Baptist City Blog

Monday, 1/25/16  1 Sam 28:2, And David said to [the Philistine king], Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. Not every promotion or good opportunity is a good idea or God’s will.                   1 Sam 26:9, And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless? David could’ve hurt King Saul who was trying to hurt him, but chose faith. God has chosen your leadership (boss, teacher, pastor, politicians, etc.) Don’t rebel against them, or fight them, even in your heart.

 

Tuesday, 1/26/16  Do you consider yourself to be reasonable? Open to logical persuasion? Rom 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Let’s see: bodies go soul winning. Bodies work hard. Bodies make time for time alone with God. Bodies have hearts which love and forgive…now, how reasonable are you?                     1 Sam 28:16, Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? What a horrible state for a believer to be in. Be careful…your unspiritual choices have unforeseen and unwanted consequences.

 

Wednesday, 1/27/16  Pro 18:10, The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Towers provide: actual safety, perceived safety, i.e. a sense of security, and a place to get a better view of the circumstances. So run to your Heavenly Tower today.                      Matt 24:1-2, And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. The disciples tried to share their awe of and pride in the accomplishments of men, but He was not impressed. The greatest works of men, even after all is said and done, are simply works…of men, whereas the things of God and the souls of men are eternal. On what do you spend more of your time? Thoughts? Prayers? Tears?

 

Thursday, 1/28/16  Matt 26:35, Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. It’s easy to criticize Peter, but all of our mouths have outdistanced our living at times. The question is, “Is my life closer to my talk than it used to be?”                        Matt 26:39, And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Five truths re: prayer from this verse:  1) Notice the physical position (this is one of several mentioned in Scripture.)  2) We have a loving Daddy to go to, as well as a King or a God.  3) It’s OK to ask for your desires.  4) Humanity may not see a solution, but realizes God might. “If it be possible…”  5) Ultimately, submission and acceptance.

 

Friday, 1/29/16 Matt 27:44, The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same (insults) in his teeth. One thief’s eternity was changed soon thereafter because he could publically admit error an hour later. If you had been him, where would you be today? Heaven or Hell? Go apologize already...                          Matt 6:13, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Ps 24:1, The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein. A reminder that all that we deal with today is His, and whomever we interact with today are His.    Be careful how you treat His “stuff” and His people (even the unsaved are His: all souls are mine.)

 

Saturday,1/30/16  Pro 21:1, The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. We can petition the king; we’re to pray for the king, but ultimately, we will choose whether our trust is in the king or The King.                            Job’s friends accused him of hypocrisy and hidden sins (which were false: God was very pleased with him.) However, Job felt the need to defend himself, and in so doing made some pretty bold claims (seemingly exaggerated claims of being REALLY good.) Whether he related his actions accurately or not, I had this thought: defending and disputing what you are not doesn’t mean that you are that good. Just because you’re not sleeping around like a whore doesn’t mean you’re a good spouse. Because you’re not wanted for bank robbery doesn’t mean you’ve given enough in the offering. Because you show some discretion in your DVD habits, doesn’t necessarily indicate a pure mind. Not wanting to kill your neighbor isn’t equivalent to loving him or her. Quit only being “not bad” and become “good.”

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- The best way to stop a bad habit is never to begin it.

- The lack of preparation in life is really preparation for failure in life.

- Why is it that those who quietly walk away from the things of the Lord are given a pass, while those who have a public fall, but who try to come back, are often vilified?

- Judging others is pretty much like looking into a mirror. You see in them what you feel about yourself. If you see hypocrisy it is because you feel like a hypocrite. If you see wrong motives it is because you feel your motives are questionable. If you see them as righteous, it is because you feel righteous in Christ. Be careful how you judge others because you are most likely exposing yourself.

- I don't have to DO more to earn God's love but I do more because I love HIM!

- When is the last time you took time to give thanks to God for the afflictions you have not had to endure?

- When another's happiness becomes your happiness you have discovered God's love.

- God does not give up on us, even when we give up on ourselves.

- Imagine Jesus today: He is leaning over, bending down close to someone who is hurt. He’s listening. His eyes fill with tears as He hears that person’s troubles. Then His hand gently brushes away a tear. He was hurt once too. He understands.

- More available information does not necessarily equate to more truth. Be careful Christian. Satan will see to it that the internet abundantly propagates his misinformation. Do not put too much confidence in what is said there, lest you be deceived.

- What God has done for us is because of us. What He chooses to do with us is in spite of us.

- The only way to make a difference is to, well, be different. Quit conforming and be peculiar.

- Chronic worriers never have callused knees.

- Jesus sent us another Comforter because He assumed we would be made or become uncomfortable in this world. How uncomfortable are you?

- If you can't fix your yesterday, at least try not to break your today.-

- Reading your Bible is like grocery shopping. I cannot eat my whole cart today. Some of it can be eaten on the way home. Some of it will need preparation. Some won't be needed right away, but definitely later in the week. Some things are just good to have on hand. Oh, some things are just in case of emergency. Forgetting to shop, can make home life a terrible experience.

- Critics will tell you what you will not tell yourself; thus insulate, but do not isolate.

- To be a believer, one accepts what God has given. To be a disciple, one gives. Salvation comes from the sacrifice of Christ. Discipleship comes from the sacrifice of self. Salvation depends on God's faithfulness. Discipleship depends on my faithfulness. Hence, salvation cannot be lost. Discipleship can be lost.

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- Pro 26: In order to keep up from becoming like them - by catching ourselves & changing our ways - this chapter tells us what foolish, deceitful, lazy, gossiping, and divisive people are like. Pro 26:11, As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

- I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name forevermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell, Ps 86:12-13. (I'm identifying with David in a big way this morning!)

- Bible thoughts! Ps 92:2, To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. Two very good things to exhibit everyday: true love for others and an attitude of faithfulness.

- Gen 2:18, And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make an help meet for him. For a man to be alone, without a godly help meet for him is not good. Thus a man without a wife is incomplete. We need to let our wives know how important they are to us today.

- 1 Chron 29:25, And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. We must be very careful when God blesses, promotes, and gives notoriety. Pride and the flesh are very real.

- Luke 15:19, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. This is the point that every sinner must come to in order to be eternally saved. It’s even more important for successful service after salvation.

- Isa 33:22, For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king: he will save us. As Christians in America, we need to wake up and put our hopes and confidence in the Lord, not in elected officials, politicians, and big government!

- Acts 16:25, And at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. If the world and our God ever needed to see and hear saints of God praying and singing praises to God, it’s today. The world has nothing to sing about or a God they can praise.

- Ps 119:80, Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed. Failure to witness, go soul winning, and to exalt Christ is a heart problem.

- "Well, I just don't think a Christian ought to be discouraged or depressed." Tell that to Bible writers: Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness," Psalm 69:20.

- Ps 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. God’s word is reliable for both daily and long-term decision making.