Monday 9/4: Philippians 2
Philippians 2:12&13..."work out your own salvation (not work FOR your salvation but work OF your salvation and actively pursue spiritual maturity) with fear and trembling (careful, critical self-examination), for it is God (NOT YOU) who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure!"
See you tomorrow at Philippians 3.
See you tomorrow at Philippians 3.
Tuesday 9/5: Philippians 3.
Philippians 3:10-"that I may know Him (Jesus) (intimately and more completely) and the power of His resurrection (which fills and overflows, and is available and active in believers), and (that I may share in) the fellowship of His sufferings (as I suffer the world for His sake), being (continually) conformed (to His likeness) and even to His death."
See you tomorrow at Philippians 4
See you tomorrow at Philippians 4
Wednesday 9/6: Philippians 4
Duh, Philippians 4, not Ephesians 4🤭.
God gives us the only successful "prescription," in verse 6, for what ails us, while revealing the "medicine" in verse 7! There seems to be an epidemic of anxiety and worry and fear in our modern society, even among God's people...the only "fix" is to possess "the peace of God which passes all understanding"(through and by the Work of Jesus in our lives) because God's peace "guards our hearts and minds," thus removing the doubts and distrust which are the foundation of our anxieties and worries! Now the only way to "get" this "medicine" and enjoy it's healing is to TRUST God...friends, what a FRIEND we have in Jesus!
🎶"Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior still our Refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer!"
God's got THIS!...relax and rest in His loving embrace!
See you tomorrow at Colossians 1.
God gives us the only successful "prescription," in verse 6, for what ails us, while revealing the "medicine" in verse 7! There seems to be an epidemic of anxiety and worry and fear in our modern society, even among God's people...the only "fix" is to possess "the peace of God which passes all understanding"(through and by the Work of Jesus in our lives) because God's peace "guards our hearts and minds," thus removing the doubts and distrust which are the foundation of our anxieties and worries! Now the only way to "get" this "medicine" and enjoy it's healing is to TRUST God...friends, what a FRIEND we have in Jesus!
🎶"Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior still our Refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer!"
God's got THIS!...relax and rest in His loving embrace!
See you tomorrow at Colossians 1.
Thursday 9/7: Colossians 1
Colossians is Paul's celebratory description of just who Jesus is in this letter to a local church that had begun to believe that just Jesus just wasn't enough! Instead of arguing against THEIR position, Paul just lays out The Person and Position of Jesus, the Christ....100% GOD while still 100% man! The people of the church at Colossae (and perhaps you and I) needed to be assured and convinced that Jesus IS enough! Christ alone... there's only one Jesus and He alone is ALL in ALL! Colossians 1:15-18 gives this TRUTH in a "nutshell"... "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
See you tomorrow to wrap up the week with Colossians 2.
See you tomorrow to wrap up the week with Colossians 2.
Friday 9/8: Colossians 2
Colossians 2 proves, again, the falseness of living in natural, fleshly, and worldly wisdom... Christ is ALL sufficient and in Him and through Him and by Him we have ALL we need and should then live our lives "ALL in" for God in the presence and power of the indwelling Spirit who is "ALL in" in ALL believers! There! Is that ALL clear?! We tend to reverse God's process by "working" for our salvation and then living as if we've already attained spiritual maturity and ignore the "works" He has given us to "work"...whereas God's program is salvation first, as free gift of God and totally apart from human effort, and then "growing" towards spiritual maturity by "working" the "works" He gives us to "work!" Our "works" are not to gain salvation, but out of appreciation and obedience because we have been given ALL the salvation, possible and required, freely! "As you therefore have (freely) received Christ Jesus the Lord (as a gift), so (now, DO something to "prove" it and) walk in Him, (naturally resulting in this spiritual condition) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it (the working of faith and the faith of "working") with thanksgiving."
See you Monday at Colossians 3. Go to church this Sunday and focus on God's worship and God's Word!
See you Monday at Colossians 3. Go to church this Sunday and focus on God's worship and God's Word!
Monday 9/11: Colossians 3
Good Monday morning folks! Colossians 3:15-17 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." To enjoy the peace OF God, one must first establish peace WITH God through God's process of regeneration for those who trust Christ Jesus as Savior. In order for the "word of Christ to dwell richly (in us) in all wisdom," we must first and foremost devote ourselves to the reading, studying, and living of the Word of God! And if we actually fulfill verses 17 in part or fully, verses 15&16 WILL be evident and true in our lives as we "seek
those things which are above."
See you tomorrow at Colossians 4.
those things which are above."
See you tomorrow at Colossians 4.
