For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
Hebrews 4:2
We put a lot of emphasis on hearing the Word of God. It's very important. We need to study the Bible to learn what God wants for us. However, if we study it without faith, it will not profit us. We could be a theologian that is just as lost as an atheist if we don't have faith as we study the Bible. We need to believe the Bible to benefit from it. We need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to understand it. It needs to affect our lives so that we can be saved.
Lord, help me to study Your Word and hear the good news of the gospel in true faith so that I can profit from it. I want it to be something that affects my life and not just something that is a good subject for debate. Help me to seek the truth and love it.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
They Always Go Astray in Their Hearts
Therefore I was angry with this generation,
And said, "They always go astray in their heart."
Heb 3:10
Isn't that so often true of the human race. We go astray from God so easily. We're so prone to forget God and be attracted to other things.
Lord help me not to go astray from You. Help me to follow You with my whole heart. Help me to always remember what You've done for me. Help me to desire to walk more closely with You as Enoch did. Help me to remember that You've placed me here for Your glory.
And said, "They always go astray in their heart."
Heb 3:10
Isn't that so often true of the human race. We go astray from God so easily. We're so prone to forget God and be attracted to other things.
Lord help me not to go astray from You. Help me to follow You with my whole heart. Help me to always remember what You've done for me. Help me to desire to walk more closely with You as Enoch did. Help me to remember that You've placed me here for Your glory.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
I and the Children God Has Given Me
Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
Isa 8:18 This verse is quoted in Hebrews 2:13.
Sometimes in the daily grind of making a living and raising a family, I forget that these children are not really mine. They are a gift from God, that I have responsibility for right now. I am a steward of these gifts from God. I will need to give account for how I trained them and what kind of example I was to them. I will be accountable for the contribution and lack of it that my children make to God's kingdom and society around them.
Also, sometimes I forget why they were given to me: "for signs and for wonders." God wants to use my children to bring glory to him. He wants to use them to make other people think of Him. He wants them to be people that He can do miracles through. This can be hard for parents sometimes. Think of the man that was born blind. Before Jesus healed him, the disciples asked, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" (John 9:2) What did Jesus say: "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him." God wanted to do a miracle in this man's life. God wanted to draw people to himself, and He did so in a miraculous way.
But, let's look at it from the perspective of his parents for a moment. In their culture, health issues were a sign that someone had sinned. For example, think of the accusations of Job's friends. The disciples said that same thing: someone sinned that this man is blind. On top of the difficulty of raising a blind child, these parents likely had to deal with critical friends and the disapproving scribes and pharisees. We may have to face the same thing today when God gives us children so that He can receive the glory. He loves us. He wants us to experience the miracles He has planned for our lives, but we'll never receive them if we dwell on criticisms from other people and allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity because God hasn't given us "perfect" children.
Lord, help me to remember that my children are really Yours. Help me to treasure the gifts that they are from You. Help me to remember that I've been entrusted with them so that You can do miracles and bring glory to Yourself. Help me to realize that they are not at all to boost my reputation and my ego. Help me to rely on Your strength to raise them as You want me to. I thank You for them.
Praise the Lord!
Isa 8:18 This verse is quoted in Hebrews 2:13.
Sometimes in the daily grind of making a living and raising a family, I forget that these children are not really mine. They are a gift from God, that I have responsibility for right now. I am a steward of these gifts from God. I will need to give account for how I trained them and what kind of example I was to them. I will be accountable for the contribution and lack of it that my children make to God's kingdom and society around them.
Also, sometimes I forget why they were given to me: "for signs and for wonders." God wants to use my children to bring glory to him. He wants to use them to make other people think of Him. He wants them to be people that He can do miracles through. This can be hard for parents sometimes. Think of the man that was born blind. Before Jesus healed him, the disciples asked, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" (John 9:2) What did Jesus say: "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him." God wanted to do a miracle in this man's life. God wanted to draw people to himself, and He did so in a miraculous way.
But, let's look at it from the perspective of his parents for a moment. In their culture, health issues were a sign that someone had sinned. For example, think of the accusations of Job's friends. The disciples said that same thing: someone sinned that this man is blind. On top of the difficulty of raising a blind child, these parents likely had to deal with critical friends and the disapproving scribes and pharisees. We may have to face the same thing today when God gives us children so that He can receive the glory. He loves us. He wants us to experience the miracles He has planned for our lives, but we'll never receive them if we dwell on criticisms from other people and allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity because God hasn't given us "perfect" children.
Lord, help me to remember that my children are really Yours. Help me to treasure the gifts that they are from You. Help me to remember that I've been entrusted with them so that You can do miracles and bring glory to Yourself. Help me to realize that they are not at all to boost my reputation and my ego. Help me to rely on Your strength to raise them as You want me to. I thank You for them.
Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Singing God's Praise
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise."
Heb 2:12
Do I sing God's praise among the people around me? Do I speak about what God's done for me? Do I share my personal testimony? Do the people around me know what God has done for me? Do I sing while I work? I believe that I need to do better in all of these areas. I need to grow and become more vocal about what God has done for me.
Lord, help me to sing Your praise often. Help me to speak about what You've done from me. Give me the courage to speak up when I feel intimidated. Help me to live a life of praise. Help me to bring the sacrifice of praise to You in good times and bad. I want to praise You for the blessings and the trials in my life.
Heb 2:12
Do I sing God's praise among the people around me? Do I speak about what God's done for me? Do I share my personal testimony? Do the people around me know what God has done for me? Do I sing while I work? I believe that I need to do better in all of these areas. I need to grow and become more vocal about what God has done for me.
Lord, help me to sing Your praise often. Help me to speak about what You've done from me. Give me the courage to speak up when I feel intimidated. Help me to live a life of praise. Help me to bring the sacrifice of praise to You in good times and bad. I want to praise You for the blessings and the trials in my life.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
We Must Pay Much Closer Attention
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
Heb 2:1-4
We are reminded that we need to pay more attention to the teaching that we've heard. Why? so that we don't drift away. We, as humans have the tendency to forget unless we are continually reminded again.
This word is unalterable. It cannot change, and if we neglect this offer of salvation, it will be at our own loss.
Lord, help me to pay attention to Your Word. Help me to remember that it is for my own benefit. Thank You for the signs and miracles that have confirmed Your Words. Help me to share these wonderful Words with those around me.
Heb 2:1-4
We are reminded that we need to pay more attention to the teaching that we've heard. Why? so that we don't drift away. We, as humans have the tendency to forget unless we are continually reminded again.
This word is unalterable. It cannot change, and if we neglect this offer of salvation, it will be at our own loss.
Lord, help me to pay attention to Your Word. Help me to remember that it is for my own benefit. Thank You for the signs and miracles that have confirmed Your Words. Help me to share these wonderful Words with those around me.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
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