The Hebrew word for “formed” is yatsar, which means “to mold.” It is the same word used to describe a potter molding and shaping clay. The description reveals that while God spoke
the worlds into space,
the planets into orbit,
the earth on its axis,
the seas within their boundaries,
the sun, moon, and stars to appear in the sky,
the trees and flowers to cover the earth,
the animals to fill the earth,
God personally shaped the physical characteristics of man with His own hands and breathed into man His own life! Such knowledge should cause us to pause and worship the Creator Who molded you and me from the “dust of the ground.”
Having been set free from sin,
you became slaves of righteousness.
You cannot serve God and mammon. § When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. § Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
O Lord our God, masters besides You have had dominion over us; but by You only we make mention of Your name. § I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.
Rom. 6:18; Matt. 6:24; Rom. 6:20–22; 10:4;
John 12:26; Matt. 11:29–30; Isa. 26:13; Ps. 119:32
Whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved.
Manasseh … did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out … He raised up altars for Baal … And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. § Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” § The Lord is … longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish.
Acts 2:21; 2 Kings 21:1–3, 5–6;
2 Chron. 33:12–13; Isa. 1:18; 2 Peter 3:9
For years our family celebrated Thanksgiving at my father’s house. The meal was always abundant and delicious – turkey with dressing and gravy, ham, green beans . . . my mouth waters just thinking about it! But the highlight of Thanksgiving was not the food, or the televised football games, or the fun. The highlight was always the fellowship around the dining room table. As we sipped our coffee and gorged on one last piece of pie, my father presided at the head of the table as each person shared what he or she was most thankful for, which was the highlight of our time together.
One day, in My Father’s House, the table will be set and supper will be ready. One day you and I and all of the Father’s children will be seated around that table. One day our Father will preside as He gathers us to Himself, listening intently and lovingly as we share our love for each other and our love for Him. One day My Father’s House will be filled with His family, and it won’t get any better than that!
My mother and My brothers are these
who hear the word of God and do it.
Both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” § In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. § You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. § Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it! § Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. § My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. § Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
Luke 8:21; Heb. 2:11–12; Gal. 5:6; John 15:14;
Luke 11:28; Matt. 7:21; John 4:34; 1 John 1:6; 2:5
What are you doing here, Elijah?
He knows the way that I take. § O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways … Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? … If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. § The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. § Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. § A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.
Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. § The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. § As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.
1 Kings 19:9; Job 23:10; Ps. 139:1–3, 7, 9–10;
James 5:17; Prov. 29:25; Ps. 37:24; Prov. 24:16; Gal. 6:9; Matt. 26:41; Ps. 103:13
In the beginning, we were never intended to die. Death was not a part of God’s original plan. He created you and me for Himself. He intended us to live with Him and enjoy Him forever in an uninterrupted, permanent, personal, love relationship. But sin came into our lives and broke the very relationship with God for which we were created.
When your loved one dies and your grief is tinged with anger, don’t direct it toward God. He’s angry too. Direct it toward sin and its devastating consequences. Dedicate yourself to sharing the gospel as often as you can. Pray that through your witness others who face physical death will choose to escape the second death, which is hell, the ultimate separation from God, by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. As we face death, our only hope is in knowing there is genuine, triumphant, permanent victory over it that is available to us in Jesus’ Name!
