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01-19-2009, 10:41 PM
1 Timothy 2
Pray for All Men
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ[a]and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
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Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Mark 3:13-19 NIV
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Come to Jesus
Come ye, all that are heavy laden and burdened down, and find rest for your souls.
Come ye, all who are confused and perplexed and have reached the end of your own understandability, and find a river of wisdom, pure and holy, a straight road in the midst of this world's hopeless state of religious chaos.
Come!
Come, all ye who are rejected and despised, who feel unloved and friendless, who have become outcasts of this world's religious institutions, and find solace in the everlasting Arms of our Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
"Come!", sayeth the Spirit and the Bride.
And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come.
And whosoever will, let him receive the water of life freely.
Come to Jesus.
©01/20/2001 Jim Welch
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Transforming Thoughts
And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom. 12:2).
A writer of Proverbs tells us that there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is destruction. We live in a society that is propelled along by a self-seeking mentality. One that employs each of us to find our own way, get all we can out of life, to find the thing that makes us happy and make it ours. Slogans like, "Look out for number one," have become popular within the last few decades, encouraging us to push on toward success in this life. That is, success as defined by the world we live in.
Sad as it is, most of us have bought into the lies of our culture. So much so, that the difference between the church and the lost community is hard to see. Some of the solid lines that were drawn between perceived godliness and worldliness have become vague and in some cases, almost nonexistent.
So what's the matter? The matter is that as we grow up in such a culture, the culture becomes a part of us, so much so, that we are very much the product of our culture. Our philosophies, ideals, and desires are shaped, molded and carved out of the clay our culture consists of . As much as the people of this nation want to claim that we are all individuals, there is an awful lot done to look, act, dress and live according to the pre-established guidelines of cultural norms. Very few of us are indeed true individuals, unaffected by societal sculpting. Being such, how we think is very much influenced by the common societal mind-set. We think much like everyone else around us. And if we think like those around us, then how we act or react to a given situation will be much the same as those around us. How we solve problems, how we make a living and even how we raise our children are all impacted by the thinking-style that is part of who we are because of where we have grown up.
Needless to say, the thinking patterns that have become part of us have become intertwined with every part of our being. And they affect every facet of our lives. The problem is that much of the societal thinking which has infected us is not of God. Much of the how we transact business, raise families, engage in friendships, choose where we will live and work, etc. is thought out first in terms of our cultural thinking. Even our churches do most of their business and financial planning based on such reasoning. Often what seems to be the best business decision supersedes providential ministry.
Romans 12 tells us that we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That would indicate a change in our old thought patterns. We abandon our old ways of thinking, problem solving, business transacting, etc., and we adopt a new way of thinking as defined in scripture. It won't be easy. We are use to handling things a certain way, and giving that up takes hard work. Yet, if we are to find true successful living, we must learn to do it God's way and find the strength to question our usual ways of doing things--rejecting that which clashes with the Word of God.
Be certain that your so called "common sense" will take a beating. But I am sure that if you are willing to abandon everything you have ever known, and trust God to guide you, you will find the life that God has chosen for you--and you will know God's blessing in your life to the fullest.
. . .I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (Jesus, Jn. 10:10).
Day by Day Devotionals
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Read Exodus 8 -- 10 http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=ex+8-ex+10§ion=0&translation=kjv&oq=
Highlights In Today's Reading:
With frogs everywhere, including in his bed, the stubborn Pharaoh tells Moses to wait until "tomorrow" to remove them (8:10).
When Moses requested that the Israelites be permitted to worship the One True God, it was an insult to Pharaoh, who considered himself one of the great gods of Egypt.
Pharaoh is symbolic of Satan and, since Satan's opposition is still the same today, we need to consider Pharaoh's demands on how to worship. If Satan can't succeed with open scorn and opposition, he will try to persuade us to compromise. While God had told Moses Israel was to go into the wilderness to sacrifice (3:18), Pharaoh said: Sacrifice to your God in the land (8:25) of Egypt; be one of us. Ye shall not go very far away (8:28). This is typical of how Satan deceives many who may "worship" the Lord but continue their worldly lifestyle.
