Devotions for Dieters

John 3:21
'But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.'

Jack was so proud to show off his wife, Eileen, when they went home for the holidays. Over the summer and fall, she had lost sixty-five pounds. She looked great, and Jack was proud of her. She had worked so hard, and he felt she deserved some credit. It made Eileen feel good to know it meant so much to Jack. God had been good to them both. He had given them patience to deal with each other, and had blessed them both with strength and encouragement. It was true that when a person worked to do what the Lord wanted her to do, He crowned her in victory and allowed her to bask in the limelight for awhile!

Today's thought: I don't care if I come into the limelight, as long as I become light!

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In today's Bible Minute radio spot, Dr. Kroll defines faith as "a confidence in the righteous character of God that fosters trust and hope when our circumstances foster doubt and despair." That's a good thing to have in writing. And it's based on how we see faith develop and act throughout the Bible.

What Does God Say?

Faith begins to grow in us when we recognize the righteous character of God. You see it in action in the Bible when people choose to put their confidence in Him, no matter what their circumstances.

For example, Job was a man who was "blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1, ESV). The foundation of his faith was related to the righteous character of God. When his world came crashing in, he held fast to his faith in God's character. Job 1:20-21 tells us "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord'" (ESV). And in the midst of his suffering he could still say,

"Though he [God] slay me, I will hope in him" (Job 13:15, ESV).

Like today's working definition, Job placed his confidence in the righteous character of God and found hope, even when his circumstances brought nothing but doubt and despair.

In David's Psalms, we see the same kind of faith in action. David had plenty of experience with setbacks, enemies and troubles that overwhelmed him. Yet his faith started early and served as the core for the rest of his life. In 1 Samuel 17:37, David said to Saul, "'The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine'" (ESV). He already had faith in God's character to deliver him. And that never changed throughout his life. Read Psalm 31 or 59 and look for both his circumstances and his faith. You'll see that it's faith that always wins out.

When you start with confidence in the righteous character of God, you'll find what you need to face life with hope rather than despair.

My Thoughts

Hebrews 11 offers this pattern of "faith first." Read 11:4-40 with these questions in mind:

What did each person do "by faith"?

What circumstances were they in? (See references below.)

How do you see their faith in handling those circumstances?

How is God's righteous character reflected or active?

Hebrews 11 doesn't give all the details so look up these additional references if needed, or pick several to examine their story more closely.

Abel: Genesis 4:1-16

Enoch: Genesis 5:21-24

Noah: Genesis 6:11-22; 7:1-10; 8:15-22

Abraham: Genesis 12:1-6; 15:1-6; 17:15-21; 21:1-7; 22

Sarah: Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

Isaac: Genesis 27

Jacob: Genesis 48

Joseph: Genesis 50:22-26

Moses: Exodus 2:1-15; 12:1-28; 13:3-16

Rahab: Joshua 2; 6:25

Gideon: Judges 6:11-24; 7:19-23

Barak: Judges 4-5

Samson: Judges 13; 16:23-31

Jephthah: Judges 11:1-28

Samuel: 1 Samuel 3; 7:3-17 (much of 1 Samuel)

David: see 1 & 2 Samuel.

My Part

Faith is not dependent on our circumstances or even our feelings but on the character of God. Faith in God comes first. If you choose to anchor yourself to Him, you're choosing faith. So, do a little evaluation of your faith condition today:

What do you know about the righteous character of God?

How much do you put your confidence in Him?

Is there someone or something else you occasionally place your confidence in?

What circumstances cause doubt and despair in your life?

What can you do today to shift your confidence to God and allow for hope instead?

What would you like to do "by faith" in your life?

Bible Study from Back to the Bible Copyright © 1996-2008 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.bibleminute.org/

The Following Devotionals are from: Back to the Bible Copyright © 1996-2008 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.backtothebible.org/

Repent, Part 1

Hosea 5-8, Revelation 2
Key Verse: Hosea 6:1

Perhaps we should make a list of the "lost words of Christianity." It seems like some things are not talked about as much today. Worldliness, for instance, is a forgotten word, erased from usage by an overemphasis and sometimes misapplication of Christian liberty. Sin and some of the classic words for it have been dropped from the vocabulary. Adultery is an "affair" or a "fling," for example. Seldom do we hear the word repent.

Repent implies the need for change. Something is not right; actually, something is wrong. The tendency today is to teach how God can meet man's need, and not so much about how man needs to change. The concept that God would judge is foreign to the minds of some people yet is essential to His nature as a God of justice and righteousness.

To the people of Israel, God sent Hosea, a man who became a living parable of repentance and return. His story is shocking: he was married to a prostitute whom the Lord commanded he love as the Lord loved the Israelites (3:1). The reality of Hosea's marriage teaches us the reality of God's love for His wayward people, for us. We are told, "'Come, and let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds'" (6:1).

That is not what people may want to hear, but it is what we need to hear. God will work in our lives, sometimes in forceful and unpleasant ways. His goal is not to destroy but to bring us back to Him.

Examine your life and think about areas in which God wants you to change. Repentance is not just something of the past. It needs to be a part of our present.

1 Kings 6:12-13

"Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel."

The Comforter

In 1858 Scottish missionary John G. Paton and his wife sailed for the New Hebrides. Three months after arriving on the island of Tanna, his wife died in childbirth. One week later his infant son also died. Paton was plunged into sorrow. Surrounded by savage people, he wrote, "Let those who have ever passed through any similar darkness as of midnight feel for me. As for all others, it would be more than vain to try to paint my sorrows. But for Jesus, and [His] fellowship--I [would] have gone mad and died."

