TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012.
VALUE
DEFINITION:
Relative worth or importance; monetary or material worth; the worth of something.
SCRIPTURE:
"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
What is of value in God's sight? God is all knowing and all powerful and has everything He needs. But He puts great value on our soul even though in comparison to God we are nothing. Sometimes we feel worthless and wonder how could we be of any value to God. God wants us to understand value from an eternal perspective.
Jesus often taught using parables. He taught the parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 12:12-14. He said that if a shepherd owns a hundred sheep and one gets lost he will leave the ninety-nine to look for the one that is lost. Jesus said that the shepherd is happier about the one sheep when found than the ninety-nine others. This is the way that God feels about us. He places the same value on each of us and, like the shepherd, He does not want to lose a single one of us.
Jesus has offered us an eternal inheritance that is ours for the asking. We need to recognize the value of what God did for us by sending His son to this earth to pay the penalty for our sins and to make it possible for us to have the greatest of all gifts, eternal life. How can we reject so valuable a gift?
There are many things that are considered of value in life. However, our values are not God’s values. Many people put great value on material things. They feel they must drive the latest model car and will stand in line to get the newest cell phone as soon as it comes on the market. They are willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill their desires, even to the point of compromising their integrity or sacrificing their health by working long hours.
Most of us put high value on having a healthy life. If you need to be reminded as to how valuable a healthy life is then go to your local children's hospital and look at a few sick children. God will do something special to you like break your heart with concern for these that are hurting and you will thank God for your good health.
Many who have been blessed with financial and material prosperity have forgotten to be thankful. If you are one who takes your prosperity for granted and have forgotten to be thankful, perhaps you need to talk to a family living in the slums of the inner city or a homeless man sleeping on the street. God will again move your heart to compassion to help the hurting and you will thank God for the blessings He has given you.
In Mark 12:14-44 there is the story known as “the widow’s mite.” It illustrates how differently our values are from God’s values. Jesus was with His disciples near where the people brought their money to the temple treasury. The rich were giving large amounts of money just to impress those watching in the temple. Then came a poor widow who put in to the treasury two small coins worth only a fraction of a penny. Jesus said to His disciples that the widow gave more than all the rest because she gave all she had. God honors whatever we give Him, no matter how large or how small. It is not the amount of the money God values but the attitude of the giver that our Lord values. We cannot out give God. It has been our experience that God blesses us when we give with blessings that far and away outweigh the value of what we have given.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in I Peter 5:7.
Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
PRAYER:
Thank You for the value You have placed on my life. I take time today just to praise You. I praise You for being God, for being all powerful, all knowing and sovereign. I praise You for sending Your ONLY Son to this earth to die in order to pay the penalty for my sins. I praise You for being with me every moment of every day and leading me in the path that You desire for me.
October 4, 2012
September 30, 2012
Gems of Encouragement: September 29, 2012
GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT for Saturday September 29, 2012.
PROVERB
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Proverbs 27:12
PROMISE
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7.
PRAISE
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
PROVERB
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Proverbs 27:12
PROMISE
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7.
PRAISE
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
Always: September 28, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2012.
ALWAYS
DEFINITION:
Throughout all time; uninterrupted; forever.
SCRIPTURE:
The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24:1-2.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Often we say the word always but do not think what we are saying. Always infers that it always was back in time and many times when it is said one is inferring it always will be. There are several “always” in life that we want to share with you today.
Only God always is all knowing, all powerful, all caring, always present and always eternal. There is none other that can be available to all at all times. He is always there for us and always can solve any situation or problem we may face.
The scripture also reminds us that, “Obedience always brings blessings.” What is blessing you may ask? A blessing is anything that one receives from God because we have glorified His name.
Noah obeyed God and God blessed him, his family and a world that followed. Obedience to God saved Noah and his family from the flood. Joshua obeyed God and marched the Children of Israel around Jericho for seven days. God blessed Joshua because of his obedience and the walls of Jericho fell to the ground and it was conquered.
The same can be said about Moses, Abraham, David, Paul and Peter. When each one obeyed God, He brought blessing to them. Only God can always reward obedience with a blessing.
