Baptist City Blog

- Tuesday, 5/9/17  Galatians 1:4, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world... He gave ALL He could to free us from the penalty and the influence of sin. What will you give to free your spouse? Your kids? Your pastor? 
                         Psalm 111:4b, The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. “Grace” = God’s goodness in action. “Full of compassion” means He sees how hard we are having it and cares; in other words, He gives us the benefit of the doubt. Do you ever see things from your adversary’s point of view? (And sometimes your adversary is your spouse, child, pastor, boss.) Do you ever give the benefit of the doubt when you’re not sure? Do you use Christ’s examples toward you as your guideline for how to act at home, on the job, on the highway, and at church? Especially, the example of giving a second chance, and a third, and a fourth...

 

- Wednesday, 5/10/17  The keys to the treasuries of the Bible are labeled “Effort,” “Attention,” and “Humility.” Proverbs 5:1, “My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding.”                          If we do wrongly, we’re to try to undo it. However, we are not to violate other principles/commandments in doing so.  God tells us not to be surety for another (in our vernacular: cosigning a loan.) However, in Proverbs 6:1-2, God says, “If you do that...” “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” Don’t do wrongly so as to do rightly.

 

- Thursday, 5/11/17  Mark 6:31, And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. Take care of your rest, your diet, and peaceful surroundings. ‘Tis the Lord’s will.                             Galatians 1:23, But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. This radical transformation was caused by supernatural influence. Some people I know now destroy the faith that they once preached. The opposite supernatural influence?? Cloak it under “rethinking my faith” or “Bro. So-n-so did wrongly” so I’m justified, or whatever, but the fact remains: humanity is under the curse of sin and Bible truth proclaimed by sinful, yet sincere, people is their only hope. Holy, righteous, humble living is the key. (Quit focusing on others: are you trying to live holy, righteously, and humbly?) Basic question: are you a part of the problem or part of the solution?

 

- Friday, 5/12/17  Philippians 2:8a, And being found in fashion as a man, [Jesus] humbled himself... Christ chose to humble Himself, so we are to do so also. We must diligently guard against the root of sin, pride (which is thinking that we deserve anything that is better than Hell-fire.)                           Parents, do you ever wonder if your spirit is right when you have to discipline your kids? Jeremiah 31:20, Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. Maybe a good indication is that after the discipline, by yourself, you hurt for the hurt that you had to inflict upon them; despite knowing you did rightly, you grieve because of the necessity of negative actions, because of “tough love.”

 

- Saturday, 5/13/17  1 John 5:12, He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. If someone has Life, why would they surround themselves with as many accoutrements of death as possible: dead liquor, dead friends, dead hobbies, dead entertainments...doesn’t make sense.                                     1 John 4:11, Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. How did He love us? He gave first and gave the most. He met our biggest needs and many small wants. He repeatedly and freely forgives. He daily loads us with benefits. His rain falls on the just and unjust (so He’s good despite our badness.) Go and do likewise.

 

- Sunday, 5/14/17  Psalm 119:29a, Remove from me the way of lying. Two lessons: Even Bible greats had their besetting sins, so you’re probably not as bad as the Devil whispers to you. And, the best thing to do about your sinful habits is to pray about them...this morning, at the altar at church...                                  Psalm 119:50, This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Just a thought: if you’re having it tough, just read your Bible like you would a novel: cuddle up with a blanket on the couch and just soak in the stories: Joseph in Genesis; Daniel; David’s life. Just RELAX and REVEL in a “good book.” Soak in it, not the tub; lose yourself in its drama instead of Netflix’.

 

- Monday, 5/15/17  Philippians 1:1, Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons... Whether you’re a saint, the pastor, or a deacon, you need the same things: the Bible, grace, peace, and direction. Have you gotten your share today?                            1 John 1:10, If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. This may be taking this out of context, but I would suggest that this could be applied to any area of our lives: rare would be the instance when we would act totally righteously in any matter. If that be true, there is always a little more improvement that we could do. In other words, we’ve got sin directly in front of us to deal with as opposed to looking at and highlighting anyone else’s, even if theirs is “so much more obvious” than our own.

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- Dan 6:3, Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Look out Daniel! Hatred and jealousy is about to cause trouble! Human nature is the same today.

 

- Dan 3:17-18, If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods or worship the golden image which thou hast set up. It may require a step of faith when standing alone for God and for right. Those boys were going to do right regardless.

 

- Pro 8:36, But he that sinneth against [wisdom] wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. To refuse godly wisdom and instruction is damning and deadly.

 

- Pro 13:1, A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. We have a generation of rebels and scoffers who were not made to obey or listen. I never thought about ignoring or talking back to my dad. I now have the same respect for God.

 

- Matt 9:16-17a, No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, neither do men put new wine into old bottles. The need for supernatural regeneration by the Holy Spirit of God for eternal salvation cannot be overemphasized.

 

- Pro 14:4, Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. The ox is likened to a strong leader or pastor. If you don’t want a mess in the barn, or problems in the church, don’t have an ox on the farm or a strong pastor in the pulpit.

 

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- My faith has found a resting place, not a proving ground.

 

- Today, rather than focusing on your past sins, focus on God's past faithfulness.

 

- You are already precious to God, now concentrate on making God precious to you.