Ephesians 4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on you anger. (ESV)
Putting this verse into practice has saved my marriage more than once. It can help any relationship you might find yourself in.
Notice that the verse doesn't say we can't get angry; it just says don't sin in your anger. It also encourages us to work things out before we go to sleep. This is a wonderful principle by which to live.
I am always amazed at the practicality of the Scriptures. God is so good!
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
June 29, 2015
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (ESV)
This is one of those truths that the world cannot deny. Some people call it Karma or some other name, but the fact remains that if one sows beans, he will not reap corn. This can be a hard lesson to learn. We tend to think that we can get by with things. In God's economy there is always One watching, and though we may not see the it in this world - we will in the next. The Scriptures are full of examples.
The best thing for us to do is to sow goodness and reap goodness. It would make life a lot easier.
This is one of those truths that the world cannot deny. Some people call it Karma or some other name, but the fact remains that if one sows beans, he will not reap corn. This can be a hard lesson to learn. We tend to think that we can get by with things. In God's economy there is always One watching, and though we may not see the it in this world - we will in the next. The Scriptures are full of examples.
The best thing for us to do is to sow goodness and reap goodness. It would make life a lot easier.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
June 28, 2015
Hosea 14:1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. (ESV)
Do you ever feel like you are stumbling about - not quite where you should be, but not completely off the path? I think these times are times of misery. I can feel restless and discontented when these times come. The interesting thing in the above Scripture is that it explains the "why" behind our stumbling... our own iniquity. Ouch!
I would prefer to call it anything but sin. I would prefer to think I am just a little "off my game." I like the idea that I just need a slight attitude adjustment; however, the Word of God says it is sin - my sin.
The good news is God asks us to return to Him. He doesn't indicate that He is done with us or disappointed - He just says, "Return." The consequences will come, but they will be more easily tolerated when we are in a state of having confessed our sins, rather than continuing in our sins.
Look inward.
Search your soul.
Call it what it is.
Give it to the Lord.
Enjoy His forgiveness and love!
Do you ever feel like you are stumbling about - not quite where you should be, but not completely off the path? I think these times are times of misery. I can feel restless and discontented when these times come. The interesting thing in the above Scripture is that it explains the "why" behind our stumbling... our own iniquity. Ouch!
I would prefer to call it anything but sin. I would prefer to think I am just a little "off my game." I like the idea that I just need a slight attitude adjustment; however, the Word of God says it is sin - my sin.
The good news is God asks us to return to Him. He doesn't indicate that He is done with us or disappointed - He just says, "Return." The consequences will come, but they will be more easily tolerated when we are in a state of having confessed our sins, rather than continuing in our sins.
Look inward.
Search your soul.
Call it what it is.
Give it to the Lord.
Enjoy His forgiveness and love!
Saturday, June 27, 2015
June 27,2015
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (ESV)
As I read this verse I look at the part that talks about abiding in Him. There are various ways we can define "abiding". Then we move on to the bearing fruit portion of the verse. Again, we can find various applications for bearing fruit. The key to it all is the final portion of the verse - apart from me you can do nothing. This leaves us no wiggle room. It makes it abundantly clear that we are helpless without the Lord. Isn't it funny how much we think we can achieve on our own.
Anymore it is not popular to be dependent on others; however, when it comes to the Lord that is not the case. He tells us that we are to depend on Him for everything. What a wonderful Lord we serve!
As I read this verse I look at the part that talks about abiding in Him. There are various ways we can define "abiding". Then we move on to the bearing fruit portion of the verse. Again, we can find various applications for bearing fruit. The key to it all is the final portion of the verse - apart from me you can do nothing. This leaves us no wiggle room. It makes it abundantly clear that we are helpless without the Lord. Isn't it funny how much we think we can achieve on our own.
Anymore it is not popular to be dependent on others; however, when it comes to the Lord that is not the case. He tells us that we are to depend on Him for everything. What a wonderful Lord we serve!
