- Tuesday, 10/27/20 Luke 10:41, And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful... She was fretting over “many things,” not just
preparing food for over a dozen men. Do you have a lot on your mind? One thing is needful...don’t neglect it. Luke 6:41, And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Brutal) Honesty time: at whose faults do we look at and concentrate on more: our own or another’s? Whose faults tick us off the most? Whose faults are we trying hardest to correct: our own or another’s? “What’re you looking at? Huh?”
- Wednesday, 10/28/20 Luke 6:47, Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like... Three conditions to be met to be a wise person, one building his house upon a rock: coming to Christ; hearing Him; and putting into practice. Breaking one link breaks a chain... I’ve got bad news and good news. Psalm 49:15, But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. We WILL die, which, for most us, will involve physical deterioration, sickness and extended pain. But, death is not the end: He’s guaranteed us a MUCH better future.
- Thursday, 10/29/20 Psalm 49:1-2, Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: both low and high, rich and poor, together. We are to speak wisdom...to any and all...the same message for all. That’s ALL we can do: to listen or not is their choice. Proverbs 26:20, Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Notice that strife is already occurring, so evidently, one person confronted or tried to reason with the other and failed. However, God says that if the one would simply shut their mouth and let it go, the strife will die. Really, is your grudge, your hurt feelings worth it? Enough already, forgive as you’ve been forgiven. Bury the hatchet. Reconcile.
- Friday, 10/30/20 Psalm 119:57, Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. Maybe somewhat of a vaccination from falling is to frequently remind ourselves, remind the Lord, and remind others of our decisions. So, what've you promised to do? Psalm 50:5, Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. Notice who are considered “saints” by God: not those who are extraordinarily good...no. Those that have a covenant by sacrifice. NO ONE gets to Heaven because of who they are, the good they’ve done, or what religious center they attended. Since all of us are sinners, we are disqualified from Heaven. The ONLY way to Heaven is by a blood sacrifice for sin. Either somehow I pay the eternal penalty of sin (which means eternal hellfire) or someone who doesn’t owe that penalty buys me a ticket. Jesus did exactly that. His death, burial, and resurrection paid the fare for all of us...but most will still go to Hell. We must simply, but totally rely on His works and not our own to get to Heaven. On what are you trusting to get into Heaven? Message me if you’re even the slightest bit unsure of where you’ll be 5 seconds after your heart stops.
- Saturday, 10/31/20 Psalm 50:7, Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. All of us need to listen better...to God and to others. And, being human, the topic oft times will be on our failures...which is when we should listen BEST. Psalm 119:67, Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. To us, picking troubles over holiness is a negative no-brainer, which is why we don’t do it. To God, it’s a no-brainer to NOT pick holiness at the slight expense of some troubles...but who has the bigger brain? Who’s IQ is higher? We all know the answer, but we fight and rebel at the afflictions.
- Sunday, 11/1/20 Psalm 51:9, Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Don’t stop with confessing sins; confess the iniquities too. Again, iniquities are the permission we give ourselves to sin; it’s determining what’s right for us. Luke 8:1, And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the GLAD tidings of the kingdom of God. Is your religion a happy one? God is a happy God; He’s not all solemn and somber voiced. Is your church joyful; are the services enjoyable or do people go “cuz I HAVE to”? Do the people WANT to be in church and WANT to be out serving God? If not, either your doctrine is wrong or your implementation of that doctrine is.
- Monday, 11/2/20 Proverbs 29:1, He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. The verse is pretty plain: how're you and authority? Are you down to your last strike? Humble yourself; admit any defiant arrogance...there may still be time. Sin deceives and hardens. Pride makes us want to hide our sin. Psalm 51:3, For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Decent Christians come clean with God when confronted. Better ones see their own shortcomings. Good Christians seek out their faults and want holiness. (Maybe the best Christians do that with others. Do you listen when another criticizes you, or do you automatically and vehemently defend yourself? Do you ever ask another where you need to improve?
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