Monday, August 31, 2009

Christ Our Mighty Mediator

"But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Hebrews 7:24–25

After Jesus' resurrection from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. He invited Thomas to feel the wound marks in His flesh. What blessed meaning there is in His words to the fearful disciples: "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have" (Luke 24:39). Whether modern men and women agree on the exaltation of the Man Christ Jesus, we in the family of God have heard His words and we know the New Testament witness: "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear" (Acts 2:32–33).

The apostle Paul told Timothy, "There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men" (1 Timothy 2:5). This should be counted as a great victory for Christian believers in our day. Jesus is a Man and He is enthroned at God's right hand. That is significant!

Thought: Not only did Christ die for our sins, He rose again and always lives to intercede for us. We have a mighty mediator!

By A.W. Tozer

Beginning to End: Ezek. 5-8
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 132-234 & I Cor. 11:17-34
Historical: Daniel 7-8
Chronological: Ezek. 16-17
& Blended: Psalm 132-134 & 2 Cor. 10

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Weekend Bible Reading

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Lam. 3:37-5:22
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 126-128 & I Cor. 10:19-33
Historical: Daniel 3-4
Chronological: Ezek. 9-12
Blended: Psalm 126-128 & 2 Cor. 8

Sunday:

Beginning to End: Ezek. 1-4
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 129-131 & I Cor. 11:1-16
Historical: Daniel 5-6
Chronological: Ezek. 13-15
Blended: Psalm 129-131 & 2 Cor. 9

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Friday, August 28, 2009

The Holy Suffering of the Saint

"Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good . . ." 1 Peter 4:19

Choosing to suffer means that there must be something wrong with you, but choosing God’s will— even if it means you will suffer— is something very different. No normal, healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he simply chooses God’s will, just as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not. And no saint should ever dare to interfere with the lesson of suffering being taught in another saint’s life.

The saint who satisfies the heart of Jesus will make other saints strong and mature for God. But the people used to strengthen us are never those who sympathize with us; in fact, we are hindered by those who give us their sympathy, because sympathy only serves to weaken us. No one better understands a saint than the saint who is as close and as intimate with Jesus as possible. If we accept the sympathy of another saint, our spontaneous feeling is, "God is dealing too harshly with me and making my life too difficult." That is why Jesus said that self-pity was of the devil (see Matthew 16:21-23 ). We must be merciful to God’s reputation. It is easy for us to tarnish God’s character because He never argues back; He never tries to defend or vindicate Himself. Beware of thinking that Jesus needed sympathy during His life on earth. He refused the sympathy of people because in His great wisdom He knew that no one on earth understood His purpose (see Matthew 16:23 ). He accepted only the sympathy of His Father and the angels (see Luke 15:10 ).

Look at God’s incredible waste of His saints, according to the world’s judgment. God seems to plant His saints in the most useless places. And then we say, "God intends for me to be here because I am so useful to Him." Yet Jesus never measured His life by how or where He was of the greatest use. God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be.

By Oswald Chambers, taken from "My Utmost For His Highest"

Beginning to End: Lam. 1:1-3:36
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 123-125 & Cor. 10:1-18
Historical: Daniel 1-2
Chronological: Ezek. 5-8
& Blended: Psalm 123-125 & 2 Cor. 7

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Heart Of The Gospel

"We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed." 2 Corinthians 3:18

When E. Stanley Jones, well-known missionary to India, had the opportunity to meet with Mahatma Gandhi, he asked a searching question of India’s revered leader: “How can Christianity make a stronger impact on your country?” Gandhi very thoughtfully replied that three things would be required.

First, Christians must begin to live more like Jesus. Second, the Christian faith should be presented without any adulteration. Third, Christians should emphasize love, which is at the heart of the gospel.

These insightful suggestions are the key to effective evangelism around the world. As messengers of God’s love, we are to be human mirrors who reflect without distortion a growing likeness to our Lord; we are not to walk in “craftiness” (2 Cor. 4:2). If our lives reflect an image that is spiritually blurred, the truth of saving grace may not be clearly communicated (vv.3-5). We are also to share the biblical essentials of our faith clearly. We must not handle the Word of God “deceitfully” (v.2). And our lives are to be marked by love for God and others (1 John 5:1-2).

