- Tuesday, 2/12/19
Leviticus 11:44, For I am the Lord
your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I
am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves... An honest self-evaluation
question: Are you more holy (sanctified, set apart) than you used to be? The
opposite is being satisfied, which Pro 14:14 defines as being backslidden.
Numbers 22:18, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. Honestly, is the Bible simply an accessory in your life, a glorified place holder for a seat on Sunday, or do you actually, CONSCIOUSLY, daily, purposefully TRY to incorporate Its principles into your life? Is It REALLY a Guidebook for YOUR life? Could you tell me something different you’re (not) doing this month over last month, or something that is different now versus February 2018?
- Wednesday, 2/13/19 Numbers 22:32c, And the angel of the Lord said unto him, ...thy way is perverse before me. Modern psychology aside; personal feelings and thoughts disregarded; popular opinion be damned; self or peer justification notwithstanding: are you and your ways in sync with God today??? Numbers 22:29, And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. Balaam was furious and full of wrath and was SSOOOO irrational that he didn’t stop to realize an animal spoke intelligently to him. Balaam had a conversation with it. It’s astonishing to think of a donkey talking, but it’s VERY curious to see a man speak back, TWICE, to the donkey. However, Balaam was not unique. EVERY man has anger issues!! You do, and I do. Colossians 3:8 says to “put off...anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications our of your mouth.” Not only is this out-of-control anger common to all people, especially men, but notice how irrational it is. Men, we HAVE to continually work on subduing our wrath...it’s like a prolific weed that constantly growing. If we’re not diligent, that weed will dominate our lives. (I can testify of its destructive power...)
- Thursday, 2/14/19 Proverbs 6:2, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Basic manners review: are you faithful to keep your word? “I’ll be there at 6...” (Does that mean 6...or 6:20?) “I’ll pray for you.” (Did you?) “I couldn’t make it...” (Or, didn’t want to?) 1 Peter 4:1, Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. Have Christ’s mind regarding suffering: make your pain worth something. Don’t waste it. He purified many by His sufferings: we can too. Our attitude toward our pains can encourage others; our faithfulness to continue can inspire. Also, notice that suffering can purify us. Maybe all of us need more pain in our lives? It’s unnatural to continue in pain if an escape is possible, but we need to let the fire consume our impurities so we “come forth as gold.” So, embrace your negatives today. “Arm yourselves” (fight in the same manner and with the same weapons) “as Christ.”
- Friday, 2/15/19 Genesis 24:27, I being in the way, the Lord led me... If we want His leading to solve today’s problems, we MUST be walking in the way of yesterday’s commands. Why should He tell us something fresh if we’ve ignored the last 147 things He told us to start or stop? Revive me...I’m sorry, Lord. Psalm 52:6-8, The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. We are often laughed at and derided and persecuted here in the world when we try to speak of or live out our faith, but rest assured, we WILL have the last laugh. So, keep on living by faith, even if you’re mocked.
- Saturday, 2/16/19 (1st of 6 posts) Hebrews 3:13a, But exhort one another daily. Exhort means to encourage, ask, desire another to do something. We’re to encourage each other. It’s a command. I’m to exhort you and you are to exhort me. Psalm 119:81-82, My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? Our will, our motivation, our joy, our souls WILL get weary in the battle. Sometimes, we will just go through the motions and not really care. That’s OK: go through the motions. The souls you win when you really don’t care if they get saved or not are still saved. The SS lesson you teach when you would rather be asleep in bed still may resonate with a pupil. Take care of your physical needs (nutrition and rest); care for your spiritual ailments (humble yourself and confess and forsake), but make your body put one foot in front of another. This too shall pass...
- Sunday, 2/17/19 (#2 of 6) Hebrews 3:13a, But exhort one another daily. Exhort means to encourage, ask, desire another to do something. If one is to exhort another, the first step is for the exhorter to see a fault or a potential fault, deficiency, or tendency, in another. No one exhorts another to be hungry first thing in the morning. So each of us is to be actively examining each other’s lives. Exactly what are you looking for? Proverbs 11:27, He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. The verse is talking about inspecting the lives of others. Are you looking for and assuming the best about another? You’ll be favored. Are you looking for dirt? Got a critical eye? Nobody is good enough for you? And what you find, is it “worthy” to be talked about to anyone who will listen? (That’s called gossip and slander, BTW.) Then, mischief will be delivered to your life post-haste. So, what ARE you looking for, and what SHOULD you be looking for?
- Monday, 2/18/19 (#3 of 6) Hebrews 3:13a, But exhort one another daily. Exhort: to encourage, ask, desire another to do something. Many people have no problem with being the exhorter, but balk at being spoken to since it starts with a negative being highlighted. Psalm 119:17, Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. If God was as good to you as you’d like, would He get more obedience or less? (Hint: look at your last period of blessings/no problems.)
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