o you set aside time, be it early in the mornings or evening time to spend some quiet time in His Word?
In a busy world, where everything seems to speed up and just taking time seems to be impossible, as a Christian, one of the things, we can’t neglect is taking that time to spend in His Word.
There are many ways to do so, but it’s important that before we do anything else that the first things we do, is not put aside God and say we are too busy, but to make that time, even if it means writing down on a sticky note or setting an alarm, and just make that time with God.
Notice how when you make an appointment, you take the time out of your day to attend to it?
Maybe that is something we need to do is just set aside that time for Him. Only Him.
If you find yourself an early bird, or more likely to get things done in the morning, do so, but if you find yourself to be a night owl, that is the time, to just put aside whatever is being done and set it aside just for Him.
Be it a dayplanner, google calendar, whatever is the case, reserve time for God and use it for Him.
Turn off the radio, the t.v., the phone and just let it be time between you and our Father in Heaven.
Notice how if it was anything else in our lives, we set it aside, but what is it that keeps us from sitting down, I mean really, sitting down with Him and just using time with Him?
Over the next few weeks in my, “Quiet Reflections” I will explore tools to make the most of our quiet time with our Father in Heaven, but in the meantime, I would like to hear from you, “What do you think keeps you from having a quiet time with our Father in Heaven?”
Over on my facebook page, “Sunflower Faith“, I posted a discussion question asking, “Have you read all of the bible“?, because I was curious how many people have actually read all of the bible and not just favorite books, or bits of passages.
92% of households in America own at least one copy. This included self-professing atheists.
According to a study on October 2000 (10 years ago), 59% of Americans reported that they read the Bible at least occasionally
Women (42%) are more likely than men (32%) to have read the Bible
Only one in seven Americans report an involvement that goes beyond just reading the Bible.
37% of those interviewed could name all four Gospels
75% believe that the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves
In a disturbing quote that was shared in the article, “George Lindbeck, the famous Yale theologian, has commented on the decreasing knowledge of scripture from a professor’s perspective: “When I first arrived at Yale, even those who came from nonreligious backgrounds knew the Bible better than most of those now who come from churchgoing families.”
Statistics have even shared that, 20-25% (Americans) have read through the entire Bible.
So why read the bible?
Well first let’s go to scripture.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, New King James Version)
By studying His word, we can become familiar with what our Father has to say and not based on what falliable men say. It’s easy for anyone to say anything and take things out of context, but by familiarizing ourselves with His word, not only can we explain why and who our Father in Heaven is, but also we can be able to discern the truth ourselves and not based on a popular writer or speaker or anyone, which leads to:
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11, New King James Version)
I think Grace Points hits it straight on by saying,”Studying the bible helps us know the truth: As students of the bible, we must not trust the authority of man, but search the scriptures to see what God says. We must study the bible with diligence and prayer.”
We also must not take it for granted to always have His word with us when we will need it. How many of us know His word well enough and have it hidden in our hearts that if we are caught without our bibles, we can know if what is saying is His word and not just “words to tickle our ears”.
Not many carry a bible in their purses, though think how more accessible it is to secular magazines or books that speak of things other that our Father’s truth.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1, New King James Version)
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1, New King James Version)
Think of Jesus.
Every word He spoke, every time He dealt with the pharisees and just anyone…He didn’t back up His words on ancient texts written by mere men, or the latest popular speaker, or referenced John the Baptist, or the “cultural relevant”, but used only one source to back His words with….His Father’s words.
How Jesus Used the Scriptures, pointed out that,”The Pharisees’ question, “Is it lawful?” possibly presumed some traditional or rabbinical law, but Jesus clearly and emphatically positioned Himself on the rock of what was written in the Scriptures. There is no other foundation for divine law, and we should seek no other. Only the citations of Scripture have the sound of authority and the obligation of law to disciples of Jesus Christ. Let men deride teaching that cites book, chapter, and verse, but we stress that in doing so they break ranks with God’s Son.”
A good example that was used is Matthew 19, verses 4-6:
4 And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who madethem at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
(Matthew 19:4-6, New King James Version)
This is described as “an example of citing a Biblical example using a direct Biblical statement”. As I would agree with the article, when the writer of this article shared,”When people begin to give new meaning to part of the Scriptures, it’s usually because they are seeking to prove a doctrine that is contrary to God’s law. ”
Or as my train of thought is…if it’s biblical based then it can be backed up by scripture and not by “feelings” or “I think” or what the most popular or culturally relevant train of thought is for the year or decade.
God’s word is ageless and forever.
God’s word is a solid rock that we can trust to build a foundation on and not influenced by the latest fad or world culture’s demands or wants or desires.