God sometimes will tell us to do something that in our mind is totally unreasonable from our perspective. We need to listen carefully, read His Word and pray diligently to make sure we understand that it is God talking to us and that we clearly know the direction He wants us to go. Then we must do it. We can be sure that God always has a purpose and a plan when He leads us to do something for Him.
How do you think Noah, Joshua, Moses and Paul felt down deep inside when they received a direction from God that was unreasonable? They all received such and they all responded as God asked them to do and God always brought victory and blessing to them.
Remember obedience is a biblical principal that God has set down for us. Obedience to God is not an option.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Thank You that You are always there for me and my family. I am grateful that whether it is a time of need or a time that we just need to talk, that You are there for me. Help me to be obedient to Your direction for my life. Open my eyes and ears so I can see and hear what You desire for me and my family to do.
ALWAYS
DEFINITION:
Throughout all time; uninterrupted; forever.
SCRIPTURE:
The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24:1-2.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Often we say the word always but do not think what we are saying. Always infers that it always was back in time and many times when it is said one is inferring it always will be. There are several “always” in life that we want to share with you today.
Only God always is all knowing, all powerful, all caring, always present and always eternal. There is none other that can be available to all at all times. He is always there for us and always can solve any situation or problem we may face.
The scripture also reminds us that, “Obedience always brings blessings.” What is blessing you may ask? A blessing is anything that one receives from God because we have glorified His name.
Noah obeyed God and God blessed him, his family and a world that followed. Obedience to God saved Noah and his family from the flood. Joshua obeyed God and marched the Children of Israel around Jericho for seven days. God blessed Joshua because of his obedience and the walls of Jericho fell to the ground and it was conquered.
The same can be said about Moses, Abraham, David, Paul and Peter. When each one obeyed God, He brought blessing to them. Only God can always reward obedience with a blessing.
God sometimes will tell us to do something that in our mind is totally unreasonable from our perspective. We need to listen carefully, read His Word and pray diligently to make sure we understand that it is God talking to us and that we clearly know the direction He wants us to go. Then we must do it. We can be sure that God always has a purpose and a plan when He leads us to do something for Him.
How do you think Noah, Joshua, Moses and Paul felt down deep inside when they received a direction from God that was unreasonable? They all received such and they all responded as God asked them to do and God always brought victory and blessing to them.
Remember obedience is a biblical principal that God has set down for us. Obedience to God is not an option.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Thank You that You are always there for me and my family. I am grateful that whether it is a time of need or a time that we just need to talk, that You are there for me. Help me to be obedient to Your direction for my life. Open my eyes and ears so I can see and hear what You desire for me and my family to do.
Prosper: September 27, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2012
PROSPER
DEFINITION:
To be successful or fortunate; thrive; flourish; to make successful or fortunate.
SCRIPTURE:
"If you do not obey the Lord your God -- you shall not prosper in your ways." Deuteronomy 28:15&29.
“He sought God in the days of Zechariah and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper." II Chronicles 26:5.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you." Psalm 122:6
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." III John 2.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We all want to prosper and be successful. Moses was very specific in Deuteronomy chapter 28 in telling the Children of Israel what they must do if they wanted to receive God's blessings and prosper in life. They must obey the Lord their God and carefully follow all His commandments. (Verse 1) In the following verses he lists the blessings they would receive. In verses 15-68, Moses details the curses that will come on them for disobedience. Moses warned them if they disobeyed God they would not prosper. Are you living in disobedience to God and wondering why everything is going wrong?
Every person wants to prosper today and when they see others prospering and they are not they become envious and many times bitter. We have two thoughts on this for your consideration today.
First, what is meant by “prospering”? God may prosper you with specific talents to do His work. If he has, are you using them as He would desire? God may prosper you with time so that you can help others in their times of need. If so, how do you spend your time? Finally, God may prosper you with wealth. Can He trust you with what He has given you? Do you use your money wisely?
Another thought for you to consider is that God will only prosper you, according to the scriptures, when you put Him first place in your life, all of the time! You cannot live for the Lord on Sunday and not on the weekdays and expect God to prosper you. You cannot treat your friends kindly and your family unkindly and expect to prosper. Really, the decision is yours because God wants us all to prosper.