Tuesday 9/12: Colossians 4
How many of us "hold fast to prayer" and refuse to "let go" of it? That's the direction Colossians 4:2 takes us... persistent prayer and, along the way, being alert and focused, both in staying awake (literally) and praying specifically...and overall, we are to pray TO God as we live FOR and IN God...with a spirit and attitude of thankfulness. "Lord God help us to be true, help us be timely, help us be tenacious in our prayers and our prayer life...help us to come seeking, help us to ask believing, help us to listen learning, and help us to go doing...in your power and purpose and pleasure, and in the Name of Jesus! Amen and AMEN!"
See you tomorrow at 1 Thessalonians 1.
See you tomorrow at 1 Thessalonians 1.
Wednesday 9/13: 1 Thessalonians 1
1 Thessalonians 1.
All true Christ followers KNOW He is coming back (John 14:3; Acts 1:8), we just don't KNOW exactly "how" nor precisely "when!" Lots of ink has been used, maybe even some blood spilt, many local churches split and new ones formed, and much debate on this point. While we differ from the NT churches in that we have God's Word, the Bible, to answer our questions and solve our problems, unlike the folks of 2,000 years ago personally receiving Paul's letters, there's still the "how" and "when" issues as they are not clearly and decisively "spelled out " for us in scripture. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul "clears up" much of the confusion and points them (and us) towards the ultimate goal of living FOR and IN Christ in assurance of our TOTAL salvation, and in such a way that we not be ashamed of our lives WHEN He comes back! "For they themselves declare concerning what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
See you tomorrow at 1 Thessalonians 2
All true Christ followers KNOW He is coming back (John 14:3; Acts 1:8), we just don't KNOW exactly "how" nor precisely "when!" Lots of ink has been used, maybe even some blood spilt, many local churches split and new ones formed, and much debate on this point. While we differ from the NT churches in that we have God's Word, the Bible, to answer our questions and solve our problems, unlike the folks of 2,000 years ago personally receiving Paul's letters, there's still the "how" and "when" issues as they are not clearly and decisively "spelled out " for us in scripture. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul "clears up" much of the confusion and points them (and us) towards the ultimate goal of living FOR and IN Christ in assurance of our TOTAL salvation, and in such a way that we not be ashamed of our lives WHEN He comes back! "For they themselves declare concerning what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
See you tomorrow at 1 Thessalonians 2
Thursday 9/14: 1 Thessalonians 2
1 Thessalonians 2:13 is the great "divider" of men, women, boys, and girls...the difference between being "saved" or "lost," between "walking in the Spirit" or walking according to the flesh, living FOR and IN the Kingdom of God or living for and in the "kingdom of this world," ultimately between following God or following satan....what we DO with the Word of God is paramount! Paul was thankful for the response of "First Baptist"😊 Church of Thessolonica. "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us (Paul & company), you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." The proof of their changes lives was their response to God's Word...it still is for us today!
See you tomorrow for 1 Thessalonians 3.
See you tomorrow for 1 Thessalonians 3.
Friday 9/15: 1 Thessalonians 3
Finally... fantastic Friday and 1 Thessalonians 3! Each "chapter" of this very personal letter of encouragement to a local church under persecution ends with a reference to Jesus'return, our HOPE in tough times...Jesus IS coming back to take us Home and "set things straight!" In light of THIS, our goal should be to live victoriously in His power and according to His Word in this broken upsidedown world in which we live while keeping our eyes on the endgame...His return! "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."
See you Monday at 1 Thessalonians 4.
See you Monday at 1 Thessalonians 4.
Monday 9/18: 1 Thessalonians 4
"Finally then, brethren (and sisteren 😇), we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification.." so begins the fourth "chapter" of Paul's personal letter of encouragement to the local church at Thessolonica. "Sanctification" is the process through which one is determined (to be) or made holy, and is active in our lives in three types or tenses: we HAVE BEEN sanctified (designated "holy" by God Himself at redemption from sin and adoption into His family), we ARE BEING sanctified (as we grow in grace and Truth through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives), and we WILL BE sanctified (or made holy finally and completely and perfectly when Jesus comes to "wrap things up!") The first came in the PAST and is our POSITION before God, the second is the PRESENT and ongoing PROCESS of "more Jesus and less me," and the third is coming in the FUTURE when we are finally PERFECTED at Christ's return as we see described in one of the most encouraging and enlightening passages in all the Bible.. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words"
(4:13-18).
See you tomorrow at 1 Thessalonians 5.
(4:13-18).
See you tomorrow at 1 Thessalonians 5.