If Jesus, God’s Son, held such a high view of the Scriptures, then His disciples must likewise have viewed them similarly. It is a denial of His authority over us and of our own discipleship for us to have a view that is inferior to His. It is also equally incumbent upon us to use the Scriptures as Jesus used them, understanding that proper use of the Bible is the natural and essential consequence of the correct view of it. from “How Jesus Used the Scriptures”
It goes without saying and who hasn’t seen this in some form or saying, “A dusty bible leaves a dusty life”. Notice how quick it is to fall in our old ways prior to being saved, when we shelved the bible and pull out the world in it’s place.
This can be in the form of popular culture, or music or what we watch and it’s not to say, be a hermit, but use sound judgment with sound doctrine and discrenment and be willing to ask yourself, “Is this really edifying?”
You can always use the “Caught Card” too….What is the “Caught Card”?
Well…look at it this way, if Jesus was to suddenly return right now, right here and “caught” you in the middle of whatever is it…will it be something that you can share with Him without shame or would you like a child caught with a forbidden cookie, try to hide it behind your back from Him?
Yet…what makes us think that He isn’t aware already….He isn’t stuck at church and only there for the Sabbath, for He created the world so why assume, “He wouldn’t know just because we may hide it from others” (ref Proverbs 20).
No matter what, studying and reading and knowing the Bible is always cultural relevant.
Via Focus on the Family, “Why Study the Bible“, eight great reasons are given why reading and studying the bible is essential:
Cultural literacy
To learn what it says firsthand
Personal edification
To help others
Jesus
Because it is God’s Word to us
To know God better
Avoiding error
So if you haven’t read the bible or read all of the bible, pick it up now and discover for yourself what it has to say.
Before closing, here is a beautiful song that sings about “Dust on the Bible”…is there dust on yours? Time to brush off the dust then, and I always love to hear from you so stop on by “Sunflower Faith” on Facebook and love for you to join in the discussion question asking, “Have you read all of the bible“?
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You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.And you shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you. (Leviticus 20:7-8)
Wow.
I actually made it over the hurtle of reading Leviticus and Numbers while undergoing trying for the hundredth time to use the B90 method.
As I encountered Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, the mental speed bumps in my reading, I found myself doing some research (naturally) to prep myself for the task.
Prayer first and foremost than research…that’s me.
Which brings me to this, have you ever felt like this,”Many Bible readers admit to skipping over the book of Leviticus, claiming it is too dry or boring, or stating it has no relevancy for today.-Bible Study Guide-Leviticus)
Yet when we take the time to really read it and explore it….Leviticus does reveal to be something beyond what our sometimes own prejudices may take us to think of it.
“However, when viewed in the context of New Testament redemption, it is not only relevant, but reveals the heart of God who desires to dwell among His people….God’s character is not just one of rigid rules and swift retribution. Father God desired to care for and nurture his beloved nation of Israel, the newly liberated people He called His special possession. (Exodus 19:5) But even still, God requires order and Israel needed to be set in order if they were to have the benefit of God living among them. Gary E. Schnittjer, in his book, The Torah Story, said it well: “here is no greater danger for sinful humans than getting close to the Divine Being and the glory of His holiness.” Yet this same God chose to make a covenant with His people: if they would keep His commandments, and follow His ways, He would live among them and bless them.
This new covenant was based on three facts: sinful man cannot stand in the presence of God, sinful man cannot cleanse himself from the effects of his sin, and though sinful, man cannot live without the presence of God. So out of His love and mercy, God provided a way for sinful man to enter into His presence through the sacrificial regulations that were given through Moses in Leviticus.fromBible Study Guide-Leviticus“
“Picture yourself not as a Christian living in the 21stCentury , but as a Jew who is in the Sinai desert, having just been freed from slavery in Egypt, and having been given two strange gifts from God – the Tabernacle, and some Priests! Imagine asking yourself, “What am I supposed to do with this new place of worship? What are the Priests supposed to do for me?” You must find what this book meant to those who first received it before you can find out what it means for you today.”
As I read Leviticus, I couldn’t help but wonder if many felt like I did,
1. How do I stay awake?
2. How do I fight the urge to skim or skip?
3. What is the relevance.
Well, I don’t have much advice for questions 1 or 2, but just pray, be determine, and try not to take it all in one sitting, but one thing that the #B90 format has helped with is that it breaks it down to 12 pages which is a major help for those, who, like I, feel daunted by Leviticus, can just break it down to a simple 6 pages in the morning and 6 in the evening, to make it easier.
However with Question 3, it’s easy to answer.
Reading Leviticus is reading about Holiness and Worship and a continuation of the law that was set in Exodus.
“…..at first blush, Leviticus reads as a seemingly exhaustive list of detailed rituals, sacrifices, and regulations that have little to do with modern living.
We don’t participate in animal sacrifices, follow elaborate dietary laws, or practice ceremonial cleanness.
But reading Leviticus in context, you realize that Leviticus offers the ancient Israelites patterns of living so that they could live with an altogether Holy God. Recognizing this reality, Leviticus becomes gripping reading!
