Sunday, 10/12/14 Don’t have anything special planned for
today? Start working on 2 Cor 7:1: Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Acts 18:15 But if
it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will
be no judge of such matters. Gallio wouldn’t rule in matters in he didn’t
have authority over, or in matters of which he was ignorant. Perhaps we could
learn this lesson?? Acts
21:23 Do therefore this that we say to
thee: We have 4 men which have a vow on them... They used a human solution to Paul’s presence
in Jerusalem, but there is no mention of praying for Divine intervention for
his protection. There is no mention of submission and supplication and seeking
the mind of the Lord. How do you tend to solve your problems? By man’s best guesses,
or by God’s precepts? Ps
119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is
settled in heaven. However disrupted and unsettled your life is, rest and
revel in the stability of eternal things.
Monday,
10/13/14 Ps 52:1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of
God endureth continually. Which half of the verse do you tend to dwell on
more often?? 3
John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things
that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Is
your soul prospering? Is your health prospering? Are you striving to get either
in better shape or are you just letting them both go? The Bible is eminently practical: it doesn’t
just cover “spiritual” topics...if “the
earth is the Lord’s” then everything is a “spiritual” topic.
Tuesday,
10/14/14 Ps 119:41-42 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord,
even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer
him that reproacheth me; for I trust in thy word. “Mercies.... His
word...answering our enemies.” Properly relating to God first thing in the
morning facilitates proper interpersonal relationships throughout the day. A college student asked me,
“What do you believe about ____?” In the
question came a valuable lesson: it doesn’t matter what I think; it only
matters what God thinks. (And, of course, that is what the young man was really
asking.) Deut 10:12 And now, Israel, what
doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to... Your opinion, your thoughts, your feelings,
your desires really are totally inconsequential: it’s not about us...never has
been; never will be. He must increase,
but [we] must decrease.
Wednesday,
10/15/14 Pro 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide
his lips shall have destruction. It’s an old, old saying, but, most of our
problems come because we run our mouths... 1
Kings 13:7-24 (The prophet got instructions from God, but another prophet lied
to him and made him think that God had said differently.) 1Never
let man change what God has obviously told you.
2Not all who carry
a Bible or preach are speaking for God. 3Know what you know; know
why it is so. 4Get a little Missouri into your Christianity: “Show me!”
5God never
contradicts Himself.
Thursday,
10/16/14 Pro 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by
labor shall increase. Wealth gotten without work (stealing, gambling)
cheapens the money so that we don’t take care of it as well as the one who
remembers the hours of toil that went into getting it. 1 Sam 3:13 For I have told [Eli] that I will judge his house for ever for the
iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he
restrained them not. An occurrence I see is that adult children choose to
walk away from the things of God and often the parents, torn between their love
for God and their love for their kids and the hopes of not wanting to give them
any reason for not coming back, change their beliefs or practices. Several thoughts: 1Mom
and Dad, if Junior is living wrongly, admit it...to yourself. 2As
with anyone else, condemn the sin without condemning the sinner. 3As
with anyone else, love the sinner, but name the sin as being what it is. 4And
as with any other adult, you only have the power of influence, not
command. 5You may prohibit the behavior on your turf only. If
they refuse your rights on your turf, ask them to leave. 6Rom
12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth
in you, live peaceably with all men. You have buddies at work, don’t you,
that you are cordial with, even though they’re wicked? The relationship is good
as long as neither you nor they cross the line that makes the other
uncomfortable. Do that with your kids: they’re adults now: don’t cross the
line. 7Keep in mind that they are the ones who’ve walked away,
not you. 8Your kids will be more likely to return to you if they
see unwavering belief and steadfastness regarding the truth of God.
Friday,
10/17/14 Ps 59:16-17a But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will
sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and
refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength will I sing.
Let’s put a songbook next to our Bibles, and start the day, not just with Bible
reading but with a song (out loud). Ps
53:3 Every one of them (children of men,
i.e. unsaved) is gone back: they are altogether beacme filthy; there is none
that doeth good, no not one. If they “went back”...they had to have been
forward at one time, and turned away voluntarily. This is more evidence that everyone is given
some light from God. If they don’t respond rightly, they are given no more.
Also note that refusing God automatically increases wickedness.
Saturday, 10/18/14 Ps 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
How could you implement something like this? Use your phone’s calendar or
alarms; praise before each meal; each time you use the restroom; your ideas? Ps 58:1-2 Do you
indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? Do you judge uprightly, O ye sons
of men? Yea, in heart ye work wickedness: ye weigh the violence of your hands
in the earth. We often tout our “speech” and our “upright judgments,” but
God looks at the heart also. How clean is your heart? Truly clean? Or, just
“better than most”?
Thoughts from some others
John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. A sad
testimony and a disgrace to our Lord, but I wonder how often we are just as
guilty.
Ps 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face, he
will never see it. This is the illusion of the unsaved, evil, and wicked
people that cause their unholy living.
Josh 15:63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of
Judah could not drive them out. It’s always a mistake to leave enemies
undefeated and battles unwon: they will always have to be fought later.
John 12:10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to
death. There is no hatred like that of the devil and the world toward Jesus
and His followers.
Pro 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the
wicked speaketh frowardness. Talk is a reflection of the heart. We know
intuitively as Christians what talk is proper and appropriate and will be
convicted by the Holy Spirit if it’s perverted or evil.
Pro 13:5 But I have trusted in thy mercy, my heart shall rejoice in thy
salvation. If God’s mercy and eternal salvation are all we have, we have
far more than we deserve and much to praise and rejoice over.
John 12:47 If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge not, for I came not
to judge the world, but to save the world. This is still saving time, not
judging time. Wait until He comes again for that.
Pro 18:9 He that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great
waster. A lazy person is related to one who treats his possessions, time,
and life slothfully.
Pro 17:9 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips, and a liar giveth ear to a
naughty tongue. Our ears and what what we listen to are a reflection of our
lack of godly character and behavior.
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Contact me at baptistcity@gmail.com for information on subscribing to the weekly email or daily text messages from Terry.