18 posts from October 2007

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor forsake you.

My Mom, Lora, is having surgery November 6. She has breast cancer and has had chemo treatments. Pray for her and us as we are going through this. God is so good and I know he is watching over her. elsalioness

A Witness For God
Read: Romans 1:14-17
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Thanking God
Read: James 4:13-17; 5:7-11
As we give thanks for material needs supplied, it’s essential to remember that our plans are uncertain and our lives are a vapor that quickly disappear (James 4:14). James encourages us to be like a farmer waiting for his crops to grow and mature. “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (5:8).
As we thank God for His faithful provision for our needs, let’s turn our thoughts to the promised return of Jesus Christ. In patient expectation, we live for Him and look for the day when He will come to gather His glorious harvest home.

Obedience and Commitment to God
Read: Matthew 22:15-22
As followers of Christ, we are commanded to cooperate with our rulers, but we are called to give God our ultimate obedience and commitment.

Departure to Jesus
Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
For believers in Christ, death is not an end but a beginning. It means leaving this old world behind and getting to a better place, completing the purpose for which we were made. It’s a time for joy and excitement and a hearty "Bon Voyage!"
All voyages, however, are fraught with uncertainty, especially those that pass through waters never sailed before. We don’t fear death so much as we do the passage. Who knows what dangers lie ahead?
But the journey is not uncharted. One has taken it before us, and He has returned to bring us safely through. Although we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us all the way (Ps. 23:4). His hands are on the helm as He guides us to the heavenly haven He has prepared for us (John 14:1-3).
Those who fear God need not fear death.

Faith and Obedience
Read: Matthew 21:28-32
God’s value on faith and obedience can be seen in the parables of Jesus. Christ spoke about two sons who were asked to work in the vineyard. The first said no, but "afterward he regretted it and went" (Matt. 21:29). The second said yes but did not follow through. Then the Lord asked His listeners, "Which of the two did the will of his father?" (v.31). The obvious answer is the one who finished the task.
Our Lord’s illustration underscores a key spiritual principle. God is interested in our faith and obedience—not just our good intentions. Next time you are tempted to shirk your duties, why not say, "I don’t feel like it," and then ask God for the grace to do it anyway. Obedience is faith in action.

Encouraging Others
Read: Acts 11:19-26
Encouraging others along in life—that’s a worthy purpose. Joses, a godly man mentioned in the book of Acts, had that gift as well. In the days of the early church, he sold some land and gave the money to the church to use for the less fortunate (4:36-37). He also traveled with Paul on missionary journeys and preached the gospel (11:22-26; 13:1-4).
You may know Joses as "Barnabas," which is the name the apostles gave to the "Son of Encouragement." When the Jerusalem church heard that people in Antioch were coming to know Jesus as Savior, they sent Barnabas because "he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith" (11:24). He "encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord" (v.23).
We too can give others a "push" of encouragement in their walk with the Lord.
A little spark of encouragement can ignite great endeavors.

Hope in God
Read: Psalm 42
Only as we submit our brokenness to the good and great Shepherd of our hearts can we find the peace that allows us to respond to life: "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance" (v.5).
Hope in God—it’s the only solution for the deep traumas of the heart. No one is hopeless whose hope is in God.

God's Growth Persuasion
Read: Hebrews 12:7-11
When trouble comes into our lives, we sometimes feel as if we’ve been hit broadside. We feel desperation and then we wonder, Why is this happening to me?
One possibility is that God is using a painful experience to get our attention. In Psalm 119:71, David wrote, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." And Hebrews 12:11 says that chastening "yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness."
Is God using pain in your life to lovingly persuade you to change? The season of trouble may not be easy, but if we let ourselves be trained by it, new growth will result as we become more like His Son (Phil. 3:10).

Let Jesus Shine Through You
Read: Romans 2:17-24
Proclaim the gospel and let's pray that the Holy Spirit will make us personally winsome and loving and free from sin so that we can attract others to Him. How can we be "a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness" (Rom. 2:19) if the beauty of Jesus cannot be seen in us? Righteousness in the heart produces beauty in the character.

Daily Bread

What's Right?
Read: Isaiah 1:11-18
God revealed to Israel’s prophets not only what was wrong but also what was right: "Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow" (Isa. 1:16-17).
Instead of focusing on what is wrong, let’s obey the One who knows what is right. Like a compass, the Bible always points you in the right direction.

