Baptist City Blog

-Tuesday, 2/5/19  John 12:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. A brutally blunt self-eval verse: would you say you’re bringing forth “much fruit”? If not, DIE!!! 

                            1 John 1:8-10, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Notice something rather interesting: in vv 8 and 10, basically we’re talking to ourselves and admit sin in a general form. However, in talking to God, we are to speak particularly: we are to confess our sins (specific acts) and not just that we “have sinned” (general state.)  So, when talking to God: come clean...list your sins in all their naked, black rebellion. And, in talking/apologizing to others, do the same thing. Don’t simply say something like, “I’m sorry I hurt you,” but rather, “I’m sorry that my words hurt you. I spoke in anger, and I want you to forgive me.” It’s hard because it’s humbling...but follow God’s recipes.  Psalm 38:18, For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

 

- Wednesday, 2/6/19  Mark 7:21, For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  A reminder that all of us have all of this within us, so none of us are competent to look down on the rest of us. Each of us have plenty on our own plates to busy us.                          Mark 8:27-29, And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. Jesus here seemed to want to know what those closest to Him thought of Him. Question: do “outsiders” admire and compliment your kids or your spouse or your employees’ character, spirit, and/or performance more than you do? Are you more prone to notice the defects of those closest to you or their strengths? Yes, as being someone close to them, we are prone to notice the entire picture, but maybe, those “glaring” weaknesses in them are pointing more toward a defect in our own hearts than in theirs, or maybe, those faults are simply one black spot on an otherwise bright white background, and therefore, tends to get noticed a bit more. Maybe it’s time for an honest self-evaluation and a renewed commitment to compliments...

 

- Thursday, 2/7/19  Proverbs 4:2a, For I give you good doctrine... Pastor, SS teacher, parent, soul winner: do you know that you give “good doctrine” or do you just parrot what you were taught? The Bereans searched out and verified what they were taught and were called “noble.” Trust your teachers, and verify.                           Psalm 47:6-7, Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.  For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. One of the curses of all the technology at our fingertips is recorded music. Honestly, how often do you spontaneously sing, hum, or whistle to yourself? Challenge: go get a song book, sit in a room by yourself, and sing, OUT LOUD, hymns of praise to our great God.

 

- Friday, 2/8/19  Psalm 47:1, O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Most of our Christian warfare occurs in our minds. Remember: we’ve already won, so WITH THE VOICE OF TRIUMPH, shout and praise God.                         Philippians 4:6, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Worry is a conversation that you have with yourself about things that you cannot change. Prayer is a conversation with God about things He can change. Do less of the one and more of the other.

 

- Saturday, 2/9/19  Psalm 47:8, God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Honestly, do you feel comfortable around God and His things (Book, church, people, hymns, etc.)? Perhaps the reason is that He is inherently holy, and, to the degree we flee that, we’re uncomfortable.                             Psalm 119:25, My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. It’s an unpopular truth, but truth nonetheless: our innermost beings are “welded” to the dust. AT BEST, we’re the top layer of dirt on the floor. We need to quit acting like we’re above everyone else; like we don’t need A LOT of help; and that we have room to criticize. We’re dirt...lifeless, filthy, germ-infested dirt...that needs our God’s quickening touch a million times today. Humble yourself (in your mind), and seek His “divine bleach.”

 

- Sunday, 2/10/19  Psalm 119:26, I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Perhaps those you’d like to teach (in church, SS, home, work) would listen better if we’d first listen to them. Listen today, with both ears and both eyes and an interested face.                         Psalm 119:28, My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Another verse that shows Bible heroes were made of the same stuff as you and I. David here fought depression. Read your Bible, not to admire the untouchable greatness of David or Moses or Paul or Abraham or David, but to learn to deal with real life problems the way they dealt with the same problems in their lives. (Or, see how they dealt with those problems in a wrong way and learn from that too.) Ours is a Textbook to teach us how to live TODAY, not a history book to relate the past or a eulogy to admire. Read, digest, learn, and incorporate.

 

- Monday, 2/11/19  Proverbs 6:27-28, Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? You may be exceptional, but you’ll not be the exception to the rule. Quit your sin before you get burned.                                  Proverbs 6:5, Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. The context deals with loaning money to a friend (we’re not to do so: we’re to give instead.) But, the commandment is to be very afraid of the GREAT potential of placing the unrepaid debt above the friendship: THAT is the hunter referred to here. Friendship is a incomparable treasure: don’t forfeit it for a few dollars.