Let’s be sure that we reflect a clear image of Jesus’ likeness, the truth of God, and love. — Vernon C. Grounds

Called to be salt and light in this world,
Called to preserve and to shine,
Called to reflect the glory of God—
Oh, what a calling is mine! —Fitzhugh

The primary reason for living in this world is to reflect the likeness of Christ.

Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 51-52
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 120-1228 & I Cor. 9
Historical: Esther 7-10
Chronological: Ezek. 1-4
& Blended: Psalm 120-122 & 2 Cor. 6

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Lord is the Light

". . . the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory." Isaiah 60:19b

An everlasting light exposing us as we are all the way to the very depths of our beings. Even the prodigal son had to "come to" himself before he has sense enough to go home to his father. We need to "come to" ourselves. To see us as we are. We cannot begin to explore the deep places until we have allowed the Light of Calvary to shine into the shallow corners first. We may cry out sincerely for oneness with Christ, for power in our Christian lives. But "the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light" and we need to look by the light of the Lord. We cannot plead lack of light. The light is the Lord.

We need to look at the thin, wiry streak of criticism twisted through our natures. We need to look at the unlove we feel toward that particular Christian brother or sister. We need to look at the blunt self-defense we try to disguise under the cape of intercession for someone else's shortcomings. We need to look at all this and more in the light of the One who is our everlasting light. If we do, we don't dare plead blindness or lack of illumination.

He has promised to be our everlasting light, and "in Him is no darkness at all."

" . . . I am the light of the world . . . The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth."

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 49-50
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 119:89-176 & I Cor. 8
Historical: Esther 4-6
Chronological: Lam. 3:37-5:22
& Blended: Psalm 119:88-176 & 2 Cor. 5

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Alone With God

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (Gen. 32:24).

Left alone! What different sensations those words conjure up to each of us. To some they spell loneliness and desolation, to others rest and quiet. To be left alone without God, would be too awful for words, but to be left alone with Him is a foretaste of Heaven! If His followers spent more time alone with Him, we should have spiritual giants again.

The Master set us an example. Note how often He went to be alone with God; and He had a mighty purpose behind the command, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray."

The greatest miracles of Elijah and Elisha took place when they were alone with God. It was alone with God that Jacob became a prince; and just there that we, too, may become princes--"men (aye, and women too!) wondered at" (Zech. 3:8). Joshua was alone when the Lord came to him. (Josh. 1:1) Gideon and Jephthah were by themselves when commissioned to save Israel. (Judges 6:11 and 11:29) Moses was by himself at the wilderness bush. (Exodus 3:1-5) Cornelius was praying by himself when the angel came to him. (Acts 10:2) No one was with Peter on the house top, when he was instructed to go to the Gentiles. (Acts 10:9) John the Baptist was alone in the wilderness (Luke 1:90), and John the Beloved alone in Patmos, when nearest God. (Rev. 1:9)

Covet to get alone with God. If we neglect it, we not only rob ourselves, but others too, of blessing, since when we are blessed we are able to pass on blessing to others. It may mean less outside work; it must mean more depth and power, and the consequence, too, will be "they saw no man save Jesus only."

To be alone with God in prayer cannot be over-emphasized.

"If chosen men had never been alone,
In deepest silence open-doored to God,
No greatness ever had been dreamed or done."

Compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 46-48
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 119:1-88 & I Cor. 7:20-40
Historical: Esther 1-3
Chronological: Lam. 1:1-3:36
& Blended: Psalm 119:1-88 & 2 Cor. 4

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Monday, August 24, 2009

The Antidote for a Troubled Heart

This morning I read a wonderful little story about a soldier who had returned home from the war. Upon his return he told a story about how the grace of God was with him. In this story he told of a time when he attended a dinner in honor of another soldier who had served faithfully in the war and did many wonderful things yet received no reward for it. Someone asked this soldier what was the most wonderful thing he experienced throughout his time of service. This soldier told of meeting a young soldier who was reading his Bible. After asking what he was reading and hearing some passages he told the young soldier to give it up because it wouldn't do anything for him. This young soldier replied, "If you knew what the Bible is to me, you'd never ask me to give it up," and, as he spoke, the light on his face was so bright, I never saw anything like it - it fairly dazzled me. I could not look at it, so I turned and walked away."

