Baptist City Blog

- Tuesday, 6/5/19  Psalm 36:9, For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. The key to getting more leading from God is to obey what He’s already said. If He’s not talking, it’s probably cuz we’re not obeying. Self eval time: are communications clear between you and God?                           

Psalm 39:1b, I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. It’s always good to practice self-control, but realize there are some times when we might slip where the damage caused is greater. If we offend an unsaved person, they may forever be lost. “Those church people are ALL hypocrites!! There’s this guy at work...he’s as bad as me. Why should I listen to him??” Remember, those around you have probably noticed that there’s something different about you; they remember that time that you did mention the Lord...so, like it or not, you’re branded. Act in such a way as to bring glory and honor to the Saviour, and to bring sinners to Him.

- Wednesday, 6/6/19  1 Kings 11:2, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. Beware of a new relationship (job, friend, hobby) affecting older relationships.                          1 Kings 11:4, For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.  Several thoughts for middle and aged saints.  ¹Perhaps as we age, our spirit becomes less resilient and resistant to “disease” just like our bodies.  ²We will never enter a “safe zone” spiritually. There will NEVER be a time to let down our guard.  ³Perhaps as we get older we get complacent, overconfident in our spiritual condition. “I beat that sin 30 years ago.” Then, it can sneak back up and bite us.  ⁴Perhaps we compromise incrementally over the years until we break in our senior years: much like the bone deterioration of osteoporosis is gradual until a hip is broken in a “minor” fall.

- Thursday, 6/7/19  Revelation 12:10b, ...the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. To accuse a Christian truly or falsely is to act like a demon. To accuse a brother is to choose to play for a team that has already lost. Pray instead of criticizing.                               Point blank question: what in the world are you looking at?  Luke 6:42, Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. All of us, including you and including me, have 2x4s to deal with; we don’t have the wisdom nor the skill to deal with another’s sliver.

- Friday, 6/8/19  Psalm 112:1, Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth GREATLY in his commandments. One of our constant adversaries is complacency. We might be obedient...but are we “DELIGHTFULLY” obedient? We’ve got room to grow and deepen our relationship with Him and His word.                           “I just don’t know how much more I can take!! Everything’s going wrong right now!!”  Psalm 112:4, Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.  In your current darkness, look for light.  ¹He’s gracious:  realize that however bad it is, it could be worse. So, that means, that God is controlling the situation. Satan would love to bury you; that you’re “only” struggling shows that God is restraining the forces working against you.  ²He’s full of compassion: He’s aware of His child. If the trial is from Him, He has a good reason for it. If the trial is from Satan, He governs him too. If the trial is due to your weak flesh, He remembers having the same weak flesh and is compassionate.  ³He’s righteous: In 100 years, it’ll all make sense and we’ll see how our way was the best way. Even the best roads have an occasional pothole.

- Saturday, 6/9/19  Proverbs 3:1, My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments. If God has to put this admonition in for even  he most mature saints, perhaps we should be more patient with our kids. Gently remind, and realize their flesh doesn’t want to obey rules any more than ours does. Compassion.                           All we can do is what we can do, but we are to do what we can do.  Proverbs 3:27, Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. So, can you speak gently? Do it. Can you give some money? Do it. Can you forgive? Do it. Can you shut your mouth and stop criticizing? Do it. Can you work a little more, give a little more, wait a little more? Do it.

- Sunday, 6/10/19  Proverbs 3:28, Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. God said it; Grandma said it: perhaps we should do it finally: don’t put off until tomorrow what we should do today. So, what should you do today? Ask the Holy Spirit.                           In 1 Samuel 10, God gave Saul a different heart. We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2) and are to let His mind be in us (Philippians 2). Perhaps today, before SS and church, pray for an “ear transplant.”  Luke 7:8b, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (I’ve heard this is the most repeated commandment in the New Testament.) Try it.

- Monday, 6/11/19  Ezra 7:25, And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand... King Artaxerxes knew 2 things about Ezra: that the Bible had/was the wisdom of God, and that it would be in Ezra’s hand. What does your boss KNOW about you?                            We all have several kinds of insurance (fire, auto, life, health, etc.) Most of don’t have, or would like more, Trouble Insurance. Never heard of it? Psalm 41:1, Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Consistent proper thoughts and actions toward the poor (weaker) are the premiums.