GEMS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 26, 2013.
PROVERB:
Whoever trusts in his riches will fail, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28.
PROMISE:
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord God, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26: 3-4.
PRAISE:
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:31.
October 27, 2013
Problem: October 25, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2013.
PROBLEM
DEFINITION:
A source of distress, vexation or perplexity. Any question or matter involving doubt; uncertainty or difficulty; a question proposed for solution.
SCRIPTURE:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (problems), knowing that testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:6-7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In life today everyone seems to be constantly talking about the problems they are facing. Many just think that the best way to solve a problem is to avoid it. Problems weigh on us even to the extent they can make us ill. Possibly the problems you face today include issues with the economy, your career or your family.
Do you have problems in your life? If you hear someone answer "NO" to that question, you can be certain that they are in denial. Problems are part of living in a sinful world. Everyone has problems at one time or another. James doesn't say "IF" you fall into trials, he says "WHEN" you have trials. (Verse above)
The book of First Peter is the letter that Peter wrote to encourage believers who were going through trials. Peter calls problems trials in I Peter 1:6-7 where he says: "So be truly glad, there is a wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while." Trials test how genuine and how strong our faith really is.
Peter goes on to say that trials test our faith like fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. Just as gold is made more valuable when it is put through fire, we are made more valuable to God because we are strengthened by the problems and trials we go through. When your faith remains strong through trials, it will bring much praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ.
Also in I Peter 4:12, Peter says: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening with you." People often ask: "Why is this happening to me?" when they have a problem. Peter warns us to expect problems or as he calls them trials.
God allows us to have problems to test and refine our faith. Problems come in many forms and each one brings pain, anguish, stress and worry. How we cope with problems depends a great deal on our attitude.
In our family we say that we never have problems. They are only situations. Situations seem to be more solvable than problems. They are solvable if we seek the Lord's help.
We urge you to get our book, "NO PROBLEMS ONLY SITUATIONS!" by going to our website www.thehungersolution.org and read what we have written.
Trials are for a little while and Peter reminds us not to let problems (situations) rob us of our joy. God is faithful and will reward us with His gift of eternal life. God uses situations to bring us closer to Him. He wants us to bring our situations to Him and then ask Him for help. He will respond.
We need to do several things according to the verse that the Apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison (Philippians 4:6-7 above). First, we need to admit that we have a problem. Then we need to turn that problem into a prayer. We need to face the problem straight on and do not let it linger.
When we turn it over to God in prayer, He will go through the problem with us and He will give us strength to endure the problem. He will use the problem to strengthen our faith and to give us peace that is beyond our understanding. Remember problems are not God's fault and there is no limit as to what God can do in solving your problem, if you turn it over to Him.
We had the privilege of coordinating a convention for over 1000 former Youth for Christ leaders in October of 1988 in Chicago. We took with us two secretaries to assist in all of the convention details. One was our daughter and the other Ken's personal secretary. On the first day we had several problems, some that seemed insurmountable. We all felt stressed. The four of us sat down and agreed that from that moment on we had no problems, just situations. That one conversation changed our attitude and put things into perspective. Problems can seem insurmountable and overwhelm us. Reducing them down to just situations encourages us so that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We went forward with a smooth running and most successful God honoring convention. What we did was to turn everything over to the Lord and He got us through each situation
In life we also learn that we are to attack problems not people. Every day each of us face problems in life. Unfortunately, we somehow divert the problem to a person. We need to learn to let go of our problems and let God take care of them. So many times when we try to solve a problem without thinking it through, we cause greater problems. We have learned to pray every day for God to take care of SITUATIONS that we may face before they become a PROBLEM.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER:
Help me today to face life with an attitude of wanting to please You in all that I do. Thank You for your promise to never leave me nor forsake me, so that I am assured that as I go through a problem You are going through that problem with me. Use my problems to strengthen my faith so that I can glorify Your name in all that I do.
PROBLEM
DEFINITION:
A source of distress, vexation or perplexity. Any question or matter involving doubt; uncertainty or difficulty; a question proposed for solution.
SCRIPTURE:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (problems), knowing that testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:6-7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In life today everyone seems to be constantly talking about the problems they are facing. Many just think that the best way to solve a problem is to avoid it. Problems weigh on us even to the extent they can make us ill. Possibly the problems you face today include issues with the economy, your career or your family.
