Bible Thoughts by Terry Hedderman

- Tuesday, 3/7/17  Psalm 119:1, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. There are two conditions to receive this blessing: 1) be undefiled, i.e. saved.  2) Walk in the way, the roadway of the Bible. Do you qualify?    
                        Micah 7:18, He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. The implication is that God COULD retain His anger for ever, but the fact that He delights in mercy prevents it. Which do you like more: your anger or releasing it and granting mercy? No... REALLY!!! Do you hold on to your “justifiable” anger or do you act like God and TRULY show mercy? Could you name the last few BIG offenses that you have TRULY forgiven? (And, BTW, when He shows mercy, He refuses to “remember” the offense anymore: i.e. “to bring it up again.” Have you REALLY forgiven?)
 
- Wednesday, 3/8/17  Galatians 6:1, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Spiritual people have a longing to restore the fallen. Do you? Will you forgive? Trust again? Try again?                                 Galatians 6:1, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Spiritual people go after the one overtaken (tackled from behind) “in a fault.” Notice, there is no indication of repentance from the guilty. Maybe the attempt to restore such an one leads to repentance? Also, there is nothing to indicate that the offense was not against the one attempting to do the restoral...THAT would really be spiritual, wouldn’t it? Restoring the offender when the offense was against you? That would almost make you like Christ... Is there anyone in your life needing restoration? (Maybe they’re even seeking it and you are refusing it.) Are you (un)willing to forgive them? Remember that we’ve been given the “ministry of reconciliation,” 2 Corinthians 5:18... That ministry involves more than soul winning, and the reconciling of sinner and Saviour; it would include reconciling sinner with sinner...even if you’re the one who’s been sinned against. Go be spiritual today: go meekly being restoration with a sinner.
 
- Thursday, 3/9/17  Galatians 6:2, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Paraphrase: “Be willing to assume and deal with their sin’s baggage while attempting to restore them” (v1). This would include the shame they feel. Share their shame.                                Some of you are having a rough time in your life. You are in the valley, maybe, even the valley of the shadow of death. Is it financial? Relational? Health? Consider this:  Psalm 118:24, This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it1)God knows your situation.  2)He has a purpose in it.  3)You’re commanded to rejoice and to be glad in today.  4)God never commands what is impossible.  5)And if today is just a normal, run-of-the-mill day: “rejoice and be glad it it” also.
 
- Friday, 3/10/17  Ephesians 5:2, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice... How did Christ love us? Being willing to forgive. Coming to us before we sought forgiveness. Doing all He could to restore the relationship. Walk that way.                                 Proverbs 6:1-2a, My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, thou art snared... Whether you gave your word to a trusted friend or to an unknown foreigner, God puts the obligation to fulfill your promise on you. Are you true to your word?
 
- Saturday, 3/11/17  Proverbs 7:14-15a, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee... No amount of religious righteousness gives us a free pass on sinful behavior. We don’t ever “earn” the right to sin.                                    Nahum 1:1-2, The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.  God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The Book of Nahum is rather intense. The prophet preached to the same city/nation as Jonah, albeit over a century later. God’s patience was far less than it had been earlier. Make no mistake: God does have a “Point of No Return” when He will cease holding back His hand of chastisement upon the spiritual rumps of His rebellious children. See Jeremiah 15:6.
 
- Sunday, 3/12/17  Philippians 2:3-4, ...let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. In your interpersonal relationships, be sure to strive to see things from the other’s point of view. Theirs is as valid as yours.                                    Habakkuk 1:6, For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. God used an incredibly wicked nation to correct His people, so He might use some less than desirable circumstances or an unsaved boss or government in our lives to accomplish the same things. Remember, He doesn’t think like you or I think.
 
- Monday, 3/13/17  Philippians 2:6-7, [Jesus], being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation... Being Christlike means surrendering your legitimate rights and choosing less for another’s benefit.                                 Acts 19:2-3, [Paul] said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. These were sincere men who had been taught sincerely, but evidently by someone who copied a message from someone who copied a message who copied from another. Sincere, but ignorant. They had the right baptism, but wrong doctrine: they didn’t know the true God was a Trinity. Hence, Paul made sure.  We have the luxury of the total word of God in our King James Bibles. Don’t settle for what somebody SAYS the Bible says...see it for yourself, because it’s YOUR soul and your life on the line. Don’t go to Hell because somebody SAID that good works or sincerity or adherence to a certain religion were the tickets to Heaven. See what God says is the way to the Father. If you don’t KNOW 100% for sure that you’re on your way to Heaven, please message me today.
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Bible thoughts from some others:
- Ps 119:159, Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me O Lord. To the degree we love His words, we may ask Him to revive with confidence.
 
- Matt 9:13, But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Our Lord is still in the salvaging business!! The churches of Jesus Christ need to get back to that too, and out of the social club setting!!
 
- Ps 119:176, I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant, for I do not forget thy commandments. How often do we pray this prayer, go running to Him for help, and go back to His word for answers? PTL that He is ever present and never fails!
 
- Pro 13:21, Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid. It pays to work at doing right, both here and in eternity!
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- The following was written by a resident of the Hammond Rescue Mission, a truly faithful man. He gave me permission to send it out.
         “How to reconcile a failing relationship” or “How to reconcile yourself instead of a failing relationship.”
Matt 5:23-24; 2 Cor 5:18-19
         The ministry of reconciliation:
                  A. First priority: Relationship to God
                  B. Relationship to others
                  C. Reconcile to self.
11 things to consider:
         1) Expunge the offense = erase it from the record = after a set time, release the offense.
         2) Don’t speak of the offense to others or even yourself, even if it is true. Don’t be a gossip, even with yourself.
         3) Forget the offense by choosing not to remember it. (Yes you can!!)
         4) Don’t pursue a personal victory. The relationship is far more important than your viewpoint. Don’t win the fight and lose the battle.
         5) The reason to forgive is Jesus. He’s our example.
         6) Allow God to be the righteous judge between you and the other.
         7) Forgiveness is a daily work, not a one-time event. It is not based on the other’s willingness to repent.
         8) Refocus on God’s viewpoint of the offender and not your own feelings. Pray for them.
         9) Be honest concerning your own faults and fix them before you expect the other to repent themselves for you.
         10) Use kind and encouraging words, not accusations. Cultivate thankful speech, even in discomfort.
         11) Re-evaluate your expectation for the relationship. How can I better the situation?
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