TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2014.
TRUTH
DEFINITION:
A fact; reality; actuality.
SCRIPTURE:
Jesus said to the Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
There is so much deceit and deception in this world that it is very difficult at times to know if you are hearing or reading the truth. When we read the newspaper, listen to the radio or watch television it seems that most people in the news today have no understanding about the importance of telling the truth.
We also notice that this is now prevalent in many homes. One of the most difficult situations in the lives of adults and parents today is to know whether their children, their spouse or their neighbors are telling the truth. This is very unfortunate, but it is true because of the evil and sinful nature of the world we live in.
There is a way to build truth into your life. The one sure way is to become grounded in the scriptures. In other words to read the Bible daily, study the passage you read and then pray that God would make that portion relative to you.
A good illustration that we want to share with you is comparing learning the truth from the Bible to learning the details of the job where you are working. When you begin a new job or a new project at home or at school, you are trained. You are given detailed instructions as to how you are to accomplish what is expected of you. You read the orders over and over, if necessary until you fully understand what you are expected to do.
The same is true when you study the Bible. To find the truth read it over and over until God makes it clear to you what is the truth that you are looking for. Some people that believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior have accepted erroneous ideas as truth because they have not incorporated the truth that is written in the scriptures into their hearts and mind.
You need a real desire and a solid commitment if you are going to let God’s Word shape your mind, emotions and will. The way to begin is to think of an area of need in your life and then find a passage in the Bible that addresses that need. For example if someone has hurt you look for verses on forgiveness. You can look in a concordance or in the subject section in the back of your Bible under the word forgiveness.
As you read these verses look for Instructions from God and then begin to do what He says. The awesome thing about the Bible is that there is no area of life or human experience that the Bible does not address. If we let the truths of the scriptures fill our minds, guard our emotions and influence our conduct, God will richly reward us with His blessings on our lives. By reading and meditating on His Word you will learn to understand His ways and the more you know Him the more you will love Him.
May we suggest, if you are struggling knowing the truth, to keep with you a list of the Ten Commandments. Every time you face an issue look at this list and you will find a commandment that fits. What better way is there to find the truth in today’s world. A life grounded in truth, as given to us in God’s Word, is powerful and you will learn spiritual discernment which will guide your choices and guard you against deception.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
Help me to build truth into my life so that I can know that You are guarding my emotions and feelings and so You can overpower whatever may be holding me captive.
September 14, 2014
Perseverance: September 11, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2014.
PERSEVERANCE
DEFINITION:
Persist in something undertaken; to diligently persist in the pursuit of something in spite of obstacles or opposition; patient endurance of hardship.
SCRIPTURE:
Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4.
LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE:
Have you ever watched a bird try to build a nest in a tree? We have watched as a bird would carry dry grass and twigs, one piece at a time into the spot in the tree that they had chosen for their nest. It is painstaking work and takes perseverance, but the bird perseveres until the nest is built. Sometimes strong winds blow the nest away and soon the bird must begin the process all over again.
The perseverance of the birds in building their nests is inspiring. You can almost catch yourself cheering for the bird because it is a huge project for a small bird and yet they do not stop until the job is done. Recently we had a humming bird build a nest in a bush in front of our house. We have watched as the two little eggs have hatched and the mother bird faithfully perseveres in caring for her tiny babies.
Trying to live a Christ-honoring life in the world we live in today can leave us frustrated and discouraged. As believers in Jesus we need to learn how to persevere in doing the things that God wants us to do. Many people today are facing insurmountable hardships including the loss of a job, the loss of a home and families that are in great turmoil. But God does not want us to give up. He wants us to persevere.
Satan is alive and well in this sinful world. We can expect trouble and tribulation, especially as a believer. In times of difficulty it is easy to think that God has forgotten us. This is not the case. God never forgets us. Often when times are good it is we who tend to forget God. It is when times are tough that we most need to depend on God to help us through our difficulties.
God will empower us to keep on going even when we cannot see the resolution of our problems. In many situations God is using a seemingly insurmountable challenge in our life to produce perseverance. And as the verse says, that we have written above, perseverance will produce in us character and through character, hope.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:9 not to grow “weary while doing good.” Paul then goes on to tell us not to give up. We are to persevere in everything we do and put all that we are going through in His hands and He will get us through every situation. Paul knew from experience that if we persevere and we do not give up, in due time we will reap a harvest of blessing.
When others around you suggest that you give up on a situation do not let them discourage you. Put everything in God’s hands then hope will whisper to you, “Try one more time.” Try it and we can assure you God will not fail you.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
Help me get through the trials that I may face today that may burden me down and tempt me to consider giving up. Give me perseverance to overcome strife and keep me faithful to You for the assurance that I have that with Christ I can have victory and that Satan cannot defeat me.
