Daily Notes & Observations: “They May Have the Right to the Tree of Life” (Excerpt)

December 17, 2013 by

December 31

“They May Have the Right to the Tree of Life”

Daily Notes & ObservationsThose who believe salvation is by grace or faith alone will often charge those of us who believe that obedience is necessary for salvation as trying to somehow earn salvation. While we should answer this false charge, we must also not be afraid to affirm all that the Scriptures teach. Notice these words near the close of the final book of the Bible:

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

We will be judged according to what we have done. We will be rewarded if our deeds are good when judged according to the Lord’s word. If we wash our robes, or “do his commandments” (KJV), we will enter the city and partake of the tree of life.

But notice what the text says about the tree of life. Those who are faithful will “have the right to the tree of life.” Through our obedience to God, we also have the right to the tree of life.

Of course, all of this is still only possible by the grace of God in making salvation possible. But we cannot ignore the fact that this salvation that God makes possible for us will not happen without our obedience.

So do His commandments that you may also have the right to the tree of life.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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Daily Notes & Observations: “Violating the Law but Committing No Crime” (Excerpt)

December 12, 2013 by

September 15

Violating the Law but Committing No Crime

Daily Notes & ObservationsAfter being delivered from the lions’ den — which was his punishment for praying to the Lord — Daniel declared his innocence before the king.

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime” (Daniel 6:22).

Daniel said he was innocent toward the king and had “committed no crime.” But was this accurate? After all, Daniel violated a law that had been signed by the king.

“‘All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.’ Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction” (Daniel 6:7-9).

Daniel clearly violated the law, yet he did nothing against God or the king. While Daniel’s statement — “I have committed no crime” — may seem inaccurate on the surface, his statement actually reflects a Scriptural principle: God’s people are to obey Him first and should not feel any guilt for refusing to submit to an ungodly law as the one Daniel refused to obey.

Remember what Peter declared to the Council: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Later, in writing about our responsibility toward civil authorities, Peter said, “Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God” (1 Peter 2:16).

We are to act as free men because that is what we are. We have no obligation to comply with anti-God legislation.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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Daily Notes & Observations: “During Plowing Time and Harvest You Shall Rest” (Excerpt)

December 3, 2013 by

February 10

“During Plowing Time and Harvest You Shall Rest”

Daily Notes & ObservationsThough the Sabbath law had already been given to the Israelites, the Lord provided further instructions regarding the application of the command:

“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest” (Exodus 34:21).

From the beginning, God has expected man to work hard (Genesis 3:19). The wise man gives this admonition: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Paul tells Christians: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23). So this instruction to the Israelites was not advocating slothfulness but that they strictly obey the commandment of God.

Man often wants to bend the rules, including the commandments of God. Excuses are made for sin based upon certain conditions that exist. The idea that many have is that God’s instructions can either be changed or disregarded altogether if the situation demands it.

The Israelites could have been tempted to use this same kind of “situation ethics.” During times of plowing and harvest, there is naturally more work of a pressing nature that needs to be done. They could have reasoned that the Sabbath law requiring rest did not apply to these seasons when there was so much work to do. This kind of reasoning would have been wrong.

When God gives a command, only He can give exceptions to it. It is not our place to decide that certain laws of God can be set aside when they interfere with our activities. We are to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Rather than trying to fit God into our busy schedules, we must build our schedules around God and our obligations to serve Him.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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The Root of the Problem: Chapter 20 – No Fear of God (Excerpt)

June 10, 2011 by

The Root of the Problem (cover)What kind of fear should we have of God? Most are quick to answer that this is to be a reverent respect for God. The Hebrew writer spoke of this kind of fear when he said we are to “offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 10:28). Respect for God will cause one to listen to the word of God and seek to do what He says. This type of fear is absolutely necessary.

Yet there is another type of fear that we should not ignore. Fear of God should include respect for Him, but we should remember the terror of God for what He can do to us.

“It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

You can read more about developing a healthy fear of God to help you overcome sin in The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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The Root of the Problem: Chapter 19 – Lack of Love for God (Excerpt)

June 3, 2011 by

The Root of the Problem (cover)Many people will say that they love God. But John says, “Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). Claiming to love God, without the deeds to back it up, is meaningless.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

If we love God, we must obey Him. Therefore, we must also give up sin (disobedience). John says His commandments are “not burdensome” – we can do it. But we must love Him enough that we are willing to do so.

You can read more about why we should love God and how this helps us to overcome sin in The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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