TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 28, 2011
HOLY
DEFINITION:
Sacred; characteristic of God; spiritually pure; devoted to the service of God; religious; devout.
SCRIPTURE:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His Holy Hill; for the Lord our God is holy. Psalm 99:9
It is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:16
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
When people hear about something out of the ordinary, we often hear them say, “Holy smoke,” or “Holy moley,” or “Holy mackerel” to indicate that they are surprised to hear it. We also have often heard the term, “holy terror” to describe an out of control child. When these expressions are used there is really nothing “holy” about what is being referred to as “holy.”
Only God is truly holy. God is perfect in goodness and righteousness and without sin. He alone is worthy of our worship and devotion. As the psalmist says, we exalt the Lord our God and worship Him because He is our God and He is holy. In reality the word “holy” should only be used to refer to God Himself and His Holy Word and to those things that relate to God.
The word “HOLY” also means to be dedicated or set apart. When applying the word “HOLY” to places, persons or things it means being set apart for the service of God and thus sacred and removed from the realm of ordinary. In the Old Testament everything associated with worship is set apart in this manner, and thus is considered sacred or “holy.” “HOLY” is God’s realm and God is to be honored supremely so everything associated with “HOLY” was to be treated with the utmost of respect and care.
We no longer, since the death and resurrection of Jesus, worship God with the Old Testament rituals. The fact that these Old Testament rituals were regarded as “HOLY” because of their association with God should be a healthy reminder to us today of the holiness of God and that we must show Him our utmost respect.
Today we as believers who are in Christ are called to His royal priesthood and serve as His priests to carry on His ministry. In the verse above from I Peter we are reminded to be “HOLY” in all of our words and deeds because God is “HOLY.”
So how do we who are unholy become holy? The believer in Jesus Christ becomes holy by being obedient to all of God’s commandments and following Christ’s example. As believers it is necessary to separate ourselves from the evil ways of the world. We should “stand out in the crowd’ because our life exemplifies Christ-like qualities. As believers we are set apart from this world and should be totally dedicated to serving our “HOLY” God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Help me to be aware daily that I serve a “HOLY” God. Keep me faithful so that I set myself apart from the things of this world so that I can serve You in all that I do. Help me to be obedient to Your commandments and to live my life according to Christ’s example.
January 30, 2011
Innocence: January 27, 2011
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 27, 2011
INNOCENCE
DEFINITION:
Free from moral wrong; without sin; without evil intent or motive.
SCRIPTURE:
“How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Genesis 39:9
For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent and separated from the sinners and the undefiled, exalted above the heavens. Hebrews 7:26.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In the first eleven verses of Genesis 37 we read about Joseph’s life as a young boy. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son and his brothers resented him for it. The older brothers were off attending their father’s flock and Jacob would send Joseph to check on them. Unfortunately, Joseph found them doing bad things and had to give his father a bad report. This added to the brother’s resentment of Joseph. Joseph was innocent. He was trying to do right for his father.
Joseph again innocently further provoked his brothers hostility when he told his family about his God-given dreams which portrayed that he would rule over them. Again Joseph told them innocently and he had no evil motive or intent.
Although Joseph had done no wrong his brothers plotted to kill Joseph but settled on selling him to slave traders. His brothers took his robe and put blood stains on it and returned it to their father as evidence that Joseph was dead. The slave traders sold him to Potiphar, a high Egyptian official. At the young age of perhaps 17, Joseph was separated from his family and living in a strange country far from home and as a mere slave.
In spite of the hardships of life as a slave Joseph remained faithful to God and God blessed him. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him but Joseph refused her saying, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God.” (Genesis 39:9) She then lied to Potiphar and falsely accused Joseph of trying to seduce her. Joseph was then thrown into prison even though, once again, he was innocent.
Joseph is seen as a type of Christ; an innocent person who suffered because of the wickedness of others and through whom the chosen people were delivered from certain death. Joseph’s silence as his brothers debated his fate reminds us of the silence of Christ before His judges.
