Tuesday, 1/8/19 Psalm
9:2, I will be glad and rejoice in thee:
I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. As winter deepens and
holiday cheer fades: however dark your life is, you’re saved. Revel in that.
Think of what you have in Him. Think of all that you know about salvation and
Heaven.
Matthew 12:2, But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. Basically, the Pharisees had proper doctrine, (though it was in a package with very proud hearts), but they were unwilling to learn/expand their knowledge, or apply their doctrine to real people. Each of us needs to check and see how “teachable” we are (& how humble.)
- Wednesday, 1/9/19 “If
this” “then that.” A common concept. Study Proverbs 2:1-9 and look for the
cause and effect. Also, take note of the parenthetical passages: parentheses
could be placed around a few verses. Look for the basic thrust of the passage,
and then ask yourself and the Holy Spirit to help you apply it. Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding. Mankind has always been filled with
fear. That’s because our understanding/knowledge is always limited. Old
superstitions came because of ignorance of what is now common knowledge. We
don’t know the future so we fear. We don’t know other’s thoughts, so we fear.
The opposite to fear (and the antidote) is faith. Since there is a multitude of
things which I don’t know, I am calmed by leaning on the One Who knows all. If
you’re filled with fear, overdose on the Bible because it is the source of
faith.
- Thursday, 1/10/19
Proverbs 3:11-12, My son, despise
not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: for whom
the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
The use of the word “weary” indicates an ongoing or constant correction. God is
always trying to bend us to His way. Don’t despise His attempts to mold you and
don’t be weary of His attention: it’s proof that you’re His child. Proverbs
3:13, Happy is the man that findeth
wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. This happiness comes from
obeying vv11-12: My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his
correction: for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in
whom he delighteth. God doesn’t “ride our cases” because He’s a mean
micromanager. He simply wants us to be happy and knows how to get us there. V5,
“Lean not unto thine own understanding”
that you know best how to make yourself happy.
- Friday, 1/11/19 Romans
2:3, And thinkest thou this, O man, that
judgest them which do such things, and doest the same [things], that thou shalt
escape the judgment of God? Remember that He chastens EVERY child of His,
so each of us need to focus on cleaning up OUR act far, far more and forgetting
others’ totally. Acts 26:27-28, King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Agrippa was said to believe the Bible...yet that wasn’t enough. He had to
choose whether to put the keeping of his never dying soul solely into the hands
of the Saviour. There are people who read these daily Bible thoughts who like
them and agree with them...and yet, you’re on your way to a Christ-less
eternity: the lake of fire: Hell. Going to Heaven requires an act of the will:
a conscious, thought-full choice to quit relying on church, family, good deeds,
baptism or anything else to help get you into Heaven and instead, ONLY rely on
the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Many of you will say that you
only rely on Christ when, in reality, those other things “help” or are “an
insurance policy.” That means that you’re NOT trusting Christ completely or
only for salvation. Message me if you’re not 1000% sure that you’re on your way
to Heaven.
- Saturday, 1/12/19 Psalm
13:5, But I have trusted in thy mercy; my
heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. However dark and dreary your life is
right now, I’ve looked into the crystal ball: it DOES get better!! Infinitely
better, and it lasts for all eternity. Buck up: you can take it for one more
day!! Jesus is coming. Do
you think it possible for 3 words to totally brighten your day? What would they
be? “I love you”? Good, but how about these 3: “The Lord reigneth,” Psalm 93:1. Think on them...and the rain and
snow and gloom will fade into a tropical paradise. “The Lord reigneth”...at work, in your body’s health, with your
spouse, in the economy, concerning the weather, in the heart of THAT one
certain person. “The Lord reigneth”
in YOUR life, today. Take a winter vacation into the balmy Land of Faith and
Trust.
- Sunday, 1/13/19 Romans
6:1, What shall we say then? Shall we
continue in sin, that grace may abound? God wants us to rejoice and revel
in the glories of the holiness He develops in us rather than to glory in His
repeated (and needed) tolerance and forgiveness of our continued sin. Acts 26:29, And Paul said, I would to God, that not only
thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such
as I am, except these bonds. Could you make this statement? Is your belief
system (including the actions your beliefs prompt) worthy of emulation? How
about your life’s actions? Or, do you allow a disconnect between what you say
you believe and how you tolerate your actions? (All of us who believe the Bible
are hypocritical to some degree: we believe and preach perfection but don’t
live it.) But do you TOLERATE your inconsistencies or do they aggravate you? Do
you admit and confess and apologize for those inconsistencies both to God and
to the people who notice them?
- Monday, 1/14/19 Genesis
2:2, And on the seventh day God ended his
work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work
which he had made. Was God tired? No, but sometimes a leader will do what
he doesn’t need (or even want) to do because the followers need him to do it. Genesis 2:18, And the Lord God said, It is not good that
the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Plain
statements: men aren’t in a good spot when solitary, and wives were made to
fill in that which is lacking. However, there are many married men who are still
alone. Ma’am, are you truly WITH your husband? Are you with him physically,
sexually, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally? Men, if you feel alone, ask
yourself, “Have I driven her away?” As one speaking from (broken) experience,
please, please, please do maintenance on your marriage. Whether your spouse
does, YOU need to humble yourself and admit that you need help. Even the finest luxury cars need oil changes
and tune-ups. You and your spouse need down time and counseling and
rejuvenation. If you neglect your marriage it WILL fall apart...even if right
now, both of you are sincere dedicated Christians. Remember, you two are both
sinners... Quit being alone in the same house.
 |
----------------------------------------------------------------- Contact me at baptistcity@gmail.com for information on subscribing to the weekly email or daily text messages from Terry. |