spurgeon, Psalm 119:73-76, Treasury of David, Vol. V, Ibid, P. 288.
[2] William Fenner, Psalm 119:73-76, , Treasury of David, Vol. V, Marshall Brothers, Ltd. Publishers London, Edinburgh and New York, P. 292.
[3] Thomas Manton, Psalm 119:73-76, , Treasury of David, Vol. V, Marshall Brothers, Ltd. Publishers London, Edinburgh and New York, P. 298.