In II Chronicles 26, we read of Uzziah who became King of Judah at the age of 16. It is recorded that as a younger child when Uzziah was living under King Zechariah, he continually sought God in all that he did. When he became King, God said that as long as he sought Him, he would prosper. Notice that the verse says "as long as." For a time, Uzziah was obedient to God and did prosper. Unfortunately, he became proud which led him to be unfaithful to God. God afflicted him with leprosy until the day he died.
Psalms 22:6 instructs us as Christians to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The Psalmist here says if we do God will prosper us. Do you pray for this each day? God expects us to do this. God's chosen people turned away from Him but God has never turned away from them.
And finally John in his third book writes to Gaius, who he calls the beloved believer in the first century church. Because of his faithfulness to God and his consistent daily walk in truth, John prays that God will prosper him in all things and give him good health. Likewise, we as Christians are to pray for our fellow believers and ask God to bless them in their faithfulness to the Lord.
Our prayer for you today is that God will prosper you in all that you do. But remember it will only happen if you obey God's commands, continually seek God, pray for the peace of Israel and be faithful and truthful in all you do for the Lord.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Thank You for giving me these illustrations from the scripture that challenge me to honor You in all that I do so I may prosper. Help me to understand that prospering means that I will receive Your blessings on my life. As I prosper may my family and my friends see Christ in me and may they give up their worldly traits and honor You in all that they do. Help me to pray daily for my family, my friends, and my fellow believers and for the peace of Jerusalem.
PROSPER
DEFINITION:
To be successful or fortunate; thrive; flourish; to make successful or fortunate.
SCRIPTURE:
"If you do not obey the Lord your God -- you shall not prosper in your ways." Deuteronomy 28:15&29.
“He sought God in the days of Zechariah and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper." II Chronicles 26:5.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you." Psalm 122:6
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." III John 2.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We all want to prosper and be successful. Moses was very specific in Deuteronomy chapter 28 in telling the Children of Israel what they must do if they wanted to receive God's blessings and prosper in life. They must obey the Lord their God and carefully follow all His commandments. (Verse 1) In the following verses he lists the blessings they would receive. In verses 15-68, Moses details the curses that will come on them for disobedience. Moses warned them if they disobeyed God they would not prosper. Are you living in disobedience to God and wondering why everything is going wrong?
Every person wants to prosper today and when they see others prospering and they are not they become envious and many times bitter. We have two thoughts on this for your consideration today.
First, what is meant by “prospering”? God may prosper you with specific talents to do His work. If he has, are you using them as He would desire? God may prosper you with time so that you can help others in their times of need. If so, how do you spend your time? Finally, God may prosper you with wealth. Can He trust you with what He has given you? Do you use your money wisely?
Another thought for you to consider is that God will only prosper you, according to the scriptures, when you put Him first place in your life, all of the time! You cannot live for the Lord on Sunday and not on the weekdays and expect God to prosper you. You cannot treat your friends kindly and your family unkindly and expect to prosper. Really, the decision is yours because God wants us all to prosper.
In II Chronicles 26, we read of Uzziah who became King of Judah at the age of 16. It is recorded that as a younger child when Uzziah was living under King Zechariah, he continually sought God in all that he did. When he became King, God said that as long as he sought Him, he would prosper. Notice that the verse says "as long as." For a time, Uzziah was obedient to God and did prosper. Unfortunately, he became proud which led him to be unfaithful to God. God afflicted him with leprosy until the day he died.
Psalms 22:6 instructs us as Christians to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The Psalmist here says if we do God will prosper us. Do you pray for this each day? God expects us to do this. God's chosen people turned away from Him but God has never turned away from them.
And finally John in his third book writes to Gaius, who he calls the beloved believer in the first century church. Because of his faithfulness to God and his consistent daily walk in truth, John prays that God will prosper him in all things and give him good health. Likewise, we as Christians are to pray for our fellow believers and ask God to bless them in their faithfulness to the Lord.
