Baptist City Blog

- Sunday, 11/18/18  John 7:24, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Here, we’re not to judge with eye information; and since our heart is “desperately wicked,” we can’t judge with our hearts. What’s left? A Spirit led, submissive spirit. Are you asking for His fullness often?
                        Hebrews 2:1, Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Most of us, if we get out of our Christian race won’t do so because of a massive train wreck...but because of a slip...a little compromise here and a little tolerated sin there... That’s why we must anchor ourselves to the unchanging Word of God, and to a church/pastor who faithfully proclaims It. Do you believe and do as you did 2-3-5 years ago? Quit slipping before you DO become a train wreck.

 

- Monday, 11/19/18  Hebrews 1:1, God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets... God speaks in His own time and in His own way. It is incumbent upon us to always be paying attention. If you snooze, you lose.                              Hebrews 2:10, For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. If Jesus had to have suffering to put the finishing touches on Him, you and I will too. This is an oft repeated theme in the Bible: we WILL have hard times; it IS for a reason; since we HAVE to go through it, the matter boils down to whether we’ll gripe or praise while in the storm.

 

- Tuesday, 11/20/18  Hebrews 5:12, For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again... Might this verse apply to you? As objectively as possible, where would you think your leaders would say you are in your Christian leadership/mentorship willingness and actions?                             In the military, the subordinate is to walk on the left of the superior officer as a sign of respect and deference. In history, this would allow the superior (the better, more experienced warrior) free use of his sword in the right hand. Thus, the subordinate was safer on the left. We often get on the wrong side of God. Psalm 16:8, I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. When He is not on our right, we oftentimes lose the battle against the superior enemy, but when we allow the Superior Warrior to be in His rightful place, we “cannot be moved.” Where are you walking today?

 

- Wednesday, 11/21/18  Proverbs 18:4a, The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters. It’s easy to misunderstand someone. We (I) must REALLY listen so as to understand what (all) is truly being said. (“Deep waters” could have multiple meanings.) Casual listening, preconceived listening, rash evaluations...all contribute to misunderstandings. Go LISTEN today.                             Psalm 57:9-10, I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Since His mercy and truth are still in place, active and powerful, the fact that you and I aren’t constantly singing and praising Him among the people shows a lack and a coldness within us. (An inconvenient truth today...)

 

- Thursday, 11/22/18  Proverbs 18:4b, The wellspring of wisdom [is] as a flowing brook. A brook is a small, narrow stream, easy to miss or overlook. Wisdom is like that: we must carefully seek it out, and really pay attention to grasp them. God’ll put brooks of wisdom into our life’s journey, but we could easily miss them, and be dry and parched, i.e. foolish. Heads up!!                                    Jeremiah 29:31b, ...because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie. Please realize a VERY crucial truth: no one will be judged by God based on what they were taught. All judgment will be based on the Bible. These people had a preacher...who preached wrong doctrine, and they believed him...and a lie. Realize this: it’s your soul and your life. If I teach you erroneously and you listen, YOU will still suffer for believing my error. Why? Because all of us have a Bible that we can read. That’s what John 12:48 and Romans 14:12 teach: ...the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Please, please, please listen to me: if you go to Hell believing what your church erroneously taught...you’re in Hell forever. It’s not what I say or what my church says: it’s what God says. If you don’t agree with the Bible...you lose. It’s not a matter of “interpretation.” God gives us black and white words; and a brain to discern for ourselves. So, do you know that you’re on your way to Heaven? Do you know that your daily lifestyle is pleasing to Him? Are your finances pleasing to Him? Your marriage? Child rearing? Attitude? Heart condition? Please talk to me if you’d like to know what God says about any of these topics.

 

- Friday, 11/23/18  1 Thessalonians 5:18, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. “In everything,” NOT “for everything.” Even if we’ve got dozens of big problems, by an act of the will, we CAN give thanks for the hundreds of things that’re going right. We can...will you?                                  Luke 15:17-18, And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee... “Coming to ourselves” is good: admitting to ourselves that we blew it is good...but I think many people stop there. It’s far easier to admit error to ourselves in an honest moment than to arise and go and say, “I have sinned.” (That takes courage and honesty and HUMILITY.) So, have you come to yourself? Will you now go to another? Do it today...

 

- Saturday, 11/24/18  Psalm 25:5, Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Paraphrase: “Since Thou art the God Who saved me, I will wait all day for You to lead me and teach me.” Does this reflect your attitude and actions? Why do we trust Him for our never-dying soul but refuse to consider that He may have a clue on how to run our money or marriage or daily choices?                           Psalm 26:6-7, I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord: that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Notice the progression: confession and purity; closeness to the things of God; speaking thanks and telling of God’s workings. Each of us must ask if we’re on this train...or even WANT to be on it.

 

- Sunday, 11/25/18  Psalm 69:30, I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. Many said they were thankful...but didn’t mention Christ in the same breath with that sentiment. To Whom were you thankful? Did others know of that One? Be thankful...and give thanks...and credit Him.                                Ezekiel 3:6b-7, Surely, had I sent thee to [a foreign people], they would have hearkened unto thee. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Might this be your reputation in Heaven? Honestly, how well do you listen to the Spirit of God? If you had to, could you tell of when the last time He really rocked your spirit either in church or in your daily Bible reading? The last time you shed tears of regret and repentance? The last thing you started or stopped because of your time around the Bible or God’s man?

 

- Monday, 11/26/18  Ezekiel 3:17, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. A reminder that we cannot cause another to respond favorably to God; our job is simply to present His Word. So, very simply, are you active for God? Yes, we’re to let our “light so shine,” but also speak “and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God.”                                  Luke 24:11, And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.  Mark 16:14, Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Not accepting the Word of God is not an intellectual issue; nor is it an issue with “different interpretations.” It’s primarily a heart issue, and that is something each of us must acknowledge in ourselves and deal with ourselves.