Category: truth

Scripture for Friday, February 24 (24)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, healing, Heaven, Inspirational, Life of Christ, Satan, Saved from hell, truth, worshipLeave a comment

0-BOOK 7-SHADOW OF DEATH-CoverThe scripture for today, February 24, is 1st Peter 2:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

Many people do not understand what Jesus dying on the cross has to do with us going to heaven. Here it is. God is perfect, so cannot dwell with imperfection. God is complete love and goodness, so cannot dwell with hatred and bad.

Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. So, all through the Old Testament era, whenever we sinned, God allowed us to kill/sacrifice a perfect animal in our place. This, however, was a temporary fix.

Eventually, God sent his own Son to come to earth and live in a human body and be tempted in every way that we are (see Hebrews 4:15). Jesus resisted all temptations and lived his entire life sinless. He was perfect. Then as the perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29), Jesus was the final sacrifice. He died in our place. He took the punishment for our sins. On the cross, he temporarily died spiritually (forsaken by God) and physically (blood was shed).

Then God basically told the world, “I will consider you perfect too; all you have to do is believe in and follow my Son.” It is explained further in Romans 6:3-4. Just as Jesus died bearing our sins, we die to our sinful nature ~ the part of us that sins and doesn’t care. Then just as Jesus was buried in his tomb, we are buried in the watery tomb of baptism. And finally, just as Jesus rose up out of his tomb the Savior, we rise up out of our watery tomb the saved ~ born again to a new life.

Indeed, by Jesus’ wounds we can be healed. We fall at his feet and say, “I am a sinner and so unworthy. Thank you.”

#Crucifixion, #Death, #WagesOfSin, #Sin, #Satan, #SavedFromHell, #Punishment, #Wounds, #Healing #Hell

Scripture for Thursday, February 23 (2/23)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, faith, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, Life of Christ, truth, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 23, is 1st John 2:23 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Bible Puzzles for Young And Old-Cover“No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”

Have you ever wondered how God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit can be three but one? They are kind of like a coin.

The top of the coin looks one way and helps us identify it. The bottom of the coin looks another way and provides something for the coin to sit on. The edge of the coin looks yet another way and holds the two sides together. But, if you take away any one part of the coin, you take away the entire coin. Three, yet one.

Another way to look at it is that both the Son and the Spirit have been called the Word of God. John 1:1-14 says Jesus was the Word, and was God come to us in flesh. Then Jesus in John 14:17 said that he was going to send ANOTHER comforter, the Spirit of Truth. And in John 17:17 Jesus said God’s Word is Truth. So, Jesus was the Word we could watch, and the Spirit is the Word we can read.

Yet another way to look at God being three yet one is like H2O ~ Water, Snow, Ice. Three manifestations of the same thing.

How wonderful!

#HolySpirit, #GodTheFather, #GodTheWord, #GodTheSpirit, #Worship, #Scripture, #Bible, #Truth

Scripture for Wednesday, February 22 (2/22)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, church, Daily, faith, good works, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, Scripture, truth, worshipLeave a comment

campbell-cover-kindle-lg-mediumThe scripture for today, February 22, is Ephesians 2:22 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Another place in the New Testament, 2nd Corinthians 6:16, says we are the temple of God. A lot of things in worship under the Law of Moses were a literal version of what Christians someday would enjoy in a spiritual and deeper sense.

We have no need for the temple in Jerusalem, for now God dwells in Christians. We have no need for the altar of sacrifice at that temple because Jesus was our final sacrifice (Hebrews 10:4-12). We have no need for the cymbals, harps and lyres played in worship because Christians play on the strings of their hearts (Ephesians 5:19). We have no need for the priestly system in the Law of Moses because all Christians are priests (1st Peter 2:5). And how do we serve as priests? Romans 12:1 explains it: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.”

What a concept! God does not dwell in temples or church buildings!

He dwells in Christians.

      He lives and moves through Christians.

          What a privilege.

              What a responsibility.

#worship, #TempleOfGod, #TempleOfSpirit, #music, #ceremony, #candles, #incense, #LivingSacrifices, #priests, #temple, #LawOfMoses, #LawOfJesus, #LawOfGrace

Scripture for Tuesday, February 21 (2/21)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, faith, governments, healing, Inspirational, judging, persecution, prayer, Satan, Thanksgiving, truthLeave a comment

changes-in-worship-cover-mediumThe scripture for today, February 21, is Daniel 2:21 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“He [God] changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”

It seems there is always some amount of restlessness within each nation regarding who is ruling. Some people like the ruler, some do not. Or people may start out liking the ruler, but later dislike him. Some rulers are okay, a few are considered outstanding, and a few others are outright evil.

