10 posts tagged “faith”

DISCERNER OF THE HEART

Read Hebrews 3 - 4

...exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

Hebrews 3:13 NKJV

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            Writing to his audience of Jewish Christians, the author of Hebrews reminds them of the penalty of unbelief. The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they did not believe God. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest.

(4:2-3a)

            The rest that comes to the children of God in our day is through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In our struggle against sin, He is the one who gives us rest.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

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                        Lord, I come to you today bowing before your throne to find grace to help in my time of need.

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            For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.     Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

RICH IN GOOD WORKS

THOMAS BELIEVES

Read: Luke 24:36–43; John 20:24–31

This morning my Bible reading was in Colossians 2 and I thought I would share this passage that stood out to me.

Colossians 2:6-10

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
NKJV

I thought about how the principles of the world are consantly bombarding us and I need to keep myself focused on God's principles in His Word. I love the part which says, "you are complete in Him..."

            It has become an essential part of my Christian life to read and meditate on the Bible every morning.  Fellowship and encouragement with other believers is also important, but even more we need the encouragement God gives in His Word.

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            Yesterday morning I was feeling particularly burdened by the growing attacks on the Bible and on the Christian faith.  These attacks are particularly hurtful since they are so irreverent and blasphemous toward the Lord I love and serve. But God has called me into the world of blogging and that is cause for rejoicing and praising Him. I have never had so much opportunity to share my faith with so many people all over the world.

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            The Bible makes no effort to be politically correct; and deals with absolutes of right and wrong, and that is why so many atheistic governments have set out to remove it from circulation – even throwing Bible teachers in prison. This is still going on in places like China where the Olympic Games will be held this year.

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            Unfortunately, our own government, (USA) particularly in our public schools, has allowed atheism to become the established state religion. The longer I post online the more evangelistic I see this religion to be.  It is not enough to say they don’t believe in God or the Bible - It seems to be an active cause to attempt to destroy the faith of those who do. It is certainly a cause to remove any evidence of belief in the Bible from public places.

            Well, the purpose of my Blog is to share God’s Word with all who would care to read it, and to model personal application of Scripture in a format of prayer. But today I just wanted to share a passage that was particularly encouraging to me. It is a familiar passage, but somehow it spoke volumes to me yesterday morning about the indescribable value of God’s Word in our lives.

Psalms 19:7-14

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

Yes, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey

and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

[38]

THE PHARISEE AND TAX COLLECTOR

Read:  Luke 18:9-14

            The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  Luke 18:11 NKJV

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            This religious leader may have had much to be proud of in avoiding gross sin, but he missed the fact that he was still a sinner. Salvation comes through repentance, and Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  The tax collector, so despised for his sin, had it right.  He, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  (18:13)

            The Pharisee was like the rich young ruler who thought he could gain eternal life by doing good works. We must all come by way of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ.  Only then can we do genuinely good works, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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            Lord, forgive me when I am guilty of looking down on someone I judge to be more sinful than I. As You have extended mercy to me, I must desire mercy for others. You look beyond the outward appearance and see our hearts. Help me to discern the heart attitudes of my children and teach them humility by example.

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            ". . . everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:14 NKJV

[37]

TEN LEPERS CLEANSED

Read Luke 17:11-19

            …There met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"  Luke 17:12-13 NKJV

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            There were many in Israel willing to be healed of their diseases, to be fed with free bread and be part of an adoring crowd. But there were few who were willing to accept Jesus as Messiah, the Son of God, and commit their lives to Him. In the case of these ten very sick men, only one came back to give glory to God for his healing. In spite of the fact that ten were cleansed of leprosy, to only one he said, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." (17:19)

            There is a sickness of the soul that is far worse than leprosy and that is sin. Only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, can heal us of that disease.

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            Thank You Lord, that You were willing to cleanse me from sin, just as You cleansed those men from their leprosy. Forgive me when I go day after day without remembering to stop and say thank You.  Help me to teach my children to be thankful as well.

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            So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" Luke 17:17-18 NKJV

HEALING OF JAIRUS' DAUGHTER

Read Luke 8:40–56

Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. Luke 8:41–42 NIV

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THOMAS BELIEVES

Read:  Luke 24:36-43 & John 20:24-31

            Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." John 20:25 NIV

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            Eight days before this, the disciples had stood in amazed unbelief.  Jesus suddenly appeared, and they thought they were seeing a ghost. Then He asked for something to eat and said, "Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:39)  Now Thomas is unconvinced, since he has not yet seen the Lord.  When Jesus appeared again, and showed him his hands and side, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!"  (John 20:28)           

Jesus had been telling His disciples all along that he would arise from the dead, but this was something they couldn't comprehend. We have the advantage of the complete Scriptures, explaining how all these things fit together with Old Testament prophesy; yet Lord, there are times I struggle to understand Your plan for us. Perhaps it is just enough to say, "My Lord and my God!"

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             Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  John 20:29 NKJV