Ask God To Make You More Holy.

Deuteronomy 28:25-68
There is nothing inevitable about the chain of events described in these verses. These are the consequences of disobedience. God is warning His people: ‘If you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God...’(28:15). Why does God warn His people of the consequences of disobedience? He wants them to draw back from the way of disobedience and follow the pathway of obedience and blessing. These ‘curses’ were avoidable. They would only happen if Israel persisted in rebelling against the Lord. We can bring ‘curses’ upon ourselves. Don’t imagine that God doesn’t care how you live. He does. That is why He calls us back from the pathway of disobedience. That is why He exhorts us to choose holiness. Read Hebrews 10:26-31; 12:25-29. Pray for God’s mercy (Luke 18:13). Ask Him to make you more holy (Hebrews 12:14).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
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God Blesses Us Because He Loves Us - Not Because We Are Worthy Of His Blessing.

Deuteronomy 27:11-28:24
Through His strongly worded warnings, God calls us back from the way of disobedience (27:15-26;28:15-24). Through His promises of blessing, He calls us to the way of obedience, the only way to true happiness (28:1-14). God’s blessing cannot be taken for granted. Where there is disobedience, there is no blessing. Our ‘enemies’ will triumph over us (28:25). We need not be defeated. God has shown us His way of blessing. It is the way of obedience (1-2). We are not blessed because we deserve to be blessed. We can never earn the Lord’s blessing. The blessing comes from Him (8). He blesses us because He loves us - not because we are worthy of His blessing. You can be in ‘the promised land’ without enjoying the promised blessing. Don’t ‘suffer loss’- ‘saved, but only as through fire’(1 Corinthians 3:15).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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The Call To Obedience Is Grounded In The Gift Of Salvation.

Deuteronomy 26:1-27:10
The people of Israel had a testimony. They had been redeemed by the God of love. Thankful for His love and salvation, they brought their offerings to the Lord (26:5-9). The call to obedience is grounded in the gift of salvation. Redeemed by the Lord, we are called to be ‘a people holy to the Lord our God’(26:16-19). There is no privilege without responsibility. Israel was privileged: God was giving them ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’. Israel was responsible: God was saying to them, ‘Keep all the commandments which I command you this day’(27:1-3). God blesses us. We obey Him. We enjoy more of His blessing. This leads us to obey Him more. Break the ‘vicious circle’. Get on to God’s ‘victorious circle’: He shows us His love. We love Him. He shows us more of His love. We love Him more... (John 14:21).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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Let God's Love Be Your Guiding Light.

Deuteronomy 24:1-25:19
Justice for the vulnerable is grounded in God’s redemption (24:17-18). This is an important principle for us. God loves us. He has done great things for us. He cares. We are to care. Let His love be the guiding light in every part of your life. Scripture speaks of both salvation and judgment. Israel was given ‘the land’ as ‘an inheritance to possess’. The Amalekites were blotted out (25:19). The Christian life is a spiritual warfare. When we are ‘faint and weary’, we will be ‘attacked on the way’. If we ‘lag behind’ in our walk with God, those who ‘do not fear God’ will try to ‘cut us off’ from the Lord and His people. This is the work of Satan. We must not be ‘ignorant of his devices’. God is with us in the battle. He is leading us on to our eternal ‘inheritance’(25:17-19; 2 Corinthians 2:11).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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Don't Pretend To Be More 'Holy' Than You Really Are.

Deuteronomy 23:1-25
God sees us as we really are. He ‘looks on the heart’ as well as ‘the outward appearance’. We must live to please Him, praying, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’(14; 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 139: 23-24). God calls us to be holy: ‘you shall keep yourself from every evil thing’(9). This ‘holiness’ is not to be a proud, arrogant thing. It is to be filled with compassionate caring. Don’t write anyone off, saying, ‘They’re not our kind of people’(7). Don’t be out for all you can get for yourself without any thought of how your actions affect other people (24-25). Let your holiness be real. Don’t say one thing and do another. Don’t pretend to be more ‘holy’ than you really are. Choose to be holy - every day (21-23).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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Reconciled To God Through The Death Of His Son

Deuteronomy 22:1-30
Care for ‘your brother’(1-4). Our caring is not to be selective - ‘If the brother does not live near you or if you do not know who he is’(2). When Jesus says, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’(Luke 10:27), He means much more than loving the people who live near us, the people that we know. The ‘Samaritan’ didn’t know ‘the man who fell into the hands of robbers’(Luke 10:30,33). ‘Jews did not associate with Samaritans’(John 4:9). Jesus says, ‘Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44). Love your enemies with the love of the Lord - ‘when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son’(Romans 5:8,10). Don’t love the ways of those who ‘live as enemies of the Cross of Christ’(Philippians 3:18). ‘Purge the evil from the midst of you’(21-22,24).
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Be Resolute In Your Commitment To Living ‘As The Lord Our God Has Commanded.’

Deuteronomy 20:10-21:23
The offer of ‘peace’ is made (20:10; Romans 5:1). Some refuse to ‘make peace’. They choose to ‘make war’(20:12). When the enemies of Christ and the Gospel are raging, we must be resolute in our commitment to living ‘as the Lord our God has commanded’(20:16-18). We are to ‘do what is right in the sight of the Lord’. This will involve ‘going forth to war against our enemies’. It will involve ‘purging the evil from our midst’ (21:9-10,21; Ephesians 6:10-13; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Hebrews 12:1-2, 11). Our life of holiness is grounded in the death of Christ who, on the Cross, was ‘accursed by God’ so that we might be saved by God (21:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24). Through faith in Him, we have been declared holy (Romans 5:1,3-5,9-10).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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In The Service Of The Lord, We Must Not Be ‘Fearful And Fainthearted.’

