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 Tuesday, September 5 (9/5)

The scripture for today, September 5 (9/5), is Nehemiah 9:5a as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-cover-kindle-medium-new“And the Levites ~ Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherabiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah ~ said ‘Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.’ “

Here are eight men who probably none of us have ever heard of. We know nothing about them before this event and nothing about them after this event. But they are forever memorialized in the Bible because, on this one day, within this one hour, in this one moment in time they “stood on the steps of the temple…and called with a loud voice” (Nehemiah 9:4) for the people to “stand up and praise the Lord”.

Can we do that? Can we stand and shout to people around us, “Stand up and praise the Lord your God”? Yes, we can. We can write letters to the editor, we can encourage other students of the Bible, we can start Bible studies in our home or even the internet for adults or children, we can take scripture tray favors to a hospital or nursing home.

In what way can you tell people around you about their Creator and everlasting God? Today, in some way only you can do, stand up and praise the Lord.

 

 

Scripture for Monday, September 4 (9/4)

The scripture for today, September 4 (9/4), is Daniel 9:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Stephen-Cover-Kindle-Medium“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands….’ “

A lot of people in the world think that God should feel obligated to take them to heaven. After all, they are fairly good, and better than some. God couldn’t possibly in all good conscience turn them away.

Yet, their entire life they resent God. Mostly they don’t like his commands; they don’t want anyone telling them what to do or not do. Or they claim to love God but create their own commands that just aren’t in the Bible, making themselves God.

Ultimately, heaven is God’s home, not ours. He is not obligated to invite anyone into His home. Besides, only perfection can live with God who is perfect. It only takes one sin to make us an imperfect sinner.

So how do we become perfect? That’s where God’s awesomeness is demonstrated. By following Jesus who was perfect and never sinned, and obeying Jesus’ few commands, God considers us perfect by proxy.

If we don’t have time for God, he doesn’t have time for us. If we don’t heed God’s Words, he doesn’t heed our words. It’s so simple to understand. Do we believe it?

 

Scripture for Sunday, September 3 (9/3)

The scripture for today, September 3(9/3), is 1st Kings 9:3 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0000-BK 1-StarSong-CHILD'SCartoonCover-Medium“The Lord said to him, ‘I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.’ “

The New Testament builds spiritual concepts on the basic material patterns of the Old Testament. For example, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1st Corinthians 3:16). This is the temple God wants now, not the old material temple of the Old Testament.

Just as there was just one material temple of God in the Old Testament, God looks upon each Christian as though we are the only temple; for he is with us constantly and hears our every word, our every song, our every prayer.

Is your heart troubled today? Is your heart joyful today? Are you at peace with everything around you? Do you see conflicts that you do not know how to solve?

God sees and watches out for you in everything you do. He knows your cares, your heart’s desires, your joys, your worries. God’s eyes and heart are always with you. Why? You are God’s temple!

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Scripture for Friday, September 1 (9/1)

The scripture for today, September 1 (9/1) is Psalm 9:1 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE Medium“I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.”

I knew a lady many years ago who talked to God all day as though he were sitting or standing beside her, whether she was cleaning floors, washing dishes, going shopping, or just received a telephone call. She talked to God about everything she was doing all through the day. God was her constant companion.

What opportunities do you miss to talk to God? Every time you do, you are praising Him. How? By acknowledging His concern with everything you do, and in the process acknowledging His omnipresence. Oh, what a wonder His omnipresence is!

Does this include times when everything in your life is going wrong? You bet! On some days, the wonders of God are about the only positive things we can find in our life.

Praising God for his wonders amidst your frustrations, tears, fears, and helplessness can lift you out of the mire. It can remind you that you are not alone; for God sees what is happening to you. So, wait and watch. In his own often surprising and unexpected way, he will perform a wonder for you. Keep on praising, my friend. Keep on praising.

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#praise, #prayer, #wonder, #surprises, #concerns, #difficulties, #troubles, #frustrations

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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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#tragedy, #disappointment, #providence, #fate, #unfulfilled, #happiness

Scripture for Tuesday, August 22 (8/22)

0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-medium-newThe scripture for today, August 22 8:22), is Jeremiah 8:22 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?”

There is a very beautiful African-American spiritual of unknown origin that many of us have sung. You may be able to hear it sung a cappella here: http://bit.ly/1PfHxrI

Here are the words to that compelling spiritual:

There is a balm in Gilead
 To make the wounded whole;
 There is a balm in Gilead
 To heal the sin sick soul.