Friday, June 26, 2015
June 26, 2015
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away fom evil. (ESV)
First of all, the term blameless can really throw us for a loop. Me blameless? Are you kidding? Well, this morning I read a commentary that suggested blameless was doing the right thing all the time. I don't see anyone, other than Jesus, being blameless. But the article went on to suggest as long as you confessed after you sinned, then you would be back to blameless. It doesn't make sense that first we are told blameless is doing the right thing, but when we don't ( which at that point we would be no longer blameless) we need to confess. I hated to throw out this whole idea, so I concluded....
In God's economy - because He wants us to do the right thing, when we don't - He doesn't consider the act complete until we confess our sins. Therefore, we could be considered blameless.
It it just an idea, but I think it makes some sense.
I love God and His forgiveness and the possibilities that presents to us - not to mention the HOPE!
First of all, the term blameless can really throw us for a loop. Me blameless? Are you kidding? Well, this morning I read a commentary that suggested blameless was doing the right thing all the time. I don't see anyone, other than Jesus, being blameless. But the article went on to suggest as long as you confessed after you sinned, then you would be back to blameless. It doesn't make sense that first we are told blameless is doing the right thing, but when we don't ( which at that point we would be no longer blameless) we need to confess. I hated to throw out this whole idea, so I concluded....
In God's economy - because He wants us to do the right thing, when we don't - He doesn't consider the act complete until we confess our sins. Therefore, we could be considered blameless.
It it just an idea, but I think it makes some sense.
I love God and His forgiveness and the possibilities that presents to us - not to mention the HOPE!
Thursday, June 25, 2015
June 25, 2015
Psalm 119..... You will have to read from your Bible (too long for this space)
As I was studying this Psalm this morning I found several things about God's Word....
I decided to go through and underline all the different words used for God's Law, then I found it interesting to go through and mark with a colored pencil all the benefits of reading the Word. Finally, I went through and used a different colored pencil and marked the prayers I found that I thought would be good to pray.
I absolutely love this Psalm. It is good to read and meditate on what the Lord is saying to us in His Word, especially about His Word.
Joshu 1:8 encourages us to mediate on God's law - and that word meditate carries a connotation smilar to that of wallowing food around in your mouth and chewing on it from all angles. (interesting idea)
Finally, I have read story after story of those people who have been persecuted and stripped of their Bibles. Those people often talk of how they had memorized Scripture and that kept their sanity. You may not be in those dire circumstances, but it is always healthy to memorize Scripture. I challenge you to try it. I just got an app for my phone that helps you memoize. It is called Scripture Typer. I love it.
As I was studying this Psalm this morning I found several things about God's Word....
I decided to go through and underline all the different words used for God's Law, then I found it interesting to go through and mark with a colored pencil all the benefits of reading the Word. Finally, I went through and used a different colored pencil and marked the prayers I found that I thought would be good to pray.
I absolutely love this Psalm. It is good to read and meditate on what the Lord is saying to us in His Word, especially about His Word.
Joshu 1:8 encourages us to mediate on God's law - and that word meditate carries a connotation smilar to that of wallowing food around in your mouth and chewing on it from all angles. (interesting idea)
Finally, I have read story after story of those people who have been persecuted and stripped of their Bibles. Those people often talk of how they had memorized Scripture and that kept their sanity. You may not be in those dire circumstances, but it is always healthy to memorize Scripture. I challenge you to try it. I just got an app for my phone that helps you memoize. It is called Scripture Typer. I love it.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
June 24, 2015
Acts 12:16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened thw door and saw him, they were astounded. (HCSB)
If you are familiar with this passage, you know that Peter is in jail and everyone is back at Mary's house praying for his release. He is miraculously released, but when he showed up at the door they didn't believe it could be him.
This is an example of faithless praying. They were going through the motions of praying, but they apparently didn't have faith that their prayers would be answered.
How often do we pray faithlessly? We really count even pretend - since the Lord knows our hearts.
It would behoove us to pray, like Jesus's disciples: "Lord, increase our faith."
If you are familiar with this passage, you know that Peter is in jail and everyone is back at Mary's house praying for his release. He is miraculously released, but when he showed up at the door they didn't believe it could be him.
This is an example of faithless praying. They were going through the motions of praying, but they apparently didn't have faith that their prayers would be answered.
How often do we pray faithlessly? We really count even pretend - since the Lord knows our hearts.
It would behoove us to pray, like Jesus's disciples: "Lord, increase our faith."
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