DRAWING NEAR
November 11
Believing in God
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes
to God must believe that He is" (Heb. 11:6).
Nothing you do can please God apart from faith.
Throughout history, people have tried everything imaginable to gain
favor with God. Most turn to religion, but religion apart from Christ
is merely a satanic counterfeit of the truth.
Many trust in their own good works, not realizing that even their
best efforts are offensive to God (Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:8). And the
more we try to justify ourselves, the more we offend God, because "by
the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight" (Rom.
3:20).
Some trust in their family heritage or nationality. The Jewish people
thought they were pleasing to God simply because they were
descendants of Abraham. But John the Baptist warned them, saying,
"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not
suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our
father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to
raise up children to Abraham" (Matt. 3:7-9).
Apart from faith, man cannot please God. And the first step of faith
is simply believing God exists. That isn't enough to save a person
--even the demons have that level of faith (James 2:19)--but it's a
start, and by God's grace can blossom into full saving faith.
God has given ample evidence of His existence. Romans 1:20 says,
"Since the creation of the world [God's] invisible attributes, His
eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being
understood through what has been made." David said, "The heavens are
telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work
of His hands" (Ps. 19:1).
Creation itself proclaims the existence, power, and glory of God, yet
most people "suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 1:18) by
rejecting the Creator and denying their accountability to Him. Rather
than bowing to the true God, they pay homage to "Mother Nature" or
evolution. How foolish!
Suggestions for Prayer:
1.Praise God for the beauty of His creation.
2.Worship Him as the giver of every good gift (James 1:17).
For Further Study:
Read Romans 1:18-32. Is there a connection between denying God,
practicing idolatry, and committing gross immoralities? Explain.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)
6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses
are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like
the wind, Have taken us away.
Philippians 3:8
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
James 2:19
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons
believe; and tremble!
James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or
shadow of turning.
Romans 1:18-32
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has
shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His
eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God,
nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their
foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made
like corruptible man; and birds and four-footed animals and creeping
things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of
their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and
served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.
Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their
women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is
shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error
which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are
not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder,
strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who
practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but
also approve of those who practice them.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
http://www.gty.org/Gospel/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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