Opportunity & Opposition

1 Corinthians 16:8-9

But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost,
because a great door for effective work has opened to me,
and there are many who oppose me.

The Apostle Paul was always focused on opportunity. Yet he was a realist who knew the opposition he faced from the enemy of our souls.

He expresses here an interest in visiting the Corinthian Church for a significant period of time. But it would not be until after Pentecost because of great open doors for effective work in spite of much opposition.

In doing kingdom work we should always expect opposition but that should not blind us to the great opportunities.

Let us not allow opposition to blind us to the opportunities of service God provides.

Oh God! Give me strength to walk through
open doors of effective work
in the face of opposes.

Memorizing God's Word

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
(Psalm 119:11)

Over and over the Scriptures direct us to meditate on God’s Word. This activity takes time and discipline but brings much spiritual benefit and reward. Meditation is focused thinking about a Bible verse or passage in order to discover how we can apply its truth to our own lives.

In applying Scripture, we need to ask three primary questions.

1. What did it mean to the original hearers?
2. What is the underlying timeless principle?
3. Where or how should I practice that principle?

There are six specific ways to meditate on a verse or passage:

• Picture it. Visualize the scene in your mind.
• Pronounce it. Say it aloud each time, emphasizing a different word.
• Paraphrase it. Rewrite the verse in your own words.
• Personalize it. Replace the pronouns or people with your own name.
• Pray it. Turn the verse into a prayer and say it back to God.
• Probe it. Ask the following questions: Is there any sin to confess? Is there any promise to claim? Is there any attitude to change? Is there any command to keep? Is there any example to follow? Is there any prayer to pray? Is there any error to avoid? Is there any truth to believe? Is there something for which to thank God?

Today, let’s learn to meditate on God’s Word.

God Will Fight For You

Deuteronomy 3:21–22

Throughout the wilderness journey, God reminded the Israelites of what He had done in the past in order to give them courage and hope for the future.

As the reins of leadership were passed from Moses to Joshua, Moses encouraged Joshua with a review of recent victories.

Joshua saw with his own eyes what God did to those who opposed them.

If God has shown Himself faithful to this point, He will surely continue to do so.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

When we face intimidating circumstances in our lives, we can take heart from Moses’ words to Joshua: “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22).

God can strengthen and encourage us when we trust in Him.

Defeating The Enemy’s Attacks

You, dear children,
are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than
the one who is in the world.
(1 John 4:4)

Let us stand strong in Jesus’ strength, no matter what Satan throws at us or against us.

Let us be encouraged by the many testimonies of God’s faithful people in persecuted lands.

Let us help our brethren in difficult lands.

Let us pray for them.

May the Church of God continue to grow
in difficult lands and in difficult times.

Kneeling In Worship

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.
(Exodus 34:5–8)

To worship is to kneel or prostrate oneself on the ground in recognition of the power, majesty and authority of the object of one’s worship.

Worship is more than just assigning worth; it’s acknowledging that worth is already there.

When we worship God, we are responding to God’s intrinsic majesty and goodness.

That was Moses’ response when God passed by, revealed His glory and proclaimed His name and attributes.

God declared His compassion, grace, mercy, love, patience and faithfulness.

And since God is a God of justice, He also pledged not to leave the guilty unpunished.

The emphasis, though, wasn’t on the Lord’s wrath, power and judgment, but on His love.

When we hear of the goodness, the greatness and the glory of God, worship is our appropriate response.

We bow before Him in awe and appreciation of who He is.

Oh! Let us come now to worship
our Great and Awesome God!