You see, an Almighty, all- powerful God entered the lives of a small and insignificant people who then had to restructure their lives in order to tabernacle with God. And while we don’t live in the world of Leviticus, we too have to restructure our lives so that God can dwell with us.”
It’s true and reading Leviticus took, not only take oneself out of a 21st century mindset but also a pride mindset (of getting all huffy and well I just don’t know about that thought) to really, putting ourselves in the foot of those who were first given these by our Father and not comparing it to a 21st century mindset that is often far removed from what God’s chosen people had to go through, but in today’s world of comfort and technology, seems like a far cry.
As Hank Hanegraaff eloquently puts it,
“Leviticus teaches God’s people to watch their lives carefully—to follow his rules so they can dwell with him. And while the people of Israel focused on outward laws (eating, washing, and the like), Christians today must be alert to maintain purity from within (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” [Matthew 22:37]“
Online I found some helpful study outlines that if you are using B90 or any other bible reading plan, would be of help understanding this book of the bible:
As “Oh, No! Not Levitucs! A Sermon on the Book of Leviticus shared,
“God knew they could not live up to law, and he never intended to save them through their keeping the law. What, then, was the purpose of the law, if not to give Israel a standard of perfection they could achieve? Paul puts it this way in Galatians:
the law was our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. (Gal 3:24 AV)
The purpose of the law was never to save, but to be our schoolmaster, our tutor, our pedagogue, to teach us about Christ, and to turn us over to him. God always knew that man would not obey the law, that man by himself was so stained by Adam’s sin that he cannot live a perfect life. Knowing this, God in his mercy set up his plan of salvation to deal with man’s needs, to deal with man’s imperfections.
From the very beginning God’s plan of salvation included the sacrifice of his son. Remember, back in Genesis 3 God promises that Eve’s seed would crush Satan’s head. But God sets up the sacrificial system to serve as a series of illustrations, a series of pictures of what Jesus would accomplish on the cross.
So Leviticus is a picture of the New Covenant in the midst of the description of the Old Covenant; Leviticus is New Testament truth in the midst of the Old Testament.”
With that it is also so important to read Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy all together, for they provided a big picture and are inter-related to how each book works together in the bigger picture versus looking at bits and pieces and trying to discern the whole from that.
As daunting as it may seem, it’s possible to read Leviticus and with that, gain a bigger understanding of the big picture that God is trying to share.
“…You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2)
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20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. (Mark 9:20-30, New King James Version)
Observation:
This part of the passage of Mark 9:20-30 (NKJV) really stood out at me, “28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”.
Oswald Chambers shared in today’s devotions, ”We can remain powerless foreverm as the disciplies were in the situation, by trying to do God’s work without concentrating on His power, and by following instead the ideas that we draw from our own nature. We actually slander and dishonor God by our very eagerness to sever Him without knowing Him. ~Oswald Chambers, Upmost for His Highest devotional.”
How many times do we jump headlong into a project under the banner we are doing it for Him, when truthfully, it’s more for us or the power that is behind it then for Him?
As I read the passage and the devotional and reflected on the disciple’s dilemna, it was just a powerful reminder of how we must always seek all things in prayer and contemplation with Him, seek Him in His word and knowing our bibles and not just for rote but for heart. It’s so easy to get caught up in doing everything for Him, only to find that maybe things didn’t work out (and not to say things will always work out or be prosperous), but we have forgotten Him in the process.
It’s so easy to say “Yes” to doing things, but if it find we have no time really, to spend with Him and His word, are we really doing this for Him? Because sometimes, doing thing for Him, also means telling the world,”No” so you have the time first to spend with our Father in Heaven and in His word.
“…. by following instead the ideas that we draw from our own nature. We actually slander and dishonor God by our very eagerness to seve Him without knowing Him.” (Oswald Chambers, Upmost for His Highest). That is a scary and discouraging thought isn’t it?
We get so caught up with our own nature and ideas and this is the way to do it and hey let’s try doing this as well that in the process it can become a form of ego boosting or self worship and less about looking and lifting up and glorifying our Father.
It’s a thin line…it is a thin line.
Prayer helps because it serves as a mental bumper in our lives to slow us down, focus…what are we really wanting and is it to His glory and then….wait. Let Him answer…try not to guess or assume or think, this is what His answer is.
When He answers, it tends to be pretty clear but if it happens slow, don’t assume He’s not listening, just maybe the timing isn’t right or it’s not meant to be and He is giving us time to think….do we really know what we are praying about or for?
When we are ready in heart, and we know it, He’ll let us know what His answer is and sometimes it maybe on a whole different track that we didn’t expect or want or thought of .
To all give the Glory to God…for He is above all and a loving Father who also knows us better than we know ourselves.
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21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
(Mark 10:21, New King James Version)
What do you feel is holding you back?
Is it material?
Is it emotional?
Is it that person down the street?
Or someone whose friendship has gone up in flames? Or just a complete stranger that rubbed you the wrong way?
