- Tuesday, 6/28/22 Proverbs 25:28, He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Walls aren’t important when
all is well; it’s when the enemy comes that their viability is the issue. Are you usually up, but just get depressed/angry/vindictive when the pressure’s on? Then you have no walls. Your wall is only as good as it is when things are bad. Matthew 6:12, And forgive us our debts, AS WE FORGIVE our debtors. Are you willing to have YOUR level and completeness of forgiving to be THE standard which you are given? “Sure, I am forgiving!” What about to THAT person? for THAT incident?? Remember, our littlest sins were more offensive to Him than whatever that one did to you.
- Wednesday, 6/29/22 Proverbs 26:21, As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. Very bluntly: is there more or less strife when you’re around? More or less laughter? Strife isn’t just arguments: tension, proving others wrong, slamming doors. Hmmm... What is important to you? What do you value greatly? If I wanted leverage against you, how could I twist your arm? Or, offending you in which specific area would tick you off? Respect? Money? Ease? Popularity? Position? No problems for loved ones? These are not bad things necessarily. The answer to the question indicates our treasures. Matthew 6:19-20, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... Possibly, allow this thought to induce some introspection, reevaluations, and resetting of priorities.
- Thursday, 6/30/22 Matthew 6:1, Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. How do we do this? When we give and then the recipient doesn’t treat our gift like we feel they should. If they sold off what we donated, if it was never used; if the level of gratitude wasn’t what we wanted. Question: did you GIVE the alms or LOAN them? Was it given to and for God, or to men FOR you? Ever feel a disconnect with Heaven? Or like life is throwing you nothing but curve ball after curve ball? Frustrated? Borderline angry and wanting to “chuck it all”? Matthew 5:13, Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. God’s chastising hand isn’t always revealed as a “thump on the rump.” He has a multitude of methods. Here, the non-salty salt is thrown out and allowed to be trodden. Does that sound familiar? The solution? Get saltier through honest evaluation (“search me O God”), acknowledgement, repentance, reconciliation, and a new level of and commitment to holiness.
- Friday, 7/1/22 Matthew 6:3, But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. Three types of giving: tithes (10%, commanded, via the church); offerings to God (voluntary in deed and amount); and alms (voluntary, directly to others, secretly.) Just between you and God: do you give alms? Give offerings? Do you pay your tithes? (Since it’s a command, we don’t GIVE tithes, we PAY it.) God says repeatedly, Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men, Psalm 107:31. The Devil and our flesh say repeatedly, “Oh that you would gripe constantly because the Lord didn’t give you a cloudless, perfect fairy-tale day, and comment frequently that His wonderful works are really not much to talk about, and if they were, they’re always done to someone besides you.” Choice A or Choice B, which for you today? What did you do choose yesterday?
- Saturday, 7/2/22 Psalm 107:8, Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! We have a choice to make daily, hourly, constantly: we may focus on our problems and tend to gripe, or focus on His faithfulness and praise Him. What’cha gonna do? (Repeat in an hour.) Genesis 13:8, And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Abraham wanted strife OUT of his life (most, not all, of us would agree.) However, he then did whatever possible to eliminate it: even if it meant financial harm/discomfort to himself. Have you done all you could? Will you? Maybe eating some crow? Maybe apologizing when it really wasn’t your fault? Maybe humbling yourself? Peace is very...peaceful!
- Sunday, 7/3/22 Genesis 13:1, And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him... Genesis 12 tells of the start of the Hebrew race and the chapter ends with a trip to Egypt. Chp 13 starts with leaving Egypt. Likewise, we need to leave Egypt (AKA, the world) daily. Psalm 37:3, Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. This psalm is filled with commandments (I count 17) and promises (I see 39.) However, the commandments are in present tense whereas the promises are future tense. Lesson: obey and trust, or, we’ve got things to do now and we’re to let God do His thing in His time.
- Monday, 7/4/22 Genesis 13:8, And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Abraham places unity amongst Christians above his finances. Oft times, we do the exact opposite. Psalm 111:4, He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. Very simply: what are you remembering? Tell someone today of some of His wonderful works to you this month, this year, this millennium. Do it verbally, in script, and on social media. Go on...
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