- Tuesday, 12/7/21 Psalm 145:2, Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. “Oh, Lord! Please help me to
be getting closer to being this consistent in all aspects of Christianity. Help be to be an obvious believer ‘every day’ and ‘for ever and ever.’” Psalm 143:4, Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. Since all of us will get overwhelmed at times, what are we to do? V5-11 tells us: v5 requires a purposeful clearing of the mind from the negative and a determined focus on the Lord. V6, the lifting of hands is indicative of a surrender to the Lord. V7 talks of praying. And V8 speaks of a desire to obey, a bending of our will to His. God’s Bible is a recipe Book for successful living.
- Wednesday, 12/8/21 John 21:21, Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? We have no control over what other do or do not do. All we can do is what we are supposed to do. Most of us have PLENTY to care for in our own sandbox, (though if you have any suggestions for me, please share them.) All of Psalm 2 is written from a “big picture” perspective. David has stepped back and is looking at the forest instead of the trees. V1, Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? He goes on to state that God is totally in control and the unsaved will be totally vanquished. Two thoughts: as we fight through the underbrush and pull our little wagon around another tree blocking our way, we need to remind ourselves of that same big picture: we’re on the winning side. Secondly, do we ever feel sorry for the lost people who, from one viewpoint, cause us such grief and heartache, but who, from another perspective, are totally clueless and in desperate need of loving patient guidance from God’s people? (Remember how obstinate YOU were before coming to Christ? They need what you needed: love, a kind word, gentle, frequent reminders. They need Jesus; you and I are supposed to be little Jesus’ in 2021.)
- Thursday, 12/9/21 Are feeling a little “off” spiritually? Not sure as to why? Maybe you’re a bit disheveled. John 15:3, Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Maybe it’s time for a “red reset button” moment? If I can help you with your Bible life with schedules or advice/helps, I’d be honored. Psalm 2:11, Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. In back of all our interactions with God is to be fear. Yes, the “fear of the Lord” involves respect, honor, love, etc., but it also includes outright FEAR. It’s like electricity: we don’t tremble when we switch on a light, but we are very careful when changing a breaker. We respect it because we know it could hurt us. Yes, God loves us, but He is VERY powerful and is fearsome if He is crossed.
- Friday, 12/10/21 Psalm 44:1, We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. Very simply, are you content to live your life without seeing God’s miraculous interventions? When was the last time you knew He answered YOU? If it’s been too long, what are you changing? Repenting of? Psalm 44:5, Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. “We.” What team are you a member of? (SS class, church, bus route, WMS, soul winning group, or even secular teams). Are you a member in good standing? Are you actively helping the group or are you a spectator on the bench? What more COULD you do? Get out of your comfort zone and quit coasting. “So much more as ye see the day approaching.”
- Saturday, 12/11/21 Proverbs 6:1-2, My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Whether it be a friend or a stranger: the one to whom we give our word shouldn’t affect how diligent we are about keeping our word. Matthew 15:2-3, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? The scribes and Pharisees did what we often do. (Yes, you and I are FAR more like them then we’d ever want to admit.) Their big problem? They majored on minor things. Basically, what they thought and believed and taught were right, but they overlooked far more important issues. We do the same. We elevate petty grievances above loving our neighbor. We harbor bitterness and hurt feelings instead of forgiving. We value a stupid football game over church way too often. We’d rather sleep a bit more than walk with the King of kings. Examine your life with the Holy Spirit and see if some points of emphasis need to be adjusted.
- Sunday, 12/12/21 Proverbs 6:6, Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise... “To consider” would mandate our slowing down, putting down our phones, and thinking. Most of us are very out of practice at doing any of those three. But, this is a COMMAND. Matthew 15:3-5, But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me... Take note that Christ was scolding, not children, but grown men, for not honoring their parents. The command to obey our parents lasts until we are an adult: paying our own bills, making our own life’s decisions, functioning as a full member of society. The command to honor mom and dad has no expiration date. So, how’re things with your mom and dad? “Well...THEY did thus-n-so...” God didn’t write an exception clause into the commandment.
- Monday, 12/13/21 Psalm 46:8, Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. Obeying this verse to review God’s past works allows us to also obey v10, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. What’s God done for you lately? Proverbs 8:3, [Wisdom] crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Wisdom will be where you are today, wanting to guide and advise you. Will you pick up this most desirable godly companion? (See vv 32-35 for some of what she brings with her.)
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