Do you have problems in your life? If you hear someone answer "NO" to that question, you can be certain that they are in denial. Problems are part of living in a sinful world. Everyone has problems at one time or another. James doesn't say "IF" you fall into trials, he says "WHEN" you have trials. (Verse above)
The book of First Peter is the letter that Peter wrote to encourage believers who were going through trials. Peter calls problems trials in I Peter 1:6-7 where he says: "So be truly glad, there is a wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while." Trials test how genuine and how strong our faith really is.
Peter goes on to say that trials test our faith like fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. Just as gold is made more valuable when it is put through fire, we are made more valuable to God because we are strengthened by the problems and trials we go through. When your faith remains strong through trials, it will bring much praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ.
Also in I Peter 4:12, Peter says: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening with you." People often ask: "Why is this happening to me?" when they have a problem. Peter warns us to expect problems or as he calls them trials.
God allows us to have problems to test and refine our faith. Problems come in many forms and each one brings pain, anguish, stress and worry. How we cope with problems depends a great deal on our attitude.
In our family we say that we never have problems. They are only situations. Situations seem to be more solvable than problems. They are solvable if we seek the Lord's help.
We urge you to get our book, "NO PROBLEMS ONLY SITUATIONS!" by going to our website www.thehungersolution.org and read what we have written.
Trials are for a little while and Peter reminds us not to let problems (situations) rob us of our joy. God is faithful and will reward us with His gift of eternal life. God uses situations to bring us closer to Him. He wants us to bring our situations to Him and then ask Him for help. He will respond.
We need to do several things according to the verse that the Apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison (Philippians 4:6-7 above). First, we need to admit that we have a problem. Then we need to turn that problem into a prayer. We need to face the problem straight on and do not let it linger.
When we turn it over to God in prayer, He will go through the problem with us and He will give us strength to endure the problem. He will use the problem to strengthen our faith and to give us peace that is beyond our understanding. Remember problems are not God's fault and there is no limit as to what God can do in solving your problem, if you turn it over to Him.
We had the privilege of coordinating a convention for over 1000 former Youth for Christ leaders in October of 1988 in Chicago. We took with us two secretaries to assist in all of the convention details. One was our daughter and the other Ken's personal secretary. On the first day we had several problems, some that seemed insurmountable. We all felt stressed. The four of us sat down and agreed that from that moment on we had no problems, just situations. That one conversation changed our attitude and put things into perspective. Problems can seem insurmountable and overwhelm us. Reducing them down to just situations encourages us so that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We went forward with a smooth running and most successful God honoring convention. What we did was to turn everything over to the Lord and He got us through each situation
In life we also learn that we are to attack problems not people. Every day each of us face problems in life. Unfortunately, we somehow divert the problem to a person. We need to learn to let go of our problems and let God take care of them. So many times when we try to solve a problem without thinking it through, we cause greater problems. We have learned to pray every day for God to take care of SITUATIONS that we may face before they become a PROBLEM.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER:
Help me today to face life with an attitude of wanting to please You in all that I do. Thank You for your promise to never leave me nor forsake me, so that I am assured that as I go through a problem You are going through that problem with me. Use my problems to strengthen my faith so that I can glorify Your name in all that I do.
Knowledge: October 24, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 24, 2013.
KNOWLEDGE
DEFINITION:
Acquaintance with facts, truths or principles; the fact or state of knowing; the sum of what has been learned or discovered.
SCRIPTURE:
Wise people store up knowledge. Proverbs 10:14.
It is not good for a soul to be without knowledge. Proverbs 19:2.
But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who possess it. Ecclesiastics 7:12.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Knowledge is not the same thing as wisdom. We have a lot of knowledge in this world, but real wisdom is scarce. Knowledge is knowing the truth, the facts and the principles. Wisdom is discernment and understanding in the use of our knowledge. Wisdom and knowledge come only to those who seek it.
In the book of Proverbs chapter two and verses three to five it reads: "If you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD." God is the source of all knowledge and understanding. Knowing God is the key to wisdom.
