Trials: June 19, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY JUNE 19, 2015.
TRIALS

DEFINITION:

Being tried or tested; subjected to suffering or grief; distress; affliction or trouble; a wearing or annoying thing or person.

SCRIPTURE:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Do not be surprised at the terrible trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you. I Peter 4:12.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Life for most people today is a series of trials. We do not know how stormy today will be when we wake up but we do know that we will face trials. In this life we all will have trials. Everyone does but those who have put their faith in Jesus have the promise of God that He will go with him or her through every trial we face. We can be sure of this because He has declared we are His. Isaiah 43:1

God did not promise us that we would live in a “Garden of Roses” when we became Christians. One thing we can be certain about is that if we have Jesus in our lives, our day will be victorious and our future secure. Jesus has not failed us in the past and He will not fail us today or in all of our tomorrows.

The Apostle Paul suffered many trials during his life and on his missionary journeys. He was beaten. He was thrown in prison. While preaching in Macedonia and testifying about his faith to the Jews, they became so abusive to him that Paul just gave up on them and was ready to leave town. Then the Lord appeared to Paul and said for him not to be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent, for I am with you (Acts 18:9-10). As a result Paul stayed there for one year and a half preaching the Word of God every day to the Jews.

No trial is too large for God not to intervene and no person is too small for God to not give His attention to. During trials in our lives if we put the trial in God’s hands, that is when God prepares to do something wonderful through our lives.

When God plans to do something big in one’s life He often begins with an impossibility generated by a trial or difficulty. Happiness keeps you sweet. Trials keep you strong. Sorrows keep you human. Failures keep you humble. Success keeps you glowing. BUT ONLY GOD KEEPS YOU GOING!

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.

PRAYER:

Thank You that Your Word assures us that You are with us through every trial that we may face today. When life gets difficult keep me faithful in serving You no matter what trial I might have to endure.  Protect our family and keep us faithful to live a life that honors and glorifies Your Son, our Lord and Savior.

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Treasure: June 18, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY JUNE 18, 2015.
TREASURE

DEFINITION:

Accumulation of money or jewels, anything prized highly; to regard or treat as precious; to cherish; that which is deemed valuable whether spiritual or physical.

SCRIPTURE:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupts, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts and where thieves do not break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Let us begin today with several thoughts in regards to investing in earthly treasures or heavenly treasures. In today’s society this has become a major issue. It is major because very few people are concerned about heavenly treasures.

The problem with earthly treasures is that they are subject to deterioration and can be stolen as the verse above reminds us. Heavenly treasures cannot be taken away because they are eternal.

Someone once said that what I hoard in this life, I lose; but what I give in this life to spiritual situations, I keep. We cannot take our earthly treasures with us when we die, but we can send them ahead by sharing and caring for others and supporting the Lord’s kingdom work. It is by our acts of obedience to God that we lay up treasures in heaven.

We also need to remember that if our riches, our treasures, are here on this earth our heart will be bound to this world’s system. If your riches are in heaven, you will seek those things which are above and use the things of this world to the glory of God.

The Apostle Paul adds to these thoughts in the verse we have put above from Matthew 6 when he wrote to the church at Colossae. In Colossians 3:1-2 he says that if then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting, at the right hand of God. He went on to say to set your mind on things above, not on things of earth.

This world is not our home. Heaven is our eternal home. When we set our minds on things above we will concentrate on things eternal, not on the things of this world which are temporal. When we seek those things which are above means we are seeking to do what Jesus desires of us.

We urge you to take a good look at the time, talent and treasures that God has given you. Are you investing them in heaven?

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.

PRAYER:

Help me to make every moment a time of investing my talents, time and treasures in doing what the Lord desires of me. Help me to lead my family to realize that where our hearts are is where our treasure is. May Your Holy Spirit move mightily in our hearts so that we will honor and glorify Your name.

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Time: June 17, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 17, 2015.
TIME

DEFINITION:

A system of measuring a limited period or interval of duration; a particular period.

SCRIPTURE:

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastics 3:1.

Blessed is he that reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:3.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

God has given us time to first come to know Him and then time to be a witness for Him in the world we live in. In the verse above from Ecclesiastics we are reminded that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. When Jesus was looking for His disciples He was looking for men who would give their time to Him. He was asking for a life-long commitment that began by believing in Him (accepting Him as their Lord and Savior).  The disciples followed Jesus wherever He went and spent day after day with Him listening to His words and learning from Him what Jesus wanted them to be and do. This is what God desires from us today.

A study taken about 10 years ago reported that the average person in America will spend 20 years of their life working at a job, 10 years watching television and music in their home, 6 years of eating, 7 years watching entertainment events outside of their home, 5 years dressing, 1 year on the telephone or cell phone (with all the new gadgets on the cell like texting etc. this figure would be much higher today, 1 year in church (attending and volunteering), and finally 3 years doing nothing or just waiting.

