Devotion: God Is Faithful

God is Faithful

By Marsha Iddings

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

How is God faithful? Let's look at 1 Corinthians 10:13.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God is faithful to not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. So often I have read or heard that this is saying that God will not let you go through a trial that is too much for you. I have always gotten the impression that this means bad circumstances such as ill health or other calamities. But as I have read this verse in its context I have learned something quite different.

Prior to verse 13, the Apostle Paul is talking about the sins of the children of Israel. He says in verses 6-10 that they lusted after evil, were idolaters, committed sexual sins, tempted Christ and they complained. God rained down judgment on them for their sin. Paul goes on to say that all these things are examples for us to learn from and if we think we stand, take heed lest we fall into the same sin and be judged by God. Then comes verse thirteen.

Here's what I have learned:

1. The root cause of all the sins mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:6-10 is discontentment.

2. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is talking about temptation to sin, not trying circumstances

3. Temptation to sin often comes packaged in trials and unpleasant circumstances.

4. God promises to be faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted to sin above your

ability to resist it. He will provide a way to escape the sin.

5. Our responsibility is to take the way of escape He provides.

6. Verse 31 gives an escape route. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye

do, do all to the glory of God."

Another escape route is found in Psalm 103:1-5;

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

When we actively seek to praise God and remember what He has done for us, past, present and future, there will not be room for discontentment and complaining. God is faithful. He has provided a way of escape from temptation that we may be able to bear it. We just need to do our part and take it.

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http://www.lulu.com/Marsha-Iddings

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Devotion:God is Greater Than Man

God is Greater Than Man

By Marsha Iddings

Job 33:12

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

Job had just endured the speeches of his three friends for why he was suffering. Now Elihu rises to the occasion. He spends the first part of his speech bragging about how righteous he is and how wonderful his speech will be. He says, "My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly." Then he accuses Job of self-righteousness and tells him, "Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters." (Job 33:12-13) There is truth in what Elihu says about God. However, his timing and self-righteous attitude are not commendable. How often do we point the accusing finger at others when we are guilty of the same sin?

Or perhaps we bring out some truth about God to a hurting person at an inappropriate time when they are not ready to hear it, causing more pain and suffering for them. We need to be careful that we are sensitive to when it is appropriate to speak and when it is not.

However, Elihu is right. God is greater than man. God is not accountable to us for how He works and we should not strive against Him. We should rather bow in submission to His Providence in our lives. But I think the important thing to remember is that we don't bow in blind submission to God simply because He is greater than we are. Job bowed in submission to God because he knew God's character. We must know the character of the One we submit to. We submit because He alone is worthy. His character is worthy and so we bow to Him. Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him...For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me...But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 13:15; 19:25-27; 23:10)

God is greater than man and His character is worthy of our humble submission to Him. May we learn even as we go through the fires of refinement that we can trust Him because He is greater than us and worthy of our trust.

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Sufficient Grace Publishing --books by Marsha

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Devotion: God is Gracious and Merciful

God is Gracious and Merciful

By Marsha Iddings

2 Chronicles 30:9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.

"... the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."(Numbers 21:4) Is your way discouraging? The children of Israel became discouraged because of the way. The journey they were on was difficult and they were discouraged. In Deuteronomy 1:28 Moses is recounting their way through the wilderness and he reminds them of things they said. "The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there."

Discouragement is the sister to burnout. Many of you who read my devotionals homeschool your children. As the beautiful fall season turns to the rainy gloomy days of winter, there is a feeling of being overwhelmed that commonly hits about this time. It's a melancholy that makes us feel like we can't keep up with the pace and we want to throw in the towel and quit. This is not a unique problem to homeschool moms, although, it sometimes hits us harder then it does others simply because we wear so many hats and we are spread so thin. We begin to feel like the Israelites did. Our problems are greater and taller than we can handle. We run into road blocks in what we want to accomplish and it seems there is no way around them and we can't climb over them. Our problems seem like big giants looming over us and we feel as if we've been taken captive by them. This is the beginning of burnout. I know, because I have been there this week.

But God is always gracious and merciful when we turn to Him. He waits for us to come to Him to find strength and encouragement to continue. Just when I needed it most, two homeschool newsletters showed up in my email. Each one had a message of encouragement. One spoke about discouragement and the other about burnout. Are you discouraged, burning out? Get alone with God. Ask Him to show you what you need to do to turn it around. Evaluate your daily routine. What causes the stress? Does something need to be changed to ease it? Schedule time just for yourself each week, if not each day. What are your expectations for yourself, your home and family? Are your expectations too high? Perhaps you need to lower them. I read one time that if we got rid of our expectations, we would never be disappointed. Perhaps this is a bit unrealistic, but it has an element of truth to it. God encouraged me with these newsletters this week.

The most important piece of information I read was to stop and take time out alone in prayer with God. Our verse above says to turn again unto the Lord and you will find compassion, grace and mercy for your time of need.

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