It is interesting to note that when God planted a garden in Eden he included a tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Geneses 2:9). From the beginning of time, God was the source of knowledge. Before they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve knew only good. Satan told Eve that if she ate the fruit from the tree, her eyes would be opened and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. Adam and Eve had the knowledge of good and received the knowledge of evil by doing evil and they suffered the disastrous consequences. The lesson for us is to make sure we pursue the right kind of knowledge.
Knowledge comes to us in various ways. We learn from schooling, reading books, and observing life experiences. Education equips us and helps us gain earthly knowledge. But it is more important for us to depend on the knowledge and wisdom that comes from God, through His Word, because it is based on truth and does not change.
We read in the Old Testament about Daniel. After Daniel was taken captive to Babylonia, he was chosen by King Nebuchadnezzar to be taught the Babylonian culture. We read in Daniel 1:17 that God gave him knowledge and understanding in all kinds of literature and wisdom.
When the King had a dream that troubled him he called in all his magicians, sorcerers and astrologers and demanded that they not only tell him what the dream meant but to tell him in full the dream. When they told the king that no man could do what he demanded of them, the king ordered them to be executed. When Daniel heard about what the king was doing he went to the king and asked for some time so that he might be able to interpret the dream.
Daniel realized that all of the education that he had been given was not sufficient to do what the king asked. Daniel turned to God in prayer and asked God to reveal the meaning of the dream to him. Daniel knew that God was the true source of all knowledge. As a result of his faith, God revealed to Daniel Nebuchadnezzar's dream and the meaning of the dream.
We can learn from this illustration from the life of Daniel that all the knowledge we might get from schooling and books is not sufficient. The knowledge that comes from God and His Word is true knowledge and always sufficient to meet our every need. Knowledge without values is like a canoe without oars. In your pursuit of knowledge make sure you look to God for His direction and make sure you develop Biblical values in your understanding of knowledge.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER:
Help me dear Lord to pursue knowledge that will not only honor You but that You may use that knowledge through me to further Your kingdom. Help me to learn Your Word, and as the scripture says, to hide it in my heart so I may not sin against You. Help me to follow Your words to Your disciples when You washed their feet saying: "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."
KNOWLEDGE
DEFINITION:
Acquaintance with facts, truths or principles; the fact or state of knowing; the sum of what has been learned or discovered.
SCRIPTURE:
Wise people store up knowledge. Proverbs 10:14.
It is not good for a soul to be without knowledge. Proverbs 19:2.
But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who possess it. Ecclesiastics 7:12.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Knowledge is not the same thing as wisdom. We have a lot of knowledge in this world, but real wisdom is scarce. Knowledge is knowing the truth, the facts and the principles. Wisdom is discernment and understanding in the use of our knowledge. Wisdom and knowledge come only to those who seek it.
In the book of Proverbs chapter two and verses three to five it reads: "If you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD." God is the source of all knowledge and understanding. Knowing God is the key to wisdom.
It is interesting to note that when God planted a garden in Eden he included a tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Geneses 2:9). From the beginning of time, God was the source of knowledge. Before they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve knew only good. Satan told Eve that if she ate the fruit from the tree, her eyes would be opened and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. Adam and Eve had the knowledge of good and received the knowledge of evil by doing evil and they suffered the disastrous consequences. The lesson for us is to make sure we pursue the right kind of knowledge.
Knowledge comes to us in various ways. We learn from schooling, reading books, and observing life experiences. Education equips us and helps us gain earthly knowledge. But it is more important for us to depend on the knowledge and wisdom that comes from God, through His Word, because it is based on truth and does not change.
We read in the Old Testament about Daniel. After Daniel was taken captive to Babylonia, he was chosen by King Nebuchadnezzar to be taught the Babylonian culture. We read in Daniel 1:17 that God gave him knowledge and understanding in all kinds of literature and wisdom.
When the King had a dream that troubled him he called in all his magicians, sorcerers and astrologers and demanded that they not only tell him what the dream meant but to tell him in full the dream. When they told the king that no man could do what he demanded of them, the king ordered them to be executed. When Daniel heard about what the king was doing he went to the king and asked for some time so that he might be able to interpret the dream.
Daniel realized that all of the education that he had been given was not sufficient to do what the king asked. Daniel turned to God in prayer and asked God to reveal the meaning of the dream to him. Daniel knew that God was the true source of all knowledge. As a result of his faith, God revealed to Daniel Nebuchadnezzar's dream and the meaning of the dream.
