Read Amos 7:7-8 (p 1006) Read Commentary (p 1008) Week 35 Living by Faith Day one Living by Faith on your walk of faith by taking some time to fill out the personal evaluation listed on page 1009. Sometimes carpenters use a plumb line a line with a weight on the end of it to make it hang straight to know if a wall has been built straight and according to standard. (See the commentary on page 1008 and the Freedom Point on page 1006 to read more about this.) The commentary also says that just as a carpenter uses a plumb line to test how straight a wall is, so God is testing us to see if our walk of faith is true to his word. His word serves as a plumb line for our lives. Read what Psalm 119:9-11 (p. 671) says about the value of God s word in our lives. What question is asked in verse 9 and how is it answered? What two hints are given in verses 10 and 11 as to how we may live according to his word? Go back to the personal evaluation that you did at the beginning. Find one or two questions on which you gave yourself a low score. Now open up your hands before God and pray this prayer from Psalm 25:4-5 (p.606). Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (By the way, this would be a good verse to memorize and hide in your heart as Ps. 119:11 says.)
Read Joshua 1:7-9 (p. 235) Read Commentary (p. 235) Day Two Success Think of someone close to your age whom you consider to be successful. Is that person successful by the world s standards, God s standards or both? The commentary says that success in God s eyes is met by (1) living according to God s standards, (2) becoming the person God created you to be, and (3) wisely using the time, talents, and treasures that he s given you. What are some of God s standards? To get you started, see Micah 6:8 (p. 1025) Matthew 22:36-69 (p. 1110) Romans 12:1-2 (p. 1295) What are the talents and treasures or blessings that God has given you? How can you specifically use these talents and blessings to God s glory today? As the Holy Spirit leads you, follow Paul s urging in Romans 12 and offer up your life as a living sacrifice to God that is offer up to him your time, your talents, and your gifts and ask him to show you how they may be used for his glory.
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (p. 735) Read Commentary (p. 735) Week 35 Walking by Faith Day Three Significance What are the most significant things that you have done or that have happened to you over the past year? How many of these things will be forgotten over time and how many will be remembered for eternity? Verse 11 says that God has set eternity in the hearts of men which is a way of saying that God created us to have a sense that there is something more to life than simply our life here on earth. If we take this to heart then we will want to live in such a way as to impact our eternal life and not only our temporary life here on earth. What does Jesus say about this in Matthew 6:19-21? (p 1083) List your treasures of earth (those things that will not last forever) and your treasures of heaven (those things that have eternal significance). (Perhaps a way to identify your earthly treasures is to ask yourself what 5 things you most would want to save from your house if it was on fire.) Now ask God to enable you to see your significance in light of his love for you and your responding service to him instead of in light of your stuff. Conclude your prayer by praising him that you have an inheritance in heaven that can never perish, spoil, or fade. (I Peter 1:4; p. 1454)
Read Habakkuk 3:17-19 (p. 1040) Read Commentary (p. 1039) Day Four Fulfillment The commentary states that fulfillment is found as we discover our uniqueness in Christ and use our gifts and talents to serve others and to glorify the Lord. According to this definition how fulfilled are you? The passage in Habakkuk emphasizes that we can be joyful and even fulfilled even in the worst of circumstances. What does the apostle Paul say about this in Philippians 4:12-13 (p.1371)? What were Paul s circumstances as he wrote these words? (see p.1363 and Philippians 1:7 p.1366) And yet he urges his readers to Rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4). What was the source of Paul s fulfillment and how can we find such fulfillment? (see Philippians 3:7-9; p.1368) Pray the prayer of Habakkuk 3:17-19 by applying it to your own life. For example, you might say Lord, even though (fill in the blank with whatever frustrates you, burdens you, makes you sad ) YET I WILL REJOICE IN YOU; I WILL BE JOYFUL IN GOD MY SAVIOR.
Read Ecclesiastes 5:10 (p. 737) Read Commentary (p. 737) Day Five Satisfaction Think of a time when you received some material possession that you really wanted for a long time. How long did the excitement or satisfaction last? Read Ecclesiastes 5:1-10. What verses support the saying You never see a hearse pulling a U-haul? Is it ever OK to be happy about material possessions? What do verses 19 and 20 say about this? What is our ultimate source of satisfaction? (See verse 20 and Ecclesiastes 12:13; p. 743.) If you want to dig some more see also Isaiah 55:2 (p. 812) Psalm 34:8 says Taste and see that the Lord is good. Ask God to deepen your hunger and thirst for him. Close your prayer by praying Psalm 63:1-5 (p. 632).