God had also said: Three days' journey (3:18) — a complete break from Egypt (symbolic of the world). Pharaoh meant: "Do not get too involved in serving your Lord." Many today believe they can worship on the Lord's Day but live like the world the rest of the week. But, to God, worship is unacceptable unless it reflects total commitment to Christ as our way of life.
Pharaoh asked: Who are they that shall go? And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds . . . for we must hold a feast unto the Lord (10:8-9) — meaning everything we are and all that we possess belongs to the One True God. Some of the world believes that everyone should be free to have a religion provided we agree that all religions are equally acceptable. But, when you insist that Christ alone is the Savior of the world and that all other religions are false, conflict erupts. With intense anger they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence (10:11).
Pharaoh had also said: Go . . . only let your flocks and your herds remain (10:24). If he could not induce them to sacrifice in the land, he would send them without sacrifices. Moses replied: There shall not an hoof be left behind (10:26). Moses made no concessions, no compromises. Full surrender to Christ and supreme loyalty to Him are considered narrow-minded and are never understood (or accepted) by the world. Satan would have us believe that worship should not interfere with nor influence our business affairs, social lives, government, or schools.
But Jesus said: Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction . . . and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:13-14).
Thought for Today:
There is only one way to worship and that is in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24).
Christ Revealed:
As the Light of the world in contrast to a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt . . . but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings (Ex. 10:22-23). Jesus said: I am The Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness (John 8:12).
Word Studies:
8:3 kneadingtroughs = mixing vessels; 8:9 Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee = The honor is yours to tell me when I am to pray for you; 8:19 finger of God = act of God; 8:22 sever = favorable difference; 8:26 not meet = not proper; 9:20 feared the Word of the Lord = terrified by the threat of God; 9:28 Intreat = pray fervently; 9:31 bolled = was ripening; 10:7 be a snare = continue to be a menace.
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It's God's
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.
Psalm 8:6
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.
Handle with Care
My sister Lori and I had to share a bedroom when we were girls. Sometimes that was awesome, like when we spent hours on the floor between our twin size beds playing Monopoly. Other days were torture. On the days when the conflict got really bad, we used masking tape or yarn to divide our room in half, with threats of bodily harm to the one who stepped over the other’s boundary. It was quite a challenge to the one who didn’t have access to the door at such times.
You stay on your side of the room, I’ll stay on mine!” Mine. It’s an ugly four-letter word that expresses our sinful, selfish nature. Like two-year-olds playing tug of war with a favorite toy, we scream, “It’s mine!” “No, it’s mine!” “It’s mine!”
Those harsh words are not limited to the tongues of toddlers alone. Haven’t you heard yourself saying, “It’s my life, my body, my rights, my money. . .” and “I want it done my way. It’s all about me!”
Psalm 24:1 tells us, The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. God our Maker says, “It’s all mine!” He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Owner of the whole world. Everything you see – including you and me – belongs to God. It’s all His!
In Psalm 8:6, God in His unbelievable love and generosity invites us to be stewards of all of his belongings. “You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.” Stewardship is a sweet partnership between God, the Creator and Owner of all, and us, his stewards. We get to carefully care for and use all of His belongings. It’s not a right; it’s an incredible privilege. It’s not a miserable duty; it’s a high calling that we must joyfully embrace!
What an incredible gift from God! What has God put into your care? What time, spiritual gifts and abilities has He given to you? What money and possessions has He trusted you with? How are you taking care of His creation? How are you caring for His temple, your mind and body?
Consider what God has placed under your personal stewardship, and then ask this important question: Am I handling all of God’s stuff with care?
Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank you for all that you have made. You are the Maker of all things! It all belongs to you! Thank you for the incredible gifts you have given to me. Please help me to be a good steward of your time, your money and possessions, your world, your temple as it exists in my mind and body. Help me use the spiritual gifts and abilities You have given me in service to others. Please help me to carefully handle all of your stuff. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Written by Lenae Bulthuis
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1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 20, 2009
A Remarkable Day
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." - Romans 13:11
This is a remarkable day in America - the swearing in of a new President. After two years of heated debates and hard campaigning, non-stop television commercials and quarrels around the office coffeepot, America inaugurates its forty-fourth president. At noon today, George W. Bush will quietly and peacefully hand over the presidency.
The key word here is "peacefully." For over 225 years, Americans have witnessed this peaceful transfer of power. And what makes this day so remarkable is that we have never had to even think about it being otherwise. We have never worried that the incumbent would surround the capital with tanks in an attempt to hold on to power. Never has a President even considered having the opposition candidate arrested or assassinated. Such acts are so far removed from possibility that truly are too preposterous to believe. The rest of the world marvels our peaceful transfer of power and the fact that we can take this process for granted.
So instead of having to pray that such a diabolical plot not occur, today we can simply offer a prayer of thanksgiving for our nation and wisdom and strength and blessing for our new President. May God bless the United States and all who lead our nation.
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Distressed Discontented Debtors
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 22:1-2; 2 Samuel 24:9; Mark 1:16-20; 2:14.
David's first army of 400 men, who gathered around him at the cave of Adullam when he was fleeing from Saul's wrath, must have been a ragtag bunch indeed! "All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader." This was not a likely retinue for a king to have, was it? But out of this core group of distressed discontented debtors, he was to form an impressive army.
Jesus' first followers were not impressive either: some smelly fishermen, a few wide-eyed rebels, a hated tax collector, and whoever else cared to tag along. But out of this motley assortment, Jesus formed the mighty army of the Church and the world has never been the same.
Are you in distress, in debt, or discontented? Then you are the perfect choice for a soldier in Jesus' army. When you submit to the Commander-In-Chief of the universe, you will become a mighty warrior for God.
Moment of Meditation: Those things which cause you discontent can lead you to contentment when you offer them to Jesus.
A Talk with Jesus: Lord, take my restless spirit and replace it with Your peace; take my distress and soothe me with Your joy; and pay my debts out of the bounty of Your love.
For Further Study: John 1:35-50
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Know Christ Jesus
Daily Devotional for January 20
1 Corinthians 2:2 "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
All the apostle Paul wanted between him and others was Jesus Christ. To know Christ Jesus is to know life.
How determined are we to have our thinking and our conversations in Christ Jesus? Do we purpose in our hearts to share the gospel with our families and others, or do we feel better just talking about our jobs, our homes, our new car or maybe even the weather?
The very greatest conversations one can have are in Christ Jesus sharing the excitement of how He is working in our lives. Jesus is working in us the love of God, the grace of God, and the mercy of God each day of our lives. Feeding on Jesus Christ is food for our soul and spirit. Be determined to think on 1 John 4:8b "God is love", and tension will lessen.
Think on Him crucified and tears will come.
Receive Him as Lord and Saviour and eternity is come.
Be determined to think no evil and your life will have the peace that passeth all understanding.
Bible References (KJV)
1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
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Not So With You
January 20th
READ: Mark 10:32-52
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you" (Mark 10:42-43a).
Jesus sees the cross waiting for Him. James and John see thrones waiting for them. And what do the other ten see? They see James and John! They are angry and upset at them. Why? Because they got to Jesus first. Obviously they wanted the same things that James and John did and were angry only because James and John beat them to it. This is often the explanation for our anger, is it not? We are so often upset because somebody thought of it before we did.
But notice how Jesus sets aside all this business of politicking and maneuvering and asking for special privileges. That is the way the world works, but it is not to be part of the kingdom of God. In the kingdom—the church, if you like—there is not to be struggling and striving for position and honor. Paul brings this out so beautifully in his development of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12, where he says that because we have gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit and a ministry opened to us by the Lord Jesus and power granted to us by the heavenly Father, we do not need to be in competition with anybody.
