Bible Thoughts by Terry Hedderman

- Tuesday, 12/11/18  Think of a young lover missing a sweetheart: the physical ache of a heart. Psalm 119:20, My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. However good each of us truly is as a Christian, methinks we all have a LONG way to go before we can quit repenting over our current status and quit striving to improve and quit finding fault in others.                           Proverbs 6:6, Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. If one of the smallest creatures in nature can teach us wisdom, maybe we should all resolve to read some books on characteristics of creatures. Any suggestions? Probably some series written for grade school or middle schoolers...
 
- Wednesday, 12/12/18  Ps 93:5, Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. Very simply, where do you stand in relation to holiness? Are striving for more of it, or is that “too old-fashioned”? Too hard or inconvenient? Is holiness just for the preachers?                                    Proverbs 7: 19, For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey.  This wicked woman took advantage of her husband’s absence to do wrongly. Just a thought: are you loyal to your spouse when not in their presence? And the definition of loyalty is a “positive, active promoting,” NOT simply the absence of negative comments. Do those at work believe that you’re deeply in love with your spouse? If someone was considering an “office romance,” might they think you’re “available”?
 
- Thursday, 12/13/18  Psalm 90:14, O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. If we’d just review our last 24 hours in the morning and get clean, we could have a happier day. We clean our bodies and teeth in the morning, why not our consciences at the same time?                                   Psalm 119:97, O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Honesty gut check: each of us should ask ourselves if we could truthfully say either half of this verse to the One Who knows the truth. Figure out how to get closer to this being a reality. How much actual time do we spend in His law? How much attention do we truthfully give it? How focused are we when we do read it or hear it taught? On what do we think when we have mental free time? Do we ever talk about it to another?
 
- Friday, 12/14/18  Psalm 119:104, Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Make no mistake: there are true ways and false ways. Ways the Lord would have us walk and one He wouldn’t. It’s not a matter of preference or interpretation; it’s a matter of obedience and the intensity of our desire to please Him more than pleasing ourselves.                                  John 6:2, And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. These people were not following Christ for “a good reason” yet He still cared for them and fed all 5000 of them. Thought: Do we make people “jump through hoops” to prove to us that they’re “qualified” or “good enough” or “sincere enough” for us to help?
 
- Saturday, 12/15/18  John 15:2, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. God is all about us bearing fruit (new life capable of producing more life.) Blunt question: are you bearing fruit (or just smiling and being nice)?                                   Luke 1:6, And [Zacharias & Elizabeth] were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Concerning our external actions: ALL that we do or say either brings glory to the Lord or brings reproach to Him. Our words, actions, appearance, attitude, associations, pastimes, hobbies...ouch!!
 
- Sunday, 12/16/18  Psalm 119:121, I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. God expects us to do 2 things: all we can/should do, and then rely on Him for the outcome. Work like it all depends on us and pray like it all depends on Him. Trust and obey. Easy to say...                                  (#1 of 7) Proverbs 6:16-19, These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look...  Very simply, this is arrogance or condescension. Do you or I look down on anyone? I mean, we need to really examine ourselves. Do we feel that we’re better than anyone? In a word, that’s Abominable.
 
- Monday, 12/17/18  Psalm 92:4, For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. Sometimes, His work involves demolition before reconstruction, and that’s painful. In the last 2-3 years, I’ve gone through that, and I’m getting to the point of thanking Him. Trust in God...whatever He does. Let Him break you and then trust the Masterbuilder to remake you.                           (#2 of 7) Proverbs 6:16-19, These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him... a lying tongue.  This is habitual looseness with the truth. How accurate are you regarding facts? Time? Money? Reputation? Abominable.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Contact me at baptistcity@gmail.com for information on subscribing to the weekly email or daily text messages from Terry.