We can learn from this illustration from the life of Daniel that all the knowledge we might get from schooling and books is not sufficient. The knowledge that comes from God and His Word is true knowledge and always sufficient to meet our every need. Knowledge without values is like a canoe without oars. In your pursuit of knowledge make sure you look to God for His direction and make sure you develop Biblical values in your understanding of knowledge.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER:
Help me dear Lord to pursue knowledge that will not only honor You but that You may use that knowledge through me to further Your kingdom. Help me to learn Your Word, and as the scripture says, to hide it in my heart so I may not sin against You. Help me to follow Your words to Your disciples when You washed their feet saying: "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."
Justice: October 23, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2013.
JUSTICE
DEFINITION:
The quality of being just, true or correct; conformity to moral principles or law; merited reward or punishment; fairness; equity.
SCRIPTURE:
For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:9
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In Proverbs 1:3 we are told that we are to receive from God the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment and equity. These standards are very consistent with the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses. In Psalm 82:3 we read that we are to defend the poor and needy and do justice to the offended.
Justice comes from God. God says that "By me Kings reign and rulers declare justice." (Proverbs 8:15) Do our rulers, leaders in government realize this today? We do not think they govern with this in mind.
The scriptures have much to say about God and justice. Justice is part of God’s nature. Moses tells us that God is upright and just and all His ways are just. Deuteronomy 32:4. In Isaiah 61:8 it reads: "For I the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery and inequity." And in Isaiah 30: 18 it reads: "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice."
We need to remember that God is not only a just God but a compassionate and forgiving God. He does not want anyone to perish. He has provided justice to all through His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore it becomes our choice as to how we will be judged following our death and when we face the judgment seat of God.
"And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice and quickly." Luke 18:7-8. It does seem like there is so much injustice in this world. It seems, to many, that God is doing nothing about the injustice and certainly not as quick as many desire. These verses assure us that God is paying attention to those who cry out to Him. In His perfect timing He will see that those who love Him will get justice for the injustice done to them.
We must remind you that we are born into this world as sinners. Because of this we will each one be judged by God. We can be thankful that our Lord God is not only a just God but He is a merciful God. How grateful we should be that God, because of His mercy, does not give us what we justly deserve. It is because of God's mercy that He sent His Son into the world to pay our penalty for our sins.
There is no other way for us to escape eternal judgment other than through Jesus. The scripture makes it very clear in John 14:6: when Jesus said to Thomas, one of His disciples: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
There are no other options; either we except Jesus as our personal Savior or we reject Him. If we reject Him, then we face judgment and will spend an eternity in Hell. Eternal judgment is terrible and most people do not take it seriously. Some say that God would never send one to hell, and He does not. He gives us the option so it is our choice, not His.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER:
Thank You Lord that You are a just God and a merciful God who does not want anyone to perish because of their sins. Thank You God that You sent Your only Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. Help me to live a life that honors You so that others may see Christ through me and realize the importance of accepting God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
JUSTICE
DEFINITION:
The quality of being just, true or correct; conformity to moral principles or law; merited reward or punishment; fairness; equity.
SCRIPTURE:
For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:9
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In Proverbs 1:3 we are told that we are to receive from God the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment and equity. These standards are very consistent with the Ten Commandments that God gave Moses. In Psalm 82:3 we read that we are to defend the poor and needy and do justice to the offended.
Justice comes from God. God says that "By me Kings reign and rulers declare justice." (Proverbs 8:15) Do our rulers, leaders in government realize this today? We do not think they govern with this in mind.
The scriptures have much to say about God and justice. Justice is part of God’s nature. Moses tells us that God is upright and just and all His ways are just. Deuteronomy 32:4. In Isaiah 61:8 it reads: "For I the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery and inequity." And in Isaiah 30: 18 it reads: "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice."
We need to remember that God is not only a just God but a compassionate and forgiving God. He does not want anyone to perish. He has provided justice to all through His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore it becomes our choice as to how we will be judged following our death and when we face the judgment seat of God.
