Sunday, October 2

God test Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Issac on an altar to him.  Abraham obeys knowing God's character, His promises, His ways in the past.  God sees Abraham's devotion and dedication to not withhold anything from Him, putting God first place in His life and trusting Him wholly.  God provides a lamb for the sacrifice symbolizing that He himself would provide the ultimate lamb for the sacrifice for the sin of the whole world in due time through the incarnate God, Jesus Christ!

Sunday, September 1

Genesis 6:1-16   As people multiplied on the face of the earth men took wives.  A statement is made about the sons of God taking the daughters of man as wives.  This may be a reference to fallen angels who goals it is to destroy God's crowning creative creature of man. The thoughts and imaginations of mankind is described as only always evil.  God regretted that He had made man.  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  God bestows grace on Noah and He is able to live righteously among perverted evil people.  God decides to destroy the whole earth but save Noah and his wife and children and begin again.  

God is the grace giver.  Seek him and ask for grace to follow Him today!

Sunday, September 11th    Genesis 1:1-19

God is the creator who brought something out of nothing.  He created the world so it could be inhabited.   His words "Let there be light" started the creative process of all we see and know.  He continues to cause the seasons to occur in a testament to His power and provision for human life to continue and be in relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  True believers recognize God's creative power in our planet, environment, and his re-creative power in our spirit as He redeems all that was caused at the fall of man soon after creation described here.  

Sunday, September 4, 2022

James  3:13-18  James moves from a description of an untamed tongued to  the fountain and motivation of it: the heart!  What is in the heart is the "fountain" of the tongue.  It is the bitter envy, jealousy, and the selfish ambitions of the heart that give rise to every evil work.  We must "speak the truth in our hearts" first about God and then about  ourselves and our movtives and then repent of those to God.   He loves me and is willing to forgive me and lead me to "purity of heart" by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  My responsibility is to surrender to the truth of the Word and the Holy Spirit.  This allows HIM to change my heart.  If my heart is changed it will be reflected in my spirit, my attitudes, my words and my deeds.  "Lie not against the truth".  Speak the truth in your heart to your own spirit, repent and allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart which will change your words and your deeds!

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Romans 12:1-8 :  We are encouraged by the Apostle Paul to be transformed by the renewing of our mind rather than allowing the world to conform us to it's pattern.  We have been given gifts of the Spirit to use in the body of Christ (the Church).  We are to use the gifts given to us to serve others and we should think soberly about these gifts (not thinking of ourselves or our gifts as more important).  The body of Christ is one unit that should work together as one unit.  We, as individual members of that unit, should offer our bodies as living sacrifices to minister to one another and glorify God while accomplishing the purpose of bringing others to saving faith in Jesus Christ. 

Sunday, July 17

Instructions are given for kings.  They have great responsibility and influence and should use it for godly purposes and ends.  Encouragement is given to seek wisdom and understanding more than one would seek gold.  It is that valuable to be a person of wisdom and understanding.  Understand is said to be the "wellspring of life".  We must drink from this wellspring as well as share the understanding and wisdom God gives us with others. A prideful person will fail to do this and will fall.  A humble person recognizes where true riches and understanding comes from and has a teachable spirit that positions itself not with the rich and proud but with the poor and humble.  

Application:  Humble ourselves to seek God's wisdom and understanding.  It is better to make this the pursuit in life rather than gold or silver. Recognize a the great responsibility of kings and those in leadership.  Pray for them to make godly, wise choices and live lives that seek God's understanding and wisdom and rule in such a way that God is glorified and people are blessed!

Proverbs 14:1-6

A comparison of the wise and foolish choices is presented.  A wise woman builds while a foolish one tears down.  The statement is made that "where no oxen are the crib is clean but much increase is in the strength of the ox."  This refers to the work of the wise.  A wise person works hard and a the crib is filled with corn (food).  A wise person is like an ox who works hard and provides.  Another factor could be fruitfulness of a strong wise person.  That person is industrious and creates rather than causing leaness through laziness or carelessness.  

