- Tuesday, 10/1/19 Proverbs 20:4, The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. Conditions will seldom be ideal for any venture...but we WILL live with the consequences of our choices even when those conditions were poor.
Daniel 12:13, But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. The last words, the last verse said to Daniel are good for us too. Events will happen that we cannot control, but we are to do what we can, stay faithful, and we will be glad when we see the King.
- Wednesday, 10/2/19 Psalm 31:10, For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. The “Health and Wealth Gospel” is fallacious: we all are dying, but sin DOES have an adverse effect on our bodies. Maybe we don’t need more oils or vitamins, but more holiness. Purity and righteousness WILL age well. Titus 2:14, [Jesus Christ] gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from ALL iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Just a reminder that there is NEVER an acceptable level of sin in our lives. We’re either getting closer to God, on purpose, or are either drifting away or running away. What are you tolerating? What habit or practice would you hide from your spiritual leaders? He wants ALL iniquity flushed out and replaced with holy good works.
- Thursday, 10/3/19 Titus 2:12b, ...we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Hebrews 10:25c, ...and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Neither you nor I are holy enough, surrendered enough, committed to church enough, forgiving enough, praise-full enough, hard working enough, apologetic enough, humble enough. Get to it...TODAY. What would He have you work on now? 1 Thessalonians 4:1, Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. God loves us as we are, but does NOT want us to stay as we are. Are you closer to God and living more holy than a year ago? Here’s a deep question: are you fooling yourself by taking a short step toward Him when He’s been prodding you to take a big step? Are you “settling” or “striving”? Are you “OK” or are you “abounding”?
- Friday, 10/4/19 Proverbs 28:5b, They that seek the Lord understand all things. He said, “Seek the Lord” not necessarily the Bible or the things of God. Do you seek God? His will? His holiness? His character? Or, are you content with simply being considered religious and moral? Are you having it rough and you don’t know why? Unexplained problems? John 15:2, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. In which half of the verse might you be? (BTW, the pain to the branch is the same in both halves.)
- Saturday, 10/5/19 Psalm 107:1b, His mercy endureth for ever. This phrase is used 41x in our Bibles: He must want us to remember it. Why do we keep bringing up sins that His mercy has covered? Why do we keep thinking He’s mad at us for our past? Why do we listen to the Devil and stop serving Him? Is life exceedingly frustrating to you right now? Lots of problems? You think you’re doing your best and seem to be alone on an island and the whole universe is against you? Psalm 107:12, Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 107:26b-27, ...their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Both of these verses (and also v4-5, 17-18) are followed by the same verse: Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. Don’t overlook the obvious: God may be trying to get your attention. For what? That’s between you and Him: for sin to be confessed and forsaken; for self-will to be abandoned; for dreams and goals to be submitted to His agenda...don’t waste your troubles. God’s problems have a purpose: figure it out for you.
- Sunday, 10/6/19 Psalm 107:2, Let the redeemed of the Lord say so... What are we to say? That God is good and that His mercy endureth for ever. Seriously, each of us must ask ourselves, “When was the last time I said to someone that God is good or that His mercy never fails”? (Ouch!!!) Proverbs 1:1, The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. Some people earn their position; some buy it; some are born into it. However a leader gets there, oftentimes, simply by being in a position of authority, he/she learns some things that are worthwhile. We must be desirous to learn, humble enough to admit we don’t know, tactful enough to draw their wisdom out, and discerning enough to know what is valuable. Do you probe your boss’s head? your pastor’s, your parent’s?
- Monday, 10/7/19 Be honest: what is your level of Christianity? How obedient/godly are you? Isaiah 6:5, Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. The closer we get to Christ, the less impressed we are with ourselves. Psalm 37:4, Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. A basic Bible fact: most of God’s promises are conditional: “If you will...then I will.” I think much of our disillusionment with Him is because we forget this. We treat Him like a genie we found rather than a Father interested in a relationship and training His children.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Contact me at baptistcity@gmail.com for information on subscribing to the weekly email or daily text messages from Terry.