- Tuesday, 7/18/17 John
11:5, Now Jesus loved Martha, and her
sister, and Lazarus [but let him die.] Loving doesn’t mean keeping the
loved from from ALL pains. Some pains are necessary, and some are beneficial.
Use good judgment; ask for wisdom; but don’t always “play nice.”
To those in prolonged relationship troubles: Proverbs 11:12, He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. “Despiseth” means to disrespect, which means to not esteem worthy of honor or esteem. Do you put down your adversary in your mind? The one who has understanding “holds his peace,” or keeps silent. However, if the first half of the verse is speaking of a mental attitude, the second half probably is too. Don’t let your mind go down the road of disrespecting the one who is hurting you. Think positively of them and their character; disagree over the issue, not the personality.
To those in prolonged relationship troubles: Proverbs 11:12, He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. “Despiseth” means to disrespect, which means to not esteem worthy of honor or esteem. Do you put down your adversary in your mind? The one who has understanding “holds his peace,” or keeps silent. However, if the first half of the verse is speaking of a mental attitude, the second half probably is too. Don’t let your mind go down the road of disrespecting the one who is hurting you. Think positively of them and their character; disagree over the issue, not the personality.
- Wednesday, 7/19/17 John
11:37-38, And some of them said, Could
not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this
man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to
the grave. I wonder how often my unbelief has caused Him to groan... John 11:4, When Jesus heard that, he said, This
sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might
be glorified thereby. Jesus loved enough to take the long look. He allowed
Lazarus and his sisters to go through an intense, although, as it turned out,
short-lived, heartache, for the greater good of many getting saved, and the
disciples learning a lesson.
- Thursday, 7/20/17 John
13:1, Jesus...having loved his
own...loved them unto the end. “Til the end...” An obvious application to
us: “love never faileth.” (Def: “to drop away, lose, or become inefficient.”)
Whom (and why) did you “used to love”? (Keeping in mind that love is an action,
not a feeling or a phrase.) 3
John 5, Beloved, thou doest faithfully
whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers... Gaius did
rightly to everyone: to those that would
make his deeds known, and/or to those who’d never share it...and God made sure
he was noticed and acknowledged. He’ll do the same for you and I if we’ll do
what we do to and for the Lord.
- Friday, 7/21/17 John
13:17, If ye know these things (having
a servant’s heart and acting on it), happy
are ye if ye do them. Jesus’ love had the aspect of wanting simple
happiness for those whom He loved. Do the little things as well as the big
things for your loved ones. Proverbs 15:1, A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
This verse is obviously true and easily seen in interpersonal relationships,
but we can stir up our own spirit’s anger by thinking words. We must quit
mulling the negatives over and over again in our minds. We’re to meditate on
the Bible, not on folly. And what happens is this: I think on something, get
myself worked up or convinced that so-n-so feels this way or such-n-such is
going to happen, and then I speak in my anger... The true battle is for the
minds...my mind and your mind.
- Saturday, 7/21/17 Proverbs
13:3, He that keepeth his mouth keepeth
his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Battling the tongue is a major undertaking, no doubt. Perhaps an overlooked
ally in this fight would be: IF WE DON’T THINK IT, WE WON’T SAY IT. ‘just
saying... Proverbs
16:5a, Every one that is proud in heart
is an abomination to the Lord. I wonder how often I’m abominable to the One
I love. Definition of pride: “thinking you deserve a certain level of
treatment, status, or possessions.” Contention is a sure source of pride, as is
most anger. Check yourself...and I’ll probably see you at the altar tomorrow...
- Sunday, 7/22/17 Proverbs
16:2, All the ways of a man are clean in
his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. Just remember that
something “seeming right to me” is worth as much as a $3 bill. Use Bible
principles; use counselors; use true friends for advice. Heads up this morning
in church! Are
you on the bottom? Suffering from the results of a lotta bad choices? Being
chastised by God, hounded by men, and hated by self? (Been there...) Hosea 13:9, O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but
in me is thine help. Run TOWARDS the One who can help, not away from. (Our
SS class’ breakfast starts about 9:15, class itself about 9:45; and the morning
service at 10:45. Message me to meet you.
- Monday, 7/23/17 “My
life is falling apart!!” “No good can
come out of this mess!!” Ever said something like this? (I have.) Proverbs 16:20, He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in
the Lord, happy is he. We need an influx of wisdom and an output of faith. John 18:11, Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword
into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Jesus had to submit to drinking an exceedingly bitter cup (but one that was
time-released sweet). You likewise will probably be handed a bitter cup. He could’ve
refused, as could you. Will you take up your cross today? Will you drink what
Daddy gives you today? (Remember, the sun WILL come up tomorrow, and we WILL
live the results of today’s choices, as will those whom we affect (or could
have affected.)
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Bible thoughts from some others:
- Acts 9:29, And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against
the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. If we go about telling the
lost world about Jesus, and their need of an eternal Saviour, we can expect
conflict and hatred.
- Matthew 14:8, And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John
Baptist’s head in a charger. Acorns don’t fall from the tree! Here a
wicked, ungodly, adultrous mother instructs a daughter to have a prophet of God
beheaded. Be careful Mom!
- Psalm 83:18, That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the Most
High over all the earth. The purpose for every problem we face, all the
difficulties of life, and even persecution, is that He might be exalted, and
honored before a wicked, sin-cursed world.
- Matthew 14:17-18, & 20a, And they say unto
him, We have here but 5 loaves, and 2 fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me.
And they did all eat, and were filled. Our insufficiency in His hands will
always be enough to supply our needs and more.
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Miscellaneous
thoughts from others:
- Throughout life people will make you mad,
disrespect you, and treat you badly. Let God deal with the bad things they do
because hatred for them in your heart will consume you too.
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