DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 4:
WORD OF WISDOM
Some view mountains as obstacles, others as opportunities.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Overcoming Obstacles
"And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The
land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If
the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it
us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the
LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us:
their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them
not."
Numbers 14:7-9
There is an old story about a shoe salesman in the days of the British
empire who was sent to begin a new branch of the business in an African
nation. A few days after he arrived, he sent a telegram home, announcing his
resignation. "This place is hopeless for the shoe business. Everyone goes
barefoot." Undaunted, the company sent out a replacement. A few days after
he arrived, he too cabled a message home. "Send more shoes. The market is
unlimited!"
All of us face obstacles and difficulties in the course of daily living.
This is not because of some special attack of Satan (although that sometimes
happens) or a judgment on us. It is simply part of living in a broken world.
Things are going to go wrong, and there are going to be problems. That is
not the question. The question is how we will respond. Will we allow
ourselves to be discouraged, or will we realize that God's promises are
still in operation and we can trust Him for victory?
When the ten spies gave a discouraging report, the Children of Israel
refused to enter the land, despite the impassioned pleas of Joshua and
Caleb. Rather than focusing on the giants and the walled cities, those two
faithful men were focused on God. They realized that if God was on their
side, there was nothing to fear from any obstacle.
Do not allow any obstacle to convince you to take your eyes off Jesus, and
you will find victory.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Ephesians 4-6New King James Version (NKJV)
Walk in Unity
4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the
calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness,
with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one
Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord,
one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in you[a] all.
Spiritual Gifts
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's
gift. 8 Therefore He says:
"When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men."[b]
9 (Now this, "He ascended"-what does it mean but that He also first[c]
descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also
the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all
things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the
work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all
come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning
craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may
grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- 16 from whom the
whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according
to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth
of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
The New Man
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer
walk as the rest of[d] the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18
having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God,
because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their
heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and
have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off,
concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to
the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and
that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true
righteousness and holiness.
Do Not Grieve the Spirit
25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his
neighbor,"[e] for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not
sin":[f] do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the
devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor,
working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him
who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is
good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the
day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil
speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave
you.
Walk in Love
5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as
Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be
named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather
giving of thanks. 5 For this you know,[g] that no fornicator, unclean
person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for
because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of
disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Walk in Light
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[h] is in all goodness,
righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are
done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made
manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore
He says:
"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light."
Walk in Wisdom
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled
with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.[i]
Marriage-Christ and the Church
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband
is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the
Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ,
so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing
of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious
church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be
holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as
their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever
hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does
the church. 30 For we are members of His body,[j] of His flesh and of His
bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be
joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."[k] 32 This is a
great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as
himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Children and Parents
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your
father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it
may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."[l]
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up
in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Bondservants and Masters
5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not
with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the
will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord,
and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive
the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening,
knowing that your own Master also[m] is in heaven, and there is no
partiality with Him.
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His
might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age,[n] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may
be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of
faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance
and supplication for all the saints- 19 and for me, that utterance may be
given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of
the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may
speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
A Gracious Greeting
21 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a
beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things
known to you; 22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you
may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Footnotes:
a.Ephesians 4:6 NU-Text omits you; M-Text reads us.
b.Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
c.Ephesians 4:9 NU-Text omits first.
d.Ephesians 4:17 NU-Text omits the rest of.
e.Ephesians 4:25 Zechariah 8:16
f.Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4
g.Ephesians 5:5 NU-Text reads For know this.
h.Ephesians 5:9 NU-Text reads light.
i.Ephesians 5:21 NU-Text reads Christ.
j.Ephesians 5:30 NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
k.Ephesians 5:31 Genesis 2:24
l.Ephesians 6:3 Deuteronomy 5:16
m.Ephesians 6:9 NU-Text reads He who is both their Master and yours.
n.Ephesians 6:12 NU-Text reads rulers of this darkness.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
