The scripture for today, April 6, is 1st Corinthians 4:6 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“…learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.”

Periodically through the Bible there appears this same warning for us to not “go beyond what is written.” 2nd Peter 1:20 says prophecy is scripture. Prophecy was needed before the New Testament was written, but no more after that, for now the prophecy of the apostles had been written down..

It is important to find out if what we are being taught is “beyond what is written.” It can be done. How? Simple. Use a concordance. A concordance is the size of a large-city telephone book in fine print and includes every word in the Bible and every scripture that contains each word. There are some concordances on the internet too. Here is one:

http://bibletab.com

You are an intelligent person. Don’t take for granted what others tell you. Check things for yourself. Read the Bible for yourself. Decide for yourself whether any of your church leaders have gone “beyond what is written.” You can do it. And you will be liberated by what you learn.

…Just a few more moments now. Just a few more deadening moments. Then release. Then you will be with your Father again. Oh, it’s been so long. Soon now, it will be all over…

Jesus’ heavy laden heart struggles with his dehydrated broken body to pump thick, heavy, sluggish blood to a resistant, barely living being.

“I thirst,” he whispers.

One last request. It is time to will himself to die.

Can they refuse? No! Look! Someone has had mercy on you, Son of God! He’s taking a sponge dipped in vinegar, and now…and now…he is offering it to you, thirsty Savior. A drink.

With the weariness of dying, Jesus takes the vinegar and it momentarily helps the nausea.

His tormented swollen heart labors slower and slower. Gradually and increasingly surrounded by a contemptible, mocking serum, his heart strains even harder as it struggles to pump just a few more drops of blood. Slower it pumps, and slower…

….Everything is getting so dim, so hazy, so blurry…. Where is everything going? Around and around. Spinning, spinning, back, farther and farther, faster, faster, faster!

He groans. “It…is…finished…”

…Finished. Your work all completed. Everything as you knew it would be. And now, oh Lamb of God, die! The sacrifice is completed. But for your sins, Son of God? No, of course not. You have none. You’ve been perfect, unselfish one, from your human birth, the whole way. All of this has been for the others.

…Everything is getting so far away….so far away….so far away. It’s so lonely….no one here….so hazy….all alone….forsaken….desolate…

…Something drawing….something….something drawing you to it. What is it? Where is it coming from? Look up! But the pain – the cramping relentless pain – so merciless. Torturing to the very end. But look up. Look up! Quick! Don’t you see?

He calls out. ” Father!” Yes, he’s coming for you! ” Father! I know you’re there. My spirit…it’s yours!”

…Just a little more now! Just a little closer….

His head lifts up in all the defiance of death. His body jerks and writhes, his knotted muscles strain. Just a little closer now…

His heart swells…trembles…and bursts. And with a loud piercing cry that shakes the foundations of the earth, Jesus sends his liberated spirit rushing at last to the outstretched arms of God.

“Oh my Son! My Son!”

[Excerpt from Shadow of Death, Book 7 of Soul Journey With Jesus]

The scripture for today, April 5, is Micah 4:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

Nations rise and fall. Nations come and go. Nations are founded upon terror and aggression, or peace and democracy. Some nations follow religions which declare that peasants are peasants as punishment for previous lives, so must remain peasants. Some nations follow religions chosen by their national governments and must be followed upon pain of death.

But as strong as various nations seem to be, as much power as they use on their citizens, they do not last forever.

Instead, there is a forever nation ~ the nation of God, the kingdom of God. No matter what nation someone lives in, they can have “dual citizenship”. And by being a citizen of God’s forever kingdom, they will walk in it forever and ever.

The scripture for today, April 2, is Exodus 4:2f as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

God had just called Moses to go into Egypt and free his people from their slavery ~ one man against an entire nation. Moses objected that he couldn’t do it. Five times In Exodus 3 and 4 he argued with God. “BUT I’m not famous,” “BUT they won’t believe I come from the God of their ancestors,” “BUT they won’t believe God sent me, “BUT I’m not a good speaker,” “JUST send someone else.”

Then God replied, “What is that in your hand?”.

Moses had a staff. God showed him how to use it to perform miracles. Today, are you using excuses to claim there nothing you can do for the cause of God and salvation? God challenges you: “What is that in your hand?” It is a steering wheel, a shovel, thread, a computer, a spoon, a wrench, a cookbook, a band aid. Whatever is in your hand, God can use to bless people through you.

You are God’s hands and feet. Use them. Today.

The scripture for today, March 28, is Mark 3:28f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

This is confusing to many because we aren’t sure what it means to speak against the Holy Spirit. Jesus clarifies it in John 14:17 where he said he was going to send to us another Comforter, the Spirit of Truth. And in John 17:17 he said God’s Word is Truth ~ the Bible.

If we refuse to believe what is in the Bible, then we are going to refuse to believe in a savior and refuse to repent of sins. These things are unforgivable because we have no belief in Jesus or sin, and no remorse.

Have you ever tried reading the Bible through in a year? It will fill you with an amazing amount of knowledge and understanding, all from the Holy Spirit.

The scripture for today, March 15, is Colossians 3:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Paul was encouraging the Christians at Colossae to get along with each other. After all, they were all members of the one body ~ the one church. In the next verse he even told them to sing to each other; not only get along, but be thankful our brothers and sisters are who they are.

What a wonderful way to mend a rift. Begin singing. Sing with the person you are not getting along with. Watch the smile on your face drift over to them. Watch the smile on their face rise up out of a heart that really does want to love you.

Let not little things interfere with our love for each other. We do not want to cause pain to our heavenly Father when his children do not get along. Let us please each other ~ and sing!

STAR SONG GUEST BLOG.  I am guest blogging today about Star Song (my 300+ page lyrical novel on the birth of Christ) here:  http://www.johuddleston.com/2015/03/the-novel-star-song.html

Leave a comment and enter a drawing for a free copy of STAR SONG.

The scripture for today, March 3, is Genesis 3:3 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

” ‘But God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it or you will die.’ “

This is a conversation Eve is having with Satan in the Garden of Eden. She was a little put out by God that he would withhold even one item from her. So she misrepresented God. What God actually said was….

“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Eve had added to what God had said: “You must not touch it.”

Do we do that? When we get put out by someone, do we embellish a little and add a few little things to an event in order to make the other person look worse than s/he really is? Are we in the habit of making ourselves a victim so we can get other people’s sympathy and maybe get other people to act on our behalf?

I Corinthians 13:5 says love does not keep a record of wrongs. If you have a feud going with someone, try breaking the cycle . I Corinthians 13:7 says love protects, always trusts, always hopes. Bring hope back. Then keep hope alive.

The scripture for today, January 14, is Hebrews 1:14 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Are not all angels ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

Have you ever wondered if the Bible really mentions guardian angels? Well, here it is. But the angels do not minister to everyone ~ just to the saved who will inherit salvation.

As much as they minister to us, however, we are not to worship them and we are not to pray to them. For awhile, it was popular to collect pictures and statues of angels. Some people were saying there is no God, but there are guardian angels. Where did they think angels come from? We are not to adore, worship or pray to angels (Revelation 19:10; 22:9).

Let us just be grateful that God loves us enough to send the angels to minister to us until we reach his home ~ heaven.