Soon afterwards a bomb was dropped in the spot where the young soldier was. Afterwards the soldier telling the story went to see if this young soldier was OK. Sadly he was fatally wounded. The story ends with the soldier saying that he took this young soldier's Bible and kept it with him. "I say the most wonderful thing I experienced during the war was the light on that young soldier's face, and more than that, I can now say that his Saviour is my Saviour too!" - Streams in the Desert, Vol. 2

This story started out with a few verses I wanted to share with you.

John 14:1, "Do not let you heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."

This verse follows news that was disturbing to the apostles. Jesus had just told them that He was only going to be with them for a little longer. And that they can seek Him but could not follow where He was going. I would say that this greatly troubled them which is why Jesus spoke the words He spoke in 14:1. I like what my study notes say about the word believe. It's "the antidote for a trouble heart."

John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be trouble nor let it be fearful."

Here I am reminded about the repeating to emphasize something. He repeats that He is leaving and giving you His peace. Here Jesus is saying what He will do through the gift of salvation - total well-being, inner rest of spirit and fellowship with God. That this true peace He is talking about in this verse is His gift to us.

What the soldier who was being honored experienced was this gift of peace. He sought peace from the world which didn't last. My study notes say that peace from the world "can only express a longing or wish." Through the light shinning from Jesus on the young soldier's face, the other soldier found true peace from God which is real and present.

I pray that we may be reflecting Jesus so that others may see Him. That the peace they so desperately seek will be found in Jesus Christ. I meet so many people who yearn for that kind of peace. Who are fearful and troubled. May we be God's mirror for them to get a glimpse of who He is and what real peace is all about.

Krista Jones
8.19.08

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 42-45
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 116-118 & I Cor. 7:1-19
Historical: Eccles. 9-12
Chronological: Jeremiah 51-52
Blended: Psalm 116-118 & 2 Cor. 3

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Weekend Bible Reading

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 35-37
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 110-112 & I Cor. 5
Historical: Eccles. 1-4
Chronological: Jeremiah 46-48
Blended: Psalm 110-112 & 2 Cor. 1

Sunday:

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 38-41
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 113-115 & I Cor. 6
Historical: Eccles. 5-8
Chronological: Jeremiah 49-50
Blended: Psalm 113-115 & 2 Cor. 2

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Friday, August 21, 2009

Our Staff as Our Protector

"The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, 'Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands'" (Ex 17:9).

Moses' staff represented his vocation as a shepherd. When God first met Moses' in the desert at the burning bush, he told him that he was going to use his staff to perform miracles and bring a people out of slavery. God related to Moses through his vocation as a shepherd.

Moses later faced one of his enemies in the new land, the Amalekites. God told him to go to the top of the mountain and hold his staff up to heaven. As long as his staff was outstretched to heaven, Israel would win the battle. But if it was not uplifted, they would suffer defeat.

"So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning." (Ex 17:10-11).

Isn't this an interesting picture? When we raise our "staffs" up to the Lord, He becomes our protector. He is our defender. As long we offer up our staffs before the Lord, He can work through it. He works on our behalf. When we lower it, we lose the blessing of God.

When God told Moses He was going to use his staff to bring a people out of bondage, he first had to lay his staff down on the ground. God changed it into a snake and then God told Moses to pick it up by the tail. God was telling Moses to take authority over the serpent in this prophetic act. When Moses picked up the staff, the scripture tells us it is no longer Moses' staff, but it is now the staff of God.

Friend, the lesson for us is to continually offer up our work lives to the Lord and see His protection and blessing upon us as we continually raise our work to the Lord for His use.

By Os Hillman, taken from "Today God Is First"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 32-34
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 107-109 & I Cor. 4
Historical: Lam. 3:37-5:22
Chronological: Jeremiah 41-45
Blended: Psalm 107-109 & Galatians 6

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Rules for Prosperity

"Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law, which Moses My servant commanded thee: turn not from It to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:7).