PERSEVERANCE
DEFINITION:
Persist in something undertaken; to diligently persist in the pursuit of something in spite of obstacles or opposition; patient endurance of hardship.
SCRIPTURE:
Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4.
LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE:
Have you ever watched a bird try to build a nest in a tree? We have watched as a bird would carry dry grass and twigs, one piece at a time into the spot in the tree that they had chosen for their nest. It is painstaking work and takes perseverance, but the bird perseveres until the nest is built. Sometimes strong winds blow the nest away and soon the bird must begin the process all over again.
The perseverance of the birds in building their nests is inspiring. You can almost catch yourself cheering for the bird because it is a huge project for a small bird and yet they do not stop until the job is done. Recently we had a humming bird build a nest in a bush in front of our house. We have watched as the two little eggs have hatched and the mother bird faithfully perseveres in caring for her tiny babies.
Trying to live a Christ-honoring life in the world we live in today can leave us frustrated and discouraged. As believers in Jesus we need to learn how to persevere in doing the things that God wants us to do. Many people today are facing insurmountable hardships including the loss of a job, the loss of a home and families that are in great turmoil. But God does not want us to give up. He wants us to persevere.
Satan is alive and well in this sinful world. We can expect trouble and tribulation, especially as a believer. In times of difficulty it is easy to think that God has forgotten us. This is not the case. God never forgets us. Often when times are good it is we who tend to forget God. It is when times are tough that we most need to depend on God to help us through our difficulties.
God will empower us to keep on going even when we cannot see the resolution of our problems. In many situations God is using a seemingly insurmountable challenge in our life to produce perseverance. And as the verse says, that we have written above, perseverance will produce in us character and through character, hope.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:9 not to grow “weary while doing good.” Paul then goes on to tell us not to give up. We are to persevere in everything we do and put all that we are going through in His hands and He will get us through every situation. Paul knew from experience that if we persevere and we do not give up, in due time we will reap a harvest of blessing.
When others around you suggest that you give up on a situation do not let them discourage you. Put everything in God’s hands then hope will whisper to you, “Try one more time.” Try it and we can assure you God will not fail you.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
Help me get through the trials that I may face today that may burden me down and tempt me to consider giving up. Give me perseverance to overcome strife and keep me faithful to You for the assurance that I have that with Christ I can have victory and that Satan cannot defeat me.
Motive: September 10, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10 2014.
MOTIVE
DEFINITION:
Intention; a determining impulse; the goal or object of a person’s action.
SCRIPTURE:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me. Psalm 139:23-24.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Recently it was brought to our attention several times of situations where a person was overpowering in trying to help someone in need and the results were not positive.
It is very important to note that we encourage you, because the scripture encourages us, to be helpful to people in need. Most believers ignore the needy but God wants us to reach out to help the needy.
With that in mind let us share with you several words of caution.
Have you ever thought that you could be too helpful to someone? Have you really thought about your true motive when you reach out to help a person in need? Our helpfulness can actually make life more difficult for the person we are trying to help, especially if our motive is wrong. Your response probably is that that is impossible. Let us explain what we think.
If you are bothersome to someone that you are helping by being too available to the point of being intrusive you could be hurting instead of helping your relationship with that person. Possibly you are smothering, manipulative or controlling when you try to help that person. What we do to help others should never stem from a desire to make ourselves look good or feel good.
If the help we are giving is driven by our own insecurities, we may be just trying to make ourselves look good and give ourselves a “pat on the back.” This is why we need to take a real good look at our motive as to why we are helping someone. In Proverbs 21:2 it reads, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
We encourage you to look carefully at your reasons for helping someone before you act. Does your desire to help come from a pure heart? Our motives should always be to bring glory to God and not to ourselves.
We should always pray first, for God’s direction. In prayer we can ask God to show us any way we are hurting or hindering others. The scripture we have written above would be a good prayer for you to pray. God will answer your prayer.
If you have a concern that you may be over stepping your welcome with someone, we suggest you ask God to help you show love to that person that “suffers long and is kind --- and is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil,” as it is written in I Corinthians 13:4-5.
Keep asking the Lord to help you to show love with pure motives and for the good of others and not yourself.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
PRAYER:
Help me, Lord, to act and think today with proper motives. It is my prayer that You will reveal the sins in my life, that would affect my motives, so that I can help others with pure motives and with the love in my heart that only you can give.
MOTIVE
DEFINITION:
Intention; a determining impulse; the goal or object of a person’s action.
SCRIPTURE:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me. Psalm 139:23-24.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Recently it was brought to our attention several times of situations where a person was overpowering in trying to help someone in need and the results were not positive.
It is very important to note that we encourage you, because the scripture encourages us, to be helpful to people in need. Most believers ignore the needy but God wants us to reach out to help the needy.