This is what our Lord wants to set before His disciples, so He gathers them together and patiently says, "Now, fellows, sit down. I want to say something to you. You've looked at the Gentiles. Have you noticed that when they exercise authority, it is always over somebody else? They measure their power by how many are under them. That is the mark of their authority." It is still true today. That is the way people do things, the way they judge their success. And although it produces all kinds of rivalry, competition, skullduggery, politicking, conniving, maneuvering, manipulating, and trying to undercut everybody else, nevertheless, you cannot blame people for that, because that is all they know.
The key is in these words: "Not so with you." The church is not to be set up as a hierarchy of power. There is no chain of command in the church of Jesus Christ. Jesus had already said to these disciples, "You have only one Master and you are all brothers" (Matthew 23:8). Every apostle is careful to remind us of the danger of lording it over one another, the problems that arise when those in positions of authority think they have the right to tell others what to do or how to act or what to think or how to behave, believing they have the right to make decisions that others must follow. This is not true in the church. Paul is careful to say to the Corinthians, "Not that we lord it over your faith" (2 Corinthians 1:24). That is, "You can do what you want. You stand before God, responsible to Him, not to me." But he is also faithful to point out what it is they need to do and to warn them of the results that may follow if they do not want to do it. But no one is ever to be commanded to do something by another person in the church. Only the Lord commands.
Thank You, Lord, that You are my Master, and You've made me a significant part of Your church.
This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's sermons
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One Superior to Angels
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he said, And let all the angels of God worship him. Heb. 1:4-6.
Should the angel Gabriel be sent to this world to take upon himself human nature, and to teach the knowledge of God, how eagerly men would listen to his instruction. Supposing that he were able to set us a perfect example of purity and holiness, sympathizing with us in all our sorrows, bereavements, and afflictions, and suffering the punishment of our sins, how eagerly we would follow him. What exaltation he would receive. Men would desire to place him on the throne of David, and to gather the nations of earth under his banner.
If, when this heavenly being returned to his home, he should leave behind him a book containing the history of his mission, with revelations regarding the history of the world, how eagerly would its seal be broken! How anxiously men and women would seek to obtain a copy! Thinking people would store up the precious instruction for the benefit of future generations. Thousands from all parts of the world would copy the words of this book. With intense interest they would read and reread its pages. For a time all other interests would be subordinated to a study of its contents.
But One surpassing all that imagination can present came from heaven to this world. Nearly 2000 years ago a voice of strange and mysterious import was heard from the throne of God, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.. . . Lo, I come . . . to do thy will, O God."
A prophet said: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.". . .
As Paul beheld Christ in His power, he broke out into exclamations of admiration and amazement: "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist" . . . (Signs of the Times, Apr. 4, 1906).
From Lift Him Up - Page 26
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KEEP SPIRITUALITY ALIVE
“Both (Bill W. and Dr. Bob) saw that they must keep spirituality active.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 156
“If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet.” Psalm 25:15 (The Message)
For what it's worth: Hypocrisy ruined any spirituality I had. And my drinking had me constantly tripping over my own feet, literally and figuratively. Alcoholics Anonymous got me sober and straightened out my step, and the Higher Power I found in AA instilled a bit of spirituality in this dark, empty soul. My biggest job today is maintaining that spirituality. I have spoken with many who relapsed and they have shared a powerful message with me. All too many report that they allowed their spirituality to die. I must learn from their painful experience and take a daily Tenth Step inventory, diagnosing my spiritual condition. Is it alive with passion or dying of indifference? One major symptom is my gratitude: do I have to use words for folks to know I am grateful? Am I keeping my eyes on God, or am I too occupied with my own desires, material possessions, or control issues? Additionally, what is my degree of commitment to improve day by day? And, when life’s forces attack, do I turn to human consolations or to my Almighty Advocate? Even when wounded, do I stop and bleed awhile and then rise up and fight again, trusting God’s love?