 Sometimes I feel discouraged,
 And think my work’s in vain,
 But then the Holy Spirit
 Revives my soul again.

 If you can’t preach like Peter,
 If you can’t pray like Paul,
 Just tell the love of Jesus,
 And say He died for all.

 

Have a blessed day.

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#healing, #comfort, #peace, #balm, #soothe, #gentleness, #soul, #revival, #sinsick, #tired, #GoodShepherd, #GreatPhysician, #calm, #rebirth

Scripture for Sunday, August 20 (8/20)

The scripture for today, August 20 (8/20), is Proverbs 8:20 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible.

inside-cover-medium“I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice.”

Interestingly, the original Hebrew of “way” is customary path, and the original Hebrew of “paths” is customary road.

If we had a house out in the country, it would have paths leading to and from it. These paths are taken in our day-to-day life without much thought. We live out our principles and moral standards pretty much the same every day on such paths. How about you? When the rains come, how well does your path hold up?

Unless we are hermits, our path eventually takes us onto a major road where we must make major judgments. Does your path equip you to make major judgments, right decisions when you reach the road? If it doesn’t, your life will constantly be bogged down in deep ruts you can’t get out of and jarred by the bumps all over the road that you cannot avoid.

Some people’s lives never get onto a decent smooth road because their judgments are seldom right.  They become emotionally involved and wish for an outcome that cannot possibly occur, so give up and stay in their rut. Or they make wrong decisions based on immediate gratification which keeps their life full of bumps and bruises.

What kind of road does your daily path take you to? Is your life in constant turmoil because you make bad choices?   Ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”. After all, Jesus said, “I am the Way” (John 14:6). He is standing in that right and just road right now.  Do you hear him? He’s calling you. 

Shhh.  Listen.  Do you hear him now?

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#path, #road, #decisions, #justice, #right, #choices, #daily, #ruts, #bumps, #turmoil, #InstantGratification, #emotions

Scripture for Thursday, August 17 (8/17)

The scripture for today, August 17 (8/17), is Romans 8:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-“Now if we are children, then we are heirs ~ heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (see also Galatians 3:16)

I Peter 4:12-14 says we should not be surprised when persecution happens, “as though something strange was happening to you.” If we are insulted because of Jesus, we are blessed.

Notice, we are co-heirs with Christ IF we share in his suffering. Have you shared in Jesus’ sufferings lately? Have you ever in your entire life shared in Jesus’ sufferings? If not, you haven’t told very many people about Jesus loving them or stood up for Jesus when people around you were making fun of him or using his name as a swear word.

Are you sinning by omission? Do you huddle with your church friends all the time and brag that all the friends you have are Christians? Jesus didn’t. Jesus went out to “seek and save the lost.” Are you seeking?

Sometime today, say something to someone about Jesus ~ someone in a store, at work, a neighbor, a fellow passenger on a bus. They probably won’t insult you. This may be exactly what they’ve been looking for. But if they do insult you, accept it graciously. Then go on your way feeling honored to be a “co-heir with Christ” by “sharing in his suffering.”

Try it. I dare you!

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#persecution, #suffering, #crucifixion, #insults, #dare,#brave, #courage, #SinOfOmission, #sharing, #CoHeir, #ChildOfGod

Scripture for Thursday, August 10 (8/10)

inside-cover-mediumThe scripture for today, August 10 (8/10), is Nehemiah 8:10b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

After exile for 70 years for forsaking God, the Jews were led by Ezra and Nehemiah back to Jerusalem. On a special day, Ezra read the Law of Moses to all the people. And they wept. They were so embarrassed and so sorry they had betrayed God. The above scripture quotation is from that occasion.

But many people find it too humiliating to admit to others that they were wrong. Others find it easy to repent, but never regroup and pull themselves up so they can try again. Still, others say, “What I’ve done is so bad, God could never forgive me.” They spend the rest of their lives grieving.

God can perform miracles. That means he can forgive the greatest sinner. So, grieve. Ask for forgiveness. Then start over fresh ~ innocent in the eyes of God. The joy of the Lord is your strength.  So, go ahead.  Smile again.

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#forgiveness, #sin, #grief, #joy, #StartingOver, #forsaking, #returning, #humiliation, #repentance, #revival, #smiling