Yes, the LORD will be with us in our holy war, but He demands of us that we strictly follow His rules, Our victories will very much depend upon our obeying Him with all our heart, throwing strength and courage into the actions of our faith. If we are halfhearted we cannot expect more than half a blessing. We must obey the LORD with care and thoughtfulness. "Observe to do" is the phrase used, and it is full of meaning. This is referred to every part of the divine will; we must obey with universal readiness. Our rule of conduct is "according to all the law." We may not pick and choose, but we must take the LORD's commands as they come, one and all. In all this we must go on with exactness and constancy Ours is to be a straightforward course which bends neither to the right nor to the left. We are not to err by being more rigid than the law, nor turn out of levity to a more See and easy way. With such obedience there will come spiritual prosperity. O LORD, help us to see if it be not even so! We shall not test Thy promise in vain.

By Charles Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 30-31
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 105-106 & I Cor. 3
Historical: Lam. 1-3:36
Chronological: Habakkuk
Blended: Psalm 105-106 & Galatians 5

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Heart of Jesus

"The Son does whatever the Father does." John 5:19

The crowning attribute of Christ was this: His heart was spiritual. His thoughts reflected His intimate relationship with the Father. "I am in the Father and the FAther is in me," He states (John 14:11) . . .

Jesus took His instructions from God. It was His habit to go to worship (Luke 4:16). It was His practice to memorize Scripture (Luke 4:4). Luke says Jesus "often slipped away to be alone so He could pray" (Luke 5:16). His times of prayer guided Him. He once returned from prayer and announced it was time to move to another city (Mark 1:38). Another time of prayer resulted in the selection of disciples (Luke 6:12-13). Jesus was led by an unseen hand . . .

The heart of Jesus was spiritual. - "Just Like Jesus"

By Max Lucado, taken from "Grace For the Moment"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 26-29
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 103-104 & I Cor. 2
Historical: Ruth
Chronological: 2 Kings 24-25 & 2 Chron. 36
Blended: Psalm 103-104 & Galatians 4

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

God With Us

"The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory." John 1:14

You may have taken all your Christmas decorations down by now, but these verses from the Christmas story describe the incarnation of God as well as any in Scriptures. They tell us of Jesus Christ, who is one of a kind. He never wrote a book, yet the book that tells His story, the Bible, has outsold every other book in history. He never wrote a song, but there have been more songs written about Jesus than about anyone else. He never traveled more than a few miles from home, yet there are few places you can go where His name is not known.

Jesus is called the Son of God and the Son of Man because in His incarnation, He has the essence of both. Some groups who come knocking on your door will tell you that Jesus Christ is less than God. Don't believe it. He is fully God, co-equal with the Father. The title "Son of Man" does not involve any denial of deity.

When the Bible calls Jesus the "Son of Man," it means that He bears the true essence of Humanity, apart from sin. When the Bible declares that Jesus is the "Son of God," it does not mean He's less than God. On the contrary, all of the characteristics that make God who He is are present in Jesus. He is God too.

In Jesus we have the perfect wedding of deity and humanity, coexisting in one Person without being confused or mixed. Theologians call this the "hypostatic union" of Christ, the nature of God and the nature of man located in one Person.

The glory of the Incarnation is that all of God was in Christ, and all of man was in Jesus. Jesus is the name that recognizes His humanity. Christ is the name, or actually the title, that recognizes His appointment for salvation

What it all adds up to is a glorious Savior who is worthy of your complete trust and worship. Is Jesus Christ you "all in all" today?

Think about it: The Incarnation solved our biggest problem: the need for a Savior who had to be sinless and yet fully human so He could die a real death for us.

By Tony Evans, taken from "Time To Get Serious"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 23-25
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 100-102 & I Cor. 1
Historical: Song of Solomon
Chronological: Jeremiah 38-40 & Psalm 74 & 79
Blended: Psalm 100-102 & Galatians 3

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Monday, August 17, 2009

We Are Clay

"The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter, so he made it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel." Jeremiah 18:1-6

A potter needed a workshop in which to make his pottery. In Jeremiah's time the workshops were located in the Valley of Hinnom that was near the Potsherd Gate. This gate was near the tower of the pottery kilns. Potters not only needed to be near the kilns but they also needed a field. They needed this field for "weathering the dry native clay-dust or wet stream-bank clay and for mixing it with water and treading it by foot into potter's clay." (Bible Dictionary). Sand or crushed stone was added to temper the clay. Once the clay was ready the potter would knead it for several hours to ensure that all bubbles were removed from it.