"And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice and quickly." Luke 18:7-8. It does seem like there is so much injustice in this world. It seems, to many, that God is doing nothing about the injustice and certainly not as quick as many desire. These verses assure us that God is paying attention to those who cry out to Him. In His perfect timing He will see that those who love Him will get justice for the injustice done to them.
We must remind you that we are born into this world as sinners. Because of this we will each one be judged by God. We can be thankful that our Lord God is not only a just God but He is a merciful God. How grateful we should be that God, because of His mercy, does not give us what we justly deserve. It is because of God's mercy that He sent His Son into the world to pay our penalty for our sins.
There is no other way for us to escape eternal judgment other than through Jesus. The scripture makes it very clear in John 14:6: when Jesus said to Thomas, one of His disciples: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
There are no other options; either we except Jesus as our personal Savior or we reject Him. If we reject Him, then we face judgment and will spend an eternity in Hell. Eternal judgment is terrible and most people do not take it seriously. Some say that God would never send one to hell, and He does not. He gives us the option so it is our choice, not His.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER:
Thank You Lord that You are a just God and a merciful God who does not want anyone to perish because of their sins. Thank You God that You sent Your only Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. Help me to live a life that honors You so that others may see Christ through me and realize the importance of accepting God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Ethics: October 22, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2013.
ETHICS
DEFINITION:
Rules of moral conduct; the body of moral principles or values held by or governing a culture group or individual; moral principles.
SCRIPTURE:
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days says the Lord: I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Hebrews 8:10.
You will be accepted if you do what is [ethical] right. But if you refuse to do what is [ethical] right, then watch out. Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you, but you must subdue it and be its master. Genesis 4:7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Over the past few years the moral values of our country have steadily declined. Unfortunately, this is no different today than in other eras of history. Today the Bible cannot be read and the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in public schools. The Ten Commandments have been banned from display in government offices and public places. We are living in a society that has chosen to put aside Gods standards of ethics.
This has happened because most people today have rejected Gods ethical standards of living (The Ten Commandments), choosing to set their own standards of right and wrong. They put their own interests first and choose to do as they see fit. When we look back in history, even in the Old Testament we see that man's sinful nature has not changed with time. In Judges 17:6 we read that not long after the death of Joshua, all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. This is exactly what we are seeing today in America.
Have we forgotten that God gave Moses, to give to us, the Ten Commandments for a reason? Because of our sinful nature man has the ability to devise all sorts of evil. Laws and regulations are necessary to keep man's evilness in check. God created us and He wants what is best for us. He knows how we should live in order to be content and fulfilled. The Ten Commandments are like a measuring stick to help us be what God wants us to be.
God took Moses up on to the mountain top and gave him a code of ethics for us to live by. These are the most complete and important list of ethics that has ever been known to man. These commandments, as listed in Exodus chapter 20, cover every detail that one needs to live a Christ centered life, even in today's world. They are as relevant today as they were when God gave them to Moses.
In the New Testament (Matthew 22:37-38) Jesus adds to this list two more commandments. They are:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
God expects us to live by His standards of ethics and not by what we think is right. The scripture tells us in Proverbs 14:12 that there is a consequence for doing things our way. "There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death."
From our early childhood days we were taught to obey God's standards of ethics. One day when I (Dottie) was about 8 years old, I walked to a neighborhood store on an errand for my mother. I met a neighbor girl, a good friend, in the store and we paid for the items we got and walked out together. On the way home she pulled a candy bar out of her pocket. I knew she must have stolen it as she had not paid for it when we checked out of the store together. This troubled me to the extent that I chose not to associate with her very much after that. You see I had lost trust in her and did not agree with her ethical standards as they differed from what I had been taught by my mother and what I had read in the Bible.
When we do not live by Gods standards and we are unethical, we not only sin against God but we affect how others see us. Sin (breaking God's ethical standards) always has consequences.
We urge you today to make a commitment to first read through THE TEN COMMANDMENTS yourself and then with your family. We also suggest that after you have read through them follow this with a time of discussion with your family as to where you stand in relation to each commandment. Each of us must make a commitment to live daily by this set of ethics that God has given including the two commandments from the New Testament.
One final thought: Take the time to either find a printed version of the Ten Commandments or print it out yourself and place this list in a prominent place in your house where it can be seen daily by all.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER
Thank You Lord that You have given us this code of ethics to live by. Help me to know each of these commandments and to apply each one to my words and deeds daily. Bless my family today and may they not be swayed by those who do not live by Gods standards. Give each one of us the courage to stand up for what we believe and for the one we serve.
