Where is God?

Thought For Today - June 1
Where is God?
By: Robert A. Searles

    "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not; my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed . Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah." Psalm 77:1-9.

    Every time we find ourselves in a situation which seems hopeless and we become depressed and fearful, we tend to ask the same questions: where is God? Has he forgotten us? These are the times that we need to review former things and remember how God has brought us through difficult times and situations, and troubles in the past.

"And I said, this is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high. I will remember the works of the Lord, surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders; thou hast declared thy strength among the people.".Psalm 77: 10-14.

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What will you choose, life, or death?

 
Thought For Today - May 31
 What will you choose, life, or death?
By: Robert A. Searles

    Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Christ Jesus came into the world to save me, and Christ Jesus came into the world to save you. Are you saved? If you can not say with absolutely certainty that you are saved, and know for sure that you will go to heaven when you die, then it is absolutely true, according to the teaching of the holy scriptures, the Holy Bible, that you are still lost, and if you are still lost when you die, you will spend eternity in hell forever with all its' misery and torments, and be separated from all that is pure and lovely, and righteous, and apart from the presence of God forever.

    The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy said: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Timothy 1:15 

If the apostle Paul declared himself to be chief of sinners, where does that leave each of us? That should convince each of us that we also are lost sinners and need a Savior.  We have a Savior provided for us if we will believe him and accept him, and believe his word when he ,through the scriptures ,warns us of our fate if we make the wrong choice concerning him.

    "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Romans 3: 10-12. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.

    God in his love for us has offered us a remedy for this condition by offering us, through his mercy and grace, his own righteousness through Christ. - "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." Romans 3: 20-22.

Otherwise, if we refuse God's offer of salvation through Christ, then: "The wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

If we choose to receive wages for our works, then, we receive eternal death; but , if we would rather rely on the free gift of God and denounce our sinful works, and acknowledge that Christ paid our sin debt with his blood, then we are freely given life eternal.

    "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth commeth to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God." John 3:14-21.

 "He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36. 

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8. "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:10. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

How about it? Are you saved? Will you choose life or death? Will you choose darkness or light? Will you choose Christ or the devil?

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Our kinsman Redeemer!

 
 Thought For Today -May 30
  Our kinsman Redeemer!
By: Robert A. Searles

    Ruth, returning with her mother in law Naomi from the land of Moab after Naomi's husband and sons had died, one of them having been the husband of Ruth, found themselves in need of help and assistance to survive. -  where could they go? What could they do?  

"And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth ,the Moabitess, said unto Naomi, let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace, and she said unto her, go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." Ruth 2: 1-3

    In times of our spiritual want and famine, when we see ourselves impoverished, and not knowing where to turn for help, where shall we find grace ( that free gift), and be allowed to glean in his field? Where else, except for Christ, our kinsman, our father's son? He it is that we must seek after.

"Then said Boaz unto Ruth, hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens; let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them; have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn." Ruth 2;8,9.

Once we have found him, Christ our kinsman redeemer, or better still, when he has found and rescued us, we need not, and we must not go to glean in any other field.

    "Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" Ruth 2: 10.

Why have we, unworthy sinners , found grace in the eyes of the Lord that he should take knowledge of us to shed his blood for us and save us, seeing that we are sinners and strangers to him. We should be so grateful for what Christ has done for us! Why should we have found grace in his eyes?

    "And Boaz answered and said unto her, it hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Ruth 2: 11-12. 

 God will surely reward all those who flee to him for salvation, and lean upon him for wisdom, and trust in his providence.

    When Ruth returned home that day from the field of Boaz, her mother in law asked her: "where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, the man's name with whom I wrought today is Boaz." Ruth 2: 19.

    Matthew Henry once said: "It is a good question to ask ourselves every night, where have I gleaned today? What improvements have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn to a good account?"


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Who Shall Ascend Into the Hill of the Lord?

 Thought For Today -May 29
 Who Shall Ascend Into the Hill of the Lord?
By: Robert A. Searles

    Sometimes we become boastful of all that we are, and of all that we possess, forgetting that our lives, our bodies, and all that we have belong to God, and have been entrusted to us to be used for his glory.  Everything and every living creature belongs to God. He has the sovereign right to do with it as he wills.

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. for he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation". Psalm 24: 1-5. 

 This disqualifies all of us from ascending into the hill of the Lord and standing in his holy place; for no one can say that he has clean hands and hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, except our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He only is perfectly clean and righteous, and he only is the door, and through him is the only way to enter in to the presence and fellowship of God and enjoy heaven.

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Use the Tongue Wisely!

 Thought For Today May 28
 Use the Tongue Wisely!
By: Robert A. Searles


    "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me. While I was musing, the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue. Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am." Psalm 39: 1-4.

    We must be careful as to what we speak with our tongue. The tongue is one of the chief instruments which Satan uses to cause us to sin. On the other hand, the tongue can be used as an instrument of praise to God, and sound instruction and admonition to our fellowmen.

The psalmist promised himself that he would bridle his tongue and keep silence, but he was so overwhelmed with the truth of God's word that while he thought on these things, the fire burned within him and he was compelled to speak.

    We need to listen to God's word and be so overwhelmed with the truth that he reveals to us, and the desire to share his truths with others, that the fire burns within us until we use our tongue to speak right things. We need to speak only those things that God would have us to speak, especially to the unsaved. We are obligated to use our tongue to defend the faith and to teach the gospel, and win souls to Christ.

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Why be discouraged?

 Thought For Today - May 27
 Why be discouraged?
By: Robert A. Searles 

    Are you cast down this morning and depressed? Are you weary and discouraged? Why should Christians be discouraged when we have such a great inheritance in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us so that we might have and enjoy life, and have it more abundantly?

We are alive; we have the hope and promise of eternal life with God in paradise; we live in America where we are free to worship as we please; we have a wonderful Savior who is our advocate in heaven; we have food , clothing, and shelter, and many creature comforts to make our lives easier.

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 43:5.

"This is the day that the Lord hath made. Rejoice, and be glad in it. Rejoice I say in the Lord."

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Why do I love Jesus?

 Thought For Today - May 26 
Why do I love Jesus?
By: Robert A. Searles


    Why do I love Jesus? I can tell you that I love Jesus because he had chosen me before the foundation of the world, to give me faith to believe his word and be saved. I did not choose him, he chose me. According to Ephesians 1:3-5.

    "Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."

    Unsaved friends! God has chosen to cause you to read this gospel message. All whom God has allowed to hear or read the gospel message have been chosen by him to believe and be saved.
Without faith it is impossible to please God and be saved. Faith is a gift of God: Ephesians 2: 8-9 tells us:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."

    I love Jesus because he gave me the faith to believe. Once I was dead to God in trespasses and sin, a natural man who could not understand the things of God according to 1 Cor 2:14:
"The natural man recieveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned."

    Jesus awakened me from my natural state and gave me new life according to Ephesians 2: 1-3.:
"And you hath he quickened (or made alive) who were dead in trespasses and sin: wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind., and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

Therefore, I love Jesus because he chose me.
I love Jesus because he gave me faith to believe.
I love Jesus because once I was dead but he gave me new life.
I love Jesus because once I was blind, but now I see. Once I was lost but now I am found.
I love Jesus because he paid with his own blood all the debts I owe God.

I love Jesus because he will keep me secure forever according to his promise of 1 John 5: 11-13:
"And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that hath the son hath life and he that hath not the son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God That ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the son of God."

If you will hear with your heart this message of salvation, believe, and call upon the Lord, he will save you, and you too will have reason to love Jesus.

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