DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28:
WORD OF WISDOM
Can He? Could He? Would He? Yes, He can, He could, He would, and He did!
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DAILY DEVOTION
The Joy of Answered Prayer
"And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is
exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I
rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none
beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so
exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is
a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."
1 Samuel 2:1-3
Helen Roseveare, who was a medical missionary in Africa, told the story of a
remarkable answer to prayer. A mother had died in childbirth leaving a
dangerously premature infant child. They had no advanced facilities, so
their normal practice was to keep the baby warm with a hot water bottle. But
as they filled the bottle it burst because the rubber had decayed in the
African climate. Unfortunately, they had no replacement. Dr. Roseveare
doubted the baby would live. But that day they prayed with the other
children at the mission.
Dr. Roseveare recounted, "During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl,
Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt consciousness of our African children.
'Please, God,' she prayed, 'send us a water bottle. It'll be no good
tomorrow, God, the baby'll be dead; so, please send it this afternoon.'" She
was stunned at the girl's simple faith, hardly daring to believe the prayer
could be answered. But that very day she received a package sent by friends
from her home church in England. Not only had the package been five months
in the mail, but it was the first package she had received in four years on
the field. Among the supplies it included was a new hot water bottle that
saved the baby's life.
There is no restriction on God's ability to meet and supply our needs. Yet
all too often we fail to receive what God could and would give us simply
because we lack the faith to ask Him to work.
When we do not believe God enough to pray, we miss the joy of seeing Him
working in our lives.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
2 Corinthians 4-6New King James Version (NKJV)
The Light of Christ's Gospel
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do
not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not
walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by
manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in
the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those
who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do
not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has
shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
Cast Down but Unconquered
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the
power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet
not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- 10 always carrying about in the
body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death
for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal
flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written,
"I believed and therefore I spoke,"[a] we also believe and therefore speak,
14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with
Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes,
that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound
to the glory of God.
Seeing the Invisible
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Assurance of the Resurrection
5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a
building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation
which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be
found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not
because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be
swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is
God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body
we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We
are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be
present with the Lord.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well
pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to
what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of
the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust
are well known in your consciences.
Be Reconciled to God
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to
boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in
appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for
God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ
compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for
themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even
though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus
no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old
things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all
things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,
and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to
them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading
through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.
Marks of the Ministry
6 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive
the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:
"In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you."[b]
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much
patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in
imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by
purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by
sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of
righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor,
by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown,
and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not
killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many
rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Be Holy
11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12
You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship
has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with
darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a
believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God
with idols? For you[c] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."[d]
17 Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you."[e]
18
"I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty."[f]
Footnotes:
a.2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10
b.2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
c.2 Corinthians 6:16 NU-Text reads we.
d.2 Corinthians 6:16 Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27
e.2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41
f.2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14
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.