Trust in Jesus
Read: Romans 4:4-17
We can do good things for others and obey lots of rules, but when we arrive at the final checkpoint—heaven—and haven’t made sure our name is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life by putting our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we’re disqualified to enter.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Are you trusting in Jesus?
It’s not what I achieve that qualifies, it matters not if I gain wealth or fame;
the only thing I must be certain of is “Have I put my trust in Jesus’ name?”

Be Ready for Jesus Coming
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, reminding them that the day of the Lord would come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2). His call to action urged them to avoid spiritual lethargy but remain alert and self-controlled (v.6). Paul’s challenge echoed Jesus’ own words urging His followers to be watchful and ready, "for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matt. 24:44). If we believe our Lord’s word about His coming, how will it affect our thoughts and actions today?

When We Don't Know What To Say
Read: Job 6:1-14
In the Bible we are told that during Job’s time of grieving, his three friends came to mourn with him and to comfort him. For the first 7 days they sat and wept with him because he was in deep sorrow (Job 2:11-13). "No one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great" (v.13). Their presence alone was a comfort to him. But then they began to lecture. They told Job he must have sinned and that God was punishing him (4:7-9). When Job was finally able to respond, he told his friends what he needed from them. He asked for reasons to continue hoping (6:11), for kindness (v.14), and for words that did not presume guilt (vv.29-30). Remembering the story of Job and his friends may help us when we don’t know what to say. When someone’s grieving—listen, don’t lecture.

Faith:
“Faith is holding on to the faithfulness of God and, as long as you do that, you cannot go wrong. Faith does not look at the difficulties. . . . Faith does not look at itself or at the person who is exercising it. Faith looks at God . . . . Faith is interested in God only, and it talks about God and it praises God and it extols the virtues of God. The measure of the strength of a man’s faith, always, is ultimately the measure of his knowledge of God. . . . He knows God so well that he can rest on the knowledge. And it is the prayers of such a man that are answered.” “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations” (Ps. 119:89-90).

Live Christlike:
Read: Ephesians 5:1-14
The Bible instructs us: “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us” (Eph. 5:2) and “Walk in wisdom” (Col. 4:5). I ask myself, “Does my walk reflect God’s love and wisdom?” Am I “pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy”? (James 3:17).For a Christlike walk, keep in step with Jesus. Do I have love, joy, and peace? Am I tranquil and strong? What do others see as I walk by? Is your life making a difference in the lives around you? Do others see Jesus in what you say and do? Ephesians 5:2 Walk in love, as Christ also had loved us.

God's forgiveness:
Read: Luke 23:32-38
Because of our sin, we all played a part in putting Jesus to death. The good news is that God is gracious. He will forgive and remove the stain of sin and give us a second chance through His Son.

Wisdom:
Read: 1 Kings 3:4-14
Keeping our love for Christ and His wisdom preeminent is a primary objective for those of us who want to live to satisfy God throughout the course of our life. A commitment to following the riches of God’s wisdom will enable us to avoid the drift that destroyed Solomon.
Keep your heart in tune with God’s wisdom and obey His voice. That’s the way to finish well. Monitor your heart daily to avoid wandering from God's wisdom.

God is Our Shepherd:
Read: John 10:1-4
“He Knows My Name,” reminds us that God knows our every thought, sees each tear that falls, and hears us when we call. We read in the gospel of John, “The sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name . . . . I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep” (John 10:3,14).
For the One who made heaven and earth, knowing a few billion people is not a problem. God loves you immensely (John 3:16), He thinks about you all the time (Ps. 139:17-18), and He knows your name (John 10:3).

God's Word:
Read: 2 Chronicles 34:14-21
In the Old Testament, we read of Judah’s epidemic of idolatry and its accompanying moral sickness. When the Word of God was rediscovered, King Josiah exclaimed, “Great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the Word of the Lord” (2 Chron. 34:21). Josiah understood the Scripture’s preventive cure for moral sickness. He began to apply its spiritual truths, and soon a revival swept the land that restored the nation’s spiritual health.
When we neglect the reading of God’s Word, we invite spiritual illness. Let’s be sure to set aside time to absorb its life-giving message. The Bible is God’s prescription for the health of our soul.

Sowing and Reaping
Some mistakes you never stop paying for. Paul, in the bible said, “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Our choices often have a reach and impact that we could never imagine. Thus the apostle’s words remind us to choose wisely. The choices we make today produce the consequences we reap tomorrow. It’s far better to avoid sin in the first place than to struggle to overcome its consequences. Lord, we need Your wisdom to help us make good choices, and forgiveness when we make bad choices. Surer than autumn’s harvests Are harvests of thought and deed; Like those that our hands have planted, The yield will be like the seed. One good reason for doing the right thing today is tomorrow.

