Baptist City Blog

- Tuesday, 9/15/20  Psalm 103:14, For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. If God can be cognizant of this, why can’t we? Or,

it’s a godly trait, a trait of mature Christians to remember that they themselves are dust, and that others are too. Go love a dirtball today.                            Genesis 28:8-9, And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took...Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael...the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. Esau was driven by bitterness and took this lady to spite his parents. Your decision may hurt those who love you, but you’ll be the one primarily to live with the consequences.

- Wednesday, 9/16/20  Proverbs 10:5, He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. A major key to success, to happiness, to purity is to simply live by schedule and do what is expected when it’s expected.                         Mark 1:31, And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. You have been saved to serve the Master. Your spouse is to serve the Master. Your kids, your life, your positives and your negatives: He knew what He was getting. Go serve...quit JUST being saved and being content to JUST go to church a time or two a week and reading JUST a chapter or two from the Bible of YOUR choice. Quit asking “What’s wrong with that” and asking “What would He PREFER?” There’s a world that needs the Saviour and He has commissioned you and me to get Him to them.

- Thursday, 9/17/20  Proverbs 10:19, In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Lord, please help me to learn to shut up. Help me to develop some self-discipline.                             Mark 1:37-38, And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. In His human body, He couldn’t reach all men...but He could go into the next town down the road. Do what you can with what you have where you are today.

- Friday, 9/18/20  This is a characteristic of what God calls a “blessed man”: Psalm 1:2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. I know the answer far too often for me, but how “blessable” are you? More so than last year? (Ouch)                                In the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, there are 2 primary locations: the father’s house (representing God’s perfect will) and the far country (representing being unsaved or away from God.) Notice: a house/home has boundaries, standards of behavior, rules, expectations, schedules whereas a “far country” is open. Likewise, God has rules that His children are to follow: not to BE a child, but to be an obedient child. How’re you and “the rules of the house”?

- Saturday, 9/19/20  Psalm 2:1, Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? This is a frustrating psalm. These people rail against God... As a soul-winner & teacher, it’s a hard truth to accept, but “he that is convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” People gotta WANT to learn Truth.                                    Luke 15:28, And [the prodigal’s older brother] was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. Notice that this son never saw the far country nor the hog pen nor felt the empty stomach, the shame, and didn’t smell the stench that his brother had. He just assumed a lot: “wasted,” “riotous living,” “harlots.” In short, he seemed to assume all the “positives” of his brother’s experience without acknowledging the “negatives.” Sin IS fun...for a season, never lose sight of that. However, likewise, never lose sight of “the way of a transgressor is hard” or “sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Staying home and serving didn’t seem very fun...but “ALL that [the Father had]” was now in his name, whereas the boy just got a party for one night.

- Sunday, 9/20/20  1 Kings 3:3a, And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father... NOT GOOD!! Do you believe and live your Christian life based on what someone TOLD you the Bible said? Or, are you noble (like the Bereans) and look it up for yourself? Who’s driving your spiritual car: your pastor or God? (And I’m all for preaching...but Pastor W. is NOT my Pope. I know WHAT I believe and WHY I believe it.)                                  Psalm 85:2, Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. This word “selah” is like a side note for the musicians. It means to suspend, or pause the music. Basically, the music would stop here and, I’m guessing, give the audience a chance for the words to sink in. Being forgiven and having sin covered is a pretty good place to stop and absorb. Read it again and selah.

- Monday, 9/21/20  Psalm 3:2, Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord... There very well may come a time when you feel TOTALLY abandoned and that those who know you hate you. At that moment, you’ve got God...IF you’ve taken time to know Him now.                           Psalm 85:7, Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. We can pray for mercy and so forth all day long, but God does all that He does through His Word. Pray...and then read v8, I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Hear Him, obey Him, and clean up your act. Why should He grant mercy so you can jump right back into the mud pit??