There were two ways of forming a pot. The potter could either free-hand it by using long sausage-like rolls of clay. Or he could throw a ball of clay on the center of a dual stone wheel. To form a pot on the wheel either he or an assistant would spin the wheel counter-clockwise. With his other hand he would thrust it into the middle of the ball of clay to hollow it out. Because of the centrifugal force of the wheel, the potter is able to shape a pot within minutes with light pressure of his fingers. If in any time the jar became marred while being made, the potter was able to easily reshape it back into a clay ball and remake it into another jar.

Besides Jer. 18:4 I have written, "There is no type of failure that He has not taken hold of and remade." It is great timing that this verse and quote has come to me as I know I have made a big mistake and failed to do things in a more loving manor or maybe dealt with it differently. It makes me feel like a failure and not sure how I can live it down. But God can change what I did for His good because He is our Potter, "But now, O Lord, you are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand." (Isaiah 64:8).

We are the work of His hands! From what I learned about being a potter it does seem like it's difficult time consuming work. God molds us by the trials and pain we go through just like the potter treads the clay by foot into pottery clay. We are scraped and made moldable like the clay is tempered by the sand and/or crushed stone that is added to it. It takes time to prepare us for God's work just like it takes several hours of kneading the clay to prepare it for the wheel. Through the spinning God places Himself in our hearts just like the potter thrusts his hands into the middle of the clay ball to hollow it out. And like the light pressure that is used to form the pot, so is God's love and gentleness used to form us.

I assume that the pain comes in when our sinful nature gets in the way. It is by this sin that we become marred. And it is only through pounding and kneading that the jar can be made back into a ball of clay that can be remade again. I find it interesting that we are always in that moldable stage. Or I should say, we should always make sure we continue to be in that stage because once the pot is fired it becomes hard. It therefore ceases to be remolded and reshaped for the only way for it to cease becoming what it is it to be broken never to be used again.

Bottom line - We need to be moldable clay and allow God to be our Potter. Unfortunately, we do make mistakes but if we continue to be that soft clay then God is able to work within us to reshape us and turn our failure into His glory.

Krista Jones
8.17.08

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 18-22
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 97-99 & Romans 16
Historical: Job 40-42
Chronological: Jeremiah 35-37
Blended: Psalm 97-99 & Galatians 2

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Weekend Bible Reading

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 10-13
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 91-93 & Romans 15:1-13
Historical: Job 35-37
Chronological: Jeremiah 30-31
Blended: Psalm 91-93 & I Peter 5

Sunday:

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 14-17
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 94-96 & Romans 15:14-33
Historical: Job 38-39
Chronological: Jeremiah 32-34
Blended: Psalm 94-96 & Galatians 1

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Friday, August 14, 2009

Lover of My Soul

"My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely." Song of Songs 2:14

When I approach the Lord in prayer, I relate to Him in different ways. Occasionally I talk with Him as my elder brother, which He is. If I"m under spiritual attack, I'll go to HIm in prayer as the captain of my soul. HE is my friend when I want to pour out my heart. I even have single friends who look up to the Lord as their husband, as it says in Isaiah 54:5.

Lately, I've enjoyed relating to my Savior as the lover of my soul. And when I want to tell the Lord how much I adore Him, I sue the language of love in Song of Songs. This beautiful book of the Bible is more than just a love poem; it's a picture of the love relationship between the bridegroom and his bride.

From your heart, tell Jesus that He is the fairest of ten thousand. Praise Him for being altogether lovely. Let Him know that His love is better than wine. He is the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley."

By Joni Eareckson Tada, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"

By John MacArthur, taken from "Truth for Today"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 7-9
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 89-90 & Romans 14
Historical: Job 32-34
Chronological: Jeremiah 26-29
Blended: Psalm 89-90 & I Peter 4

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Our Consistent Gospel

"He promised (the gospel) before through His Prophets in the Holy Scriptures." Romans 1:2

Did you know that the Old Testament is completely consistent with the New? That's because the good news is old, not new. The Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, or anywhere in between, is all about the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that the Scriptures give testimony about Him (John 6:39). In speaking to men on the road to Emmaus, Jesus said, " 'Oh foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:25-27).