Tuesday 9/19: 1 Thessalonians 5
After giving a very sobering picture of the world's wicked boundless perversion of God's gift of human sexuality (4:3-8), and comfort and encouragement in the "Blessed Hope" (4:13-18) which removes us from this crazy world before "The Day of the Lord" brings our Holy God's righteous judgement on sinful humanity (5:1-3), Paul reminds us of our calling to be the bold, witnessing people of God (in joy and thanksgiving) leading people to Him before "time runs out" and "the window of opportunity passes (5:4-22)...and ...to...PRAY!
See you tomorrow at 2 Thessalonians 1.
See you tomorrow at 2 Thessalonians 1.
Wednesday 9/20: 2 Thessalonians 1
2 Thessalonians 1 starts with a very positive example of positive reinforcement as Paul praises the church for their lived-out faith, and love among themselves and others, BEFORE sharing deficiencies and necessary "adjustments"....a good lesson I would do well to learn (probably all of y'all would too😇)! A huge portion of 2thess is focused on the Second Coming of Jesus, and chapter one proves that claim by reminding the people of the challenge to live RIGHT in the light of His Return!
See you at chapter 2 tomorrow.
See you at chapter 2 tomorrow.
Thursday 9/21: 2 Thessalonians 2
2 Thessalonians 2..."But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions (foundational doctrines) which you were taught, whether by word or by our epistle."
The Holy Spirit, through Paul, makes it abundantly clear that all who are "saved" are GOD-CHOSEN to salvation (v13) and saved for the glory of God, AND He makes it abundantly clear that we, His chosen vessels, have responsibilities in the process as the "chosen" saved ones are saved through "belief in the truth" (v13) AND having been called by The Spirit of God through the sharing of the Gospel (v14), (speaking and hearing)...and in anticipation of my not being capable of reconciling these two seemingly contradictory truths (election and free will), we're told to simply "stand fast (bold, stable) and hold (tightly, tenaciously) to the foundational doctrines (traditions) of God...I don't HAVE to understand, just BELIEVE!
See you tomorrow at 2 Thessalonians 3.
The Holy Spirit, through Paul, makes it abundantly clear that all who are "saved" are GOD-CHOSEN to salvation (v13) and saved for the glory of God, AND He makes it abundantly clear that we, His chosen vessels, have responsibilities in the process as the "chosen" saved ones are saved through "belief in the truth" (v13) AND having been called by The Spirit of God through the sharing of the Gospel (v14), (speaking and hearing)...and in anticipation of my not being capable of reconciling these two seemingly contradictory truths (election and free will), we're told to simply "stand fast (bold, stable) and hold (tightly, tenaciously) to the foundational doctrines (traditions) of God...I don't HAVE to understand, just BELIEVE!
See you tomorrow at 2 Thessalonians 3.
Friday 9/22: 2 Thessalonians 3
2 Thessalonians 3:10 is a very interesting thought in light of our current "welfare state" and our ill-placed and mis defined sense of "compassion" on the "needy"....while we ARE admonished and required to help those who cannot provide for necessities, here, the Bible is very clear that we are not to be enablers, or to put it a more coarse way, we shouldn't "throw bad money after good"...if one is physically capable of working to provide for themselves, then the church (or the government , or individuals) should NOT provide for them! Very clear in principle but can get a little "foggy" in practice, and that's why god makes provisions for children, widows, and those unable to physically provide for themselves....
Things that make you go "hmm"..
See you Monday at 1 Timothy 1
Things that make you go "hmm"..
See you Monday at 1 Timothy 1
Monday 9/25: 1 Timothy 1
The ultimate source of the problems Paul addressed in his personal letters to local church bodies was unsound doctrine...in other words they stopped "sticking to" the Word of God...they drifted from their anchor, and his 1st letter to Timothy is no exception. Here, Paul is encouraging a young pastor to "stand" firm in God's Words (as taught him by Paul since the canon of Scripture had not yet been gathered) and "fight" the false teachers of false teachings that had and were infiltrating God's churches! When we look around at the likes of Andy Stanley, Rick Warren, and a host of others, we see the same false teachers of false teachings in our day, along with many churches and even entire denominations rejecting the clear teachings of the Bible, and flagrantly promoting ungodliness within their people... "Lord God give us the boldness to stand true to YOU and "stick to" Your Word in this wicked generation!"
See you tomorrow with 1 Timothy 2.
See you tomorrow with 1 Timothy 2.