Our prayer for you today is that God will prosper you in all that you do. But remember it will only happen if you obey God's commands, continually seek God, pray for the peace of Israel and be faithful and truthful in all you do for the Lord.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Thank You for giving me these illustrations from the scripture that challenge me to honor You in all that I do so I may prosper. Help me to understand that prospering means that I will receive Your blessings on my life. As I prosper may my family and my friends see Christ in me and may they give up their worldly traits and honor You in all that they do. Help me to pray daily for my family, my friends, and my fellow believers and for the peace of Jerusalem.
Foolishness: September 26, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
FOOLISHNESS
DEFINITION:
Lacking in good sense, wisdom, judgment or discretion; lacking in meaning or purpose.
SCRIPTURE:
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:14
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Several times in our lifetime we have made decisions that we looked back on and said to one another, "That was a foolish decision." We then tried to ask ourselves what were the reasons that made us make that decision. Did we see any so called "red flags" -- things that should have been an alert to us to reverse that decision? We also asked ourselves did we learn from it so that we would not repeat a similar decision. If we evaluate foolish decisions properly after they have been made, we learned that the evaluation process became a great learning experience for us.
Foolishness is a word that Paul used several times in the scripture. In the verse above from I Corinthians, Paul reminds us that the "natural man," one that does not believe in Jesus as Lord, feels that the things of the spirit of God are foolishness to him. The natural man lacks understanding and cannot understand spiritual truths. Only the believer can understand the things of the spirit.
Understanding God's message to us and to the world, as given in His Word, has nothing to do with one's intelligence. The message that God sent His Son into the world to die on the cross as a condemned criminal in order to save a world of sinners who rejected and denied Him cannot be comprehended by the human mind, no matter how intelligent a person might be. The spiritual eyes of the unbeliever are blinded and they cannot see the truth.
In I Corinthians 1:18-19 Paul said, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved (and have accepted Jesus as Savior) it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
In Proverbs 22:15 (above), the writer reminds us that foolishness is in the heart of a child but correction will drive that foolishness from the child. The word foolishness in Hebrew means silliness, perverseness and careless of body. The rod of correction cannot change the sin nature, but it can subdue the foolish desires of our sinful nature because it demonstrates that foolish acts have consequences. Without correction children will continue to do foolish things because they do not understand the danger.
Foolishness is a form of sin according to Proverbs 24:9 and according to Mark 7: 21-23 sin originates in the heart. Ecclesiastics 7:25 tells us that foolishness is a sign of wickedness. Unlike wisdom, the foolishness of sin is inborn. The consequence of foolishness, according to the scripture, brings sorrow to people and keeps us from knowing God and increases our spiritual blindness.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Thank You for opening my spiritual eyes so that I can see that the gospel message of salvation is not foolishness. Help my family today to live a life style that others will see Christ through our actions and words. May foolishness not be seen in our lives. Help us to honor Your name and may we be challenged each moment to serve You to our very best.
FOOLISHNESS
DEFINITION:
Lacking in good sense, wisdom, judgment or discretion; lacking in meaning or purpose.
SCRIPTURE:
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:14
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Several times in our lifetime we have made decisions that we looked back on and said to one another, "That was a foolish decision." We then tried to ask ourselves what were the reasons that made us make that decision. Did we see any so called "red flags" -- things that should have been an alert to us to reverse that decision? We also asked ourselves did we learn from it so that we would not repeat a similar decision. If we evaluate foolish decisions properly after they have been made, we learned that the evaluation process became a great learning experience for us.
Foolishness is a word that Paul used several times in the scripture. In the verse above from I Corinthians, Paul reminds us that the "natural man," one that does not believe in Jesus as Lord, feels that the things of the spirit of God are foolishness to him. The natural man lacks understanding and cannot understand spiritual truths. Only the believer can understand the things of the spirit.
Understanding God's message to us and to the world, as given in His Word, has nothing to do with one's intelligence. The message that God sent His Son into the world to die on the cross as a condemned criminal in order to save a world of sinners who rejected and denied Him cannot be comprehended by the human mind, no matter how intelligent a person might be. The spiritual eyes of the unbeliever are blinded and they cannot see the truth.
In I Corinthians 1:18-19 Paul said, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved (and have accepted Jesus as Savior) it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
In Proverbs 22:15 (above), the writer reminds us that foolishness is in the heart of a child but correction will drive that foolishness from the child. The word foolishness in Hebrew means silliness, perverseness and careless of body. The rod of correction cannot change the sin nature, but it can subdue the foolish desires of our sinful nature because it demonstrates that foolish acts have consequences. Without correction children will continue to do foolish things because they do not understand the danger.