But God sets up the rulers of nations and deposes them. Many places among the prophets of the Old Testament, God explains that he may raise up a cruel leader just because he is strong enough to get rid of other cruel people. After that, God deposes the cruel leader.

In the midst of all this, innocent people are always hurt. That is why it is important for us not to complain, but to bear up under a hard government with patience and courage. It is in hardship that the true heart of a Christian is revealed. And it is in hardship that many people turn to God who might never have done so.

God knows what he is doing, even if we do not understand ~ at least, on this side of eternity. Remember Romans 8:28 ~ “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord.” Life is a mosaic of many colors ~ sometimes bright and sometimes dark ~ but in the end, it can be beautiful.

#Governments, #Nations, #Rulers, #Kings, #Presidents, #Dictators, #Wars, #Executions, #Cruelty, #Persecution

 

Scripture for Sunday, February 19 (2/19)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn church, faith, forgiveness, healing, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, prayer, Satan, Saved from hell, Scripture, truth, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 19, is Ephesians 2:19 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

worship-the-first-century-way-cover-kindle“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”

Let us pretend there is a nation called Occland and we want to become a citizen of that nation. Of course, citizenship would not be automatic. And in the same way, citizenship in the Kingdom of God (being a Christian) is not automatic.

Just living in a Christian nation does not automatically make us a Christian any more than just living in Occland would automatically make us a citizen.

Owning a Bible does not automatically make us a Christian any more than owning a copy of Occland’s constitution would automatically make us a citizen.

Going to church meetings every Sunday does not automatically make us a Christian any more than going to Occland’s meetings of parliament or the senate would automatically make us a citizen.

It just is not automatic. We would need to be invited into Occland, and then do things to accept Occland’s invitation. God invites us into his kingdom, but we must do things to accept his invitation.  Romans 6, Acts 2 and 1st Peter 3 in the New Testament are good places to check it out. Do so.

God has already done the hard part. Our part is easy ~ our part in accepting his invitation to be citizens in his kingdom.

#CitizensOfHeaven, #Citizenship, #KingdomOfHeaven, #KingdomOfGod, #HouseholdOfGod, #Heaven

Scripture for Saturday, February 18 (2/18)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn death, forgiveness, Inspirational, prayer, Satan, Saved from hell, Scripture, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 18, is Hebrews 2:18 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BOOK 6-PROMISE KEEPER-Cover-Createspace“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Do you find yourself caught up in some kind of sin over and over? Is the temptation always there? Do you commit the sin and then curse yourself for your weakness in giving in to the temptation? Do you see no way out?

A lot of people never think of Jesus ever being tempted. He was too good. But he had a human body and was tempted in every way that we are (Hebrews 4:15).

Try to imagine Jesus with your particular haunting temptation and imagine how you think he would have resisted it. Jesus used to get angry at temptation, which of course is caused by Satan. In other words, he got angry at Satan. One time when tempted, he declared, “Get behind me, Satan!”

Temptation is not the same thing as sin. Temptation is when we want to commit a sin, but haven’t decided yet to do it. Jesus faced Satan (temptation) head on. Once when he went through over a month of harsh temptation alone in the wilderness, Satan gave him all the reasons he should do certain things and made them look so good and reasonable; then Jesus gave all the reasons he should not do those things.

Hebrews 4:15 says, “We do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are ~ yet was without sin.”

Jesus stood up to Satan.  Jesus was a spiritual warrior.

#Temptation, #Escape, #Sin, #Satan

Scripture for Friday, February 17 (2/17)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Daily, Inspirational, judging, truth, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 17, is 1st John 2:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-michel-cover-kindle-medium“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

The previous verse in the KJV says there are three basic types of sins: Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and pride of life. The lust of the flesh is feel-good things that we are willing to do anything to get, even if it is wrong. Lust of the eye is things and possessions that we are willing to do anything to get, even if it is wrong. The pride of life is power, prestige, a well-known name that we are willing to do anything to get, even if it is wrong.

But once we get what we crave ~ what we lust for ~ we end up just wanting a little more, and then a little more. We are never satisfied. All these things ~ the fleshly, the material, the power ~ are temporary.

