Scripture for Tuesday, September 19 (9/19)

The scripture for today, September 19, is Acts 9:19f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

worship-the-first-century-way-cover-kindle“He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food he regained his strength.”

This is the story of Saul, as he was known to the Jews and to us as Paul, who became an apostle. Notice the order he did this: He was hungry, but that wasn’t important. He had to do what was important first. He was baptized.

Why was Paul baptized? In Acts 22:16 Paul recalls in his own words that day when he was told, “Get up: be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

Further, notice who baptized him. Was he part of the clergy, someone with an ordained title in the church? Acts 9:10 says, “In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him…Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul.” What title did Ananias have? None. He was just another disciple, disciple simply meaning follower.

Little did this otherwise unknown disciple realize that day, that the person he baptized would end up writing much of the New Testament.

Do you feel as though you are an “unknown disciple” to followers of Jesus around you? Find something to do, and God will make it great.

Scripture for Monday, September 18 (9/18)

The scripture for today, September 18, is Leviticus 9:18ff as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

changes-in-worship-cover-medium“He slaughtered the ox and the ram as the fellowship offering for the people. His sons handed him the blood, and he sprinkled it against the altar on all sides. But the fat portions of the ox and the ram ~ the fat tail, the layer of fat, the kidneys and the covering of the liver ~ these they laid on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh before the Lord as a wave offering, as Moses commanded.”

The Law of Moses did not have just Ten Commandments. It did not just have tithing and meeting on the Sabbath. It had over 600! They were intricate commands that had to be kept exactly. The above is just a small portion of what they were supposed to do for a particular sacrifice.

James 2:10 says, if someone keeps all 600 but breaks one, he is guilty of breaking the whole Law. We have to stone people for adultery and kill animals when we sin. Yet some religious leaders continue to dip back into the Old Law to copy showy types of worship ~ priestly clothing, candles, choirs, trumpets, tithing,  incense, etc. ~ all commanded. But if they do that, they must keep all of the Law of Moses. They can’t just pick and choose which ones they like.

Jesus said it would pass away when all was fulfilled, and he fulfilled it by being the only one to ever keep it perfectly, and fulfilling all the prophecies about him. Hebrews 7-8 say the Old Law passed away and Jesus introduced a New Law.

Old Testament worship was showy and elaborate. New Testament worship is just the opposite.

Mark 14:26 says that after Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper/Communion, “When they had sung a [single] hymn, they went out…”

Acts 2:41-42 says, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week, we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people…”

I Timothy 4:13 says, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.”

Nothing complicated about it. Just simple worship. Worship the way Jesus and his apostles worshiped. The way  God showed us to worship him. Are we worshipping God or ourselves?

Scripture for Saturday, September 9 (9/9)

The scripture for today, September 9 (9/9), is Zechariah 9:9 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Life-Changing-Scriptures-Cover-medium“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Most people think Jesus riding on a donkey made him humble. Not at all. Donkeys and Mules were rides of kings.

Judges 5:9-10 says, “My heart is with Israel’s princes….you who ride on white donkeys.” Supreme Judge Jair led Israel 22 years and had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys (Judges 10:3-4). Supreme Judge Abdon, who ruled Israel 8 years, had 70 sons and grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys (Judges 12:14).

II Samuel 18:9 says Absalom, King David’s son, rode on a mule. In I Kings 1:33,38,44, David ordained that his son, Solomon, ride on his own mule through the street as one proof that he chose Solomon to be the next king.

The people of Jerusalem knew Jesus was not only riding the ride of kings when he entered their capitol city, but he was also, at last, fulfilling the centuries-old prophecy they all knew so well (today’s scripture).

This is the humility that Jesus did exhibit: He rode on the colt of a donkey.

Do we blindly follow whatever our religious leaders tell us? Do we know the scriptures as well as we think we do?  Oh, how much praising we miss out on! 

Scripture for Thursday, September 7 (9/7)

The scripture for today, September 7 (9/7), is 2nd Corinthians 9:7 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

 
0-BK 5-FloodGates-Cover-Medium-New“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”


There are many religious leaders who insist that Christians tithe. But that was part of the Law of Moses.

Actually, the Jews were required to give more than a tenth. (1) Deuteronomy 26:12 said the Jews had to give an extra tithe every three years for their welfare program. So, if someone tithed $900 a year, s/he would have to tithe an average of $300 more per year for the welfare program, equaling $1,200 year. If the yearly income was $9000, this would take it up to 13.3% a year. (2) Also, according to Leviticus 27, they had to pay for their vows, which in many cases were really special prayer requests. (3) They also had to buy animals for sacrifices for intentional sins, unintentional sins, and sins requiring restitution. (4) If they wanted to thank God for anything, they had to buy grain for a sacrifice (Leviticus 1-5). If they didn’t have to buy the animals or grain, they had to take them out of their own supply, thus depleting their own “pay check.” (5) And every time one of their flocks or herds had a first-born, they had to sacrifice it ~ another depleting of the “pay check.”

So the good Jew under the Law of Moses did not just tithe. He ended up giving about one-third of his income.  Galatians 5:3 says that, if we keep one part of the Law, we have to keep all of it. There were over 600 burdensome commandments in the Law of Moses!