Foolishness is a form of sin according to Proverbs 24:9 and according to Mark 7: 21-23 sin originates in the heart. Ecclesiastics 7:25 tells us that foolishness is a sign of wickedness. Unlike wisdom, the foolishness of sin is inborn. The consequence of foolishness, according to the scripture, brings sorrow to people and keeps us from knowing God and increases our spiritual blindness.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Thank You for opening my spiritual eyes so that I can see that the gospel message of salvation is not foolishness. Help my family today to live a life style that others will see Christ through our actions and words. May foolishness not be seen in our lives. Help us to honor Your name and may we be challenged each moment to serve You to our very best.
Bitterness: September 25, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2012.
BITTERNESS
DEFINITION:
Resentment, hostility.
SCRIPTURE:
The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy. Proverbs 14:10
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. Acts 8:23.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Some years ago a famous boxer was convicted of murder and sent to jail for life. The boxer maintained his innocence and some 19 years later his verdict was overturned. When released he was asked if he was bitter? He responded that he was sure anyone would be bitter and certainly he was. But he went on to say that he learned in prison that bitterness only consumes the life that harbors it. And for a person to permit bitterness to control his or her life would be allowing those that imprisoned him to take even more from him than they had already taken.
Bitterness is like a cancer. It eats away at us and keeps us from enjoying God’s blessings. The writer of Hebrews deals with the problem of bitterness in Hebrews 12:15, “Looking carefully lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” Some of the Christians that the author of Hebrews was writing to were considering returning to Judaism because of the persecution and injustice they were facing. The author tells them that like a small root that grows into a big tree, bitterness could spring up in their hearts and overshadow their deepest Christian principles and relationships. Bitterness may start as a small thing but it can grow and spread affecting many others.
When we are mistreated by others and have disappointments in our life it is so easy to let bitterness come into our lives and this is what God does not want to happen to us. Jesus can heal our concerns and disappointments that cause bitterness and we need to put them in His hands.
Not only does the writer of Hebrews in verse 15 challenge us to avoid bitterness but in the prior verse, verse 14, he reminds us to pursue peace with all people. This from his point of view is a radical, but healing alternative to allowing ourselves to become bitter toward people.
In Acts 8:23, Paul was talking about Simon who had practiced sorcery claiming he was someone great. But Simon listened to the preaching of Philip and came to know Jesus and was baptized. As the account goes on, we are told about Simon meeting Peter and John and seeing that when they placed their hands on the believers they received the Holy Spirit. Simon asked if he could buy the same power. Peter saw immediately that Simon’s motives were wrong. He was bitter that his sorcery did not give him the power that the apostles had. Then Peter spoke the words in the verse above to Simon, telling him he was poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity and therefore he could not have any share in their ministry because his heart was not right.
As Christians we need to learn not to be bitter about “things” that come and go in our lives. We need to learn to turn the disappointments and concerns over to the Lord as they come our way. Do not let them fester and grow into bitterness which will end up consuming us and controlling us. When we have bitterness in our heart our heart is not right with the Lord.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:31 (above) to get rid of all bitterness. Bitterness brings us grief personally but, more importantly, Paul says it grieves the Holy Spirit of God. (Ephesians 4:30)
As the Proverb (above) says, our heart knows our own bitterness and a stranger does not share its joy. Bitterness and joy are emotions felt in our heart. A stranger cannot feel our bitterness as we feel it, nor can a stranger feel our joy. However, people can look at us and know if we have bitterness or joy within us. If people see that we are bitter, we are not a testimony of the joy that comes from being a believer, and this grieves the Holy Spirit of God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Help me to get rid of any and all bitterness in my heart. May others see only the joy that I have because I am free from the penalty for my sins and a child of God.
BITTERNESS
DEFINITION:
Resentment, hostility.
