April 4 – A Chain of Results

“… knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:3-4 (NASB)

 

Picking up from the passage yesterday (April 3) we know that testing can bring joy and should bring a joyful attitude because it is for a purpose. Testing means “proof” or “proving” that our faith is true and strong. The first of three important words is ‘endurance’ because through tests, we who believe will learn to withstand tenaciously the pressure of a trial until God removes it at His appointed time. Two more words in verse 4 stand out with important lessons. The second word is ‘perfect’ which describes our end result of testing. It is not a reference to sinlessness or perfection without sin.  Perfect means maturity, specifically in our verse, spiritual maturity. The ongoing testing of our faith should be driving us who are believers to deeper communion and greater trust in Christ—qualities that in turn produce a stable, godly, and righteous character. The third word is ‘complete’. Translated from a compound Gr. word that literally means “all the portions whole.” God’s purpose is that through our trials and testing we end up lacking nothing we need. But we acknowledge this does not speak of material or temporal but spiritually needs.

 

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March 23 – Perfect Peace

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

“Perfect peace.” Now isn’t that something we would truly enjoy? So much chaos in our lives and. Whether we turn this way or that, we things exist that rob us of even imperfect peace. We find a marvelous promise in our verse today. It’s a promise that proves itself over and over.  Our God is the only one who never changes. He keeps His promises and we can depend on Him to meet our needs every day, in every situation.  Although our situations change from pleasant to challenging God never changes. The secret of true peace in our hearts and minds is to fix our thoughts and our aspirations on our unchanging God – not on our own understanding. Trusting in God is like building on an unshakable foundation and keeping our mind anchored in the truth we learn from God and His Word. So, let's base our thoughts on God's faithfulness. Our verse says that this will give us perfect peace. Who can improve on that?  Of course, nobody can. Trust in God – He will keep you in perfect peace no matter what you might face today, or tomorrow or ever in your future.  

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November 24 –Out Of His Love

“…but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:” 1 John 2:5 (ESV) 

This season can be distracting, stressful, confusing, and difficult. The message from the world out there does not always give us the truth. The passage we have today is part of a longer sentence in which the Apostle John compared those who claim to know God but fail to keep His commandments and those who manifest God’s love through their obedience. John repeats the words “know … keep” to emphasize that those genuinely born again display the habit of obedience. Obedience results in assurance of salvation. God has revealed Himself to us through His Word, our Bible. All this comes from the Lord because He loves us. When we follow the standards God has shown us in His Word that His love for us is made complete. Let’s be willing to let God's love work in our hearts and obedience becomes a part of our lives. So when we learn of something in the Bible that God wants us to do or a principle He wants us to follow remember, He wants it because He loves us, not because He is a dictator. His promise to us is to make us complete through our faith in Him.

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August 19 – A Rock We Trust

“This God—His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” – 2 Samuel 22:31 (ESV)
“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4 (NASB) 

Today we take a verse of promise from David’s "Son of Deliverance" in 2 Samuel 22 and another verse from "The Song of Moses" found in the fifth Book of the Law, Deuteronomy 32. Again, we see God called a Rock, or in this occasion, “The Rock!” This word, represented the stability and permanence of God. It was placed at the beginning of the verse we believe for emphasis and was followed by a series of phrases which elaborated the attributes of God as the Rock of Israel. His work is perfect. All His ways are just. He is a God of faithfulness. He is a God without iniquity. He is righteous and upright. These are the principal themes in this song by Moses. It stresses the unchanging nature of God in contrast with the fickle nature of the people. The description of God in this verse contrasts strongly with the description of the people which follows in the next verse, "a perverse and crooked generation" (Dt 32:5). Jesus used this phrase in Matthew 17:17 of an unbelieving generation. Let us choose today to trust in the Rock, our perfect shield who is just in all His ways. 

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August 12 – Living With Genuine Peace

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
    Because he trusts in You.
“Trust in the Lord forever,
    For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” – Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)

This promise for today is for every day. It is well worth keeping it in the top of our mind. We all face times when the peace we have is challenged by events and circumstances. What we expect fails to be what we get and our peace is gone like a puff of smoke in a sudden breeze. We resort to worry, doubts and are tempted to go down a different path. What we need instead is to grip onto and hold firmly in our mind the truth in this promise from God. Isaiah penned these words inspired by the Spirit of God. He wrote, a fixed outlook of trust in the Lord causes a peace within that the wicked can never know (Isaiah 57:21). Such trust prevents double mindedness (James 1:6–8) and serving two masters (Matthew 6:24). Perfect peace means complete, genuine peace that comes only by grace from God. As we experience this inner peacefulness our faith grows and we are encouraged to continue trusting our Lord and Savior Jesus. Let’s prepare ourselves now for today’s opportunity to exercise trust in God who is our Rock forever. Perfect peace can be ours.