With that in mind let us share with you several words of caution.
Have you ever thought that you could be too helpful to someone? Have you really thought about your true motive when you reach out to help a person in need? Our helpfulness can actually make life more difficult for the person we are trying to help, especially if our motive is wrong. Your response probably is that that is impossible. Let us explain what we think.
If you are bothersome to someone that you are helping by being too available to the point of being intrusive you could be hurting instead of helping your relationship with that person. Possibly you are smothering, manipulative or controlling when you try to help that person. What we do to help others should never stem from a desire to make ourselves look good or feel good.
If the help we are giving is driven by our own insecurities, we may be just trying to make ourselves look good and give ourselves a “pat on the back.” This is why we need to take a real good look at our motive as to why we are helping someone. In Proverbs 21:2 it reads, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
We encourage you to look carefully at your reasons for helping someone before you act. Does your desire to help come from a pure heart? Our motives should always be to bring glory to God and not to ourselves.
We should always pray first, for God’s direction. In prayer we can ask God to show us any way we are hurting or hindering others. The scripture we have written above would be a good prayer for you to pray. God will answer your prayer.
If you have a concern that you may be over stepping your welcome with someone, we suggest you ask God to help you show love to that person that “suffers long and is kind --- and is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil,” as it is written in I Corinthians 13:4-5.
Keep asking the Lord to help you to show love with pure motives and for the good of others and not yourself.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
PRAYER:
Help me, Lord, to act and think today with proper motives. It is my prayer that You will reveal the sins in my life, that would affect my motives, so that I can help others with pure motives and with the love in my heart that only you can give.
Unexpected: September 9, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2014.
UNEXPECTED
DEFINITION:
A happening that is not anticipated; unforeseen; unplanned.
SCRIPTURE:
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for You to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the teacher says that His appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with My disciples at your house.” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. Matthew 26:17-19.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In the above verse notice that the man is not identified. But this certain unnamed man had an unexpected opportunity. His Messiah, the Lord Jesus, was going to celebrate a very important religious event at his house.
Look what this unexpected opportunity meant to this unnamed man. First, he was given the opportunity to make a difference. Jesus needed a place and chose his home and by responding he made a difference for Jesus and His disciples.
Secondly, this man was able to use what he had for the good of others. He had a home that was available and Jesus and His disciples needed a place to celebrate the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.
And finally, this unnamed man got to be part of Gods greater story that was bigger than anything he could do on his own.
Every day we, as believers, need to be alert to seeing the unexpected opportunity and then respond as this man did. Unexpected opportunities come our way daily but most of them pass us by because we are not looking for them.
Often our most significant opportunities come in times and in ways that we least expect them. Although they may take us by surprise we must always be prepared to serve when God gives us the opportunity. God brings unexpected opportunities to those who are in a right relationship with the Lord and who are always ready and willing to serve Him.
God has so much that He wants to do for us. There is a world of opportunities, literally, just waiting for us to respond to. It may be a family need or a neighbor that is lonely and hurting. It may be an opportunity in your church that is looking for leadership just like what you are capable to handle. It may be at your work place or at nursing home.
Begin today to look for the unexpected and then see what God will do.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
Open my eyes that I may see unexpected opportunities to serve You. Help me to be willing to reach out to someone in need that can use any talent that You have given me.
UNEXPECTED
DEFINITION:
A happening that is not anticipated; unforeseen; unplanned.
SCRIPTURE:
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for You to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the teacher says that His appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with My disciples at your house.” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. Matthew 26:17-19.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In the above verse notice that the man is not identified. But this certain unnamed man had an unexpected opportunity. His Messiah, the Lord Jesus, was going to celebrate a very important religious event at his house.
Look what this unexpected opportunity meant to this unnamed man. First, he was given the opportunity to make a difference. Jesus needed a place and chose his home and by responding he made a difference for Jesus and His disciples.
Secondly, this man was able to use what he had for the good of others. He had a home that was available and Jesus and His disciples needed a place to celebrate the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.
And finally, this unnamed man got to be part of Gods greater story that was bigger than anything he could do on his own.
Every day we, as believers, need to be alert to seeing the unexpected opportunity and then respond as this man did. Unexpected opportunities come our way daily but most of them pass us by because we are not looking for them.
Often our most significant opportunities come in times and in ways that we least expect them. Although they may take us by surprise we must always be prepared to serve when God gives us the opportunity. God brings unexpected opportunities to those who are in a right relationship with the Lord and who are always ready and willing to serve Him.
God has so much that He wants to do for us. There is a world of opportunities, literally, just waiting for us to respond to. It may be a family need or a neighbor that is lonely and hurting. It may be an opportunity in your church that is looking for leadership just like what you are capable to handle. It may be at your work place or at nursing home.