SCRIPTURE:
The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy. Proverbs 14:10
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. Acts 8:23.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Some years ago a famous boxer was convicted of murder and sent to jail for life. The boxer maintained his innocence and some 19 years later his verdict was overturned. When released he was asked if he was bitter? He responded that he was sure anyone would be bitter and certainly he was. But he went on to say that he learned in prison that bitterness only consumes the life that harbors it. And for a person to permit bitterness to control his or her life would be allowing those that imprisoned him to take even more from him than they had already taken.
Bitterness is like a cancer. It eats away at us and keeps us from enjoying God’s blessings. The writer of Hebrews deals with the problem of bitterness in Hebrews 12:15, “Looking carefully lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” Some of the Christians that the author of Hebrews was writing to were considering returning to Judaism because of the persecution and injustice they were facing. The author tells them that like a small root that grows into a big tree, bitterness could spring up in their hearts and overshadow their deepest Christian principles and relationships. Bitterness may start as a small thing but it can grow and spread affecting many others.
When we are mistreated by others and have disappointments in our life it is so easy to let bitterness come into our lives and this is what God does not want to happen to us. Jesus can heal our concerns and disappointments that cause bitterness and we need to put them in His hands.
Not only does the writer of Hebrews in verse 15 challenge us to avoid bitterness but in the prior verse, verse 14, he reminds us to pursue peace with all people. This from his point of view is a radical, but healing alternative to allowing ourselves to become bitter toward people.
In Acts 8:23, Paul was talking about Simon who had practiced sorcery claiming he was someone great. But Simon listened to the preaching of Philip and came to know Jesus and was baptized. As the account goes on, we are told about Simon meeting Peter and John and seeing that when they placed their hands on the believers they received the Holy Spirit. Simon asked if he could buy the same power. Peter saw immediately that Simon’s motives were wrong. He was bitter that his sorcery did not give him the power that the apostles had. Then Peter spoke the words in the verse above to Simon, telling him he was poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity and therefore he could not have any share in their ministry because his heart was not right.
As Christians we need to learn not to be bitter about “things” that come and go in our lives. We need to learn to turn the disappointments and concerns over to the Lord as they come our way. Do not let them fester and grow into bitterness which will end up consuming us and controlling us. When we have bitterness in our heart our heart is not right with the Lord.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:31 (above) to get rid of all bitterness. Bitterness brings us grief personally but, more importantly, Paul says it grieves the Holy Spirit of God. (Ephesians 4:30)
As the Proverb (above) says, our heart knows our own bitterness and a stranger does not share its joy. Bitterness and joy are emotions felt in our heart. A stranger cannot feel our bitterness as we feel it, nor can a stranger feel our joy. However, people can look at us and know if we have bitterness or joy within us. If people see that we are bitter, we are not a testimony of the joy that comes from being a believer, and this grieves the Holy Spirit of God.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Help me to get rid of any and all bitterness in my heart. May others see only the joy that I have because I am free from the penalty for my sins and a child of God.
Confidence: September 24, 2012
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2012.
CONFIDENCE
DEFINITION:
Firm trust; reliance; self assurance; boldness; faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way.
SCRIPTURE:
For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:26.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In today's society it is very difficult for a person to be confident about anything or anybody. One of the reasons for this is that situations can change daily. For example a job that seemed secure two years ago can be lost overnight today. Homes that were bought with confidence they could be paid for are going into foreclosure at a very fast rate.
The most serious issue is that families are falling apart. Fathers are abandoning their families. Sometimes it is even the mother that leaves. That is why we said above that one cannot even be confident today about any one person. The only way that a person can feel securely confident today is to have their confidence in the Lord and not in people and things. This verse from Proverbs assures us that when we have confidence in the Lord, He will guide us in the right way every step we take in life.
Today we will look at the Children of Israel’s misplaced confidence after they conquered Jericho (Joshua 3:9). God had enabled Israel to easily overcome the city of Jericho so Joshua set about to conquer the city of Ai. Ai was strategically located to provide a foothold in the central highlands for Israel and was the logical next step for Joshua to proceed to conquer the land that God had promised for them.
Joshua sent spies to Ai to check out the military strength of the city. The spies returned confident that the city of Ai could easily be taken by Israel. They advised Joshua that it would be so easy that they would not need their whole army. They said to Joshua, "Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." Joshua took their advice and sent three thousand men against Ai. To their surprise they were driven out by the men of Ai and thirty six of their men were killed.