ETHICS
DEFINITION:
Rules of moral conduct; the body of moral principles or values held by or governing a culture group or individual; moral principles.
SCRIPTURE:
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days says the Lord: I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Hebrews 8:10.
You will be accepted if you do what is [ethical] right. But if you refuse to do what is [ethical] right, then watch out. Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you, but you must subdue it and be its master. Genesis 4:7.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Over the past few years the moral values of our country have steadily declined. Unfortunately, this is no different today than in other eras of history. Today the Bible cannot be read and the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in public schools. The Ten Commandments have been banned from display in government offices and public places. We are living in a society that has chosen to put aside Gods standards of ethics.
This has happened because most people today have rejected Gods ethical standards of living (The Ten Commandments), choosing to set their own standards of right and wrong. They put their own interests first and choose to do as they see fit. When we look back in history, even in the Old Testament we see that man's sinful nature has not changed with time. In Judges 17:6 we read that not long after the death of Joshua, all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. This is exactly what we are seeing today in America.
Have we forgotten that God gave Moses, to give to us, the Ten Commandments for a reason? Because of our sinful nature man has the ability to devise all sorts of evil. Laws and regulations are necessary to keep man's evilness in check. God created us and He wants what is best for us. He knows how we should live in order to be content and fulfilled. The Ten Commandments are like a measuring stick to help us be what God wants us to be.
God took Moses up on to the mountain top and gave him a code of ethics for us to live by. These are the most complete and important list of ethics that has ever been known to man. These commandments, as listed in Exodus chapter 20, cover every detail that one needs to live a Christ centered life, even in today's world. They are as relevant today as they were when God gave them to Moses.
In the New Testament (Matthew 22:37-38) Jesus adds to this list two more commandments. They are:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
God expects us to live by His standards of ethics and not by what we think is right. The scripture tells us in Proverbs 14:12 that there is a consequence for doing things our way. "There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death."
From our early childhood days we were taught to obey God's standards of ethics. One day when I (Dottie) was about 8 years old, I walked to a neighborhood store on an errand for my mother. I met a neighbor girl, a good friend, in the store and we paid for the items we got and walked out together. On the way home she pulled a candy bar out of her pocket. I knew she must have stolen it as she had not paid for it when we checked out of the store together. This troubled me to the extent that I chose not to associate with her very much after that. You see I had lost trust in her and did not agree with her ethical standards as they differed from what I had been taught by my mother and what I had read in the Bible.
When we do not live by Gods standards and we are unethical, we not only sin against God but we affect how others see us. Sin (breaking God's ethical standards) always has consequences.
We urge you today to make a commitment to first read through THE TEN COMMANDMENTS yourself and then with your family. We also suggest that after you have read through them follow this with a time of discussion with your family as to where you stand in relation to each commandment. Each of us must make a commitment to live daily by this set of ethics that God has given including the two commandments from the New Testament.
One final thought: Take the time to either find a printed version of the Ten Commandments or print it out yourself and place this list in a prominent place in your house where it can be seen daily by all.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER
Thank You Lord that You have given us this code of ethics to live by. Help me to know each of these commandments and to apply each one to my words and deeds daily. Bless my family today and may they not be swayed by those who do not live by Gods standards. Give each one of us the courage to stand up for what we believe and for the one we serve.
Eternity: October 21, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 21, 2013.
ETERNITY
DEFINITION:
Infinite time; duration without beginning or end; endless period of time.
SCRIPTURE:
That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:15.
For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Have you ever tried to imagine what eternity is like? It is very difficult for our finite minds to grasp the concept of our life going on and on with no end. On earth, things have a beginning and an ending. Sometimes when we have to stand in a line we say it seems like an eternity. It may seem long but really it is relatively short and it has an ending. Our life on this earth has a beginning and an ending, but when we leave this earth we have an eternity ahead of us with absolutely no ending.
So the question we must ask you is: "Where will you spend your eternity?" This is a question we all have to answer and it is the most important decision you will have to make during your entire lifetime. We both personally answered that question before we were ten years old.
