What is Gods word?
The Bible is, and should be, our Substance as believers. It is our spiritual food. God does not talk to belivers the same way today as he did with Abraham and Moses. He speaks to us from his word and we have to be in his word to hear what he is saying.
The Bible also should be our light. Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Have you ever been hiking in the woods at night or when it was dark, or have you ever used a flashlight in the dark? What happens if you are just shining it right in front of your feet? Can you react in time if the light is just at your feet to avoid hitting a tree? We need to shine the light ahead of us. The same is with the Bible. While it is good to read the Bible are we just using it when we want to "see right in front of us?" We need to read it constantly and let the Lord prepare us for "what is ahead" through it.
The Bible is Truth. John 17:14-20 says, "14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
What God says in his word is undisputable it is his word and what he inspired the authors of the Bible to write. We need to live his word as evidence of this truth.
When we trust it doesnt mean to just sit around and wait for things to happen, but we must continue on in life and trust that God will do what is best for us.
The Bible is so much more than this and I could take forever and not even have you see the tip of the iceburg. I hope in my next post to continue on in talking about what the Bible is.
Thursday
Saturday
What Does Being a Christian Really Mean?
What does it mean to be a Christian?
In Luke 14:25-36 the Bible says,
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Is being a Christian a social "position"? NO. When we become a Christian, Christ says to "forsake all". This doesnt mean that when you become a Christain you have to throw all of your possesions out and live in a box. We must conciuosly decide to dedicate all that we have to the Lord's service.
3 Things You Must Ask Yourself
1. Are you willing to follow Christ above all others?
2. Will you die to yourself and live for Christ?
3. Are you willing to die for your faith?
Today in America we are still blessed with religious freedom. It has been stated many times by famous speakers, ordinary people, and bloggers, about the persecution of Christians in foreign countries. Most Christians are not put into a situation were they may have to choose between their faith and their life. In Revelation it talks about being a lukewarm Christian. Christ would rather us be cold or hot but not in the middle. How do you view what Christianity is?
For those who truly follow Christ it is a joyous thing. We must daily ask oursleves these questions and seek to follow the Lord
In Luke 14:25-36 the Bible says,
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Is being a Christian a social "position"? NO. When we become a Christian, Christ says to "forsake all". This doesnt mean that when you become a Christain you have to throw all of your possesions out and live in a box. We must conciuosly decide to dedicate all that we have to the Lord's service.
3 Things You Must Ask Yourself
1. Are you willing to follow Christ above all others?
2. Will you die to yourself and live for Christ?
3. Are you willing to die for your faith?
Today in America we are still blessed with religious freedom. It has been stated many times by famous speakers, ordinary people, and bloggers, about the persecution of Christians in foreign countries. Most Christians are not put into a situation were they may have to choose between their faith and their life. In Revelation it talks about being a lukewarm Christian. Christ would rather us be cold or hot but not in the middle. How do you view what Christianity is?
For those who truly follow Christ it is a joyous thing. We must daily ask oursleves these questions and seek to follow the Lord
Tuesday
What is Love?
What is love? I am sure if you walked up to random people on the street and asked them that question you would get some pretty strange answers. Love, is a strong affection for another rising from kinship of close personal ties. It also means to cherish and hold dear. Today the word is used so flippantly. I love that person. I love doing this or that. I love getting out of school for the summer. The Bible in John 15:13 says this, Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Wow. Would you be willing to die for the things and people you love?
Next time you say, I love you, think. Would you be willing to lay down your life for that person? That is true love. 1 Corinthians 13 commonly dubbed the "Love Chapter" gives us a detailed description of what love is.
1 Corinthians 13
The Greatest Gift
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Is this the kind of love that you talk about in your every day life? This is true love. This is what God intended love to be. We view love as word such as like. We can even use the two interchangelbly. I love ice cream or I like ice cream. I admit that it is a kind of lame example. Who would die for ice cream? But next time you say you love something look at the context you use it in.
God shows us an example of the love we are supposed to experience in our everyday life, in Romans 8:39 this reads; nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wow. God loves us so much that nothing can seperate us from him. He sent his son to DIE on the cross for our sins. Jesus loved us so much he was willing to DIE and bear the pain of death because he loves us.