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July 01 – Confidence In What or Who?

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

Confidence is good, especially when we have confidence in the outcome of a project we’re doing. When asked if we can take on a job and finish it correctly we say, “I’m confident I can.” But there are times when our confidence is not as strong as we need. In our verse Paul declares his confidence; not in himself, or in the Philippians, but in God. Paul is confident that what God starts in our lives, He will see that they will complete it. Some versions like the one we use here today (NASB) say that God who began a good work will 'perfect it.' The (ESV) promises that when God who began a good work in us will 'bring it to completion.' The (KJV) uses the promise 'will perform.' The word in the original Greek is used in only this verse and in Galatians 3:3. It has all these meanings; complete, accomplish, perfect. Our confidence is placed in Christ Jesus when we take on the tasks He gives us. What we have been called to do, God promises to be with us to accomplish it through us. He will supply all our needs to do so.

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May 7 – Perfect Peace Promised

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”  Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

Are these familiar words to you? They may be just the promise we need to hear these days. Because we all face uncertainty and trying times, because we all can find ways to be upset inside because of outside turmoil. When things are not as they should be, at least in our own understanding, peace escapes us. We believe that we all need to be reminded often of these promises. But first, let us understand what this promise of peace is promising - it's perfect peace. Perfect peace may not be just the absence of turmoil. Perfect peace can be ours in the midst of upsetting challenges. Perfect peace is complete, genuine inner tranquility which we find when we trust the word of God. There are so many influences and distractions in this world to interrupt our thinking and to disturb our peace.  Remember, who is it that benefits from God's peace? It is the person who trusts in God because those who trust in God focus their thinking on God's faithfulness and this gives their minds a real steadfastness. Steady thinking is really a part of real peace. Let's keep our minds steady today, trusting the Lord.

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February 23 – Absolute Trust in Absolute Truth

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” - Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

Of what truth do you have such confidence that nothing and no one is able to dissuade you from your belief? A common crisis for many is the struggle to believe the promises of God. Especially that His care for them and their lives are untouchable by the enemy. The good work, the good and blessed outcome promised by God will happen according to His promise in today’s verse. It’s a process. It takes time. In fact, it will take the rest of our earthly lives before God completes the good work He has begun in each of us. We can absolutely trust that absolute truth. 

Warren Wiersbe writes about the battle for God’s truth “God works in this world through the truth of His Word, and (our evil enemy) Satan opposes this truth by substituting his lies. Human nature is prone to believe a lie and resist the truth. Satan accomplishes his best work through people in so-called Christian institutions (churches, schools, etc.) who do not believe God’s truth.”*  Each time the truth of God is spoken, heard, read, and studied, the enemy uses lies to steal it away from us by tempting us to doubt God’s truth. 

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*Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 2:201.

January 20 – No Partial Knowledge

“For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. … For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”  1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12 (NASB)

Some of the words and truths we read in our Bible seem beyond our understanding. When we read the Scripture without adding anything to it or taking anything away from it, we find it always true even if we have not yet reasoned it so. There are many such dichotomies in the Bible. Most times we are not so earnest and just roll right on past them. When we do, we miss the deeper truth that God has for us. Here is a promise that we can cling to and live with that will help us understand that what we don’t understand. One day it will be clear. Paul says that what we understand now is incomplete – We only understand a part. Often the truth is deeper than our ability to know. But we have the promise that there is a day when it will be made clear. We will understand it deeply and completely. What we comprehend partially now we are promised we will understand its entirety in heaven. We do not even know ourselves fully as God does, but we will one day know ourselves completely just as God knows us.