Begin today to look for the unexpected and then see what God will do.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
Open my eyes that I may see unexpected opportunities to serve You. Help me to be willing to reach out to someone in need that can use any talent that You have given me.
Worship: September 8, 2014
TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2014.
WORSHIP
DEFINITION:
Reverent honor paid to God; adoring reverence or regard; to express praise and devotion.
SCRIPTURE:
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshipping Him. II Chronicles 20:18.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In this passage from II Chronicles we read about the tremendous word that King Jehoshaphat received from God through Jahaziel, the Levite. Just after learning that three armies had joined together to wage war against Judah, the message (verse 17) to the king and to his people was that they did not have to fight this battle because the Lord would be with them.
When this message of assurance came to King Jehoshaphat he was so overcome with gratitude that he bowed his head with his face to the ground and worshipped God. The people of Judah followed their King and showed the type of reverence in their worship which is said to be in awe, respect and love.
It is awesome to note that this all took place before the battle had even begun. Before the victory came their way the king and his people fell on their faces and worshipped the Lord.
Early the next morning they went out to meet the vast army coming to attack them. As they marched they continued worshipping and praising God saying, “Give thanks to the Lord for His love endures forever.” What a contrast: One army shouting their battle threats and the other singing their praises to God.
The rest of the story is that God caused the enemy armies to turn on each other. When the army of Judah arrived to battle, they saw only dead bodies on the ground. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the fourth day Jehoshaphat and his men assembled together to worship and praise the Lord.
Worship deepens our faith and leads us to victorious living no matter what our circumstances.
Way back in Deuteronomy 6:13 we read that Moses instructed the Children of Israel to fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. Moses was fearful that they would forget God when they became prosperous. Moses gave the Children no option but to obey and worship God.
To disobey God would lead to their destruction. Israel continually turned away from God and it lead to their destruction over and over again.
In Psalm 66:4 the psalmist reminds us, “All the earth will worship You, and will sing praises to You; they will sing praises to Your name.
What a blessed opportunity we have to stop every day and take the time to worship God. Is this a habit in your life? Unfortunately most believers today take very little time to worship God. Many worship God in the church service they attend but what about in your daily communication with God. If you are weak in this area begin today and worship God during your quiet time with Him Praise Him for His enduring love because all we have has come from Him.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23.
For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
What an awesome privilege we have to worship You. Help us to remember that true worship exalts God to His rightful place in our lives. Thank You for Your enduring love for me.
WORSHIP
DEFINITION:
Reverent honor paid to God; adoring reverence or regard; to express praise and devotion.
SCRIPTURE:
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshipping Him. II Chronicles 20:18.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
In this passage from II Chronicles we read about the tremendous word that King Jehoshaphat received from God through Jahaziel, the Levite. Just after learning that three armies had joined together to wage war against Judah, the message (verse 17) to the king and to his people was that they did not have to fight this battle because the Lord would be with them.
When this message of assurance came to King Jehoshaphat he was so overcome with gratitude that he bowed his head with his face to the ground and worshipped God. The people of Judah followed their King and showed the type of reverence in their worship which is said to be in awe, respect and love.
It is awesome to note that this all took place before the battle had even begun. Before the victory came their way the king and his people fell on their faces and worshipped the Lord.
Early the next morning they went out to meet the vast army coming to attack them. As they marched they continued worshipping and praising God saying, “Give thanks to the Lord for His love endures forever.” What a contrast: One army shouting their battle threats and the other singing their praises to God.
The rest of the story is that God caused the enemy armies to turn on each other. When the army of Judah arrived to battle, they saw only dead bodies on the ground. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. On the fourth day Jehoshaphat and his men assembled together to worship and praise the Lord.
Worship deepens our faith and leads us to victorious living no matter what our circumstances.
Way back in Deuteronomy 6:13 we read that Moses instructed the Children of Israel to fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. Moses was fearful that they would forget God when they became prosperous. Moses gave the Children no option but to obey and worship God.
To disobey God would lead to their destruction. Israel continually turned away from God and it lead to their destruction over and over again.
In Psalm 66:4 the psalmist reminds us, “All the earth will worship You, and will sing praises to You; they will sing praises to Your name.
What a blessed opportunity we have to stop every day and take the time to worship God. Is this a habit in your life? Unfortunately most believers today take very little time to worship God. Many worship God in the church service they attend but what about in your daily communication with God. If you are weak in this area begin today and worship God during your quiet time with Him Praise Him for His enduring love because all we have has come from Him.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 6:23.
For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER:
What an awesome privilege we have to worship You. Help us to remember that true worship exalts God to His rightful place in our lives. Thank You for Your enduring love for me.
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