God knew that Israel would need this kind of comfort too. After the reign of Solomon, the nation would divide between north and south. Over the next several hundred years various armies would occupy the land and bring havoc upon the people. God's solution? He promised, "I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel" (1 Kings 6:13). God's presence, as represented by His temple, would be their ultimate comfort.

Believers today don't have a temple made of wood and stone; they have something even better. They have the presence of God in the person of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Jesus promised, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper" (John 14:16). When we received Christ as our Savior, our bodies became the home of the One who is called Comforter (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7, KJV).

If you lack this kind of comfort and courage, first make sure that you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you are saved, then see if there is any sin hindering the Holy Spirit's work in you. In the midst of difficulties and disasters, He is there to encourage you to go on despite your circumstances.

Interrupting a Miracle

Since the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, more than 21 million babies have been killed. These verses are an amazing statement about conception, growth and birth. When a baby is aborted, what really happens?

First, a miracle is interrupted (v. 14). Fearfully means "I am trembling with astonishment." By thinking about birth, David also was contemplating God's attributes. The world has cheapened sex, conception and birth to the point that it treats pregnancy as a nuisance, not a miracle. God made us and has covered (protected) us. The baby in the womb is covered by God. Let's not turn the womb into a tomb!

Second, a real person is murdered. Today, medical science calls the fetus a P.O.C. (a product of conception)--a mass of tissues or a collection of cells. But God calls it a human being, and we had better be careful how we treat the child.

Third, a divine law is broken (Ex. 20:13). Dr. Gleason Archer, commenting on Exodus 21:22-25, says that if a fight occurred and it resulted in a baby being born dead, then the assailant had to pay with his life. God protected the unborn by His Law. But today it is legal to kill them.

God gives and takes life--not man. An even greater tragedy awaits us in this country. Abortion leads to infanticide, which leads to mercy killing. In some parts of the world, voluntary euthanasia is legal.

God's people need to take a strong stand to protect the miracle of human life

* * *

God loves children and wants to protect them. Rejoice in the miracle of birth and protect the sanctity of the womb and the lives of unborn babies. What can you do in your community to take a stand against abortion?

How to Mind Your Mind

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

We must depend on the Spirit's power to control our thoughts. Here is what the Scriptures have to say on that point: "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God [the indwelling Holy Spirit].... bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:4,5).

Only the Spirit of God can make this possible in our lives, and He does it only when we are under His complete control.

When an evil thought comes to our mind, what are we to do? We should turn it over to the Spirit and ask Him to take charge. I have personally done this for years. It is the only method that works for me.

I cannot help it when a thought comes, whether it is good or bad. I do not, however, have to dwell on that thought. So the moment a wrong thought comes, I ask the Holy Spirit to take over, for that is His responsibility.

When I give Him control, He gives me victory. I have experienced this thousands of times.

Thoughts that come to our mind can also be the Holy Spirit's reminder to pray. In I Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to pray without ceasing. Can we possibly do that? Only by letting the Holy Spirit control us.

As He dwells in us and we continue to give Him control so that no sin hinders His working in our hearts, He reminds us of the things He wants us to pray about.

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Eph. 4:23).

Standing Tall

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

The ability to meet affliction with an uncompromising endurance and an unflinching respect for God is one of the marks of true Christian character. Certainly Job is the classic example of a man who met affliction in such a way.

The author begins the book of Job by describing a beautiful pastoral scene in which Job, a respected and honored oriental sheik, or prince, was residing in the land of Uz. Job was a man of extreme wealth, possessing a flock of 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, large tracts of land and an affectionate family of seven sons and three daughters.

But more than this, Job was a man of extreme piety. The first verse of the book describes him as "perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." So concerned was this man about keeping himself and his family right before his God that he "rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually" (Job 1:5). Day after day he met God early, bringing sacrifices to the Almighty in the event that he or any of his family had secretly sinned against God.

The rest of this chapter's verses, comprising scene two in the first act of Job's life, read like a horror story. Here Satan entered this beautiful country scene and disrupted the simple pastoral life of Job and his family. Notice these features of scene two.

1. Satan's report (verse 6). The day came when the sons of God, presumably the angels, were to bring a report of their activities to Jehovah. Satan also came among them.

2. Satan's activity (verse 7). When Jehovah asked Satan why he had come and from where he had come, Lucifer answered the Lord, "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." Satan's activity was a never-ending search for opportunities to disrupt the program of God.

3. Satan's problem (verse 8). It was Jehovah who suggested to Satan, "Hast thou considered My servant Job?" Here Satan would encounter a man who was perfect and upright, one who hated every kind of evil that Satan had placed in his path.

4. Satan's accusation (verses 10-11). The devil had a ready answer for why Job had remained upright. God had put a hedge around him so that everything Job did prospered. Surely if God would remove that hedge, Satan reasoned, Job certainly would curse God to His face.

5. Satan's restriction (verse 12). Jehovah permitted Lucifer to touch all that Job possessed but placed one restriction upon him, "Only upon himself put not forth shine hand." Although God does not always make this temporal restriction with regard to us today, he certainly makes it an eternal restriction.

6. Satan's attacks (verses 13-19). The devil came to menace Job. Like waves of enemy soldiers the reports kept coming to Job until he learned that he had lost all.

7. Satan's failure (verses 20-22). Job arose and reacted with characteristic remorse. And yet, rather than sin and foolishly charge God, Job stood tall and simply stated, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).

Do not be discouraged when you face the attacks of the wicked one. These attacks are only temporal, and our loving God will have the final word. You may not always understand the ways of God, but you must always trust them, as did Job.

MORNING HYMN
Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for Heav'n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.