King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Labor of Love
Date: Tuesday September 27, 2011
Chapters: The Books of Zephaniah and Haggai, Proverbs 27, Psalm 105:1-23
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Highlights of Chapters:


Hello My Friend/Guest,

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” -II Peter 3:3-10.

Whether it takes one year or a thousand more, God is faithful to fulfill His promise that no one on the earth dies without the opportunity to be saved from hell. While all who are saved are ready for Jesus to return and place judgment upon all of mankind, God is patiently waiting until the very last soul receives Christ. However, know this, that every day that passes by is one day closer to Jesus returning and while God does not want to see anyone in hell, ignorance will not save you. Only Jesus saves!

The Book of Zephaniah is the thirty-sixth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains three chapters, the author of the book is Zephaniah and it was written to the people in Israel during the time that king Josiah reigned in Judah, approximately between 639BC and 609BC. The purpose of the book was to warn Israel and all nations of the coming judgment of God. What we are to learn from the book is that God rather save then destroy us and is mighty to save all who come to Him. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17.

Through Zephaniah, God addresses all heathen nations, those who never sought Him, those who were ignorant and paid not mind to Him, and those who worshiped false gods or worshiped Him and false gods as well. “I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD. I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.” - Zephaniah 1:2-3.

You can pray a thousand times a day, you can worship every man made god known, but unless you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved you are a part of the billions of people who will be cast off the land upon Christ's return. While God is willing to wait, He is not willing to share the spotlight with false gods or those who rather think of themselves as a god.

“The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame...Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.” - Zephaniah 3:5,8-11.

God willingly saves and rejoices over anyone who comes to Him through His Son. He promises that although we will be afflicted He will save us and even take away the pain, but unless we receive Him personally He will not save us. He will not force Himself upon anyone, but just the same, He will not save anyone either who does not willingly come to Him either. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” - Romans 10:9.

The Book of Haggai is the thirty-seventh book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains two chapters, the author of the book is Haggai and it was written to the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon after their seventy years of captivity, approximately 520 BC. The purpose of the book was to inspire Israel to have a new zeal for God and make the leaders aware of their responsibility to rebuild the Temple of worship. What we are to learn from the book is that God demands first place in our lives. “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” - Haggai 2:8,9.

Haggai was among the first exiles to return from Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest. Their purpose was to rebuild the Temple that was destroyed seventy years ago, but they let it subside as they began building their own homes. God's response, “Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.” -Haggai 1:5-9.

We are not to labor for the things that perish we are to labor for the things of God and upon that labor we shall be blessed with the things we need and then some. Now, this does not mean to quit your job and work in the ministry, this means to take God with you wherever you go and all that you do do in a godly manner. God blesses us when we are completely dependent upon Him, when we lose that dependence He will take things away from us until we realize that everything we do, have, and are is God. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts...Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:2,3,10.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, if You care for the lilies of the field that neither labor nor spin, and You clothe the grass of the field, which is here today and mowed down tomorrow how much more will You care for us who are made in Your own image. You desire our fellowship, our devotion, and our reliance on You for all our needs, for You delight in providing everything we have need of. Thank You for all that You do and allow in my life. Lead me and guide me in Your will and ways, and help me to labor only for the things that give You glory. I love You Lord, and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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