“Our Lord never places anyone’s personal holiness above everything else when He calls a disciple” shared by Oswald Chambers in his book, “Upmost for His Highest”, but how often do we use that against someone we may have a disagreement with or even unconciously in the spirit of wanting to “better up” someone?
And for what?
Gain in this world that is so temporary?
When Jesus met the rich man in Mark, Matthew Henry Commentary (MHC), shares what happens:
This young ruler showed great earnestness. He asked what he should do now, that he might be happy for ever.
Most ask for good to be had in this world; any good, Ps 4:6; he asks for good to be done in this world, in order to enjoy the greatest good in the other world. Christ encouraged this address by assisting his faith, and by directing his practice. But here is a sorrowful parting between Jesus and this young man.
He asks Christ what he shall do more than he has done, to obtain eternal life; and Christ puts it to him, whether he has indeed that firm belief of, and that high value for eternal life which he seems to have. Is he willing to bear a present cross, in expectation of future crown?
The young man was sorry he could not be a follower of Christ upon easier terms; that he could not lay hold on eternal life, and keep hold of his worldly possessions too. He went away grieved. See Mt 6:24, Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Mk 10:23-31)
We cannot have the glory and the good of the world if it counters and interferes with that of our journey with our Heavenly Father. If it distracts us from His real purpose we must be open to the sacrifice of giving up this world so we can do His work.
Do we know what it means to truly have unconditional, identification and surrendor to our Father? Are we willing? Or do we hold on to this world and seek our glory here and build our treasures that we know in the end, are just rust and decay while Him and His word is eternity?
Not many of us can.
Oswald Chambers shares, “Where you are soft and pliable with God is where the Lord has looked at you.”
This is something interesting to look at and to contemplate where in our lives are we soft and pliable that it’s not us that people will see, but our Heavenly Father.
But complete abandonment is not very easy to do is it?
Chambers continues,
“If you are hard and vindictive, insistent on having your own way, and always certain that the other person is more likely to be iin the wrong then you are, then there are whole areas of your nature that has never been transformed by His gaze.”
Not a very warm and fuzzy thought, but how we interact not just with non-believers, but with believers can speak volumes about our state of maturity.
Isn’t there a saying that it’s our actions not our words that will define us?
The hardness about Chambers devotional and reading Mark 10:21 about the rich person, is that it is a reminder in today’s materialistic world and yes, even in the blogging world, we tend to over depend too much on what we have, how many friends we have, our statistics, our visits, the praises and it’s not a bad thing, not for anyone else, but ourselves, to pull back and take a blogging/facebook break or just take that much needed step back and step into Him to refocus who, where and what we really are.
What if we were told, give up everything….give up our Facebook, our blogs, our ministries, our careers, our whatever to just serve Him, quietly and without prescence or people knowing…can we really do it?
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10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Revelation 12:10-12, New King James Version)
Observation:
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve worked in my Life Journal or posted here. I woke up early this morning (no alarm clock either) and with a long day ahead, open up my bible, pulled up the current Life Reading and as I read though Jeremiah and then Revelations, my first thought was….what could be so relevant about today’s reading to contemplate.
Drinking my coffee, watching the sun rise up, Revelations 12:10-12, just popped out at me. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Revelation 12:10-12, New King James Version)
Our Daily Bread shared the following from September 3, 2010′s devotional:
There’s something very appealing about loopholes, and we look for them wherever there’s a command we don’t want to obey.
Jesus addressed this problem with religious leaders who thought they had found a loophole in their religious laws (Mark 7:1-13). Instead of honoring their parents with financial or material support, they dedicated all their possessions to God, thereby limiting their use. Although their disobedience was not blatant, Jesus said their behavior was unacceptable.
Whenever we start looking for loopholes, we stop being obedient.
Lord, help us to submit to You,
To follow and obey,
Instead of finding loopholes to
Defend our sinful way. —Sper
As I read this, it reminded me how we sometimes compromise our faith too much and often not with enough discernment or care for the wants and wills of a fickle world and in the process, without knowing…not only look for loopholes to justify being less godly toward other people, but in our own actions and lives.
I think about people who share observations of people “caught in ungodly acts” when they don’t realize the world is watching and wonder how careful are we really about our own lives or how we interact with others.
Yesterday, I had a less than pleasant experience with someone whom we were friends with but didn’t hesitate to be critical and hurtful in comments about us choosing to homeschool and what floored me is seconds before they shared how they had to work with with troubled children from troubled homes, whose families didn’t provide them with a safe or healthy environment. They then turn around and ask the “So…why are you really homeschooling” and then followed up with, “How are we not preparing them for the real world?”