These two verses, written above, clearly present the choice we each must make about eternity. The one choice you have is to accept Jesus as your personal Savior and receive God's gift of eternal life. God freely offers this choice to you because Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and now He is in heaven preparing a place for you for eternity.
The second choice you have is to do nothing about Jesus and ignore the issue. Ignoring the issue does not make the issue go away. A non-decision about Jesus is still a decision. There is no in between. If you do not accept Jesus free gift of salvation you then have made your choice to spend an eternity in Hell. We hear it said over and over again, “I will make that decision later," but later may be too late.
And the third choice is to reject Jesus and God. This choice comes with a price, as the verse above says, "the wages of sin is death" so without that personal relationship with God you will spend an eternity in Hell. It is that simple and clear, so the decision is yours.
You do not hear many sermons in church today about Hell. It is not a popular subject to talk about and pastors are fearful it will turn people away from church. People just do not want to face the fact that their un-forgiven sins will bring condemnation to them. It is impossible to preach the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ and ignore the fact that there is a real hell. But many pastors do preach on Heaven and Hell and their churches are growing because the message of Heaven or Hell stirs people to acknowledge they are sinners and to make a decision for Jesus. Those who accept Jesus as their Savior desire to stay in the church so they can grow in Christ.
People are searching for real hope and peace in their lives and the only way to have real peace and joy is to know where one will spend eternity. The decision of accepting or rejecting Jesus is the most vital decision one can make today. Nothing is more relevant than eternity. Our question to you today is: "Have you made that choice?" Your eternity is at stake. Will you spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven or with the devil in Hell?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank You that I can be certain that I will spend eternity with You in heaven because I have accepted you as my Savior. May I also be diligent today to share my faith with my family, friends and associates so that they may know that they have a decision to make on where they will spend eternity.
ETERNITY
DEFINITION:
Infinite time; duration without beginning or end; endless period of time.
SCRIPTURE:
That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:15.
For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Have you ever tried to imagine what eternity is like? It is very difficult for our finite minds to grasp the concept of our life going on and on with no end. On earth, things have a beginning and an ending. Sometimes when we have to stand in a line we say it seems like an eternity. It may seem long but really it is relatively short and it has an ending. Our life on this earth has a beginning and an ending, but when we leave this earth we have an eternity ahead of us with absolutely no ending.
So the question we must ask you is: "Where will you spend your eternity?" This is a question we all have to answer and it is the most important decision you will have to make during your entire lifetime. We both personally answered that question before we were ten years old.
These two verses, written above, clearly present the choice we each must make about eternity. The one choice you have is to accept Jesus as your personal Savior and receive God's gift of eternal life. God freely offers this choice to you because Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and now He is in heaven preparing a place for you for eternity.
The second choice you have is to do nothing about Jesus and ignore the issue. Ignoring the issue does not make the issue go away. A non-decision about Jesus is still a decision. There is no in between. If you do not accept Jesus free gift of salvation you then have made your choice to spend an eternity in Hell. We hear it said over and over again, “I will make that decision later," but later may be too late.
And the third choice is to reject Jesus and God. This choice comes with a price, as the verse above says, "the wages of sin is death" so without that personal relationship with God you will spend an eternity in Hell. It is that simple and clear, so the decision is yours.
You do not hear many sermons in church today about Hell. It is not a popular subject to talk about and pastors are fearful it will turn people away from church. People just do not want to face the fact that their un-forgiven sins will bring condemnation to them. It is impossible to preach the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ and ignore the fact that there is a real hell. But many pastors do preach on Heaven and Hell and their churches are growing because the message of Heaven or Hell stirs people to acknowledge they are sinners and to make a decision for Jesus. Those who accept Jesus as their Savior desire to stay in the church so they can grow in Christ.
People are searching for real hope and peace in their lives and the only way to have real peace and joy is to know where one will spend eternity. The decision of accepting or rejecting Jesus is the most vital decision one can make today. Nothing is more relevant than eternity. Our question to you today is: "Have you made that choice?" Your eternity is at stake. Will you spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven or with the devil in Hell?
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Galatians 2:21.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank You that I can be certain that I will spend eternity with You in heaven because I have accepted you as my Savior. May I also be diligent today to share my faith with my family, friends and associates so that they may know that they have a decision to make on where they will spend eternity.
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