DRAWING NEAR
November 4
Gaining God's Approval
"By [faith] the men of old gained approval" (Heb. 11:2).
God makes His approval known to those who trust in Him.
The book Catch-22 tells of a squadron of World War II fliers
stationed on the fictitious island of Pianos in the Mediterranean.
Before a flier could transfer off the island, he had to complete 25
extremely dangerous missions over southern Europe.
One flier, Yosarian, was especially anxious to leave. After
completing his twenty-fifth mission, his commanding officer began
raising the number of qualifying missions. Insanity became the only
justification for a transfer. But the commander decided that whomever
feigned insanity to obtain a transfer simply proved his sanity by
that sane act!
Realizing it was all a cruel game with no way out, Yosarian devised a
plan to build a raft and float to Sweden. Even though there was a
whole continent between him and Sweden and the ocean currents would
take him in the opposite direction, he couldn't be dissuaded. He took
a leap into the absurd with a hopeless and impossible plan to escape
a hopeless and impossible situation.
In their relentless quest for meaning in life, many people become
spiritual Yosarians. Rejecting God, who is the only sure and rational
answer to life, they jump headlong into alcohol, drugs, witchcraft,
astrology, reincarnation, or countless other absurdities.
Many acknowledge God, but try to gain His approval through self
-righteous deeds apart from true faith. In either case the results
are the same: no faith, no salvation, no hope, no peace, and no
assurance.
But those who take God at His word and approach Him in true faith
receive His approval and enjoy His blessings. Theirs isn't a blind
leap into the absurd, but a living hope in the God who made man and
who alone can fulfill man's deepest longings. They know the joy and
satisfaction of a life spent in service to Christ, and the peace and
assurance that all is well--both now and for eternity.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Pray for those you know who have rejected God or are trying to gain
His approval on their own. Explain to them the meaning and purpose
Christ alone can bring to their lives.
For Further Study:
According to 2 Timothy 2:24-26, what is the spiritual state of those
who oppose the gospel, and how are we to approach them?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
2 Timothy 2:24-26
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all,
able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God
perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of
the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
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:
letters@gty.org
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
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
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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