Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 10/26/14  Ps 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! “Unity” not “union.” If we get too close to anyone, we’ll find negatives. A big key to life is to get as close as possible while still maintaining the good relationship.             Ps 72:3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. The whole psalm is about Christ: it’s become almost a throw-away truth, but if your life is lacking peace, a close relationship with the Prince of Peace is the only way. Quit searching for peace and fulfillment by indulging in the things that millions of others also found to be ineffective. The Bible, church, living for others, soul winning, holiness, prayer....these are still the answer for the hole in your soul and life.

Monday, 10/27/14  1 Thess 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father... Does your faith work? Your love labor? And your hope show patience?  They should...God’s watching!!                Pro 24:3-4 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Anyone can get married or just live together; sex is easy to come by; kids are easy to make...but a home with truly “precious and pleasant riches”; a stable, long-lasting family must have God’s ingredients. He knows how to make you happy...do it His way.

Tuesday, 10/28/14  Josh 7:3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about 2-3000 men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few. Never let men’s words supersede God’s words. Though the great Baptists of history weren’t Apostles or inspired, I think it wise to be slow and extra careful to entertain doctrines that they didn’t preach.        Pro 26:18-19 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not in sport? In this season of pranks, remember that if the recipient isn’t laughing, it is not a joke, it’s terrorism, i.e. SIN.

Wednesday, 10/29/14  Pro 26:9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. (It hurts and is a source of infection.) Fools twist words of wisdom into sources of pain and spiritual disease.            Mark 12:24, 26, 28 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together... In discussing spiritual topics, it is imperative to first and foremost use Scripture, as well as applied reason (which is enhanced by an overall humble and holy life.)             1 Tim 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. Notice what the proper result of obedience to law is: charity.

Thursday, 10/30/14  Ps 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. The hard preaching, naming sin, strict standards, personal holiness, a busy schedule...are all God’s plan to keep us from the weeping that comes when His judgment must fall on our sin.           Mark 12:40 ...which devour widows’ houses, and for a patience make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. Basic doctrine:  In eternity (not now), all punishment will not be equal. The Lake of Fire will be worse for some than others, though it will be a lake of fire for all.          1 Chron 12:17a And David...said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you... Leaders, you would like (or demand that) followers give you their heart, but David gave his heart to his followers. Could this verse characterize your leadership style?

Friday, 10/31/14  Ps 138:2b ...for thou [God] hast magnified thy word above all thy name. God (and we too) are particular about our name, but He is more concerned that His word be honored than His name exalted. You can’t get a more important focus than to know and obey the Word of God.           Pro 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. How do those at school or work who are out-n-out wicked feel about you?  You can have a cordial relationship will all, but if they’re dedicated to their sin and you’re doing as you should, there should maybe be a little tension, or a line that you know you’re not to cross.

Saturday, 11/1/14  Ps 138:6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly. I love this!! (“high” = exalted, lofty)(“respect” = look at, perceive, consider)(“lowly” = cast down, humble, humiliated). What a God!!!!       Listening to Leviticus:  why the tremendous detail re: the sacrifices?  ¹To show God’s holiness and/or character. He has definite opinions about how everything should or must be done. The details give us an inkling of how picky He COULD be if He chose to be.  ²To show how perfect Christ was and how much He had to fulfill God’s holiness and therefore be an acceptable sacrifice.  ³To humble us because of our pride in thinking that we’re good enough, or almost so, for Him. The very best of us is 1/10 millioneth as holy as He demands. After we get frustrated at His demands, we may realize that salvation is all of grace. He gets all the glory.

Pro 25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man is times of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. To put trust in one who is unfaithful and untrustworthy isn’t only painful, but is unstable and dangerous.

John 16:33 In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world! What a sobering thought and yet what an awesome truth. We should expect trouble, but never let it discourage us.

Pro 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. When everyone else fails you and turns their back on you for whatever reason, the Lord is always there to catch and pick us up.

Josh 9:9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt.  We need to be very careful whom we put our faith and confidence in. We need to look deeper than outward appearance before making alliances and binding relationships.

Pro 29:16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. Wicked, weak leadership allows transgression, sin, and ungodliness to flourish, but the day is coming when we will see them fall and fail.

Pro 30:33b ...so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. We shouldn’t be surprised if uncontrolled anger causes a fight. We need to constantly be on guard and keep our temper/anger under control.