Baptist City Blog

- Tuesday, 5/2/17  Galatians 6:1, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Does your Bible, in Galatians 6, use the word “restore” or does it say “ignore such an one”? No, not the Bible you read, the one you live. 
                               Psalm 69:28, Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. All of us are guilty, but if we want better treatment for enemies than we do for ourselves, there's something wrong with our Christianity.

 

- Wednesday, 5/3/17  Is something in your life dying? A marriage? Dream? A ministry? Your body? Hope? Your reputation? 2 Corinthians 1:9, But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. Death sentences...can be good.                                 Imagine living in a rainy climate and yet not having a waterproof roof: no shingles, just wood. Stupid and short-sighted, right? Psalm 30:6, And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. We live as if we’ll never have a problem. Is your spirit as “storm proof” as possible? Got some broken windows or screens? Heater intact? Winter’s coming...

 

- Thursday, 5/4/17  Ephesians 1:7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace... An awesome verse about our vertical possessions, but apply it to our horizontal relationships: if we’re full of grace, we will be quick to truly forgive sins, (but not stop there) and restore the relationship (that’s redemption). How’re things in your home? Extended family? Church friends? “Let the Son shine in” and banish the shadows of broken relationships.                          Ephesians 5:25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. Easy enough, on a first read: love like He did. “OK...if I am spiritual, I maybe can sorta do that...” He loved, yes...but then He took all the blame for all of the problems that we caused...and gave all He could: His life, His reputation, His innocency, and then He died. Men, will you do that? Someone said that a synopsis of Ephesians 5 is “My spouse gets everything, and I get nothing.” (BTW, ladies, are you as submissive, as sweet, as respectful, and as obedient to him as you are to Him? That’s your calling.)

 

- Friday, 5/5/17  Galatians 5:16, This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Notice: “shall not fulfill,” NOT, “shall not have.” Good news? You don’t have to do what the flesh tells you. Bad news: you’ll always have the lusts of the flesh.                             Psalm 70:4, Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. Notice: “IN THEE”, and “LOVE THY SALVATION.” If you can’t have the desires of your heart, be sure to rejoice in Him, and fall in love with what He’s given you. His provision and His timing are according to His foresight as well as His love for you.

 

- Saturday, 5/6/17  Galatians 6:9, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. The biggest word in the sentence is “if.” This is an absolute promise of God that you WILL reap, if you simply won’t quit. Keep on keeping on: it’s not October/November/harvest time.                               Galatians 6:10, As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. If reporters or paparazzi followed us around recording our every move, would you seem to be obeying this verse? And, notice that it says we’re to “DO good” to fellow believers, not just feel good about them.

 

- Sunday, 5/7/17  In Jeremiah 13:1-8, the prophet is told to wear a piece of underclothing for months, is told to walk a 2000 mile round trip TWICE, and only then does God explain the reasons. Be patient with Him, my friend. You can take what He’s given you. Just do right today.                                    Luke 17:4, And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Evidently, after the first six times, the offender was allowed to get close enough again to sin/trespass again. So, forgiveness seems to have some aspect of clearing the record and re-trusting again. “Burying the hatchet” you might say. Question: are you a “one & done” forgiver, or do you do it like Christ said? Do you forgive, but “keep your distance, buddy!!” Come on, Christ doesn’t treat us like that.

 

- Monday, 5/8/17  Psalm 78:34, When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. How hard does God have to play to get your attention? These people forced Him to kill some of their comrades or maybe even family members before they sought Him. Don't be so stupid.                                 Galatians 3:1, O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth... “Bewitched” = “to fascinate by false representations (lies).” Jesus is the truth, so to be led away from it/Him must be via a lie. Are you obedient in your marriage vows? Your finances? Your Christian service? 100 other areas? Also, it’s always a “who” not a “what” that leads us away from obedience. So, who’re you listening to?

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- Pro 3:9-10a, Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled... If we expect the blessings of God, we need to be careful to give Him all that belongs to Him and more! The first 10% is His.

 

- Pro 2:16 & 19, To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words: none that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. We need to be ever on guard as men because we’re always vulnerable.

 

- John 15:26, But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. Evidence of eternal salvation will always exalt and testify of Jesus Christ, not the Father.

 

- John 17:2-3, As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. PTL for eternal life!! Not my choice, but His!!!

 

- John 15:3, Judas then, having received a band of men and others from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Mob violence and civil disobedience is not new in our day! The ungodly and evil have never been above violence.

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- The teaching of 'rights' brings rebellion. The teaching of 'responsibility' brings revival.

 

- The only way to beat the devil at his own game is to stop playing games with the devil.

 

- "The cat would eat fish, but she doesn't want to get her feet wet." Sometimes there's no easy way to do it or say it.

 

- Character is the raw material of life out of which we either by diligence construct a temple or by negligence create a trash heap.

 

- Blaming others (including God) for your condition and circumstances is a path that offers very little, if any benefits. Trials have a purpose...use them wisely.

 

- Seldom do we see things as they are, we see them as we are. Life is viewed through the filter of man's heart. To see right, we must be right...with Him.