Baptist City Blog

- Tuesday, 5/22/18  Psalm 38:4, For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. Unconfessed, unforsaken sin is TOO heavy for us to care, and it’ll become a physical detriment. Enough already!! Humble yourself and get right with the Lord and with people.                         Mark 6:34, And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. Keep in mind that these people didn’t have a heart for His teachings or His emphasis: they were following Him because they wanted a free ride from His miracles. Application: people don’t have to have the right motives/actions for you and I to have compassion upon them. Have compassion because you’re becoming like Christ.

 

- Wednesday, 5/23/18  Dad said, “Where’s your head, boy?”  So...where IS your head?  Romans 8:5-6, For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. If your head is on straight, there’s life and peace ahead...maybe not tomorrow, but ahead.                               We all know and love Romans 8:28 and its talk about all things working together for good. But v28 is followed by Romans 8:29:  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Put them together and we get the truth that He knows exactly how to put together the million Legos of your life to build EXACTLY what He wants. So...let the Master craft His masterpiece...quit fighting Him.

 

- Thursday, 5/24/18  Life and THEN death; or death and THEN life. Which order do you prefer? Read this verse carefully:  Romans 8:13, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Will you live today? or die today? Your choice.                           Mark 9:1, And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. Jesus said this and then was transfigured before them, and Moses and Elijah were seen speaking with Him. The kingdom is not a place or a government: it is unhindered fellowship with Christ in sinless bodies. Therefore, we can have (close to) the kingdom whenever we want to. Are you in?

 

- Friday, 5/25/18  John 13:18, I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. It’s interesting that He said that Judas lifted up his HEEL, and not his HAND. That means Judas stomped on Him when He was down. Jesus understands betrayal; yes, but abusive, persistent abuse as well.                               Colossians 3:5, Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.  Romans 8:13, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  1 Corinthians 15:31, I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  Matthew 16:24, Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. I believe we somehow think that when we get “to be a good Christians” that living for others doing rightly and dying to our selfish desires and humbling ourselves will eventually become second nature. NNNOOOOO!!!! We will ALWAYS be a split being: a new man and an old man in the same body...constantly at war with each other and with diametrically opposite wishes. And, the old man will NEVER want to die...so he’ll struggle and fight to survive to the very end. Plus, we’ll always wrestly against the unseen powers. So, it’ll NEVER be easy to be a Christian...so go do something tough today...and tomorrow...and until you drop the flesh and rise with just your new man.

 

- Saturday, 5/26/18  Psalm 40:1, I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. We’ve heard it 1000x; doctrinally, we believe it; we know God is faithful and good and active. The question is: Will we wait patiently UNTIL He says the timing is right? When the screws are crushing OUR thumbs?                                    Exodus 32:1, And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods... Hmmm!!! I guess impatience amongst God’s people is not a new trend. They had to fight it, and so do we. God’s work; God’s plans; God’s timing...we can’t make Him hurry; all we can do is wait or quit. That’s the choice for today...and tomorrow...and the next day.

 

- Sunday, 5/27/18  Psalm 42:2, My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? In the midst of problems, it’s very easy to focus on and pray for deliverance. But Christianity is a relationship. If we’d want God like we want deliverance, maybe He wouldn’t send so many problems. How's your relationship?                           Psalm 116:2, Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. If you’re like me, you’ve made some resolutions like this one. Remember several years ago, after that big answer to prayer when you said, “I’ll never (miss church)(doubt You again)(stop this new prayer time)(quit my SS class)(FILL IN THE BLANK.) Remember? How’s that promise going? Do you need to conduct some repentance and rededication to the Lord? (Ouch)

 

- Monday, 5/28/18  Leviticus 5:15, If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his trespass... We’ve heard in in a legal context, but here it is in Scripture: ignorance of the law is no excuse.                        Proverbs 24:16-17, For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.  Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.  ¹The just man falls; the enemy (presumably a wicked person) falls.  ²It would be natural to feel some positive feelings to know your enemy is hurting. (God only commands us not to do what we are wont to do. You’re likely to feel it; I’m likely to feel it.)  ³Whether good or bad, falls hurt, and God cares about our hurts. So, to be like Him, we must care about people in general...even if that person hates us. It’s called “compassion.”  ⁴If they truly are a “bad person,” their sinful heart/condition/attitude may be a hindrance to their rising up again; they may need help or encouragement to get back up...so you and I are to help our enemies.