Truth

Wherever you go, God is there. The theologian A. W. Tozer wrote, “God is everywhere here, close to everything, next to everyone.” In his classic work on the attributes of God, Stephen Charnock called this God’s “essential presence.”

Righteousness. We use that word often, but what does it mean? This is a rich theological word that describes who God is and what he does. Let’s take time to make sure we understand it.

Eleven men sat in a darkened room. The doors were bolted shut. Certainly, those who had killed Jesus would be coming for them. The deafening silence was broken by every cough and creaking chair echoing throughout the room. The shuffling feet and the heavy sighs served as reminders of the tension. Along with the darkness was a mixture of hopelessness and confusion. All their dreams and hopes were bound in grave cloths, lying cold in a guarded tomb.

The Spirit of God lives in you. That’s the amazing truth for every true believer. And when the Spirit of Christ lives in us, that changes everything.

Do you ever watch those murder mystery series that follows the search for the killer and subsequent trial? The suspense comes when the evidence has been given, and everyone is waiting for the verdict from the jury. Can you imagine standing there waiting to hear the words— “guilty” or “not guilty”? In the next moments, your destiny is revealed—prison or freedom.

The disciples had just received very disturbing news. Jesus was going away, and where he was going, they could not come, at least for the time being.

One of the most controversial words in Scripture is found in our passage today. It’s the word—predestined. Some run with this truth to places they should never go. For instance, there are those who discard the need for evangelism. “Why share the gospel if God has predestined people?” they reason.

Ever feel like you are alone in the battle? The fighting and chaos surround you, and there seems to be no chance of winning. Listen to today’s passage.

The king had been humbled. The great Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, who had been compared to a lion (Jeremiah 4:7) and an eagle (Ezekiel 17:3-12), was driven from his kingdom to eat grass like an ox (Daniel 4:33). God got Nebuchadnezzar’s attention! When he came to his senses, he “blessed the Most High” God. We learn a lot about God and ourselves in Nebuchadnezzar’s prayer.