Quiet times devotional Monday through Friday

1. This week's Quiet Times: March 12-16, 2012
Keeping Your Marriage Intact
Monday
Exodus 20:14 says "You
shall not commit
adultery". Read
Leviticus 20 and see
how serious the Lord
was about Israel
keeping his commands.
Why do you think he
was so strong with
Israel? Think about the
effects of sin. Think
about how everyone is
affected by the sin of
adultery (the parties involved, the family, the community, as well as the Lord).
Now read Psalm 51 and gain insight as David is convicted of adultery. Why do
you think God spared David's life? What does this Psalm reveal to you about the
heart of God?
Tuesday
Read Matthew 5:27-30. God holds us accountable as he did Israel. What part of
the body is linked with the sin of adultery in these verses? Is adultery merely a
physical act of unfaithfulness that occurs when one of the marriage partners
voluntarily engages in sexual intercourse outside of the marriage, or is the
definition of adultery broader than that? What type of attitude is Jesus teaching
us to have toward our sin? Was he teaching us to literally chop off our hands and
gouge out our eyes? Obviously not or none of the disciples would have had any
limbs or eyes left! Jesus always targets the heart when he teaches. Read
Matthew 23 (particularly verses 23-26) and seek to understand what the Lord is
teaching. What does he mean when he tells the Pharisees to "First clean the
inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean."? Read also
Matthew 15:16-20 about the source of our sin. What is it that makes a man
unclean? Do you see why we are always in need of God's forgiveness and mercy?
Psalm 103 teaches that God does not treat us as our sins deserve! Praise the Lord
for his love and let it be the motivation for each of us to please him in what we
do!

2. Wednesday
In Job 31:1 we read how Job made a pact with his eyes to not look lustfully at a
woman. He understood that this is where adultery begins (2Peter 2:14). Read
Matthew 6:19-23 and Luke 11:33-36. What do you learn about your eyes from
these verses? What role do they play in your spiritual life? Obviously the world is
not concerned with your spiritual welfare as each day you are bombarded with
seductive images and pictures. Think about how dangerous this is in light of the
role the eyes play in our spiritual lives! Next read 2Corinthians 4:18 and Hebrews
12:2. Meditate on these verses and commit them to heart! Understand that God
loves you and is teaching you how to overcome the world and the influence of the
evil one!! Pray that you be blessed with eyes full of light all of your days!!
Thursday
Read Ezekiel 20:1-44. What was Israel doing to infuriate the Lord? What did he
call them to give up in verse 7? Do you see the heart of God in his dealings with
Israel? Over and over they forsake him and seek after the desires of their eyes
instead of doing what is good in the eyes of God. This is Israel's downfall so let us
not follow in that example! God detests those with haughty, pride filled eyes (see
Prov.5:7-11 and Prov. 21:4). He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Write
John 8:12 on an index card and commit it to heart. Fill your life with the light of
the world - JESUS CHRIST!!!
Friday
Our motivation for obeying the gospel and for doing God's will can be summed up
in one word - JESUS!! "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced
that one died for all, and therefore all died."(2 Cor. 5:14). This is why we are
called to be faithful to God and to one another - because Jesus is faithful!! Study
Philippians 2:1-18. Apply this to your life deeper and deeper each day and be
blessed in the Lord forever!! Praise the Lord!!!