Daily Thoughts

In the P of GP we read that the Lord promised Enoch that after the floods destroyed everyone except for Noah and his family, He would stay His hand from flooding the earth again.  Moses 7:51-52 " And the Lord could not withhold; and he covenanted with Enoch, and sware unto him with an oath, that he would stay the floods; that he would call upon the children of Noah; And he sent forth an unalterable decree, that a remnant of his seed should always be found among all nations, while the earth should stand;"

In the New Testament we read about how the worshipers of the goddess Diana raise a tumult against Paul.  Craftsmen who profit from making idols are very upset by Paul's teachings that people should not worship images made by men's hands.  They realize that if people believe what Paul says, they'll be out of business! They stir up the people to such an extent, that confusion reigns. There are people today who try to fight the truth of the gospel.  They'll use any means they can to keep people from accepting it.  Acts 19:23-29 "And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.  For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.  And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre."

Some verses with a thought booklet are a prayer to create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us.  Those who think they're so strong that they won't succumb to temptations the very ones who often fall. We all need to pray daily that the Lord will help us resist temptation and create a clean heart within us.  We are no match for Satan unless we enlist the help of the Lord.  Then these verses go on to say that the result of having this clean heart and right spirit is that we won't be cast away, the joy of salvation will be restored to us, and we'll be upheld by the Spirit of the Lord.  But it doesn't stop there.  After we've experienced these wonderful things, it's not enough that we keep the joys of gospel to ourselves. We're then told to teach transgressors the ways of the Lord and help to convert sinners.  We need to help others find the same joy in the Lord that we have found.  The gospel is too good not to share!  Psalms 51:10-13 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."