We just found it surprising and flooring that they would even say that as they then espouse how kids need to learn about how to deal with bullying and “be exposed to the real world” while in the same breath talk about how they didn’t want their kids to watch certain shows and movies because the content wasn’t “Christian” and the vulgarity of the language and the violence and it made me bite my tongue from asking them, “So why the double standard for their (and our kids) and even then, advocating putting kids in unsafe, unhealthy environments while all the while talk about working and developing programs to address trouble kids needs and address issues about bullying and self-esteem.
Reading Revelations 12:10-12; It’s not about the world. Just there is no compromise. No” if’s”" and’”s or “but’s”.
I like how a friend shared about the best way to respond, “,”"Because we prayed about it and find ultimate joy and freedom in being obedient to how God’s led our family. Thanks for asking. So how’s God led your family?”
Ultimately, this is beyond about schooling or anything else; As Sunny Shell shares on “About His Business“,:,”The issue shouldn’t be whether one home schools or public schools. B…ut it should be: “Are we all training up our children in the love and admonition of the Lord through our words and daily lives?” “
I would have to add to…are we in love and admonition of our Father in our own words and daily lives as well or as the “Our Daily Bread” article share, looking for loopholes.
As I end this journal entry, this popped up via “Disciple Life” on my facebook,
“”We spend our time dashing from one place to another, pursuing business and pleasure. We assure ourselves that the most important issue in life is making a living. In the midst of all our hustle we try to forget that we are becoming older every day. Only an occasional man or woman has the good sense to perceive that the day of judgment draws nearer and nearer.” – Tozer
Application:
It’s not about the world. It’s not about the world. We are called to not conform to this world though we have to live in it (ref Romans 12:2). That means, one foot trying to please the world and one foot trying to please our Father (Galatians 1:10). There can not be two masters, but only one whom we have to choose.
This is a reminder that if we are looking for loopholes to indulge in the sinfullness of the world while trying to follow our Father, we need to take time to step back, re-evaluate and ask ourselves, how strong or weak our Christian walk is.
We make the decisions that are good for this and this only household; Our first ministry is here at home, through the nuturing and the growth and guidance of our children. That’s my charge and call from our Heavenly Father first and foremost, then my husband, then the world….not the world, our Father, our spouses and then the kids…it’s our Father, our kids, our spouse and then the world.
I can not please men and our Father because then I will find myself slipping and rather than looking and growing upwards, looking sideways and trying to grow sideways as well and we all know how well that doesn’t work.
We are called not to be world-centered or self-centered but rather, we are called to be God-centered. No way around that.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for You for being a solid rock and foundation and as I seek to humble and commit myself always to You Father, I thank You for the challenges and trials You send my way to humble, to break, to grow and to refine this broken soul. Father, I pray that I look upwards, never sideways and though I hurt, I pray for Your comfort and not the comfort of the world.
In Your Name I pray,
Amen.
****Purpose of this post****
Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.
That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.
I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.
Either way.
Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.
If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.
Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.
Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.
There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.
This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.
It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.
To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.
Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.
Even though we make excuses for not obeying God, H still calls it disobedience.
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5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
From the MHC:
Persons of all ranks to persevere in prayer, and Christian prudence.
No duties can be done aright, unless we persevere in fervent prayer, and watch therein with thanksgiving. The people are to pray particularly for their ministers. Believers are exhorted to right conduct towards unbelievers. Be careful in all converse with them, to do them good, and recommend religion by all fit means. Diligence in redeeming time, commends religion to the good opinion of others.
Even what is only carelessness may cause a lasting prejudice against the truth. Let alldiscourse be discreet and seasonable, as becomes Christians. Though it be not always of grace, it must always be with grace. Though our discourse be of that which is common, yet it must be in a Christian manner.
Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse, and keeps it from corrupting. It is not enough to answer what is asked, unless we answer aright also. (Col 4:7-9)
What a powerful reminder of our words and our actions and how it can and does bear either good or bear testimony to others.
How many times have we said we were one thing, but then act in a way or do things in a way that makes us look or sound no different from that of a sin-filled world and then wonder why someone reacted as they did to us.
Or justify our actions not on our Father’s terms but in the world’s term to the point that we meld more with the world and how it deems we should act, less than with our Father and how He calls us to act.
Truth is…there is no place in His word for us to act like the world.
Pride, Jealousy, Lying, Gossipping, partaking of the world as if we are more of an “atheist” than a follower.
Ouch.
But truth is…how are we to stand apart from the world like a lighthouse, shining His Word when we choose to have swinging lanterns that half the time the lights are out?
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1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (Romans 1, New King James Version)
Observation:
Romans 1:20, this just jumped out at me: 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
And made me wonder, have we lost awe of our Father and in the process trying to bring Him down to our level and make Him worldly to justify our own sin.
Hard hitting for the morning, but as we grow in our journey with Him, one thing is for sure and something I hear brought up time and time again around me by fellow believers, we are NOT of this world. We are just visitors, but our time is just passing through and though we are to live IN the world, we are not to be a part OF the world, and yet, it feels sometimes that there is a prevailing sense of a lukewarmness that is falling over everything.