Why is that important for you today? So you can be confident that the Scripture holds God's promise of good news in Christ.

By John MacArthur, taken from "Truth for Today"

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 4-6
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 87-88 & Romans 13
Historical: Job 29-31
Chronological: Jeremiah 23-25
Blended: Psalm 87-88 & I Peter 3

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Praising the King!

"Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying; "To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." Revelation 5:13

The whole purpose of coming before the KIng is to praise Him, to live in recognition of His splendor. Praise - lifting up our hearts and hands, exulting with our voices, singing His praises - is the occupation of those who dwell in the kingdom.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Jeremiah 1-3
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 84-86 & Romans 12
Historical: Job 24-28
Chronological: Jeremiah 18-22
Blended: Psalm 84-86 & I Peter 2

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Thou Shalt See

"Then thou shalt see, and flow together . . ." Isaiah 60:5a

When the light is turned on we can see.

When it is dark we stumble and sometimes we fall, simply because we cannot see. We go this way and that, not knowing which is the way. We seem to go a dozen directions at once.

One direction, chosen in fear, only leads to more fear.

Another, chosen in confusion, leads to more confusion.

We are out of balance. Our of perspective. We are perplexed and divided and acting as tough we are several people instead of one. We confuse ourselves and those around us. wE are confusion.

It is dark.

Our roads leading to nowhere are all dead end streets.

Isaiah still cries to us, cleaving the "clear stone" again: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the lord is risen upon thee . . Then thou shalt see, and flow together."

Perplexities and stumblings and personality quirks and character contradictions and wrong directions and wasted efforts all "flow together" as we are brought into wholeness in Christ.

" . . . The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth."

Balance is back, perspective is clear. We are no longer a bundle of contradictions. We have been unified. The stray ends are tied.

"I am come a light into the world . . . "

We can see now. And we can flow together.

Then thou shalt see, and flow together.

By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Isaiah 64-66
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 81-83 & Romans 11:19-36
Historical: Job 21-23
Chronological: Jeremiah 14-17
Blended: Psalm 81-83 & I Peter 1

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Monday, August 10, 2009

Lessons from a Palm Tree

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree . . ." Psalm 92:12

How meaningless this statement is by the psalmist, unless you are aquatinted with the palm trees. People who live in topical and semi-tropical areas are so familiar with their graceful towering beautify, they are a very common tree to them. But I am sure that few realize that meanings the characteristics of this stately tree have. The first simile is life. The life of the tree comes through it's center or heart. Just as all the other trees, it draws its moisture up through its roots from the earth. But instead of the sap going up on the outside between the bark and the wood of the tree, and so on up into the branches and twigs, as is true in most other trees, in the palm tree the sap goes up the very heart of the tree. Most trees can be killed by simply severing the bark completely around the tree about an inch or two. The life of the palm however, does not lie so close under the surface, and is not affected by surface injury. It must be completely cut off to be killed.

The same applies to "Palm-tree Christians." The Word of God states this so aptly in Romans 10:10, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." A "Palm-tree Christian" is not affected by outward environment, but draws his life and strength though the heart.

The palm tree is perennially green. Life flows within its being continually. Those who are considered "Palm-tree Christians" never change. They are the same vibrant witnesses of God's grace day in and day out, because Jesus Christ Himself is "the same yesterday, today, and forever."

It is impossible to graft a palm tree into another palm tree. It will die. This is a unique characteristic for "Palm-tree Christians" as well. "No man can serve two masters" (Matt. 6:24). There is but one God and Him only shalt thou serve. - Streams in the Desert, Vol. 2

I like how this ties into the verse that I came across this morning, "Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16. My study notes say, "I digested them, I assimilated them, I made them a part of me."

Lessons from the Palm tree:

1. Eat or digest the Word regularly. The palm tree relies on it's heart to keep it alive. And by doing so it relies upon the food it digests so that it can keep it's heart healthy and therefore itself healthy. We must digest the Word in order to assimilate it into our lives and keep us alive.

2. Don't rely on outside sources to nourish you. The palm tree doesn't gain it's strength from what goes up it on the outside it draws strength from the inside out. We too need to digest the Word of God and not from outward sources that are not of the Lord. We need to glorify the Lord from the inside out.