Application:  People have choices.  We can choose to be wise or be foolish.  Those choices have consequences.  We do not get to choose the consequences or rewards but we can learn from examples in Scripture how to make the right choice and follow up that learning with actually choosing to follow the wise examples provided.  Choose well today!

July 3, 2022

II Timothy 3:1-7

Paul continues his message to Timothy to instruct him how to respond to what he will face in the hearts and minds of those He will be ministering to in 'these last days'.  Every day since Christ left and promised to return is considered to be a part of "these last days" as His return has been immenent since that point.  It will be perilous because men will be totally selfish and self centered and will not have a natural affinity for other human relationships.  This will happen in and outside of the "church".  Some who will be "in the church locally" may not be a part of the actual body of Christ.  They will have a form of godliness but will not actually have the power to display true godliness as a fruit of the Spirit of God living in their heart because they will be fake believers.   

Action Step:  Examine your heart and life.  Have you trusted Christ as Saviour and had a changed heart and affections?  Is your part of the local body because of some set of moral values you hold and not due the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling you?  Is your intellect stirred up to know but to not settle on the truth of God's Word and character?  Jesus Christ is returning to claim His own.  Be sure you are one of His!

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Romans 8:26-39

God has made every provision that those who respond to his call of salvation will be justified, and made into the image of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is our partner in prayer.  He intercedes for us in ways we cannot and do not understand.  He intercedes for us according to God's will.  What we pray for may not be in God's will or plan but we can know that as we pray the Holy Spirit does so along with us knowing God's perfect will, plan and purposes.  If God is for us, who then can be against us?  God is for us!  Thank you, Heavenly Father, Thank you Holy Spirit, and Thank you, Jesus Christ for working ALL things together for our good!

Word of Life Quiet Time Diary:  Sunday, May 22, 2022

Passage:  Romans 5:12-21    Through Adam's sinful choice the sinful nature and death was passed upon all of the human race that came after him and from him.  All of us have the nature to sin and if given the opportunity we choose to sin.   Adam's sin brought sin upon us all.  Christ obedience brought the opportunity for redemption from the death that resulted from our sinful nature.  We can choose Christ and choose life (present and eternal life).  We will be ultimately, bodily redeemed when we are made like Christ completely and given a glorified body like Christ! 

Romans 2: 17- 29

Our heart is revealed by our actions.  We judge others often for things that we have done or are doing ourselves.  This heart of judgement reveals that we are actually "accidental" pharisees....somehow thinking that we are justified by our works and that others can be so as well (if they would follow our example of course).  But works can never "justify" any sinner in the site of God.  Our salvation is by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone. 

Hebrews 10:1-10  The new covenant established by the oath and blood of Jesus Christ is explained in more detail.  Because of this new covenant Christ has saved and sanctified us.  He is also continually perfecting us in that sanctification in time until the moment we will be completely like him.  He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ!  The work of the new covenant is done!  Learning how to live and rest in the work of Christ and how to allow him to conform us to his image is a daily work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we abide in Christ!

Hebrews 7: 23-28    There were many priest in the levitical priesthood but only one in the Melchizedek  priesthood.  He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, made higher than the heavens.  God sent His own son/self and established an eternal priesthood by his own oath on our behalf.  We have a high priest praying  for us.  He is "holy, undefiled, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens".  This is the character of our high priest.  He is holy, good, and loving.  He is praying for us!  

Word of Life Quiet Time Diary - Sunday, January 16, 2022

John 11:45-52     Following the miracle of raising Lazurus from the dead, many Jews believe on Jesus.  Some report to the Pharisee's.  The Pharisee's fear that they will be displaced and the popularity of Jesus will cause a problem for the Romans.  Caiaphus unwittingly prophecy's that one man should be sacrificed so that the whole nation can be saved.  They begin to plot to kill Jesus to maintain their power and "peace".  They watch for an opportunity to do so before the passover feast.

God uses  people, even in their scheming, to perform his will.  Jesus gave His life, they did not "take it".  He was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world.  Do not be afraid of seeming enemies to the will of God.  God is always in control.