God bless you!
Joe W.
Pray for All Men
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ[a]and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
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Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Mark 3:13-19 NIV
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Come to Jesus
Come ye, all that are heavy laden and burdened down, and find rest for your souls.
Come ye, all who are confused and perplexed and have reached the end of your own understandability, and find a river of wisdom, pure and holy, a straight road in the midst of this world's hopeless state of religious chaos.
Come!
Come, all ye who are rejected and despised, who feel unloved and friendless, who have become outcasts of this world's religious institutions, and find solace in the everlasting Arms of our Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
"Come!", sayeth the Spirit and the Bride.
And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come.
And whosoever will, let him receive the water of life freely.
Come to Jesus.
©01/20/2001 Jim Welch
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Transforming Thoughts
And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom. 12:2).
A writer of Proverbs tells us that there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is destruction. We live in a society that is propelled along by a self-seeking mentality. One that employs each of us to find our own way, get all we can out of life, to find the thing that makes us happy and make it ours. Slogans like, "Look out for number one," have become popular within the last few decades, encouraging us to push on toward success in this life. That is, success as defined by the world we live in.
Sad as it is, most of us have bought into the lies of our culture. So much so, that the difference between the church and the lost community is hard to see. Some of the solid lines that were drawn between perceived godliness and worldliness have become vague and in some cases, almost nonexistent.
So what's the matter? The matter is that as we grow up in such a culture, the culture becomes a part of us, so much so, that we are very much the product of our culture. Our philosophies, ideals, and desires are shaped, molded and carved out of the clay our culture consists of . As much as the people of this nation want to claim that we are all individuals, there is an awful lot done to look, act, dress and live according to the pre-established guidelines of cultural norms. Very few of us are indeed true individuals, unaffected by societal sculpting. Being such, how we think is very much influenced by the common societal mind-set. We think much like everyone else around us. And if we think like those around us, then how we act or react to a given situation will be much the same as those around us. How we solve problems, how we make a living and even how we raise our children are all impacted by the thinking-style that is part of who we are because of where we have grown up.
Needless to say, the thinking patterns that have become part of us have become intertwined with every part of our being. And they affect every facet of our lives. The problem is that much of the societal thinking which has infected us is not of God. Much of the how we transact business, raise families, engage in friendships, choose where we will live and work, etc. is thought out first in terms of our cultural thinking. Even our churches do most of their business and financial planning based on such reasoning. Often what seems to be the best business decision supersedes providential ministry.
Romans 12 tells us that we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That would indicate a change in our old thought patterns. We abandon our old ways of thinking, problem solving, business transacting, etc., and we adopt a new way of thinking as defined in scripture. It won't be easy. We are use to handling things a certain way, and giving that up takes hard work. Yet, if we are to find true successful living, we must learn to do it God's way and find the strength to question our usual ways of doing things--rejecting that which clashes with the Word of God.
Be certain that your so called "common sense" will take a beating. But I am sure that if you are willing to abandon everything you have ever known, and trust God to guide you, you will find the life that God has chosen for you--and you will know God's blessing in your life to the fullest.
. . .I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (Jesus, Jn. 10:10).
Day by Day Devotionals
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Read Exodus 8 -- 10 http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=ex+8-ex+10§ion=0&translation=kjv&oq=
Highlights In Today's Reading:
With frogs everywhere, including in his bed, the stubborn Pharaoh tells Moses to wait until "tomorrow" to remove them (8:10).
When Moses requested that the Israelites be permitted to worship the One True God, it was an insult to Pharaoh, who considered himself one of the great gods of Egypt.
Pharaoh is symbolic of Satan and, since Satan's opposition is still the same today, we need to consider Pharaoh's demands on how to worship. If Satan can't succeed with open scorn and opposition, he will try to persuade us to compromise. While God had told Moses Israel was to go into the wilderness to sacrifice (3:18), Pharaoh said: Sacrifice to your God in the land (8:25) of Egypt; be one of us. Ye shall not go very far away (8:28). This is typical of how Satan deceives many who may "worship" the Lord but continue their worldly lifestyle.