Tuesday 9/26: 1 Timothy 2
As this was originally a personal letter from Paul to Timothy, and remembering there were no chapter or verse divisions, 1 Timothy 1 flows smoothly and logically into 1 Timothy 2. Paul goes from exposing false teachings and fighting false teachings to praying for the salvation and reclamation of the false teachers along with "all men" (obviously the generic term for humanity both "men" and "women"), "exhorting" Christ followers of every era to make use of our ultimate power source..."Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
See you tomorrow at 1 Timothy 3.
See you tomorrow at 1 Timothy 3.
Wednesday 9/27: 1 Timothy 3
1 Timothy 3 gives God's qualifications for the pastor (bishop) and deacons of the local church...one focuses on meeting the people's spiritual needs, while the other their physical needs. He then tells us all "how to conduct (ourselves) in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed in in the world,
Received up in glory."
See you tomorrow at 1 Timothy 4.
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed in in the world,
Received up in glory."
See you tomorrow at 1 Timothy 4.
Thursday 9/28: 1 Timothy 4
Following the qualifications for the leaders of the church and the statement of sound doctrine in 3, 1 Timothy 4 tells of a great spiritual "falling away" to come and then encouraged Timothy to live as he should and challenged him to preach as he must!
See you tomorrow with the wrap up of week 39 with 1 Timothy 5.
See you tomorrow with the wrap up of week 39 with 1 Timothy 5.
Friday 9/29: 1 Timothy 5
In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul tells Timothy to "no longer drink only water (inferring that he routinely abstained from alcohol), but use A LITTLE wine FOR your STOMACH'S SAKE and your frequent INFIRMITIES." Their "wine" wasn't our "wine," their water wasn't clean, Paul was encouraging the use of a "medicine" to treat a health condition....addto that, that in order for fermented juice to reach today's common level of alcohol content a fermenting additive/activity must be introduced (purposely increasing the alcohol content), and we can readily see, if honest, that not only is the Bible NOT encouraging regular alcohol use as a common beverage, but actually placing it in the arena of a medicine of sorts. When purposely increasing the alcoholic content, the Bible specifies the resulting drink as "strong drink," and only speaks of it in a negative light except for its use as a sedative or narcotic for someone with critical health conditions who is dying. "'Why are you picking on drinking alcohol?' you might ask." I would respond, "what possible good can come from drinking a beverage that alters one's mood, attitude, reasoning skills, even chemical balance?" Any answer you could give has to do with feelings, likes, and dislikes...nothing GOOD, really and actually GOOD, ever comes from alcohol use. In fact, more lives are disrupted and even destroyed from drinking alcohol than anything else. You say, "I can stop anytime I want!" I doubt it (the desire rarely goes away), but even if YOU can, what about your children and others who maybe can NOT "just quit"...and you "own" part of the responsibility by helping lead them down this path. Is the destroyed life of your child or someone else's worth your fulfilling the self-centered desire of your flesh? Do yourself a favor...stop spending energy trying to convince yourself that "God is ok" with drinking and drunken Christ-followers (sounds just like Jesus, huh?), and give total sobriety and abstinence a try...everyone will thank you except the alcohol producers and your friends who are already "trapped" as well. Let something, rather SOMEONE else fill and control you..let another Spirit "run your life" instead of "ruining it!"
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (wasteful expenditure, idle diversion); but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Eph 5:15-21)
See you Monday at 1 Timothy 6.
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (wasteful expenditure, idle diversion); but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Eph 5:15-21)
See you Monday at 1 Timothy 6.
Monday 10/2: 1 Timothy 6
1 Timothy 6:11&12.
Good Monday morning Godly ladies and gentlemen! "But you, O man (and woman) of God, flee these things (see previous verses) and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith..."
It's time for godly manly men and godly womanly women to stand!...will you stand with me for God and Right?! If we're going to claim ourselves to be "Christ followers" then we ought to actually and really and completely FOLLOW Christ!
2 Timothy 1 tomorrow.
Good Monday morning Godly ladies and gentlemen! "But you, O man (and woman) of God, flee these things (see previous verses) and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith..."
It's time for godly manly men and godly womanly women to stand!...will you stand with me for God and Right?! If we're going to claim ourselves to be "Christ followers" then we ought to actually and really and completely FOLLOW Christ!
2 Timothy 1 tomorrow.
Tuesday 3/2: 2 Timothy 1
Paul's second letter to spiritual son and local church pastor Timothy was apparently his last correspondence before being executed for his faith in Christ. Notice the topic of his conversation wasn't complaining about his imprisonment or coming death, but about the grace and mercy of God in his own life and concern for the ongoing work of God in the local churches and individual lives!... Paul's surrender and commitment to Christ "trumped" everything else in his life!
See you tomorrow at 2 Timothy 2.
See you tomorrow at 2 Timothy 2.