Looking Out For Others
Read: Philippians 2:3-8
In giving of ourselves, we manifest the essence of Jesus’ character, for it has always been His nature to think more about others than He thinks of Himself. Why else would He humble Himself and become “obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). Think of the best interests of others—their wants, their concerns, their needs. And so we must ask ourselves: Do we consider others’ interests more important than our own? Do we get as excited about what God is doing in and through them as we do about what He is doing in and through us? Do we long to see others grow in grace and gain recognition, though it may have been our efforts that made them successful? Do we find satisfaction in seeing our spiritual children surpass us in the work they are called to do? If so, such is the measurement of greatness. We are most like our Lord when our thoughts for ourselves are lost in our thoughts for others. There is no greater love than that (John 15:13). The more you love the Lord, the more you will love others.

Rely on God
Read: Ephesians 3:14-21
“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (v.16). Instead of self-effort, Paul urged believers to find strength in “Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (v.20).
We can do whatever God wants us to do if we depend on His power to do it.

Jesus Died For Our Sins
Read: John 14:1-12
All of us are guilty before God. We are sinners and cannot help ourselves. Our sin had to be dealt with. Jesus, as God in the flesh, died to pay the penalty for our sins and then rose from the dead. No other religious leader offers what Jesus provides in His victory over sin and death.
The gospel of Christ is offensive to some, but it is the wonderful truth that God loves us enough to come and take care of our biggest problem—sin. And as long as sin is the problem, the world needs Jesus!

Believe in Jesus
Read: Romans 10:1-13
Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Jesus is sinless and perfect in every way. Pilate said of Him, "I have found no fault in this Man" (Luke 23:14). And Jesus did what no one else could do—He suffered death on a cross to provide salvation for all who believe in Him. That makes it tough for someone to say, "I’m not going to become a Christian because I don’t like what Jesus did."
Romans 10:13 "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved". Don’t get sidetracked by looking at the faults of others. Look to Jesus. He alone is the way to heaven. There is no excuse for saying "No" to Christ. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life—That One whose name is Jesus;There is no other name on earth
That has the power to save us.

Growing in Jesus
Read: Philippians 3:20–4:1
David said: "I have been young, and now am old" (Ps. 37:25). No matter where we are on the heavenward pilgrimage, if we are walking with Jesus we can rejoice. And since we know that our faithful Father will abide with us till our journey on earth is over, we can actually be thankful for the lengthening shadows and the setting sun. To live is Christ; to die is gain - The apostle Paul.

The Winning Side
Read: Colossians 2:6-15
The Bible clearly acknowledges the presence of invisible but veryreal spiritual beings, or powers. In Ephesians 6:11-12, Paul declaredthat our primary warfare is against an army of rebellious angels headedby Satan. The bad news is that they are more intelligent and powerfulthan we are. The good news is that Jesus defeated them by His death onthe cross: "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a publicspectacle of them, triumphing over them" (Col. 2:15). There are many things beyond our control, but we need not fear. We who have placed our trust in Jesus are on the winning side.

Helping and Caring
Read: Malachi 3:1-6
Help those in need. Believers should care for those God cares about. We should look for opportunities to provide financial and emotional support for those who have lost a spouse or have been orphaned from a parent’s care. James 1:27 James tells us, a mark of true spirituality is to "visit orphans and widows in their trouble".

Awe in God
Read: Isaiah 6:1-10
In a vision, God showed Isaiah who He really was. What the prophet saw greatly affected him. He saw God’s majesty. He gained a fresh understanding of God’s holiness. He saw the contrast between his sinful self and God’s perfection. He heard God’s call to service, and he answered it.
Today, we can see God in His Word and in the Spirit’s work in and through us. And we can commune with Him through prayer. But one day in heaven we will see our Lord face-to-face (1 John 3:2). Now that will take our breath away! 

I have put the Book of James audio post here on Bible Fellowship. Enjoy!

To get to RBC Dailybread when in Bible Fellowship group, the choices in Group Home, put arrow above More, which is after Photos, and click Links. The RBC Dailybread and Biblegateway-onlineBible links are there for you. This will let you do Dailybread and Bible reading online.

I put the last chapters of John on yesterday. Will be putting another Book of the Bible on soon. If there is any Book of the Bible in particular, someone would like to hear, let me know:D