Bible Thoughts by Terry Hedderman

Tuesday, 10/11/16  John 3:16, For God so loved that he gave... We cannot be godly if we’re not generous. A 10% tithe is NOT giving: it’s commanded. Giving starts after the first 10% of our gross pay. God refers to offerings (money given to the church, either budget or special projects) and alms (money given in secret directly to another.)     

It’s About the Sheep ​​

John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

I’m afraid we often get the purpose of life and the ministry mixed up. It is very easy to get our priorities turned around; however, God made the priority quite simple. As long as our priorities are right, life will be filled with joy, and the ministry will produce and effective impact on those to whom we minister.

Follow the Leader, It’s Not a Game

John 5:19
“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”

Many children love to play the game, follow the leader, where one child is proclaimed the leader, and the rest follows everything they do. Many parents don't realize that children often learn how to live life by following their parent’s footsteps. Much like the follow the leader game, whether nor not children realize it, they follow what their parents do; however, following the leader in parenting is not a game. Your children are copying your habits, whether good or bad.

Martha Attitude

Luke 10:42
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

The story of Mary and Martha is an intriguing story because we have two sisters whose personalities were certainly different. They were both good ladies, and both of their actions are needed in our churches. Mary chose to worship at the feet of Jesus, and this is very needed. On the other hand, Martha chose to work in the kitchen preparing a meal for the Master. There is nothing wrong with Martha’s choice to stay busy in the kitchen; somebody has to do the behind the scenes work in the church or else nothing will ever get done.

The Secret to Successfully Following God

Psalm 119:57
“Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.”

The psalmist said, “I would keep thy words.” This is a great desire, but desire alone will not make you follow the LORD. At some point, you have to turn desire into action. I have known many people who desired to follow God, but they failed because they never did what it takes to follow Him. In verse 58-63, six things are found that are needed in your life if you are going to follow God successfully.

Unclean Spirits

Mark 1:26
“And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.”

It was the sabbath day when Jesus entered into the synagogue to teach. While He was teaching, a man with an unclean spirit heard Him speak and cried out, “…Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth…” When the man with an unclean spirit came into the presence of Jesus, those spirits knew they had no power. After Jesus rebuked the spirit it “came out of him.”

Don’t Be Sleeping On Your Watch ​​

Matthew 13:25
“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”

Several years ago, I worked for a package delivery company. Every night when we came to work, we had to walk past a guard station and show our identification badge to get on the property. Several nights in a row when we came to work, the guard inside the security station was asleep. It became a joke to those with whom I worked how safe we felt with that guard sleeping on his watch. What was a laughing matter to us could have been a dangerous matter had someone who wanted to do something wrong walked past that guard station. The guard was putting others at risk because he was sleeping on his watch.