- Tuesday, 7/4/17 John
13:34, A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Idea: Read the Gospels looking for characteristics of how Christ loved, write
them down, and incorporate them into our lives. We’re
supposed to want to be and to strive to be like Christ, right? Colossians 3:13,
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so
also do ye. Romans 8:30, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he
also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified,
them he also glorified. Christ doesn’t just forgive us our sins, He
justifies us: declares us legally innocent from ever having done any
transgression. He doesn’t forget our sins (omniscient precludes that), but He
simply chooses not to ever mention them again. Then, somehow, He has already
given us all that grace can give us (in that we’re already, on some level,
glorified with Him in Heaven.) Why don’t we do that to our offenders? First,
oftentimes, we refuse to forgive at all. If we do, we do it grudgingly, but
keep up a wall to prevent being hurt or betrayed again: “Well, I’ll forgive
them, but I won’t trust them again.” Take the next step: declare your offender
to have NEVER committed the wrong, and THEN, take the next step after that: be
gracious and loving to the one who offended you, just as if they were your best
friend. THEN...we might be getting CLOSE to Christlikeness.
- Wednesday, 7/5/17 John
1:5, And the light shineth in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not. We’re to be godly where it’s not the
normal thing, and where it isn’t understood...and expect to be persecuted and
hated by most people because of those two. Jeremiah 50:7, All that found [the Jews] have devoured them: and their adversaries
said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation
of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers. Despite provocations
from or sinful behavior from another, any mistreatment of God’s people is still
considered a sin and an offense. The Babylonians were punished for mistreating
the Jews, and we will be punished for mistreating someone despite their
antagonistic behavior. In other words, there is never an excuse to be a bad
Christian.
- Thursday, 7/6/17 John
1:11-12a, He came unto his own, and his
own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he... Those
whom you most want to reciprocate your love may not...but someone will. Keep
loving. 1
Corinthians 15:57-58, But thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Paraphrase: We’ve already got the final victory over sin and its effects...SO
ACT LIKE IT!!!
- Friday, 7/7/17 Mark
13:37, And what I say unto you I say unto
all, Watch. “To watch” means to be on guard duty; a sentry. We’re to watch
to protect ourselves and our comrades. So, be alert to sneaky infiltration into
your lives of an expert enemy, bent on destruction. Psalm
40:2, He brought me up also out of an
horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and
established my goings. In the midst of financial problems, strained
relationships, aging, and so forth, it’s easy to fantasize how good it “used to
be” or where we’d be today if we didn’t “have” to do all these “church things.”
Everyone has problems: ours have an end in sight. Stay faithful, stay humble,
and keep rejoicing.
- Saturday, 7/8/17 Psalm
42:1, As the hart panteth after the water
brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Just a reminder (mostly to
me) that there is another level of Christianity (or 2, or 15) above where I am
now. Always be content with the level of possessions, but never with the level
of devotion. 2
Corinthians 2:1-2, But I determined this
with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you
sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by
me? Leaders, we are not allowed to burden our followers with our heaviness:
we’re to take their burdens along with our own to the Lord...that’s why God
made us leaders.
- Sunday, 7/9/17 Psalm
116:1, I love the Lord, because he hath
heard my voice and my supplications. We (I) often focus on “hating” God for
“ignoring us,” but are we as vocal and demonstrative when He comes through? He
“daily loadeth us with benefits...” 2 Corinthians
2:10-11, To whom ye forgive any thing, I
forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes
forgave I it in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us:
for we are not ignorant of his devices. Haggling over forgiveness, and when
to give it and to whom seems to be one of Satan’s prime tactics. Forgive,
quickly, freely, and communicate that forgiveness, and convince the offender
that their record is clear, and then “confirm
your love toward” the offender.
- Monday, 7/10/17 Proverbs
7:1, My son, keep my words, and lay up my
commandments with thee. Mom, Dad, are your words worth guarding and being
stored up for future reference? Or, are they simply jokes, sports observations,
discussions about news, or criticisms of people? John 4:9, Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a
Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no
dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus loved people...despite cultural
differences or the social norms of the day. He saw people and their needs...not
“labeled humans” of this societal sub-group or that one.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bible thoughts from some others:
- Matt 13:22, He also that received seed among thorns is he that heareth the word:
and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word,
and he becometh unfruitful. This is an apt picture of most professing
Christians today, even Baptists!
- 1 Sam 11:12, And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign
over us? Bring the men, that we may put them to death. We must be very
careful not to equate the success of life based on one victory early in life.
- 1 Sam 12:22, For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake:
because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people. We have the same
promise since He chose us, John 15:16, and His nature has not changed!! PTL we belong
to Him.
- Pro 7:7, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young
man void of understanding. All men are naive and simple in matters of moral
purity unless carefully instructed at a young age by a loving and godly dad and
mom.
- Ps 73:25, Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I
desire beside thee. To be so focused on the Lord gives purpose and
direction in life!
- 1 Sam 16:7b, For the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. He has not changed His
outlook, or His way of choosing leaders. Heart health spiritually is the most
important attribute.
- 1 Sam
15:22b-23a, Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the
sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. God hasn’t
changed His mind and total obedience is still required.
- "The
dead praise not the LORD" (Psalm 115:17).
Maybe it's time to start living!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Miscellaneous
thoughts from others:
- A comfort zone is a wonderful place, but nothing
ever grows there.
-
If you can’t find someone to extend grace to you, find someone in need of grace
and extend it to them.
- True forgiveness is accepting apologies that were
never offered.
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