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June 21 – Our Father Who Is In Heaven

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” -  Matthew  5:48 (ESV)
You therefore are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Luke 11:13 (NASB)

Father’s Day* is observed annually on the third Sunday in June in the United States and by citizens of the USA around the world. As we honor our earthly fathers and fatherhood on this day, we can remember that we have a heavenly Father who is the source of our eternal life and blessings we enjoy, because in faith we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our first verse clearly states that the heavenly Father freely gives the Holy Spirit to all who believe. This is true since the beginning of the Christian Church on the Day of Pentecost.  We who believe by faith, have received the Holy Spirit from the Father at the behest of Jesus the Son of God.  We are told by Jesus in Luke that we are to be perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect.  We know such perfection is impossible on our own. It can be done for us only by our heavenly Father and we receive it through the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We remember our fathers today and honor them as we can.  Remember our heavenly Father today and also give to him the honor and glory He deserves.   

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*When and Why Father’s Day

May 6 – Between A Rock and A Good Place

“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.”  - Deuteronomy 32:4 (NASB)

We might be finding ourselves between the familiar rock and a hard place these days.  The promises we contemplate today are that God is The Rock, whose work is perfect – without fault. God’s ways are just and God’s faithfulness is without injustice. God is righteous and upright. These words are from the Song of Moses which he spoke before the assembly of the people of Israel. The occasion was the commissioning of Joshua, Moses’ successor. This word, “The Rock” represents the stability and permanence of God. These promises of who God is and of His perfection in all things are also true for us today. We might well be facing some difficult hard places in our lives.  But being between this Rock and our hard place today we are actually blessed because our Rock is God Almighty.  He is with us, on our side and we can find safety in God as our refuge, our Rock of Salvation. Let’s today, rest secure on our Rock for it is where God has placed all of us who have believed the Gospel, our secure place is on Him today and forever.

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January 8 – No Shadow Shifting

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  -James 1:17  (NASB)

We have been finding and pondering promises from the letter James wrote.  Today’s promise is one of certainty about the gift Giver.  Every truly good thing, and all the perfect gifts we receive come from God.  When it comes to God’s Word there is no such thing “individual truth” or “truth the way I see it.”  Our personal opinion and faulty understanding can only produce various shadows of what we want the truth to be.  The result is that kind varies from one to another.  Believing this kind of truth is like trying to keep our shadow. It is constantly changing and it comes and goes depending on our surroundings.  God’s truth is one of the perfect gifts that comes from above and it is always without variation.  It is has no shifting shadows because Truth only comes from the Father of lights. There is only one light shining on it and that light is the Word of God as given in the Bible.  

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January 5 – Tested to be Perfect

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  - James 1:2-4  (NASB)

Our selected verse today is one that we might acknowledge as a familiar verse but would rather not sometimes.  Trials in our lives can be petty or pretty severe.  Often we look for a way of avoiding having to put up with the testing a trial brings to us.  How can we consider them to be times of “all joy in our life” when they bring us to tears or frustration? We  might struggle with understanding this command to do so.  Yet, the truth of the promises in these verses give us reason to hope and to obey.  These trials have one purpose, to test our faith and to strengthen our endurance. ‘Steadfastness’ and ‘perseverance’ are also used in this verse.  It is part of the process that God uses to make us 'perfect' – a word when used this way does not mean without fault but means finished, mature, brought to its end.  When we can endure trials and testing joyfully, we have come to understand that in Christ, we are truly lacking in nothing.    

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August 5 – Perfect Peace

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”  Isaiah 26:3 -   (ESV)

Is there a benefit to reading these daily promises of God?  Is knowing these promises and thinking about them worth while?  Yes, there is and it is.  Who of us does not desire a life filled with peace and free from anxiety, doubt, and fear?  Our verse today gives us a promise of that perfect peace.  But, there is a requisite condition.  As believers we have unconditional peace with God as far as the consequences of sin.  God has provided that for us in the human, earthly life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.  But peace of mind and heart that settles us and drives away the doubt and fears that pester us from so many circumstances, is available to those who decide to trust in God's promises.  This perfect peace comes to those who have fixed their minds on the promises of God and trust those promises to be true, because God has said they are true. 

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May 27 – Finding Refuge In Our Faith

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”  2 Samuel 22:31 (NIV)

While we have selected a verse from a passage in 2 Samuel, we recognize it as the same song recorded in Psalm 18.  It is a song written by David during the time that King Saul was hunting him to kill him.  It is a song of thanksgiving and praise to God for the deliverance and protection God had provided David.  We can accept the words of this song as true and join in thanking God for His help to us in our lives.  Perhaps we are not being pursued by evil men intent of killing us, but many Christians in our time are living in fear of their lives because of their faith.  It is important for all to believe that God's ways are perfect and so are His words and promises.  We can base our actions and reactions, and our very lives on what God has promised.  For those who take refuge in Him are shielded by God.  Nothing will happen to us that God does not allow and our future is secure in Him.  When we take refuge in our God by exercising our faith in His promises, we can trust Him for the outcome. 

