Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 1/18/15  Pro 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Which highway are you on?  From the Righteous Highway, there’s a dangerous fall to the sides...maybe put up some guardrails to keep you from disaster??             John 15:5b ...for without me ye can do nothing. In the big picture, we realize He keeps our heart beating and so forth, and without Him, we’d be dead. However, I think the verse properly means that without Christ, we “can do nothing properly” or “the way He intended for it to be done.” So, did you drive to work yesterday without Christ? Did you cook dinner without Him? Do your homework? Watch TV? Discipline your kids? Romance your spouse? Read the Bible? Talk to the Father? Try adding the Saviour to any and everything.

Monday, 1/19/15  Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division. Did it ever occur to you that God may have different purposes/goals than you do for your life? Others’ lives? A different goal would probably dictate different means to get there.             Mark 6:18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. John preached Old Testament laws to a Roman pagan and rebuke him for violating them. God’s moral laws are for any person of any race or religion of any time era. Not so for God’s civil and ceremonial laws.

Tuesday, 1/20/15  Ps 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications... What was David praying for? V3: Draw me not away with the wicked... Separation and personal holiness...not stuff, or healing (though those’re not bad topics.) For what do you pray most often?               Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. It’s easier to call names and make stupid statements than it is to consider, investigate, repent, and apologize (or, even to be civil and mannerly.) Most people around you will take that easy road...don’t you be like them.

Wednesday, 1/21/15  Pro 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord. Remember that all of us are born fools (Pro 22:15), so this tendency won’t go away. Never trust yourself: your heart’s chief characteristic is that it’s a liar. Don’t let yourself go, but don’t be shocked when you do fail Him.           Ezek 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness... God-given attributes and achievements corrupted Lucifer. Beware of your beauty and brains (you had nothing to do with those) and your accomplishments: give God the glory. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks QB, got emotional after their victory Sunday. The first words I heard come out of his mouth to Erin Andrews as he was crying on national TV: “God is so good all the time, Man!! Every time!  ...God’s prepared me for these situations. God’s prepared this team.” (Those quotes the media aren’t reporting....)

Thursday, 1/22/15  Here’s a tough one: God may send terrible events to you...and you are not the focus of them at all.  John 11:14-15 ...Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye my believe... Lazarus got sick and suffered several days, died, his sisters cried, they felt abandoned by their Lord...all for the purpose of helping the 12. I hope the 12 didn’t waste this family’s sufferings.          Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders... Always keep in mind that “how things have always been done” or “that’s the best way” or “this is how Bro. So-n-so did it” are opinions. Maybe new technology or capabilities makes the former “best way” now “2^nd best.” Discern between preferences and commandments; between personal prejudices and desires compared to clear Scripture or reasonable, logical application of Scripture.               Luke 20:23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Be wary of the craftiness of others. Be very cautious as to whom you allow you to instruct you on spiritual matters.  All who teach are not biblical; all who preach are not sincere; all with a ministry aren’t worthy of an audience. Those whom you are allowing to teach you: Are they soul winners? Do they attend a local New Testament church? Promote the King James Bible as perfect and inerrant? Do they practice separation from the world? Do they strive for personal holiness? Satan still has his emissaries out there...be on the lookout for smooth talking devils.

Friday, 1/23/15  Obad 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rocks... Pride because of exterior blessings. If you’re smart, pretty, talented, educated, wealthy, got some wisdom or common sense...BEWARE!!               Pro 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord. 20:10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord. 20:23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord. I get the idea that the Lord wants extreme integrity at work.

Saturday, 1/24/15  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. Would you rather be a kernel of wheat in a bag in the Master’s barn, or a kernel in His field: alone, cold, dying, dead?              John 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. Would you let a doctor put dirt + spit on your eyes? (Imagine the TV commentaries on this!) (Or. Mark 8:23: Jesus spit in his face. In any culture, that is offensive.) God might choose unsavory means to accomplish what you’re asking Him. Are you willing to let Him choose not just WHAT to do, but HOW to do it?

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Thank God we can come confidently, without fear, through our High Priest Who sits at the right hand of our God interceding for us.

Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Nothing can change a man like this, but the Holy Spirit of God comes into a sinner at salvation.

Ps 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law. I pray that I will always be correctable and teachable. I feel sorry for those who aren’t.

1 Sam 15:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. Jealousy and envy will eat the best of men alive if it is not controlled and stopped at its first sign.

Pro 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold, therefore shall beg in harvest, and find nothing. Laziness has become an accepted way of life in America and the next thing we know it’ll be called a disease. No, it’s sin and those who won’t work should starve.

Ps 97:10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil. To the degree that we love the Lord, we will hate and avoid evil.

Ps 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. We have more to praise God for and more to sing about than all the rest of the world. If eternal salvation is all we have, that’s more than we deserve!