- Monday, 3/25/19 Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. If God wanted to do something at your church, would you be in one accord with everyone? Would you be in one place with everyone? Would you have been at the prayer meeting earlier?
Matthew 11:9, But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. John had just given evidence of a lack of faith (by asking if Jesus was truly Whom they were waiting for.) Jesus however, continues to lift him up in the eyes of the people. Do we do that? Or, if a friend, leader, convert stubs their toe one time, do we automatically and permanently blacklist them?
- Tuesday, 3/26/19 Psalm 57:2, I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. I wonder how less stressful our lives would be, how enriched our faith would be, how powerful our testimonies would be if we actually believed the second line of this verse. Lord, help us. Oftentimes, it seems like believers often fall into one of two bad extremes. Either we feel that God is upset at us all the time, and that He’s “gonna get us and punish us (again)” for our actions, or we feel He’s totally uninvolved in our lives and really doesn’t care what we do. Both are wrong. Psalm 60:1, O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. Make no mistake, God DOES get displeased with our actions. He still loves us dearly, but He will treat us like an angry Father. Being saved, living under grace, does NOT give us a free pass to live as we want.
- Wednesday, 3/27/19 Psalm 63:1, O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Four statements: we should say all four to the Lord (but can we honestly say them?) Acts 11:18, When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. That the Gospel pertained to the Gentiles was a huge stumbling block to the Jews because of their prejudice and arrogance. But we are oftentimes the same as they. Is there any prejudice in you as to who doesn’t “deserve” a chance to go to Heaven. Is there any you wouldn’t witness to? I mean, is there any sinner so bad that you won’t even TRY to get them the Gospel (via a tract and a sweet spirit)? What about the gay person? the Muslim? that gang banger? or, that jerk of a neighbor?? (BTW, giving a tract is often short-circuited when we live like a grouchy ol' bear around that person for months and then "do our duty" by tacitly inviting them to church to salve our conscience. Go actively and truly love everyone...AND invite them to Christ.)
- Thursday, 3/28/19 Luke 23:34, Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. In troubles, TODAY: will you be like the Master or like most humans? Which is paramount to you: that your afflicters be right with God or with you? Or, that God’s will be accomplished even if it means that you hurt? Or, is the cessation of your pain and problems tops on your list?? 1 Cor 16:16, ...that ye submit yourselves unto [devoted servants], and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. This “submit” is the same word as “wives submit to husbands,” and “Christians submit yourselves to God.” How about spouses submitting to each other? Parents to children? All to the government? All to bosses? We’re to be known holy, sweet, surrendered, submissive servants...not critical, contentious, complaining do-nothings... (Sorry to meddle...)
- Friday, 3/29/19 “Why don’t I get anything from the Bible? Why is so-n-so’s Christianity so alive and mine isn’t?” Psalm 25:14, The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Perhaps it’s your underlying attitude toward Him, His people, His body, His book. 1 Thessalonians 3:12, And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you. Any of us who endeavor to teach the Bible: do we do MORE than we expect of others? Are we more dedicated? Holy? Or, is it a matter of “Do as I say, and not as I do”?
- Saturday, 3/30/19 1 Thessalonians 5:8, But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. Being serious minded, putting my “faith-foot” forward, loving like the Master, and thinking about salvation...I can do that... Acts 13:42, And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Those who should’ve been most interested left the church while those who knew nothing about God yearned for more. Does this describe you and me at times as compared to a new convert? We need to stay humble and hungry. Would you say that your Pastor and Sunday School teacher are confident? Read this verse and reevaluate...2 Thessalonians 3:4, And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. Are they confident that you’re sincerely striving to be more obedient this month over last, this year over last...this hour over last?
- Sunday, 3/31/19 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Rejoice evermore. Two words: a lifetime commission. Two words: a need to be aware of our failures and change our thinking. (THERE’S the true battleground.) Two words: a simple prescription to remedy MOST of what ails us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Pray without ceasing. “Call God in the morning and keep Him on the line all day long.” Three words: the source of peace and victory; three words: the availability of omnipotent assistance; three words: so much offered by such brevity. Three words: enough to keep us humble and striving.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Contact me at baptistcity@gmail.com for information on subscribing to the weekly email or daily text messages from Terry.