3. The palm tree is not affected from outward environment. Like the palm tree, our strength and life comes from the Word of God and when we digest it regularly it seeps deep into our heart and therefore a great source of strength. When trials try to cut into our lives we will no be moved. Why? Because our source of strength and who we are doesn't lie on the surface but deep within.

I pray that we can become "Palm-tree Christians". To digest God's Word on a daily basis so we are properly feed and filled with strength so that when those winds of trials try to blow us over we will not be moved!

Krista Jones
8.16.08

Beginning to End: Isaiah 59-63
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 79-80 & Romans 11:1-18
Historical: Job 17-20
Chronological: Jeremiah 10-13
Blended: Psalm 79-80 & Acts 28

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Weekend Bible Reading

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday:

Beginning to End: Isaiah 49-53
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 74-76 & Romans 9:16-33
Historical: Job 10-13
Chronological: Jeremiah 4-6
Blended: Psalm 74-76 & Acts 27:1-26

Sunday:

Beginning to End: Isaiah 54-58
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 77-78 & Romans 10
Historical: Job 14-16
Chronological: Jeremiah 7-9
Blended: Psalm 77-78 & Acts 27:27-44

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Friday, August 07, 2009

Our Model for Christian Living

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15

The message to First Century Hebrew Christians was precise and direct: Let Jesus Christ be your motivation to love righteousness and to hate iniquity. In our present century our spiritual obligations and responsibilities are no different. The character and attributes of Jesus, the eternal Son, have not changed and will not change.

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above

your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy" (Hebrews 1:8–9).

There is a tendency for people to relegate everything in the realm of righteousness or iniquity to deity, whatever their concept of deity may be. For the true Christian, however, our risen Lord made a promise to us before His death and resurrection. That promise effectively removes our excuses and makes us responsible:

When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you (John 16:13–15).

I will readily admit that we are not God. We cannot do in ourselves what God can do. But God created us as human beings, and if we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit and His presence in our lives, we should be able to do what Jesus, the Son of Man, was able to do in His earthly ministry.

Thought: Christ did not set an example for us without providing enablement for us to follow that example.The indwelling Holy Spirit is that enablement. Let's appropriate that empowerment today!

By A.W. Tozer

Beginning to End: Isaiah 45-48
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 72-73 & Romans 9:16-33
Historical: Job 6-9
Chronological: Jeremiah 1-3
Blended: Psalm 72-73 & Acts 26

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Thursday, August 06, 2009

The Greatness of Our God

Here are a few verses from Jeremiah that I like because they talk about the greatness of our Lord. How powerful and wonderful He is above everything else.

"There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and great is Your Name in might." Jer. 10:6

"Thus you shall say to them, "The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens." It is He who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom; and by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens. When he utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He causes the clouds to ascend from the end of the earth; he makes lightening for the rain, and brings out the wind from His storehouses." Jer. 10:11-14

Krista Jones
8.16.08

Beginning to End: Isaiah 42-44
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 70-71 & Romans 9:1-15
Historical: Job 1-5
Chronological: Zephaniah
Blended: Psalm 70-71 & Acts 25

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Who Is Deaf?

The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save . . . . [But] your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. —Isaiah 59:1-2

A man told his doctor that he thought his wife was going deaf. The doctor told him to conduct a simple test. When the man reached the front door of his home, he called out, “Darling, is dinner ready?” Hearing no response, he walked inside and repeated himself. Still no reply. On the third try, when he was just behind her, he finally heard her say, “For the third time, yes!”
Similarly, the ancient Israelites thought God was deaf when the problem was actually with them. Isaiah was a prophet sent to warn God’s people about impending judgment, but his message fell on deaf ears. Instead of being God’s covenant people, who were to bring light to those in darkness and release them from the dungeons of sin (42:7), they refused to hear Him. “They would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law” (v.24).

The prophet explained why their prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears: “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God” (Isa. 59:1-2). One reason for not receiving answers from God is that sin may be blocking our hearing. Let’s examine ourselves carefully.