It’s hard not to cringe reading this part, “22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”
From MHC:
The sins of the Gentiles set forth.
The apostle begins to show that all mankind need the salvation of the gospel, because none could obtain the favour of God, or escape his wrath by their own works. For no man can plead that he has fulfilled all his obligations to God and to his neighbour; nor can any truly say that he has fully acted up to the light afforded him. The sinfulness of man is described as ungodliness against the laws of the first table, and unrighteousness against those of the second. The cause of thatsinfulness is holding the truth in unrighteousness. All, more or less, do what they know to be wrong, and omit what they know to be right, so that the plea of ignorance cannot be allowed from any. Our Creator’s invisible power and Godhead are so clearly shown in the works he has made, that even idolaters and wicked Gentiles are left without excuse. They foolishly followed idolatry; and rational creatures changed the worship of the glorious Creator, for that of brutes, reptiles, and senselessimages. They wandered from God, till all traces of true religion must have been lost, had not the revelation of the gospel prevented it. For whatever may be pretended, as to the sufficiency of man’s reason to discover Divine truth and moral obligation, or to govern the practice aright, facts cannot be denied. And these plainly show that men have dishonoured God by the most absurd idolatries and superstitions; and have degraded themselves by the vilest affections and most abominable deeds.(Ro 1:26-32)In a lot of ways, this passage just speaks volumes for itself, without any additonal, but it is a warning, a reminder and a commentary how we must not get so wrapped up in this world, that we become no more different than the very world we are supposed to stand apart from.
Application:
The world is going to criticize us. We are going to be subjected to peer pressure, no matter how old we are, but that’s not what matters. What matters is our Heavenly Father.
My hubby shared, several verses to be remembered:
Matthew 10:16-18 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. 17″But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:21-23 “And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22″And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 23″But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 10:16-18 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. 17″But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:21-23 “And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22″And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 23″But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.
Luke 6:22-23 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23″Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.
Luke 6:26-27 “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets. 27″But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 17:33 “Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You ARE the King of kings and all that of this world is but rust and dust that will return to the ground, but You and Your Word is forever. Make my heart always hungry for you, Make me always humbled at your feet and not with thoughts I am wiser like or above You. Lord, we live in challenging times where morals and what is right and wrong seems challenged and often times upside down, Help us keep Your Word in our hearts and to seek what Your will is and not that of the world, in Your Name, we pray, Amen.
****Purpose of this post****
Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.
That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.
I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.
Either way.
Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.
If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.
Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.
Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.
There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.
This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.
It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.
To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.
Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.
Original content here is published under these license terms:
X
License Type:
Read Only
License Summary:
You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written agreement from the author.
1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the LORD;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
Reading Psalm 15 as part of my life journal reading, it was like a reminder of how we as followers of Christ, should, well follow Him.
The things that our Father shares to us through Psalm 15 are things that we should often do as a follower of Christ, but to be truthful, how many times in our lives, do we sometimes succumb to doing just the opposite of what He calls us to do.
That’s where our Father steps in but it’s not a license for us to be complacent in our walk either.No one is perfect nor does our Father call for legalism but He does call for willingness to obey His Word and to follow Him, defined not by what is convenient or culturally acceptted but what He reaches out for us to make it a habit, a goal, a desire in our lives to be and to follow.
From the MHC (Matthew Henry Commentary):
The way to heaven, if we would be happy, we must be holy. We are encouraged to walk in that way.
Here is a very serious question concerning the character of a citizen of Zion. It is the happiness of glorified saints, that they dwell in the holy hill; they are at home there, they shall be for ever there. It concerns us to make it sure to ourselves that we have a place among them. A very plain and particular answer is here given. Those who desire to know their duty, will find the Scripture a very faithful director, and conscience a faithful monitor.
A citizen of Zion is sincere in his religion. He is really what he professes to be, and endeavours to stand complete in all the will of God. He is just both to God and man; and, in speaking to both, speaks the truth in his heart. He scorns and abhors wrong and fraud; he cannot reckon that a good bargain, nor a saving one, which is made with a lie; and knows that he who wrongs his neighbour will prove, in the end, to have most injured himself. He is very careful to do hurt to no man.
How often when we follow our Father, we tend to worry less about what He has to think but probrably more about what the world has to think or maybe in the process of following Him, losing sight of the big picture and get to focus on the smaller pictures.
Maybe it’s legalism, maybe it’s just getting too busy we forget about following Him and that priority starts dropping low on our list, or maybe, it’s in the form of idolism or worse yet, focusing on us too much that we don’t see Him anymore and worry about how it makes US look.
