Without A Claw Mark

WITHOUT A CLAW MARK

"When Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he trusted in his God." Daniel 6:23

Yesterday morning we heard on the news that we are in the process of signing a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia. Iran is on the verge of sending us into what many call World War III, destined to wipe Israel off the map.

The unemployment numbers rose sharply this week. More earthquakes. Just when we think the economy is turning around, it bottoms out again.

If we are not grounded in the fact that God is still on the throne, that He is totally aware of what is happening around us, we could be a people who have great fear and anxiety.

Dr. J. Sidlow Baxter, a wonderful conference speaker now with the Lord, wrote these words many years ago, but they are so timely for today:

The biblical doctrine of God's sovereignty should both challenge and solidly comfort us. Let me mention four ways in which we should respond to it:

1. Let us thoroughly believe it and speak it. Perhaps more than we suspect in these days when things seem to have gone badly askew, people want to be reminded that the reins are in higher hands than those of human government.

Others who may not WANT to hear it are all the more in NEED of hearing somebody say it. It is the missing note which we must keep sounding.

2. Let us not be swept off our feet by the lengths to which anti-God powers may be permitted to go during this closing stretch of the present age. The Bible has forewarned us. We will enjoy more inward stability and composure if we continually keep in mind our heavenly Keeper's all-control.

3. There is still the possibility of a large-scale spiritual revival. So long as God remains sovereign, and promises like 2 Chronicles 7:14, John 14:13, and others in the Bible, mighty visitations may come from our prayer-answering God. So long as the throne in heaven is a "throne of grace," big answers may be expected by way of great spiritual awakenings.

4. More than ever, let us rest in the sovereignty of God. God is sovereign even when His presence seems least real and the agents of Satan seem unrestrained. If we have to go through the lion's den, our God will bring us without a claw mark on us! If we must go through the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, we shall meet the risen Lord there, and He will bring us without even the smell of fire upon us. -- J. Sidlow Baxter from the daily devotional, HOW GREAT THOU ART (Multnomah)

Brothers: are you churned up inside about what is going on around you? Is the news causing you to fear? Look to Him! HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE! He is our Sovereign, reigning, risen King!
Rejoice! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 10; 1 Samuel 15-16; Luke 10:25-52

Dig This Quote: No joy on earth is equal to the bliss of being all taken up with love to Christ. If I had my choice of all the lives that I could live, I certainly would not choose to be an emperor, nor to be a millionaire, nor to be a philosopher, for power and wealth and knowledge bring with them sorrow. But I would choose to have nothing to do but to love my Lord Jesus - nothing, I mean, but to do all things for his sake, and out of love to him. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 119:11; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:5-9

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Freedom Fighters for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call).

Our goal is to raise more funds for the Freedom Fighters team than the women raise for the Victory Call team.If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website: Donate for Family Freedom Walk fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Freedom Fighters or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Freedom Fighters and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on men, we can do it!!!