Do you notice that there is no time allotted to reading the Bible and prayer? How can we expect God to protect us, bless us and guide us if we do not let God communicate to us or us to communicate to God? God is never too busy for us and He always is waiting for us to give back to Him a portion of the time He has given us. Plan your time wisely and put God first in your life and in your family and you will see God working in your life.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.

PRAYER:

Help me to schedule my time daily to communicate with You and to be productive in serving You. Give me the leadership to guide my family and friends to serve You, communicate with You and to Love You with all their hearts, soul and mind.

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Trouble: June 16, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY JUNE 16, 2015.
TROUBLE

DEFINITION:

Annoy; disturb mentally or physically; worry; discomfort; distress; a cause or source of affliction.

SCRIPTURE:

The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead. Proverbs 11:8.

Be not far from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help. Psalm 22:11.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Life is not without its trouble. Even good people, yes, even those who are following the Lord are not exempt from problems and troubles. Many people today are running from some sort of trouble. Most of the trouble that they are running from was caused by their own actions. We cannot forget that we are living in an evil society where so often anything goes in life.

In life we have the opportunity to choose one of two paths. The first choice we have is known as the path of righteousness. The second choice is the path of wickedness. Neither path is trouble free. To walk the path of righteousness you have to make a choice to follow Jesus. To walk the path of wickedness you need not do anything. Choosing not to follow Jesus keeps you on the path of wickedness. Since we were all born in sin we will walk in sin until we meet our Savior.

In Psalms 34:18-19 it reads that the Lord is close to the broken-hearted. A righteous man may have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from them all. The wicked by their own sinful ways bring more and more trouble upon themselves.

David was no stranger to trouble and suffering even though he was righteous. In Psalm 22:11 (above), he recognized that God was the one and only one that could deliver him from trouble. He called on God to be near to him because he recognized that no one else could help him.

When you make your decisions based on what you want to do, you will find that there is no right or wrong. Everything you choose to do will seem right in your own eyes. This is how trouble begins in one’s life.

There are so many troubles that we face in life and the only way we can overcome these troubles is when we count on God being our source of help. When troubles overwhelm us our faith can waver and we may even begin to doubt God. This is just what Satan wants us to do. To strengthen our faith we must keep our eyes on Jesus and focus on His power and not on our own inadequacies.

Psalm 60:11-12 clearly states the promise given to us by God. Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. With God we will gain victory, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies whoever they are.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.

PRAYER:

My prayer is that You will stay close to me and give me victory over the troubles of this evil world. Thank You for the assurance from Your Word that You will be with me in times of trouble and that You have the power to deliver me from trouble.

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Truth: June 15, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY JUNE 15, 2015.

TRUTH

DEFINITION:

Conformity with fact or reality; the actual state of a matter; a verified or indisputable fact.

SCRIPTURE:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What is truth?” When Jesus stood on trial before Pilate He said. “For this I came into the world to testify to the truth.” Pilate replied by asking the question, “What is truth?” This is a question debated by man over the centuries.

Truth is commonly defined in this way:

1.    Truth is that which corresponds to reality.

2.    Truth is that which matches its object.

3.    Truth is simply telling it like it is.

There are some who say truth is relative and there is no absolute truth. If truth is relative then how do we know when and where it applies? Some say we can’t know truth but if that is so who or what do we believe in? If there is no absolute truth there is no basis for moral right and wrong. Truth then becomes whatever individuals think it should be to advance their own personal goals. The result would be a world full of chaos and destruction.

Many things can have some truth to it, but absolute truth must have a source from which it is originated and one that is unchanging.

When Jesus was on trial before Pilate, Jesus answered Pilate’s question of interrogation. “I came into this world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me” (John 18:35). Pilate had the truth standing right in front of him but he did not recognize truth. Most people do not want to know truth today and, like Pilate, they do not recognize truth when they see or hear it.

If you really want to know the truth you must listen to what Jesus said in His Word. Jesus is the truth and His Word teaches us His standards for truth and for moral behavior.

If your children ask you, “What is truth?” would you be able to answer them? It is the parent’s responsibility to teach their children that “Jesus is truth.” God has given everyone a conscience to tell right from wrong. Romans 2:14-15 clarifies this for us. Every time we describe something as good or bad, we will imply in our decision process a moral standard that was written by Jesus in the Bible. Many will ignore what the Bible says when they make their decision about what is good or bad.

We need to understand that the Biblical principles are standards of truth originated by an eternal and unchanging God who does not lie. God is truth indeed. Only God who is the creator of all things has the right to define what is wrong or right. Jesus said, “HE IS TRUTH,” and He has that right because he is God’s Son and was sent by God, His Father, to bring truth into the world.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.

PRAYER:

Help me to hide Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Help me to always know what is truth and guide me to teach my children, grandchildren and others to look to You and Your Word for the real truths in life.

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