Only one thing can ever give us what we truly crave ~ doing the gentle will of God. He is our Creator and he knows what will make us happy. Then we can have all we ever craved ~ forever.

#lust, #power, #things, #riches, #wealth

Scripture for Wednesday, February 15 (2/15)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, Daily, faith, good works, Inspirational, judging, Scripture, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 15 is 2nd Timothy 2:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

HS-COVER-KINDLE-GOLD“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Eventually, we will all present ourselves to God. We can do it as an honored worker ~ someone who does good works and spreads the gospel and is not ashamed to do them.

We can also present ourselves to God as one who reads the Word of Truth (the Bible) with an open and honest heart. Pilate who crucified Jesus once asked, “What is truth?”. Today people still ask that question. But we don’t have to guess. God gave us the answers. It is all written down.

If you have a Bible with a concordance or index in the back, you can look up certain key words and find out for yourself what the Word of Truth says about any subject. It is not for others to tell us, but for God himself to tell us. This way we get it first hand, and that’s a lot easier. It’s easy to “correctly handle the word of truth,” with just you and God.

#Truth, #Bible, #WordOfGod, #Concordance, #ChainReference, #WordOfTruth

Scripture for Tuesday, February 14 (2/14)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Bible, blessings, Inspirational, judging, Life of Christ, Scripture, Thanksgiving, truth, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, February 14, is Colossians 2:14 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BOOK 5-FLOOD GATES-Cover-Print“[God] having canceled the written code with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.”

This amazing scripture tells us that the Old Law of Moses was nailed to the cross. Why? Because it was against us; that is, it was impossible for us to keep perfectly. The Law of Moses wasn’t just ten commandments. It was over 600. Try reading Leviticus in the Old Testament. That’s where most of the old law (“the written code with its regulations”) is.

It’s tedious. It regulated nearly every part of everyone’s daily life. It involved what we could and couldn’t eat, having to kill animals to die in our place whenever we sinned, stoning adulterers to death, having a separate priesthood, tithing, reporting to priests if we had an open sore, use of candles, having to go to the Temple in Jerusalem 3 times a year, and on and on.

The book of Hebrews in the New Testament was written to help us understand that God’s new Law of Grace is much more spiritual.

Hebrews was written about the time the Temple in Jerusalem was permanently destroyed, thus making it impossible to obey several things in the old law. And a little time later the Jewish genealogies were destroyed, thus making it impossible to prove who was a Levite and eligible to be a priest.

The Old Testament of the Bible is not the same as the Law of Moses. The Law is a small part of the Old Testament. The rest of it is praise and wisdom, accounts of people who did or did not try to follow God, warnings, and prophecies of good and bad. These are examples to us today.

Let us not neglect the Old Testament as so many people do. It includes the Law of Moses to help us know what to stay away from it in favor of the Law of Grace. If God wanted us to continue any part of it, he repeated it in the New Testament. It is full of examples that we need to know about. And it is full of prophecies of a Savior who would save them and us some day ~ Jesus. Thank God for the Old Testament.

#OldTestament, #NewTestament, #LawOfMoses, #LawOfGrace

Scripture for Monday, February 13 (2/13)

On By Inspirations By KatherynIn Daily, faith, healing, Inspirational, judging, prayer, Scripture, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for February 13 is Philippians 2:13 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

inside-cover-medium“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Here is another related verse: “The Lord opened her heart to respond” (Acts 16:14). God the Father moved people’s hearts throughout the Bible ~ Old Testament and New Testament. But he never moved hearts to do what they were not already inclined to do. He does not go against someone’s will, for he gave everyone free will.

If you are struggling to know the will of your religious leaders and friends, you struggle alone. If you are sincerely struggling to know God’s will and do it, the Father will help you.  If you are struggling to act according to the purpose of your religious leaders and friends, you struggle alone. If you are sincerely struggling to act according to God’s good purpose, the Father will help you. If you have a sincerely open heart, God can move you closer to himself so that he can work in you and through you on earth.

He will always tell you what to do through his Word ~ the Bible. You do not have to guess. It covers every possible situation you could ever face and shows you his good purposes. God the Father will work in you if you let him.

#FreeWill, #OpenHeart, #Heart, #Problems, #Decisions, #Struggles, #Direction, #WordOfGod, #Bible, #Purpose, #WillOfGod, #ReligiousLeaders, #Help