He speaks evil of no man, makes not others’ faults the matter of his common talk; he makes the best of every body, and the worst of nobody. If an ill-natured story be told him, he will disprove it if he can; if not, it goes no further. He values men by their virtue and piety. Wicked people are vile people, worthless, and good for nothing; so the word signifies. He thinks the worse of no man’s piety for his poverty and mean condition. He reckons that serious piety puts honour upon a man, more than wealth, or a great name. He honours such, desires their conversation and an interest in their prayers, is glad to show them respect, or do them a kindness. By this we may judge of ourselves in some measure. Even wise and good men may swear to their own hurt: but see how strong the obligation is, a man must rather suffer loss to himself and his family, than wrong his neighbour. He will not increase his estate by extortion, or by bribery. He will not, for any gain, or hope of it to himself, do any thing to hurt a righteous cause.
Remember the story of the rich man who asks Jesus how to get into heaven and Jesus told him to give up everything to follow him.
Would you?
Could you?
That’s hard to answer isn’t it and the honest truth that its more than going to Africa or Asia or any foriegn country but starting with our heart first. What are we willing to do without, live without, to follow Him.
It’s not saying, give up your home and live in a tent, but it’s also not saying, covet your home over following Him either. It’s about willing to make the sacrifices that our Father, not society, church or anyone else, but our Father, Himself, lays on your heart to follow Him.
Sometimes it can be as simple as looking at the way with interact with each other, with our fellow believers and with our fellow non-believers. When people look at you, can they see Him, not you, without you even having to say a word, but letting your life, your actions speak for yourself.
Twitter, Facebook, Emails, cellphones, blogs, are great and they are fun and can be a blessing, but when people come to visit, it is a question that I even lay on my heart. Who do they see? Do they see me? Or do they see our Father in Heaven?
I know, I pray and hope with each post, and each time I share or converse with anyone, that it’s not about me, or that I am the one who people see, but it’s our Heavenly Father first and foremost.
Truthfully, we all would love to be noticed, but honestly, this is not about us or to us; It’s all about Him and that’s where the true focus and glory should be.
Every true living member of the church, like the church itself, is built upon a Rock. He that doeth these things shall not be moved for ever. The grace of God shall always be sufficient for him. The union of these tempers and this conduct, can only spring from repentance for sin, faith in the Saviour, and love to him. In these respects let us examine and prove our own selves
When I go to church, I’m pretty self-conscious and not so much about myself but about others. I honestly keep an eye out for an unfamiliar face, or someone who might look lost. Why?
Because, we are not in this alone; We are a body-a family in Christ and we are to help lift up and encourage each other-not to win a popularity contest.
I feel that this is a reminder and a notice that we have to be careful we don’t get so comfortable that we exclude others unwittingly or purposely. Yes, it’s great to have that close group of friends, but our true service and fellowship for our Heavenly Father, is outside our circle, not within. That’s where true service is.
No one may know my name or remember me, but that’s fine. That’s the goal; The real goal is that they remember and look and see always our Heavenly Father and it’s my responsibilty, your responsibilty, all of our responsibilty to each other, to those we know, but especially to those we don’t know.
Application:
Psalm 15 is a challenge to myself, to all of us, to rethink how we are living the Christian faith and what light are we shining to others. When people see us, do they see Him, or do they see us. Do they seek us to know Him better or do they seek us to know us better.
Prayer:
Father, I thank You for being the awesome God that You are and I lift Your name up in praise for all You do and have done in my life and in the others life. I pray and hope that those who do know You and particularly those who don’t know You will seek You and find You and come to know You Heavenly Father and I pray You will continually humble this broken servant of Yours and use me as YOU see willing not as I see willing Lord.
Give me the strength, the courage, the words, to speak for You and about You Lord that eyes will look up to You, not me.
You know me better than I know myself and I am not fit to share Your Glory and Love and just am thankful when You lay what You lay on my heart and pray my heart can just speak out to the four corners of the world, of Your Glory, Your Grace, Your Love.
Lord, Thank You Father, Thank You! Amen.
****Purpose of this post****
Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.
That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.
I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.
Either way.
Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.
If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.
Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.
Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.
There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.
This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.
It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.
To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.
Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.
Original content here is published under these license terms:
X
License Type:
Read Only
License Summary:
You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). No other copying or use is permitted without written agreement from the author.
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29, New King James Version)
Observation:
We all want to fit in don’t we? No matter who we are with, where we are: Work, Church, Neighborhood, just the world-We all want to fit in, but look at Peter.
Wow. Look at Peter. When we met him, following Jesus earlier, what did he do? He deny Christ, not one time, but three times and now look at him, chasing and following our Father with a fever that can not be contain.
Looks like he’s worried less now what everyone around him has to think and more worried about what our Father in Heaven has to think.
The truth is that our world, our culture, we as people in general, are like the waves of the ocean-Constantly changing, influence by self, by selfish desires, by changing thoughts, influences and emotions that are not always as controllable as we like to think they are, but our Father-He is a solid foundation whose Truth never changes and is a solid rock that has and always will stand the test of time.
While we and the world we live in changes each day like the weather in the sky and the waves of the ocean-sometimes smooth, sometimes rocky-Not our Father in Heaven.
