Bible Thoughts by Terry Hedderman

Tuesday, 10/25/16  Exo 33:13, Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee... Knowing His way is good; doing it is better; but they are not the end goals. We’re to learn them so as to know Him. Quit practicing religion and get acquainted with, and love, a Person.   

All Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

There is a reprobate thought process among certain people that the Old Testament is no longer relevant for today. 

A Good Minister ​

1 Timothy 4:6
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

Every Christian is to be a minister of Jesus Christ. You may not be called to be a preacher of the Gospel, but you are called to represent Jesus Christ everywhere you go. God says in 1 Corinthians 4:9, “…for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”No matter where you go, you represent Christ. In the verse above, God says that He expects us to “be a good minister.” What are the requirement of a “good minister?”

Growing Faith​​​​​​​

2 Thessalonians 1:3
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”

Paul said about his observance of this church’s faith, “…your faith groweth exceedingly…” He didn't just say that their faith grew, but that it “groweth exceedingly.” This church was a church that wasn't sufficed that its faith just grew, but they were interested in growing their faith in an exceptional manner.

Not of Men​​​​​​​

Galatians 1:1
“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)”

One vital thing that every Christian must settle if they want to please the LORD is that they are serving the LORD and not man. In the verse above, Paul made it clear Who he was serving. He said that he was an apostle, “not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ…” This did not mean that he didn't respect men whom God had used, but he was establishing that man didn't call him, and man didn't determine what he believed.

In Times of Trouble, I Trusted

Psalm 31:14
“But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.”

David faced many hardship and battles through His life. The attacks he faced from within and from without were numerous. The one constant that kept David going through these times was that He trusted in the LORD. He said in verse 9, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble…” Yet, when we come down to the verse above he said, “But I trusted in thee, O LORD…” This was the key to his making it through the rough times.

Modus Operandi ​​

1 Corinthians 14:26
“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

Every business or organization had better have a modus operandi if they want to succeed with their agenda or goals. You will never succeed by doing things without a basis to guide how you operate or have methods to show you how to do things. The degree of your success depends on your modus operandi.