- Tuesday, 9/17/19
Matthew 20:10, But when the first
came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise
received every man a penny. Their supposing caused their complaining. I’m
all for thinking and analyzing, but listen first, CAREFULLY. Quit inferring
things that go against what was clearly said.
Do you TRULY want to be blessed of God? (Day 1) He gives us a clear recipe. Psalm 15:1-2, Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. “Walketh uprightly”: “lives, goes about innocently, with integrity” Consistency is perhaps the best description. “Worketh righteousness”: “makes, practices, attempts to be right and just.” “Speaketh the truth in his heart”. Honest, consistent. Of course, to speak the truth, this one must know the truth, so to be blessed involves majoring on what God says; being one who digs deep and often into his Bible.
- Wednesday, 9/18/19 Titus 1:13b, Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound (healthy) in the faith. Notice the word, “that.” Being healthy spiritually will mean that, at least at times, we’ll need and have to take sharp rebukes. Do you? Have you? (Day 2) How to be truly bless-able of God: Psalm 15:1, 3, Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. “Backbiteth”: to slander, but even more, to LOOK for dirt on another. (This would include hearing bad truth that is none of our concern.) “doeth evil”: inflicting pain or distress. Living carelessly, “I hurt him? Who cares?” “Taketh up a reproach”: perpetuating the stigma of a person; repeating and reminding them of their past failures; not letting the person grow past their sinful history.
- Thursday, 9/19/19 Psalm 16:1, Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. We may pray like this and mean we want God to direct our big picture. He will, but He’ll do so via a thousand directives to our little picture. Are we letting God direct us on the minutiae of our lives? Dealing with our hurts? Our goals, plans, and dreams? Analyze your particular situation: how could you remind yourself to yield more often and on a much smaller level? (Day 3) “The One God likes to Hang Around” Psalm 15:1, 4, Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. “Vile person”: A disgusting, loathsome person; one who has proven to be spiritually worthless. This would be the out-n-out rebel who doesn’t care that they’re doing wrongly and corrupting others; a spiritual cancer attempting to infect any/all in their path. “Contemned”: disdain; trample underfoot. These are akin to “don’t cast your pearls before swine.” “From such, turn away.” “...heretick after the first and second admonition reject.” “Honoureth...Lord”: give weight to; put stock in; trust the one who has a right relationship with God. “...sweareth...changeth not”: one who is exceedingly scrupulous about keeping his word, even if doing so hurts himself.
- Friday, 9/20/19 Psalm 94:14 follows a verse referring to being chastened, For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. If you’re going through the loneliness of Daddy getting after you, memorize this verse. You’re still loved; you’re still a valued child. (Day 4) “How To Be God’s Pet” Psalm 15:1,5, Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. “...putteth...money to usury”: Usury is simply interest, though oftentimes, excessive, gouging interest, like we’d pay 19% on a credit card. “Taketh reward” refers to accepting a bribe. All in all, this verse describes one who places making a personal profit above caring for people. It’s not wrong to charge interest, but to gouge an “innocent” one, the one who is blameless, harmless is wrong. This is akin to “the love of money” being the root of all evil. Is your bank balance always paramount in your mind? “He that doeth...moved.” The thought here is of stability.
- Saturday, 9/21/19 Matthew 24:12, And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. “Love” here is “agape” which only saved people may show. So, we all must beware of allowing our love to cool because we enter into His role of Lawmaker as opposed to being a simple servant. We have no right to determine what’s right: it’s unequal - in-equity. We are just to obey. Ever been misunderstood and been frustrated by it? Of course, we always need to check first if to see if we indeed misspoke and if our words could have been construed in a way contrary to our intent, but read this: Titus 1:15, Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. We may have misspoken, OR, the fault may lie in the heart of our hearers.
- Sunday, 9/22/19 Matthew 26:50b, And Jesus said unto [Judas], Friend, wherefore art thou come? A friend is anyone who furthers the will of God in our lives, even if it hurts us to do it, even if they don’t give 2 cents about the will of God. So, is there anyone that you thought was your enemy, but, in reality, could really be your friend? John 8:5, Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? Their attempted trickery was to prompt Jesus to give a legal ruling based on the Law when the civil laws were not in effect at the time. The nation was ruled by Rome, and their legal system was the law of the land. Likewise, in our day, we’re not under the Old Testament Civil or Ceremonial law because our Constitution is the ultimate legal authority, and because Christ fulfilled the ceremonial requirements.
- Monday, 9/23/19 Revelation 2:9, I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)... A reminder that our perception and classification of something may be totally different from God’s. In His eyes, are you rich or poor in the things that He values? Does He know our “wealth, (but thou art poor)”? Exodus 8:9-10a, And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? And he said, To morrow. “When do you want to be free from the complications due to your sin?” “Tomorrow...give me one more night with the frogs.” How stupid could a world leader be??? But, we are VERY often just as stupid. Do you want to be holy? When?
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