Finaly in 1 John 4:7 it says; Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
God does intend for us to love. He created us with that desire. Why then do we take love for granted, why do we take it lightly? Isnt it great to know that Christ love is unconditionable? There is no height or depth that compares to the love Christ has for us.
Next time you say, I love you, think. Would you be willing to lay down your life for that person? That is true love. 1 Corinthians 13 commonly dubbed the "Love Chapter" gives us a detailed description of what love is.
1 Corinthians 13
The Greatest Gift
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Is this the kind of love that you talk about in your every day life? This is true love. This is what God intended love to be. We view love as word such as like. We can even use the two interchangelbly. I love ice cream or I like ice cream. I admit that it is a kind of lame example. Who would die for ice cream? But next time you say you love something look at the context you use it in.
God shows us an example of the love we are supposed to experience in our everyday life, in Romans 8:39 this reads; nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wow. God loves us so much that nothing can seperate us from him. He sent his son to DIE on the cross for our sins. Jesus loved us so much he was willing to DIE and bear the pain of death because he loves us.
Finaly in 1 John 4:7 it says; Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
God does intend for us to love. He created us with that desire. Why then do we take love for granted, why do we take it lightly? Isnt it great to know that Christ love is unconditionable? There is no height or depth that compares to the love Christ has for us.
Monday
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (New King James Version)
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you[a] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“ I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”[b]
17 Therefore
“ Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”[c]
18 “ I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty.”[d]
I have heard of alot of people who talk about problems with boyfriends and girlfriends. I have to admit I am no expert in these two areas, I believe that to make the statement, "I love you" you have to mean it. Of course this brings us to the discussion of what Love is, which I hope to work on as my next post, Lord Willing. But one thing that I do know is that the best place to get advice is from God who speaks through his word, the Bible.
As a personal decision, I have decided I will not, "unequally yoke my self with the unbelievers." I do not do this because I look down on some one who isn't a Christian, but problems will arise between a follower of Christ and someone who does not believe Christ is sovereign. Problems will arise because your priorities, reasoning, sense of right and wrong are at different points. As a Christian you belong totally to God. Somone who isn't a believer doesn't share that core obligation or affection. So even if you find yourself magneticly drawn in countless other areas there is an unbridgable gap between you. If you where to hitch to different animals to a wagon and have them pull it how well do you think it would work? Would a donkey and an ox pull with the same strenght or continue with the same stanima? A modern day example might be this.(Just pretend your a kid at the playground again) If you wanted to ride a see-saw who would you chose to ride with you? Do you look for a big burly guy that looks like he could rip apart a phone book or do you chose the kid swinging next to you on the swings? Things just never seem to work out when you hang tight with somone who is pulling the opposite direction.
What will you decide? Will you take your chances? Do you want to risk heartbreak? Or will you ask God to help you find a believer to spend time with. To grow in a realtionship with but more importantly to help you to grow in a realtionship with God?
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you[a] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“ I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”[b]
17 Therefore
“ Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”[c]
18 “ I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty.”[d]
I have heard of alot of people who talk about problems with boyfriends and girlfriends. I have to admit I am no expert in these two areas, I believe that to make the statement, "I love you" you have to mean it. Of course this brings us to the discussion of what Love is, which I hope to work on as my next post, Lord Willing. But one thing that I do know is that the best place to get advice is from God who speaks through his word, the Bible.
As a personal decision, I have decided I will not, "unequally yoke my self with the unbelievers." I do not do this because I look down on some one who isn't a Christian, but problems will arise between a follower of Christ and someone who does not believe Christ is sovereign. Problems will arise because your priorities, reasoning, sense of right and wrong are at different points. As a Christian you belong totally to God. Somone who isn't a believer doesn't share that core obligation or affection. So even if you find yourself magneticly drawn in countless other areas there is an unbridgable gap between you. If you where to hitch to different animals to a wagon and have them pull it how well do you think it would work? Would a donkey and an ox pull with the same strenght or continue with the same stanima? A modern day example might be this.(Just pretend your a kid at the playground again) If you wanted to ride a see-saw who would you chose to ride with you? Do you look for a big burly guy that looks like he could rip apart a phone book or do you chose the kid swinging next to you on the swings? Things just never seem to work out when you hang tight with somone who is pulling the opposite direction.
