DRAWING NEAR

October 16

Submitting to Divine Authority

"Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; for the Lord speaks"
(Isa. 1:2).

God's Word is the only source of divine authority.

We might assume that those who affirm the inspiration, inerrancy, and
infallibility of God's Word would automatically submit to its
authority. But that isn't always the case. Even those who hold to a
high view of Scripture may sometimes fail to obey it. We need to be
reminded that the authority of God's Word isn't simply a doctrine to
be affirmed, but a priority to be pursued.

Israel fell into the trap of holding to a high view of Scripture
while failing to abide by its statutes. To them Paul said, "If you
bear the name 'Jew,' and rely upon the Law, and boast in God, and
know His will, and approve the things that are essential, being
instructed out of the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a
guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector
of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the
embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, you, therefore, who teach
another, do you not teach yourself?

"You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you
dishonor God? For 'the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
because of you'" (Rom. 2:17-21, 23-24).

Israel's sin led unbelievers to blaspheme God. That's analogous to
our society in which the Lord is constantly ridiculed because of the
sins of His people.

You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read, and your life
is under scrutiny every day. What do others learn from you? Do they
see an accurate picture of your God?

Christians will always be maligned, but let it be for righteousness
sake, not sin. As Peter said, "Keep your behavior excellent among
[unbelievers], so that in the thing in which they slander you as
evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe
them, glorify God" (1 Pet. 2:12).

Suggestions for Prayer:

Confess any areas of your life where you are being disobedient to
God's Word. Seek His grace and power to live each day as one who
truly respects the authority of God's Word.

For Further Study:

Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. What purpose does the Old Testament
record of Israel's punishments serve for us?

Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.


All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org

~~~


1 Corinthians 10:1-13
10:1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all
our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
3 all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies
were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should
not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is
written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."
8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in
one day twenty-three thousand fell;
9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were
destroyed by serpents;
10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed
by the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were
written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it.

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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In Christ,



Peter

Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com

STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner
was you. -Alistair Begg