He is always there.
His word, is always true today as it was yesterday as it is today and will be tomorrow.
That’s whom we should choose to hunger for, to pursue, to crave, to follow,to obey.
He doesn’t come in and out of our lives like the people of our life do; He doesn’t move like our best friend, or our neighbor, or change jobs or homes or towns. God is always there, everywhere, anywhere, with us always when we need Him.
Not just on Sundays, but everyday; Not just during the day, but any time of the day, our Father is there and it is He, who we should seek and obey, not men.
When we get over that hurdle and release our need for the approval and attention of men, but seek instead our Father, we find the Truth and the comfort that we all seek and need.
From the MHC, it is shared:
The apostles testify to Christ before the council.
Many will do an evil thing with daring, yet cannot bear to hear of it afterward, or to have it charged upon them.
We cannot expect to be redeemed and healed by Christ, unless we give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Faith takes the Saviour in all his offices, who came, not to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins. Had Christ been exalted to give dominion to Israel, the chief priests would have welcomed him.
But repentance and remission of sins are blessings they neither valued nor saw their need of; therefore they, by no means, admitted his doctrine. Wherever repentance is wrought, remission is granted without fail. None are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, but those who are freed from the power and dominion of sin; who are turned from it, and turned against it.
Christ gives repentance, by his Spirit working with the word, to awaken the conscience, to work sorrow for sin, and an effectual change in the heart and life. The giving of the Holy Ghost, is plain evidence that it is the will of God that Christ should be obeyed. And He will surely destroy those who will not have Him to reign over them. (Ac 5:34-42)
The advice of Gamaliel, The council let the apostles go.
The Lord still has all hearts in his hands, and sometimes directs the prudence of the worldly wise, so as to restrain the persecutors. Common sense tells us to be cautious, while experience and observation show that the success of frauds in matters of religion has been very short. Reproach for Christ is true preferment, as it makes us conformable to his pattern, and serviceable to his interest. They rejoiced in it.
If we suffer ill for doing well, provided we suffer it well, and as we should, we ought to rejoice in that grace which enabled us so to do. The apostles did not preach themselves, but Christ.
This was the preaching that most offended the priests. But it ought to be the constant business of gospel ministers to preach Christ: Christ, and him crucified; Christ, and him glorified; nothing beside this, but what has reference to it. And whatever is our station or rank in life, we should seek to make Him known, and to glorify his name.
Application:
This is a reminder of Acts 17: 10-12
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable woman which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”
Our Father is the final authority and we should strive in all areas of our lives to be discerning Christians and part of that is to seek for ourselves, His Word and test all and not just rely on what someone says or does.
One of the things that todays scripture really just laid on my heart is being careful to based what our Father has to say on just what someone else has to say, but first and foremost go to His Word, read for myself and particularly follow our Father and not just what is the popular trend or thought that is happening.
Everyone’s walk is personal and more than just that, if we lose sight of Him and based what we believe in Him on what others are doing or thinking, it’s easy to lose sight of the whole picture which is bigger than us.
We should always search the Bible, go to Him in prayer, obey what HE lays on our heart to do and follow that true and true, for the truth is that people will fail us whether intentionally or unintentionally but our Father in Heaven never does.
It’s all about Him and all about for His Glory,not ours.
If there is anyone to follow and who is the Leader, it’s our Heavenly Father:
I Chronicles 29:11: “Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, and the might, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; Yours is the kingdom and You are He Who is exalte…d over everything as the Leader.”
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Strength, Encouragement and Guidance; Lord, I pray our hearts are forever humbled, hungry always for YOU and YOUR word and that we seek You always and to obey You, Father, for You are the solid rock that we could always depend on.
Thank You Father for the blessings, the lessons and the challenges You lay before us, knowing we are strong enough, in and through You to face each day.
Amen
****Purpose of this post****
Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.
That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.
I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.
Either way.
Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.
If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.
Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.
Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.
There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.
This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.
It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.
To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.
Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.
is plain evidence that it is the will of God that Christ should be obeyed. And He will surely destroy those who will not have Him to reign over them. (Ac 5:34-42)
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It's about a passion for books, devotionals,memes and our Father in Heaven and His Word as it is shared in the Bible. Sometimes silly, sometimes sarcastic, sometime serious way, but always with a love for our Father in Heaven, a love for family and friends and of course, when possible, a love for coffee...come join me and others here on Sunflower Faith.
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There are a lot of people who are not familiar with bible and they should start reading it and make...
Posted May 07, 2012
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“God doesn’t expect us to be a walking encyclopedia of biblical knowledge. He wants us to know Him, to be in a relationship with Him. This means not only hearing but allowing our understanding of God to change the way we live. Like the wise builder who laid the foundation of his house on the rock, we learn to let our knowledge of God change us.” — ― Tyler Edwards, Zombie Church: Breathing Life Back into the Body of Christ
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