King
James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning
Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Friday,
September 25, 2015
Chapters: The Book of Habakkuk
https://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-268.html
Message
Title: Surviving
In A Wicked World

Hello
My Friend,

The Book of Habakkuk is the thirty-fifth book
of the Old Testament/Bible and contains three chapters. The author of
the book is Habakkuk and it was written to the people of Judah. The
timeline for these events took place approximately between 608BC and
590BC. The purpose of the book was to awaken Judah to their spiritual
needs and warn them of the impending judgment from God. What we are
to learn from the book is that the just shall live by faith alone.
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not
upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” -
Habakkuk 2:4.

Every faithful Christian becomes more
cautious of their actions the closer they get to Christ, they are the
first to admit that they are just sinners saved by the grace of God.
We get the affliction we face when we have sinned, but when we are
suffering for things when there seems to be no explanation, that is
when we often don't. Habakkuk prophesied in the latter years of
Josiah, he expresses an attitude that many faithful Christians have,
a disgust for his wicked nation. Habakkuk asked God how much longer
he had to suffer and keep praying for an end to it all when things
keep getting worse.

“O LORD, how
long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of
violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and
cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before
me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the
law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth
compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. Art
thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not
die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God,
thou hast established them for correction. Thou art of purer eyes
than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore
lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy
tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than
he?” - Habakkuk 1:2-4,12,13.

Thou
art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on
iniquity. This is what Habakkuk was witnessing, in his town,
immorality, idolatry, destruction, violence, no justice in the
courts, and the wicked out numbered the righteous. Sound a little
like what is going on today? He wonders why God doesn't do anything
to judge the wicked, while the righteous are the ones suffering. God
hates sin, any sin, and it is all punishable by death, He cannot look
sin straight in the eyes, if He did we would all be in hell. That is
why He sent His Son, those who are saved are no longer wicked in His
eyes because they are made righteous through Christ. It may seem as
those who live wickedly get away with what they are doing, but that
is not what is happening, their time is running out.

“If
ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit
of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a
murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other
men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” - 1 Peter
4:14-16.

If ye be reproached for the
name of Christ, happy are ye, it is far better to suffer under
the hand of God rather than mans hands. God answers Habakkuk,
reminding him that nothing gets pass Him, and they will not get away
with what they have done. “For the vision is
yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not
lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it
will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in
him: but the just shall live by his faith. Because thou hast spoiled
many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because
of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of
all that dwell therein. Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness
to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be
delivered from the power of evil! Thou hast consulted shame to thy
house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle
to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their
nakedness!” - Habakkuk 2:3,4,8-10,15.

Though
it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not
tarry. God is reminding all us that no wickedness will go
unpunished, we may not see things happening right now, but He is
watching and listening to everything that is going on, and when the
time is right, judgment will come. Let me tell you, this past year I
have never seen so many people try to steer me away from living and
teaching God's Word. Every time I think I have learned of every
religion and cult you can think of I am subject to another, and I can
truly understand why Jesus says not everyone who says they know Him
will enter His Kingdom. “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.”
- 2 Peter 3:9,10.

The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise. It may not look like it right
now, but God is going to do something marvelous that we as
Christian's will find hard to understand and believe. Through the
afflictions we face we can rejoice knowing that no matter what
happens to us we still have God. Habakkuk praises God in prayer. “O
LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy
work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known;
in wrath remember mercy. Although the fig tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall
fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off
from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will
rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD
God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he
will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my
stringed instruments.” - Habakkuk 3:2,17-19.

Yet
I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
No matter what difficulties we face, God is with us, He is our joy,
He is our salvation, and He is all we need. Everything and everyone
can fail us, which is why we go through so much needless suffering in
the first place, but God never does. Anything He takes from us is
going to be replaced by something much better, My goodness, these
verses struck me hard today because I was praying to God this morning
wondering what was going on with me and then He answered me. God is
just as uncompromising toward sin today as He always has been. He
assures us that no matter what we are going through or how long it
seems to take to receive an answer, He is at work and we will see an
end to the suffering. “Beloved, think it not
strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - 1 Peter
4:12,13.

Today's Prayer:
God, I may not know what tomorrow brings, but I do know that You will
be there and You will see me through everything that I go through.
Lord, it's not always easy to avoid the temptations of the world, ot
the false prophets out to pull us away from Your truths, but with You
by my side I know I will survive. Lead me and guide me, keep me
looking to You, let me not turn to the right or left, just keep eyes
straight on You. Give me Your power and strength to walk away from
temptation and those who are trying to lead me away from You. I will
rejoice in You for You are the God of my salvation, I am nothing
without You, and I know that I can endure all things with You. In
Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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