In today’s scripture, Christians are being released from this burden. Instead, they are being told to decide in their own heart. Christians are released from serving and giving through obligation and set free to serve and give through love.

Scripture for Thursday, August 31 (8/31)

The scripture for August 31(8/31) is John 8:31f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Clouds in blue sky“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, then the truth will set you free.’ “

Do you want true spiritual freedom from Satan? Myriads of people call themselves believers in or disciples of Christ. Well, what does Jesus call his believer or disciple? He explained, IF we hold to his TEACHINGS, then we are his disciples.

It’s not automatic? So being born into a Christian family doesn’t automatically make us a Christian? Being born in a Christian nation doesn’t automatically make us a Christian? Owning a Bible doesn’t automatically make us a Christian? Believing Jesus is the Son of God doesn’t automatically make us a Christian? (Demons believe and aren’t Christians.)

“But, Jesus,” we might say, “I really feel like I’m a Christian.” And Jesus replies, “Hold to my teachings, then you are really my disciple.”

Then what? THEN the truth will set you FREE.

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Scripture for Wednesday, August 30 (8/30)

The scripture for today, August 30 (8/30), is Acts 8:30 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Bible Women Teacher-Advertizing-CS CFOVER-page-001“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.”

Our friends, family and neighbors will continue riding their chariots and understanding little of the Bible unless someone asks, “Do you understand?”.

“Do you understand why you are here?” “Do you understand why Jesus had to die?” “Do you understand that Jesus’ death brought a new Law and the old Law was done away with?” “Do you understand the Bible can be proven true?” “Do you understand how much God loves you?”

People are afraid to ask us questions because they think we will make fun of their ignorance. We’ll probably never know what they don’t understand unless we do the asking. Let us go up to their chariots and offer to help them so that they, too, can understand.

Hey! Isn’t that a chariot I just saw go by?

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Scripture for Tuesday, August 29 (8/29)

The scripture for today, August 29 (8/29), is Matthew 8:29 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Life-Changing-Scriptures-Cover-medium” ‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’ “

If you are not familiar with this passage, these are the words of a demon. If you have ever studied demons in the Bible, you will find that they never tried to spook or scare people. They never made dishes rattle or lamps fall over.

All they did was cause physical problems during the lifetime of Jesus and his apostles. There is no evidence of demons doing this in the Old Testament before Jesus, nor after his apostles died, either in the Bible or in the writings of the apostolic fathers. It is as though the demons were loosed for a season so Jesus could show his power over them also ~ Ephesians 1:20-21.

Notice, demons never said bad things. If they talked at all, it was out of fear and honesty.  James 2:19 says all demons believe in Jesus. In the book of Matthew, they knew who Jesus was. They called him the Son of God. But belief alone does not save. Demons are not saved.

Jesus told them to be quiet. Why? He didn’t want evil beings telling people who he was; he wanted goodness to tell people who he was.

The movies have warped our understanding of demons. Let us search the scriptures to find out their true nature. Then we no longer have to guess. We can rest assured.

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Scripture for Monday, August 28 (8/28)

The scripture for today, August 28 (8/28), is Romans 8:28 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-cover-kindle-medium-new“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

This is a favorite verse of many people. Notice, God can make all things work together for good. ALL things. That means bad things, disappointing things, unfulfilled things. It doesn’t say God will make them all work together for the best, but he will bring some kind of good out of them, no matter how terrible they are.

What has been your most recent disappointment or tragedy? Things that just did not go the way they should have. Believe what God told you when you are living according to his will. Believe that God can take anything and turn it into some kind of good for you.

Will you live according to his purpose so he can help you live according to your purpose? He is a miracle worker, you know.

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Scripture for Saturday, August 26 (8/26)

The scripture for today, August 26 (8/26), is Romans 8:26 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-HS-592 VersesExamined-COVER-Medium“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament is always linked with communication between God and Man. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).  Jesus said he was going to send the Spirit after he left (John 14:14), then he said the Spirit is the Word of God (John 17:17).

Even the miracles, made possible by the Holy Spirit, were a guarantee that the words and teachings accompanying the miracles were from God. This was needed before the New Testament was put in writing. But the Holy Spirit does more than this.

God speaks to us in his Word, the Bible. Then we speak to him in return in prayer. But sometimes all we can do is bow our head in silence and know that God understands ~ His Spirit communes with our spirit.

And it is enough.

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Scripture for Friday, August 25 (8/25)

The scripture for today, August 25 (8/25), is John 8:25 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-REV-Cover-No Logo-KINDLE-medium” ‘Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Just what I have been claiming all along,’ Jesus replied.”

There are some things in the Bible we read over and over and never see the point. Perhaps we have been blinded by well-meaning religious leaders or family or friends who tell us over and over, “It doesn’t mean what it says.”

How many times does God have to tell us something in the Bible before we believe it? Once? A dozen times? A hundred times? Think about passages people tell you don’t mean what they say.  Look them up and re-read them.

These are the words of the God of the universe. Do we prefer that God fit our mold, or we fit God’s mold?

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