God had also said: Three days' journey (3:18) — a complete break from Egypt (symbolic of the world). Pharaoh meant: "Do not get too involved in serving your Lord." Many today believe they can worship on the Lord's Day but live like the world the rest of the week. But, to God, worship is unacceptable unless it reflects total commitment to Christ as our way of life.
Pharaoh asked: Who are they that shall go? And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds . . . for we must hold a feast unto the Lord (10:8-9) — meaning everything we are and all that we possess belongs to the One True God. Some of the world believes that everyone should be free to have a religion provided we agree that all religions are equally acceptable. But, when you insist that Christ alone is the Savior of the world and that all other religions are false, conflict erupts. With intense anger they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence (10:11).
Pharaoh had also said: Go . . . only let your flocks and your herds remain (10:24). If he could not induce them to sacrifice in the land, he would send them without sacrifices. Moses replied: There shall not an hoof be left behind (10:26). Moses made no concessions, no compromises. Full surrender to Christ and supreme loyalty to Him are considered narrow-minded and are never understood (or accepted) by the world. Satan would have us believe that worship should not interfere with nor influence our business affairs, social lives, government, or schools.
But Jesus said: Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction . . . and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:13-14).
Thought for Today:
There is only one way to worship and that is in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24).
Christ Revealed:
As the Light of the world in contrast to a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt . . . but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings (Ex. 10:22-23). Jesus said: I am The Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness (John 8:12).
Word Studies:
8:3 kneadingtroughs = mixing vessels; 8:9 Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee = The honor is yours to tell me when I am to pray for you; 8:19 finger of God = act of God; 8:22 sever = favorable difference; 8:26 not meet = not proper; 9:20 feared the Word of the Lord = terrified by the threat of God; 9:28 Intreat = pray fervently; 9:31 bolled = was ripening; 10:7 be a snare = continue to be a menace.
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It's God's
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.
Psalm 8:6
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.
Handle with Care
My sister Lori and I had to share a bedroom when we were girls. Sometimes that was awesome, like when we spent hours on the floor between our twin size beds playing Monopoly. Other days were torture. On the days when the conflict got really bad, we used masking tape or yarn to divide our room in half, with threats of bodily harm to the one who stepped over the other’s boundary. It was quite a challenge to the one who didn’t have access to the door at such times.
You stay on your side of the room, I’ll stay on mine!” Mine. It’s an ugly four-letter word that expresses our sinful, selfish nature. Like two-year-olds playing tug of war with a favorite toy, we scream, “It’s mine!” “No, it’s mine!” “It’s mine!”
Those harsh words are not limited to the tongues of toddlers alone. Haven’t you heard yourself saying, “It’s my life, my body, my rights, my money. . .” and “I want it done my way. It’s all about me!”
Psalm 24:1 tells us, The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. God our Maker says, “It’s all mine!” He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Owner of the whole world. Everything you see – including you and me – belongs to God. It’s all His!
In Psalm 8:6, God in His unbelievable love and generosity invites us to be stewards of all of his belongings. “You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.” Stewardship is a sweet partnership between God, the Creator and Owner of all, and us, his stewards. We get to carefully care for and use all of His belongings. It’s not a right; it’s an incredible privilege. It’s not a miserable duty; it’s a high calling that we must joyfully embrace!
What an incredible gift from God! What has God put into your care? What time, spiritual gifts and abilities has He given to you? What money and possessions has He trusted you with? How are you taking care of His creation? How are you caring for His temple, your mind and body?
Consider what God has placed under your personal stewardship, and then ask this important question: Am I handling all of God’s stuff with care?
Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank you for all that you have made. You are the Maker of all things! It all belongs to you! Thank you for the incredible gifts you have given to me. Please help me to be a good steward of your time, your money and possessions, your world, your temple as it exists in my mind and body. Help me use the spiritual gifts and abilities You have given me in service to others. Please help me to carefully handle all of your stuff. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Written by Lenae Bulthuis
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1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 20, 2009
A Remarkable Day
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." - Romans 13:11
This is a remarkable day in America - the swearing in of a new President. After two years of heated debates and hard campaigning, non-stop television commercials and quarrels around the office coffeepot, America inaugurates its forty-fourth president. At noon today, George W. Bush will quietly and peacefully hand over the presidency.
The key word here is "peacefully." For over 225 years, Americans have witnessed this peaceful transfer of power. And what makes this day so remarkable is that we have never had to even think about it being otherwise. We have never worried that the incumbent would surround the capital with tanks in an attempt to hold on to power. Never has a President even considered having the opposition candidate arrested or assassinated. Such acts are so far removed from possibility that truly are too preposterous to believe. The rest of the world marvels our peaceful transfer of power and the fact that we can take this process for granted.
So instead of having to pray that such a diabolical plot not occur, today we can simply offer a prayer of thanksgiving for our nation and wisdom and strength and blessing for our new President. May God bless the United States and all who lead our nation.
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Distressed Discontented Debtors
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 22:1-2; 2 Samuel 24:9; Mark 1:16-20; 2:14.
David's first army of 400 men, who gathered around him at the cave of Adullam when he was fleeing from Saul's wrath, must have been a ragtag bunch indeed! "All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader." This was not a likely retinue for a king to have, was it? But out of this core group of distressed discontented debtors, he was to form an impressive army.
Jesus' first followers were not impressive either: some smelly fishermen, a few wide-eyed rebels, a hated tax collector, and whoever else cared to tag along. But out of this motley assortment, Jesus formed the mighty army of the Church and the world has never been the same.
Are you in distress, in debt, or discontented? Then you are the perfect choice for a soldier in Jesus' army. When you submit to the Commander-In-Chief of the universe, you will become a mighty warrior for God.
Moment of Meditation: Those things which cause you discontent can lead you to contentment when you offer them to Jesus.
A Talk with Jesus: Lord, take my restless spirit and replace it with Your peace; take my distress and soothe me with Your joy; and pay my debts out of the bounty of Your love.
For Further Study: John 1:35-50
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Know Christ Jesus
Daily Devotional for January 20
1 Corinthians 2:2 "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
All the apostle Paul wanted between him and others was Jesus Christ. To know Christ Jesus is to know life.
How determined are we to have our thinking and our conversations in Christ Jesus? Do we purpose in our hearts to share the gospel with our families and others, or do we feel better just talking about our jobs, our homes, our new car or maybe even the weather?
The very greatest conversations one can have are in Christ Jesus sharing the excitement of how He is working in our lives. Jesus is working in us the love of God, the grace of God, and the mercy of God each day of our lives. Feeding on Jesus Christ is food for our soul and spirit. Be determined to think on 1 John 4:8b "God is love", and tension will lessen.
Think on Him crucified and tears will come.
Receive Him as Lord and Saviour and eternity is come.
Be determined to think no evil and your life will have the peace that passeth all understanding.
Bible References (KJV)
1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
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Not So With You
January 20th
READ: Mark 10:32-52
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you" (Mark 10:42-43a).
Jesus sees the cross waiting for Him. James and John see thrones waiting for them. And what do the other ten see? They see James and John! They are angry and upset at them. Why? Because they got to Jesus first. Obviously they wanted the same things that James and John did and were angry only because James and John beat them to it. This is often the explanation for our anger, is it not? We are so often upset because somebody thought of it before we did.
But notice how Jesus sets aside all this business of politicking and maneuvering and asking for special privileges. That is the way the world works, but it is not to be part of the kingdom of God. In the kingdom—the church, if you like—there is not to be struggling and striving for position and honor. Paul brings this out so beautifully in his development of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12, where he says that because we have gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit and a ministry opened to us by the Lord Jesus and power granted to us by the heavenly Father, we do not need to be in competition with anybody.