What will you decide? Will you take your chances? Do you want to risk heartbreak? Or will you ask God to help you find a believer to spend time with. To grow in a realtionship with but more importantly to help you to grow in a realtionship with God?
Wednesday
What is the Lord's Plan?
As I sit here I look back over the last two weeks since I have last blogged I can't help but wonder What is the Lord's Plan. I've continued going to school and playing baseball just about everyday. I wake up each morning, have my devotions and go to school. So what is the Lord's Plan right now for me? I think over what I have been doing and realized while I have been praying, I have not been praying for the Lord's guidance. I have been praying for some friends of mine who have been going through a hard time, I've been praying for safety for my family and friends, understanding with my homework and many things like that. What I have not been praying for has been God's guidance. It ties into asking for wisdom too. When we ask the what his plan is for our life we must also ask for the wisdom to make the right choices as events unfold. I have to remember, just like we all do, to not live for the past, nor worry for the future. The past has come and gone and I must learn from what happened and better serve the Lord. I should not worry about the future either, because it is in Jesus' hands. I may not know what God's plan is for my life but I trust that if I ask him he will guide me through. It makes me think of the illustration of the footprints in the sand.
"A man walking down the "beach of life" looked back down the stretch of sand he had already traversed. At some points the man saw two sets of footprints and other times he saw one. The man turned to God and said, "Lord why are there some times where there only one set of footprints? Why did you leave me to walk alone?" The Lord replied, "Oh my son. During those times I never left you, it was during those times I carried you, and I never let go of your hand even when we walked together."
Now I realize first of all we can not converse with the Lord, but it is true. We have to ask God to carry us and never let go of our hand. I have to remember to ask the Lord to carry me and ask the what is your plan for my life?
Saturday
The Call of Wisdom
Proverbs 1:20 "Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares."
Question for today: Will you seek what God's wisdom has to offer or will you chose to "love simplicity" and "delight in their scorning."(Excerpts from Proverbs 1:22) Scorning means to dimiss as contemptible or unworthy and simple means lack of thought, intelligence, wisdom or education.
Alot of people know the story of Solomon in the Bible but if you are not familiar you can find part of his story in 1 Kings. Solomon was the son of David king of Israel and his youngest son. When he became king, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said ask for anything you want and I will give it to you. Solomon asked for wisdom.
What exactly is wisdom? Is it being smart? Being old and therefore wise? What does it mean to be wise? Wisdom is the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships. God's wisdom is the greatest. When we ask him to help us and give us wisdom and when we are in his word he promises to give us wisdom. Throughout the verses in Proverbs 1:20-33 it talks about if we accpet God's wisdom we will be blessed but of you do not accepet God's wisdom your life will be full of pain and heartache.
Here is a link to the whole verse Proverbs 1:20-33 in the New King James Version
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%201:20-33;&version=50;
Question for today: Will you seek what God's wisdom has to offer or will you chose to "love simplicity" and "delight in their scorning."(Excerpts from Proverbs 1:22) Scorning means to dimiss as contemptible or unworthy and simple means lack of thought, intelligence, wisdom or education.
Alot of people know the story of Solomon in the Bible but if you are not familiar you can find part of his story in 1 Kings. Solomon was the son of David king of Israel and his youngest son. When he became king, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said ask for anything you want and I will give it to you. Solomon asked for wisdom.
What exactly is wisdom? Is it being smart? Being old and therefore wise? What does it mean to be wise? Wisdom is the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships. God's wisdom is the greatest. When we ask him to help us and give us wisdom and when we are in his word he promises to give us wisdom. Throughout the verses in Proverbs 1:20-33 it talks about if we accpet God's wisdom we will be blessed but of you do not accepet God's wisdom your life will be full of pain and heartache.
Here is a link to the whole verse Proverbs 1:20-33 in the New King James Version
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%201:20-33;&version=50;
Monday
Getting Started
I have always had a heart to reach out to people and let them know that Jesus their creator loves them. I started this blog with the intention to put the gospel out there and also to encourage fellow believers in their walk. I cant say I know everything or that I will always be right but I pray that Christ gives me wisdom through all of this. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment.
In Christ,
Jared
In Christ,
Jared
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