Jesus is our high priest today and unlike the high priests in the Bible, He is the perfect High Priest because He is Holy, innocent and undefiled. As our High priest, Jesus makes continuing intercession for us before God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Thank You for the reminder You have given us in the life of Joseph preparing us to look to You for our salvation from the evils of this world. Help me to lead my family to trust in You and to put You first in all that we do as individuals and as a family.
INNOCENCE
DEFINITION:
Free from moral wrong; without sin; without evil intent or motive.
SCRIPTURE:
“How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Genesis 39:9
For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent and separated from the sinners and the undefiled, exalted above the heavens. Hebrews 7:26.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In the first eleven verses of Genesis 37 we read about Joseph’s life as a young boy. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son and his brothers resented him for it. The older brothers were off attending their father’s flock and Jacob would send Joseph to check on them. Unfortunately, Joseph found them doing bad things and had to give his father a bad report. This added to the brother’s resentment of Joseph. Joseph was innocent. He was trying to do right for his father.
Joseph again innocently further provoked his brothers hostility when he told his family about his God-given dreams which portrayed that he would rule over them. Again Joseph told them innocently and he had no evil motive or intent.
Although Joseph had done no wrong his brothers plotted to kill Joseph but settled on selling him to slave traders. His brothers took his robe and put blood stains on it and returned it to their father as evidence that Joseph was dead. The slave traders sold him to Potiphar, a high Egyptian official. At the young age of perhaps 17, Joseph was separated from his family and living in a strange country far from home and as a mere slave.
In spite of the hardships of life as a slave Joseph remained faithful to God and God blessed him. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him but Joseph refused her saying, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God.” (Genesis 39:9) She then lied to Potiphar and falsely accused Joseph of trying to seduce her. Joseph was then thrown into prison even though, once again, he was innocent.
Joseph is seen as a type of Christ; an innocent person who suffered because of the wickedness of others and through whom the chosen people were delivered from certain death. Joseph’s silence as his brothers debated his fate reminds us of the silence of Christ before His judges.
Jesus is our high priest today and unlike the high priests in the Bible, He is the perfect High Priest because He is Holy, innocent and undefiled. As our High priest, Jesus makes continuing intercession for us before God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Thank You for the reminder You have given us in the life of Joseph preparing us to look to You for our salvation from the evils of this world. Help me to lead my family to trust in You and to put You first in all that we do as individuals and as a family.
Favoritism: January 26, 2011
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY JANUARY 26, 2011
FAVORITISM
DEFINITION:
Showing partiality to one person over another; preference.
SCRIPTURE:
“My brothers, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” James 2:1.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Genesis 27 contains an ugly portrait of parental favoritism. This kind of favoritism is prevalent in families today. We read in this chapter that Isaac favored Esau and Rebecca, Isaac’s wife, favored Jacob. Romans 9 points out to us that even before Jacob and Esau were born God chose Jacob to carry on the covenant line of Abraham. God had also informed Isaac and Rebecca that “the older will serve the younger.” (25:23)
Although Rebecca was well aware of God’s promise, she would not refrain from allowing her feelings of favoritism toward Jacob to motivate her to take action. She schemed with Jacob to deceive Isaac, who was nearly blind, by disguising Jacob as Esau so that Isaac would give the blessing that was to be given to the first-born to Jacob instead of Esau. Rebecca’s scheming to advance Jacob was both foolish and wrong. She was wrong to resort to deceit and make her son, Jacob part of it. She was foolish to think that God needed her help to accomplish His purpose and fulfill His promises. God does not need our help in carrying out His plans.
We ask you this question regarding this biblical account: Who was at fault, the parents or the children? Rebecca had no reason to lie and cheat to gain what she wanted. In choosing deceit, Rebecca so provoked Esau’s hostility that Jacob, her favorite, was forced to flee and leave home. All that her conniving did was to divide the family and deprive her of her son for twenty years. The lesson we can learn from this is that “Ends never justify adopting sinful means.”
To complete the story it is recorded in Chapter 27 verse 33 that Isaac realized he had been tricked concerning his inheritance. He favored Esau, but he also knew that God had chosen Jacob. Nevertheless, Isaac tried to meddle with God’s promise for Jacob. Isaac intended that Esau should have the blessing. When Isaac knew what had happened he began to shake violently, because he realized that he had tried to change God’s plan but God had intervened to prevent it. So Isaac submitted to God’s will and confirms his blessing upon Jacob. Isaac could not change what had been done even though Esau asked for a blessing of his own. It is the parent’s responsibility to counsel and guide their children in doing what is right.
As parents we need to treat all of our children equally and as children we need to respond to our parents the same way. Favoritism never works out for the good.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Help me to learn from the biblical account of Isaac, Rebecca, Esau and Jacob. Help me to treat all of my children equally so that they feel equally loved. Keep me sensitive to other people’s feelings as well, so that at all times I treat people equally and fairly.
FAVORITISM
DEFINITION:
Showing partiality to one person over another; preference.
SCRIPTURE:
“My brothers, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” James 2:1.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Genesis 27 contains an ugly portrait of parental favoritism. This kind of favoritism is prevalent in families today. We read in this chapter that Isaac favored Esau and Rebecca, Isaac’s wife, favored Jacob. Romans 9 points out to us that even before Jacob and Esau were born God chose Jacob to carry on the covenant line of Abraham. God had also informed Isaac and Rebecca that “the older will serve the younger.” (25:23)
Although Rebecca was well aware of God’s promise, she would not refrain from allowing her feelings of favoritism toward Jacob to motivate her to take action. She schemed with Jacob to deceive Isaac, who was nearly blind, by disguising Jacob as Esau so that Isaac would give the blessing that was to be given to the first-born to Jacob instead of Esau. Rebecca’s scheming to advance Jacob was both foolish and wrong. She was wrong to resort to deceit and make her son, Jacob part of it. She was foolish to think that God needed her help to accomplish His purpose and fulfill His promises. God does not need our help in carrying out His plans.
We ask you this question regarding this biblical account: Who was at fault, the parents or the children? Rebecca had no reason to lie and cheat to gain what she wanted. In choosing deceit, Rebecca so provoked Esau’s hostility that Jacob, her favorite, was forced to flee and leave home. All that her conniving did was to divide the family and deprive her of her son for twenty years. The lesson we can learn from this is that “Ends never justify adopting sinful means.”
To complete the story it is recorded in Chapter 27 verse 33 that Isaac realized he had been tricked concerning his inheritance. He favored Esau, but he also knew that God had chosen Jacob. Nevertheless, Isaac tried to meddle with God’s promise for Jacob. Isaac intended that Esau should have the blessing. When Isaac knew what had happened he began to shake violently, because he realized that he had tried to change God’s plan but God had intervened to prevent it. So Isaac submitted to God’s will and confirms his blessing upon Jacob. Isaac could not change what had been done even though Esau asked for a blessing of his own. It is the parent’s responsibility to counsel and guide their children in doing what is right.
As parents we need to treat all of our children equally and as children we need to respond to our parents the same way. Favoritism never works out for the good.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Help me to learn from the biblical account of Isaac, Rebecca, Esau and Jacob. Help me to treat all of my children equally so that they feel equally loved. Keep me sensitive to other people’s feelings as well, so that at all times I treat people equally and fairly.
Wisdom: January 25, 2011
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY JANUARY 25, 2011
WISDOM
DEFINITION:
Discernment; sound judgment; the ability to make good use of knowledge.
SCRIPTURE:
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Wisdom is much more than just knowledge and information we acquire from being educated. The most educated people in the world are not necessarily the wisest. Solomon asked God for wisdom because he recognized that wisdom comes from God as he tells us in Proverbs 2:6.
If God were to come to you and say, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you,” would you ask for wisdom? Solomon did. He defined the wisdom he needed as “a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
In the Old Testament the word used to express the concept of wisdom occurs over 300 times. The concept of wisdom is demonstrated in the Old Testament through the results of Godly choices versus ungodly choices. The lessons of the Old Testament focus our attention on the importance of wisdom in our approach to life in the choices we make concerning our values and commitments.
The wise person seeks God, submits to him, and applies God’s guidelines when making daily decisions. The person who is wise will seek the knowledge of God because God is the source of wisdom. God provides the believer needed perspective so that we will understand what is right and just and fair. Knowledge of God brings wisdom and leads to living a life that honors God.
We gain knowledge of God by studying (which requires more than just reading) God’s Word. Anyone who desires wisdom can ask God for it, just as Solomon did. As James advises in James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.”
Wisdom is necessary for godly living. In order to have wisdom from God we must first have a relationship with God and put our trust in Him and acknowledge Him in all we do. (Proverbs 3:5-6). The first three chapters of Proverbs deal with the importance of God-given wisdom and its benefits. As you and your family seek wisdom, these chapters will be helpful to you if you read them and discuss them together and talk about how you can apply them to your life.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Give me today the wisdom I need to serve You with all of my heart. Help me to trust in You, acknowledge You, rely on Your Word, and honor You by my giving back to You a portion of what You have blessed me with.
WISDOM
DEFINITION:
Discernment; sound judgment; the ability to make good use of knowledge.
SCRIPTURE:
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Wisdom is much more than just knowledge and information we acquire from being educated. The most educated people in the world are not necessarily the wisest. Solomon asked God for wisdom because he recognized that wisdom comes from God as he tells us in Proverbs 2:6.
If God were to come to you and say, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you,” would you ask for wisdom? Solomon did. He defined the wisdom he needed as “a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
In the Old Testament the word used to express the concept of wisdom occurs over 300 times. The concept of wisdom is demonstrated in the Old Testament through the results of Godly choices versus ungodly choices. The lessons of the Old Testament focus our attention on the importance of wisdom in our approach to life in the choices we make concerning our values and commitments.
The wise person seeks God, submits to him, and applies God’s guidelines when making daily decisions. The person who is wise will seek the knowledge of God because God is the source of wisdom. God provides the believer needed perspective so that we will understand what is right and just and fair. Knowledge of God brings wisdom and leads to living a life that honors God.
We gain knowledge of God by studying (which requires more than just reading) God’s Word. Anyone who desires wisdom can ask God for it, just as Solomon did. As James advises in James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.”
Wisdom is necessary for godly living. In order to have wisdom from God we must first have a relationship with God and put our trust in Him and acknowledge Him in all we do. (Proverbs 3:5-6). The first three chapters of Proverbs deal with the importance of God-given wisdom and its benefits. As you and your family seek wisdom, these chapters will be helpful to you if you read them and discuss them together and talk about how you can apply them to your life.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Give me today the wisdom I need to serve You with all of my heart. Help me to trust in You, acknowledge You, rely on Your Word, and honor You by my giving back to You a portion of what You have blessed me with.
Blood: January 24, 2011
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY JANUARY 24, 2011
BLOOD
DEFINITION:
The fluid that circulates in the arteries and veins.
SCRIPTURE:
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is blood that makes atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17: 11.
The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7b
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There is the old hymn that we sang often in church years ago. The words of the song began with, “What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus?”
Just as the life we have in the flesh is in the blood we carry in our bodies, so the life of Christianity is in the atoning, life-giving blood of Jesus Christ. If the atoning blood of Jesus is rejected and the rejecter willfully rejects accepting eternal life through the blood of Jesus, there no longer remains a sacrifice for his or her sins.
The words of the old hymn above are the key to what has happened to one who first of all recognizes that he or she is a sinner and then confesses that sin and asks Jesus to forgive them and come into one’s heart. The reason that we can have that privilege is because of the blood of Jesus.
God sent His Son to this earth to be born as a babe in a manger, to teach us His plan of salvation and then die on the cross, and after three days, rise again. He is now in heaven preparing a place for us. It was His death on the cross and the shedding of His blood that paid the penalty for our sins once and for all.
Today, unfortunately, you do not hear many sermons in our churches about the shed blood of Jesus and why it is important for our salvation. Pastors seem to be fearful to preach this kind of sermon, but again as the old hymn stated: “Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins.
The Hebrew word for blood “dam” is found 360 times in the Old Testament. Most of these references concern animal bloodshed in making a sacrifice for a person’s sins. A few of these references concern the violent shedding of blood in war or a crime. In the Old Testament one needed to make a sacrifice of an animal for forgiveness of their sin. This was God’s temporary provision since He had not yet sent His Son to die for our sins. The shedding of the blood of the lamb (animal) represented the giving of one life for another. Jesus gave His life for ours.
In Deuteronomy 12:23 it reads that, “Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat.” This verse makes it clear that blood is a sacred fluid. It represents life itself. On the altar, shed blood pictures a substitute making the offerer right with God.
As we stated above, when Christ came and died on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins through the sacrifice of His blood. There is a crimson thread that begins in the Old Testament and runs through the New Testament. The New Testament focuses our attention on the “blood of Christ,” and does so in the context of Christ’s crucifixion at Calvary. The sacrifices of ancient time foreshadowed Christ’s self-sacrifice.
One of the happiest times in our lives was when our children, and now our grandchildren, made their personal decisions to ask Jesus into their hearts. This is the most significant life changing decision and experience that one can make in life. Now is the time for you to make that decision, if you have not already. Remember: “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” There is no other way!
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Thank You dear God for sending Your Son to this world to pay the penalty of my sins through His shed blood. May my life be an example to those that do not know You and may my words and deeds exemplify Your love for them.
BLOOD
DEFINITION:
The fluid that circulates in the arteries and veins.
SCRIPTURE:
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is blood that makes atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17: 11.
The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7b
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There is the old hymn that we sang often in church years ago. The words of the song began with, “What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus?”
Just as the life we have in the flesh is in the blood we carry in our bodies, so the life of Christianity is in the atoning, life-giving blood of Jesus Christ. If the atoning blood of Jesus is rejected and the rejecter willfully rejects accepting eternal life through the blood of Jesus, there no longer remains a sacrifice for his or her sins.
The words of the old hymn above are the key to what has happened to one who first of all recognizes that he or she is a sinner and then confesses that sin and asks Jesus to forgive them and come into one’s heart. The reason that we can have that privilege is because of the blood of Jesus.
God sent His Son to this earth to be born as a babe in a manger, to teach us His plan of salvation and then die on the cross, and after three days, rise again. He is now in heaven preparing a place for us. It was His death on the cross and the shedding of His blood that paid the penalty for our sins once and for all.
Today, unfortunately, you do not hear many sermons in our churches about the shed blood of Jesus and why it is important for our salvation. Pastors seem to be fearful to preach this kind of sermon, but again as the old hymn stated: “Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins.
The Hebrew word for blood “dam” is found 360 times in the Old Testament. Most of these references concern animal bloodshed in making a sacrifice for a person’s sins. A few of these references concern the violent shedding of blood in war or a crime. In the Old Testament one needed to make a sacrifice of an animal for forgiveness of their sin. This was God’s temporary provision since He had not yet sent His Son to die for our sins. The shedding of the blood of the lamb (animal) represented the giving of one life for another. Jesus gave His life for ours.
In Deuteronomy 12:23 it reads that, “Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat.” This verse makes it clear that blood is a sacred fluid. It represents life itself. On the altar, shed blood pictures a substitute making the offerer right with God.
As we stated above, when Christ came and died on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins through the sacrifice of His blood. There is a crimson thread that begins in the Old Testament and runs through the New Testament. The New Testament focuses our attention on the “blood of Christ,” and does so in the context of Christ’s crucifixion at Calvary. The sacrifices of ancient time foreshadowed Christ’s self-sacrifice.
One of the happiest times in our lives was when our children, and now our grandchildren, made their personal decisions to ask Jesus into their hearts. This is the most significant life changing decision and experience that one can make in life. Now is the time for you to make that decision, if you have not already. Remember: “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” There is no other way!
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.
PRAYER:
Thank You dear God for sending Your Son to this world to pay the penalty of my sins through His shed blood. May my life be an example to those that do not know You and may my words and deeds exemplify Your love for them.
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