This is what our Lord wants to set before His disciples, so He gathers them together and patiently says, "Now, fellows, sit down. I want to say something to you. You've looked at the Gentiles. Have you noticed that when they exercise authority, it is always over somebody else? They measure their power by how many are under them. That is the mark of their authority." It is still true today. That is the way people do things, the way they judge their success. And although it produces all kinds of rivalry, competition, skullduggery, politicking, conniving, maneuvering, manipulating, and trying to undercut everybody else, nevertheless, you cannot blame people for that, because that is all they know.
The key is in these words: "Not so with you." The church is not to be set up as a hierarchy of power. There is no chain of command in the church of Jesus Christ. Jesus had already said to these disciples, "You have only one Master and you are all brothers" (Matthew 23:8). Every apostle is careful to remind us of the danger of lording it over one another, the problems that arise when those in positions of authority think they have the right to tell others what to do or how to act or what to think or how to behave, believing they have the right to make decisions that others must follow. This is not true in the church. Paul is careful to say to the Corinthians, "Not that we lord it over your faith" (2 Corinthians 1:24). That is, "You can do what you want. You stand before God, responsible to Him, not to me." But he is also faithful to point out what it is they need to do and to warn them of the results that may follow if they do not want to do it. But no one is ever to be commanded to do something by another person in the church. Only the Lord commands.
Thank You, Lord, that You are my Master, and You've made me a significant part of Your church.
This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's sermons
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One Superior to Angels
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he said, And let all the angels of God worship him. Heb. 1:4-6.
Should the angel Gabriel be sent to this world to take upon himself human nature, and to teach the knowledge of God, how eagerly men would listen to his instruction. Supposing that he were able to set us a perfect example of purity and holiness, sympathizing with us in all our sorrows, bereavements, and afflictions, and suffering the punishment of our sins, how eagerly we would follow him. What exaltation he would receive. Men would desire to place him on the throne of David, and to gather the nations of earth under his banner.
If, when this heavenly being returned to his home, he should leave behind him a book containing the history of his mission, with revelations regarding the history of the world, how eagerly would its seal be broken! How anxiously men and women would seek to obtain a copy! Thinking people would store up the precious instruction for the benefit of future generations. Thousands from all parts of the world would copy the words of this book. With intense interest they would read and reread its pages. For a time all other interests would be subordinated to a study of its contents.
But One surpassing all that imagination can present came from heaven to this world. Nearly 2000 years ago a voice of strange and mysterious import was heard from the throne of God, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.. . . Lo, I come . . . to do thy will, O God."
A prophet said: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.". . .
As Paul beheld Christ in His power, he broke out into exclamations of admiration and amazement: "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist" . . . (Signs of the Times, Apr. 4, 1906).
From Lift Him Up - Page 26
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KEEP SPIRITUALITY ALIVE
“Both (Bill W. and Dr. Bob) saw that they must keep spirituality active.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 156
“If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet.” Psalm 25:15 (The Message)
For what it's worth: Hypocrisy ruined any spirituality I had. And my drinking had me constantly tripping over my own feet, literally and figuratively. Alcoholics Anonymous got me sober and straightened out my step, and the Higher Power I found in AA instilled a bit of spirituality in this dark, empty soul. My biggest job today is maintaining that spirituality. I have spoken with many who relapsed and they have shared a powerful message with me. All too many report that they allowed their spirituality to die. I must learn from their painful experience and take a daily Tenth Step inventory, diagnosing my spiritual condition. Is it alive with passion or dying of indifference? One major symptom is my gratitude: do I have to use words for folks to know I am grateful? Am I keeping my eyes on God, or am I too occupied with my own desires, material possessions, or control issues? Additionally, what is my degree of commitment to improve day by day? And, when life’s forces attack, do I turn to human consolations or to my Almighty Advocate? Even when wounded, do I stop and bleed awhile and then rise up and fight again, trusting God’s love?
God bless you!
Joe W.