Joshua and the elders of Israel had become too self-confident. How quickly they had forgotten that it was God who had given them the victory over Jericho. That was their first mistake. Secondly, they did not consult God about taking the city of Ai. They rushed head long into battle relying on their own strength. The third mistake was that they did not prepare themselves spiritually. They had already forgotten that before they undertook the battle of Jericho, God had required that they prepare themselves spiritually.
Joshua and the elders could not understand why they were so easily defeated by the men at Ai. They were so grieved over the loss that they tore their clothes in mourning, fell down on their faces and cried out to God asking what went wrong.
Most of us try to go about our daily routines confident in our own abilities to accomplish whatever we have to do. But for the most part it just does not work. We seldom seek God's help. We turn to God only when we have been defeated. There is a better way and that is for us to begin each day by getting ourselves prepared spiritually. Remember when you read the Bible; this is the way God speaks to you. When you pray; this is the way you speak to God. God wants us to put our confidence in Him and consult Him in all that we do. When was the last time you consulted God on anything? A little time spent consulting God can save us from mistakes that will be very costly to us.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Lord, for the assurance we have from Your Word in Proverbs that when we put our confidence in You, You will not only guide us but You will keep us from being caught in a trap. Help me to guide my family to keep their eyes on You and not put their confidence in what is sure to fail them.
CONFIDENCE
DEFINITION:
Firm trust; reliance; self assurance; boldness; faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way.
SCRIPTURE:
For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:26.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In today's society it is very difficult for a person to be confident about anything or anybody. One of the reasons for this is that situations can change daily. For example a job that seemed secure two years ago can be lost overnight today. Homes that were bought with confidence they could be paid for are going into foreclosure at a very fast rate.
The most serious issue is that families are falling apart. Fathers are abandoning their families. Sometimes it is even the mother that leaves. That is why we said above that one cannot even be confident today about any one person. The only way that a person can feel securely confident today is to have their confidence in the Lord and not in people and things. This verse from Proverbs assures us that when we have confidence in the Lord, He will guide us in the right way every step we take in life.
Today we will look at the Children of Israel’s misplaced confidence after they conquered Jericho (Joshua 3:9). God had enabled Israel to easily overcome the city of Jericho so Joshua set about to conquer the city of Ai. Ai was strategically located to provide a foothold in the central highlands for Israel and was the logical next step for Joshua to proceed to conquer the land that God had promised for them.
Joshua sent spies to Ai to check out the military strength of the city. The spies returned confident that the city of Ai could easily be taken by Israel. They advised Joshua that it would be so easy that they would not need their whole army. They said to Joshua, "Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." Joshua took their advice and sent three thousand men against Ai. To their surprise they were driven out by the men of Ai and thirty six of their men were killed.
Joshua and the elders of Israel had become too self-confident. How quickly they had forgotten that it was God who had given them the victory over Jericho. That was their first mistake. Secondly, they did not consult God about taking the city of Ai. They rushed head long into battle relying on their own strength. The third mistake was that they did not prepare themselves spiritually. They had already forgotten that before they undertook the battle of Jericho, God had required that they prepare themselves spiritually.
Joshua and the elders could not understand why they were so easily defeated by the men at Ai. They were so grieved over the loss that they tore their clothes in mourning, fell down on their faces and cried out to God asking what went wrong.
Most of us try to go about our daily routines confident in our own abilities to accomplish whatever we have to do. But for the most part it just does not work. We seldom seek God's help. We turn to God only when we have been defeated. There is a better way and that is for us to begin each day by getting ourselves prepared spiritually. Remember when you read the Bible; this is the way God speaks to you. When you pray; this is the way you speak to God. God wants us to put our confidence in Him and consult Him in all that we do. When was the last time you consulted God on anything? A little time spent consulting God can save us from mistakes that will be very costly to us.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:22.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Lord, for the assurance we have from Your Word in Proverbs that when we put our confidence in You, You will not only guide us but You will keep us from being caught in a trap. Help me to guide my family to keep their eyes on You and not put their confidence in what is sure to fail them.
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