Our God isn’t hard of hearing. — C. P. Hia

Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure,
Jesus is mine; there’s nothing between. —Tindley

God speaks through His Word to those who listen with their heart.
Taken from "Our Daily Bread"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Isaiah 36-41
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 68-69 & Romans 8:22-39
Historical: Proverbs 30-31
Chronological: 2 Kings 22-23 & 2 Chron. 34-35
Blended: Psalm 68-69 & Acts 24

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Finish the Job

"When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely" (Judg 1:28-29).

Have you ever hired a contractor to do some work and ended up having to spend time and energy to get him back to finish the job? The small unfinished projects simply irritate you and create ill-will between you and your contractor. If you have been involved in a building project, you have surely had this experience.

God wanted his people to finish the job. He often told the Israelites to remove your enemies from the Promised Land. However, many times they would not finish the job and the remnant that was left would come back and create difficulties. In most cases, the people of Israel would intermarry which enticed them into their enemy's way of living. Other times they had to enslave them, which took time away from their mission.

Whenever we fail to complete a job it creates ill-will from those we are serving. It also violates a basic biblical mandate for every believer to do their work with excellence. The Bible says that Daniel and his friends did their work ten times better than anyone else. They were known for their excellence.

It is often said of American football that the hardest place to score from is the one yard line. That is because the defenses are greatest where there is the most resistance. Sometimes completing a job is like this.

Whenever you have a project to do make sure you complete the job fully. Go the extra distance to make sure your boss or your client is totally satisfied with your work. You may complete 95% of your work, but if it is not completed you will be known for what you did not finish, rather than for what you did finish.

By Os Hillman, taken from "Today God Is First

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Isaiah 31-35
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 66-67 & Romans 8:1-21
Historical: Proverbs 27-29
Chronological: Nahum
Blended: Psalm 66-67 & Acts 23:16-35

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Monday, August 03, 2009

An Eternal Pledge

"And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the LORD" (Hosea 2:19-20).

Betrothment unto the LORD! What an honor and a joy! My soul, is Jesus indeed thine by His own condescending betrothal? Then, mark it is forever. He will never break His engagement, much less sue out a divorce against a soul joined to Himself in marriage bonds.

Three times the LORD says, "I will betroth thee." What words He heaps together to set forth the betrothal! Righteousness comes in to make the covenant legal; none can forbid these lawful bans. Judgment sanctions the alliance with its decree: none can see folly or error in the match. Lovingkindness warrants that this is a love union, for without love betrothal is bondage and not blessedness. Meanwhile, mercy smiles and even sings; yea, she multiplies herself into "mercies" because of the abounding grace of this holy union.

Faithfulness is the registrar and records the marriage, and the Holy Spirit says "Amen" to it as He promises to teach the betrothal heart all the sacred knowledge needful for its high destiny, What a promise!

By C.H. Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"

Bible Reading Guide:

Beginning to End: Isaiah 28-30
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 63-65 & Romans 6
Historical: Proverbs 24-26
Chronological: 2 Chron. 32-33
Blended: Psalm 63-65 & Acts 23:1-15

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible

Saturday, August 01, 2009

August's Memory Verse

Ephesians 4:31

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."

Ephesians 4:31 (NASB - New American Standard Bible)


July's Memory Verse: I John 5:13
June's Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:25
May's Memory Verse: James 1:2-4
April's Memory Verse: Jeremiah 30:17
March's Memory Verse: James 1:5
February's Memory Verse: John 15:5
January's Memory Verse: Ephesians 3:20-21
December's Memory Verse: Lamentations 3:22-23
November's Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15
October's Memory Verse: Proverbs 16:1-3
September's Memory Verse: Proverbs 17:9
January's Memory Verse: Ephesians 3:20-21

Remember the key is to review review review. Always review the verses you've already memorized along with learning this month's verse.

Bible Reading Guide:

Saturday

Beginning to End: Isaiah 18-22
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 57-59 and Romans 4
Historical: Proverbs 19-21
Chronological: Isaiah 64-66
Blended: Psalm 57-59 & Acts 21:18-40

Sunday

Beginning to End: Isaiah 23-27
Old and New Testaments Together: Psalm 60-62 and Romans 5
Historical: Proverbs 22-23
Chronological: 2 Kings 20-21
Blended: Psalm 60-62 & Acts 22

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible