Baptist City Blog

- Tuesday, 5/30/17  Proverbs 26:13, The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. Dunno if there was a lion or not, but this man seemed content with pointing out the problem and quitting, rather than solving the problem. Don’t stop at identifying what’s wrong. Fix it.             
            Jeremiah 8:20, The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. Keep in mind, September is coming: will you still be a prisoner to that sin THEN? Will you accomplish your Bible reading goals by THEN? Will anyone be born again THEN because of your summer activities? Will anyone be a better Christian THEN because of your choices in the next few month? Get busy as He would have you be busy.

 

- Wednesday, 5/31/17  Psalm 130:4, But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. To not have forgiveness in hand, ready to be dispensed, and to not forgive when someone asks for it,  ¹isn’t godly, ²doesn’t bring proper respect (fear) to you.                           1 Corinthians 14:3, But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification (building; adding to their faith), and exhortation (encouragement/motivation to do more and better), and comfort (helping to bear burden). Check the content of your recent SS lessons or sermons. Are you preaching the material the Lord gives, and in the way the Lord wants?

 

- Thursday, 6/1/17  Acts 6:1, And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring... As the church grows, more help is needed to solve problems. Are you willing to be used? Are you part of the increased problem or the proffered solution?                                    When someone sins and repents:  2 Corinthians 2:7-8, So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.  “Forgive”: graciously restore.  “Comfort”: to call close and encourage.  “Swallowed up”: devoured, swallowed, destroyed.  “Confirm”: to prove publicly. Are you acting biblically in matters like this?

 

- Friday, 6/2/17  Luke 24:2, And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. In the midst of simply trying to be a blessing/perform a duty/display devotion, they saw something awesome. Quit looking for the awesome, and simply do right at the right time. Be faithful.                              2 Timothy 1:12, For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Do you know the unique Person of Jesus Christ? Or, do you just know facts about Him? Or, do you just know someone who knows Him? Seriously, how would you describe the Lord to someone who’s never heard His name?

 

- Saturday, 6/3/17  Weak? Faltering? Psalm 148:14, He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints. Grammatically, the phrase after this comma restates what is before it. So, our praising God is a source of our strength (“horn” is symbolic of strength.)                               Psalm 149:6, Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand... Don’t be a “specialized Christian.” Be able to do it all: praise; clean a bathroom; stack chairs; win souls; teach a class; serve in the kitchen; give; cite chapter and verse; organize. Don’t wimp out: let the Lord use you however He would choose. Be a need filler. Even if you can’t do it superbly, any effort is better than sitting back watching everyone doing nothing.

 

- Sunday, 6/4/17  “God has abandoned me in my time of need!!” I feel that way too, but what does He say? 2 Corinthians 1:4, [God], Who comforteth us in all our tribulation... Perhaps by faith we must believe that He’s doing it, and then, since we believe it, we’ll look for it and perceive it.                              You WILL be brought down off of your “high horse” and humbled.  Proverbs 29:23, A man's pride shall bring him low. Or, you can do it yourself and be given a benefit:  1 Peter 5:5, ...for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. “Humble” comes from “hummus” meaning “dirt.” Get thrown down or place yourself down...it’s your choice.                                2 Corinthians 8:9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor... Christ gave up His family, possessions, authority, power, reputation, and life to help us. What’s your ceiling of sacrifice? How much is too much? Would you draw the line at going to the mission field? Your child into the ministry? Your child to Africa? A pay cut? Being laughed at at work? A modest dress? We all have a ceiling...let’s be aware of it, be sorry (& ashamed) that it’s so low, and work on raising it.

 

- Monday, 6/5/17  2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear...your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. We’ve a Father, a Brother, a Master, a Friend...different relationships, different responsibilities. But we must communicate, live to please, apologize, work, learn...it’s basic stuff. Now do it                                  2 Corinthians 1:3, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies... He’s my Father too. I’m glad that one of my siblings is “mercy.” Since it runs in the family, perhaps I should show more of it, and rejoice when others show it to others, even if it’s to someone I deem “undeserving,” or to one of my enemies.                           Psalm 8:2, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. Notice the construction of the sentence: “enemy and avenger” are restatements of “enemies.” “Enemies” is a general term. “Enemy” is a hated foe. “Avenger” is one out for revenge. Be careful that you don’t place yourself onto God’s “Enemies” list as you seek to get back or hurt someone who has hurt you.

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- Job 31:1, 4, I made a covenant with mine eyes: why then should I look upon a maid? Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If Job had to guard what he saw and God observed what he saw and where he went, should we not be as careful and cautious?

 

- Acts 8:18-19, And when Simon saw that through laying on of hands the Holy Ghost was given: ...saying, Give me also this power. This is how cults, -isms, and doctrinal errors arise among baby, immature believers. They need to be trained from God’s word.

 

- Judges 1:21, And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin unto this day. The sin of incomplete obedience will affect us, our children, and future generations. Half-hearted obedience is a curse!

 

- Matt 1:36, And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. If we thought that trusting Christ was the end of all troubles and conflicts, we need to think again.

 

- Matt 11:30, For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. Loving and serving the Lord may be tiring, but it’s never too heavy, a bother, or a chore.

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- You did not wake up today to be mediocre.
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