- Tuesday, 11/13/18 Psalm
4:1c, Have mercy upon me, and hear my
prayer. Theologically we know that we don’t deserve the Almighty to hear
and answer us, that any answer is solely because of mercy, yet we still get
very bent out of shape when He doesn’t jump to attention when we talk. Shame on
us...on me. Lord, I need some mercy...
Psalm 5:9, For there is no faithfulness in mouth [of my enemies]; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. It’s easy to see and speak of our enemy’s faults. Very easy...and very seductive and very convenient. We need to consider: how’s OUR level of faithfulness? How put is OUR inward parts? How stinky and corrupt is MY throat? How insincere is MY tongue. “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer...”
- Wednesday, 11/14/18 Do you find yourself in the valley today? Psalm 47:1, O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. If circumstances don’t motivate you to do these 2 actions, allow character and obedience. Yes!! Clap and shout...by faith. Betcha you’ll feel better... Luke 23:39, And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. Though unsaved, this man can teach you and I a valuable lesson. In times of great despair, we, you, me, any human, can, because of the stress, presume to tell God how God should act. We won’t say these words, but we often live along these lines: “If I were in charge, this isn’t how I would act!!” Let God be God. Trust His wisdom. Rest in His love. Claim His strength. Obey His commands. I’m sorry, Lord. (Oh, and this is for you and me: we should expect nothing but the best from ourselves. From others...expect a lot less, and give them a pass.)
- Thursday, 11/15/18 Psalm 6:1, O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. If David (& we) don’t want God to get after us in anger, perhaps we shouldn’t allow the anger to arise when dealing with our spouse, kids, pupils, or employees. Hebrews 11:13a, These all died in faith... To die in faith, we must, 1Have faith. 2Ignore, or at least deal with, the doubts that are an inherent aspect of faith. 3Persevere in faith: even when it seems to be unrewarded. The next line of the verse says, “not having received the promises.” 4Continue having and living the faith until it becomes sight. Are you feeding your faith? We all tend to be gluttonous this time of year. Maybe, between now and the Super Bowl, let’s gorge ourselves on the Bible?
- Friday, 11/16/18 Luke 6:40, The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. Like the Master: in actions given, and rejection received...and right responses given out again. Ouch... (Growth alert!!) Psalm 54:4, Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. Grammatically, a colon signifies a restatement of what was just said; an enlargement or clarification of the topic. Reread the verse. We all have asked for God to help us, and, at times, felt He didn’t come through. However, this verse says that the Lord uses others to uphold our soul. When problems crowd around you, when the storms of life pour down cold rain and wind...do you get closer to spiritual people, or farther away? Your pastor, SS teacher, spouse...huddle as close as the problems are; keep them on speed dial. And, be there when another is going through it. Have you called that one that is going through a divorce? A financial reversal? Job loss? The one who’s been missing church? (God let you notice their absence...for a reason.)
- Saturday, 11/17/18 Proverbs 12:15, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. Self-confidence is fine, but are you humble enough to listen to counsel that, at its foundation, is telling you that you’re wrong? Sinful? Proud? Self-serving, at least in one area? Jeremiah 21:4-5, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. Do you REALLY want to get into a war of the wills with the Almighty?? There’s a term for that, and it starts with an “F,” ends with an “L,” and is spOOky in the middle.
- Sunday, 11/18/18 John 7:24, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Here, we’re not to judge with eye information; and since our heart is “desperately wicked,” we can’t judge with our hearts. What’s left? A Spirit led, submissive spirit. Are you asking for His fullness often? Hebrews 2:1, Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Most of us, if we get out of our Christian race won’t do so because of a massive train wreck...but because of a slip...a little compromise here and a little tolerated sin there... That’s why we must anchor ourselves to the unchanging Word of God, and to a church/pastor who faithfully proclaims It. Do you believe and do as you did 2-3-5 years ago? Quit slipping before you DO become a train wreck.
- Monday, 11/19/18 Hebrews 1:1, God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets... God speaks in His own time and in His own way. It is incumbent upon us to always be paying attention. If you snooze, you lose. Hebrews 2:10, For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. If Jesus had to have suffering to put the finishing touches on Him, you and I will too. This is an oft repeated theme in the Bible: we WILL have hard times; it IS for a reason; since we HAVE to go through it, the matter boils down to whether we’ll gripe or praise while in the storm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Contact me at baptistcity@gmail.com for information on subscribing to the weekly email or daily text messages from Terry.