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April 6 – The Perfect Law

“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”  James 1:25 (NIV)

This verse reminds us how important it is to keep following the instructions which God has given us in the Bible.  The gospel is a message to set us free from sin but it also goes on to show us how to live.  So what God wants us to do is to continue to follow His teachings and He is watching over us from day to day to be sure that we are able to do that with his grace and mercy.  And what does God promise for those of us who remember to follow His teachings through our lives?  He promises a blessing and we can be sure that He will bless everyone of us who keep following His teaching.  So let's be sure to do what this verse tells us to do, to look intently into God's word and the perfect law that gives us our freedom.  The law spoken here is the perfect Law of God, not the imperfect Law of Moses.  The perfect sacrifice for us has been given by Jesus on the cross.  We believe and receive through faith in that sacrifice, our new life.    

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February 7 – Our Rock Forever

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the Lord forever,  for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”  Isaiah 26:3-4   (ESV)

We have considered the promise found in the third verse of Isaiah 26 previously.  It is a blessing and encouragement to  know that if we keep our minds on God, the result from Him is perfect peace.  Today we look at the next verse and promise.  God is telling not just to keep our minds on Him but to trust Him and do that forever.  That means we are never to stop trusting our Lord and what He has called us to, doesn't it?  If we come to God through our belief in Jesus Christ and if we have received forgiveness for our sins leading to eternal life we begin to trust Him and His word.  Why?  Because the Lord God is an everlasting rock.  Described as a rock, He is the foundation of our faith and trust that will last forever and we can put our faith and trust in Him for as long as He is our rock.  He promises to always be our Rock, our Stronghold, and our Refuge.  We find this promise throughout His Word the Bible.  

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January 13 – Perfect Peace

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

Is this verse a familiar one for you?  It is for us as it is a verse we have clung to for much of our life.  A comforting promise from our God.  It is good to take notice that this promise is given to us but we experience it only if we fulfill the condition that it comes with.  Perfect peace is where God will keep us if we keep our minds steadfastly trusting Him.  It is that simple, and it is so very true.  When our lives are in upheaval for whatever reason or cause, God will keep us in perfect peace if we remain fixed on Him by trusting in Him.  Trust God today for this promise and trust Him everyday for all His promises.  Difficult times will come but God will cover us with his perfect peace and we will not become distraught or anxious.  It won't be affected by the conditions in your country, city or even family because the peace is perfect – without flaw.  Such a perfect deal we have. Trust in God, and He keeps us in perfect peace.  

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Please share this promise with others.

June 18 – Perfectly Planned Long Ago

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)

Today and any day we can join with the prophet Isaiah who wrote these words of praise to God.  God has not changed and His faithfulness is indeed perfect. What God has planned, He has done and will do – wonderful things. Isaiah recognized that God had long before planned what He would do at that time to help His people. And, He had carried out His plan by helping them.  Can we believe that God knew us that long ago? Yes, friends, God's plans for you and for me were in His mind and heart before Isaiah's time. He knew us long ago and He knew what our needs would be today. And He carries out His plans as we trust Him. Our God is a personal God who deals with each of us personally. So let's renew, each day, our commitment to Him as Isaiah did.  Let's praise the name of God and exalt Him in all we think, say and do.

February 26 – Perfect Peace

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

We receive a very marvelous promise in our verse today. It is a promise that proves itself through the difficult times we encounter.  Our God is one who never changes. He is a God who keeps His promises and we can always depend on Him to meet our needs every day, in every situation.  Although our situations change from pleasant to challenging God never changes. That is why the secret of true peace in our hearts and minds is to fix our thoughts and our aspirations on our unchanging God – not on our own understanding. Trusting in God is like building on an unshakable foundation and keeping our mind anchored in the truth we learn from God and His Word. So, let's base our thoughts on God's faithfulness. Our verse says that this will give us perfect peace. Who can improve on that?  Of course, nobody can. Trust in God – He will keep you in perfect peace no matter what you might face today, or tomorrow or ever in your future.