Deuteronomy 19:1-20:9
Justice is concerned with (a) the protection of the innocent - ‘innocent blood will not be shed in your land’(10); (b) the punishment of the guilty - ‘you must purge the evil from among you’(19). Through justice, God is to be glorified among His people. We are to fight for the Lord without fear, confident of His glorious presence (20:1-4). In the service of the Lord, we must not be ‘fearful and fainthearted’(20:8). We are to be ‘good soldiers of Jesus Christ’(2 Timothy 2:3). We need to give careful attention to the Word of God: ‘When you draw near to the battle, the priest will come forward and speak to the people, and say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel...’ (20:2-3). God’s Word is not concerned only with ‘Church work’. It sends us ‘back to our house’- ‘dedicated’ to the Lord (20:5-9).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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Pay Careful Attention To God’s Word.

Deuteronomy 17:14-18:22
Even the king is subject to God’s ‘law’. His supreme responsibility is this: Pay careful attention to God’s Word (17:18-20). Politically, he may be in an elevated position - a ‘king over’ others (17:14-15). Spiritually, he must not allow ‘his heart’ to be ‘lifted up above his brethren’(17:20). There must be humble obedience to God’s Word. Priests speak to God for us. Prophets speak to us for God. We need both - ‘prayer and the ministry of the Word’(Acts 6:4). In our worship, we must keep the Lord at the very centre. Anything or anyone who distracts our attention from the Lord is no help to true worship (9-14). ‘A prophet like Moses’(18:15): Jesus is the ultimate prophet - to see and hear Him is to see and hear God (John 5:19; 12:49; 14:9). He preaches God’s Word. He is ‘the Word of God’(John 1:1).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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Celebrating God's Love

Deuteronomy 16:1-17:13
Blessed by God, the people of Israel had much to celebrate. They had been brought out of the land of bondage. They were about to enter the land of promise. The keeping of the feasts (16:1-17) was a response to God’s love, a way of celebrating His love. Why did God bring Israel to the promised land? It was because He ‘loved them’(Psalm 44:3). The Passover was a continuing reminder of God’s mighty work of redemption. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of what God has done for us in Christ. In remembering His dying love for us, we remember what we were without Him and we give thanks for all that He has done for us. As well as ‘joy’(45), there is to be justice (16:18-17:13; Micah 6:8). Note the effect of justice: ‘And all the people shall hear, and fear, and not act presumptuously again’(17:13).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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In Our Worship And In The Whole Of Life, We Are To Be ‘A People Holy To The Lord Our God.’

Deuteronomy 13:1-14:21
Obedience to God involves an uncompromising attitude toward those who would lead people away from God. Those who say ‘Let us go and serve other gods’(13:2,6,13) must not be permitted to exert their evil influence on God’s people. God says, ‘You must not listen to them (13:3,8). Temptations to ‘idolatry’ can come under the guise of ‘spirituality’- ‘a prophet... a dreamer of dreams... a sign or a wonder’(13:1; 1 John 4:1). ‘Idolatry’ can come from within one’s own family. The Lord must come first (13:6-11; Luke 14:26). God’s judgment is upon ‘idolaters’ so that others may see their folly, turn from ‘idolatry’ and receive God’s mercy (13:12-18). Remember God’s purpose of love (John 3:17). In our worship and in the whole of life, we are to be ‘a people holy to the Lord our God’(14:2,21).

Deuteronomy 14:22-15:23
‘Tithing’(Giving the tenth to God) emerges out of holiness: ‘You are a people holy to the Lord your God... You shall tithe’(14:21-22). It is more than giving things to God. It is giving ourselves to Him. It also involves caring for others (7-11; Isaiah 58:6-7). We have been ‘earmarked’ as servants of the Lord (17). Being ‘earmarked’ for God involves listening to God (Isaiah 55:2-3). Bring ‘the firstling’ to God (19). ‘We are here to bring You the best that we can bring. And it is our love rising from our hearts’(Mission Praise, 717). ‘Just as I am... to be the best that I can be for truth, and righteousness, and Thee, Lord of my life, I come’(Church Hymnary, 448). No second bests - Only the best will do for God.
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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Through His Precious Promises And Strong Warnings, God Leads Us In The Way Of Obedience And Blessing.

Deuteronomy 11:1-32
God is at work among His people, teaching them many lessons. Through His precious promises and strong warnings, He leads us in the way of obedience and blessing (31-32). If we are to enjoy the Lord’s blessing, we need the whole Word of God - the warnings as well as the promises. Obedience to God - This is the most important thing in the life of faith. Obedience demonstrates the reality of faith. By our obedience, we show our ‘love’ for the Lord. We rejoice in ‘all the great work of the Lord’. By ‘His mighty hand’, He has provided for us a great salvation. Our enjoyment of His salvation increases as we live in obedience to Him (8-15). Without obedience, there can be no blessing (16-17). Teach others to obey God - especially the ‘children’(18-21). God is good. He loves us (22-25). Obey Him. Choose blessing (26-28).

Deuteronomy 12:1-32
In our hearts, nothing else must compete with the Lord. There is no room for idolatry. ‘Destroy’ everything that threatens to take the place of God in your life. (2-3). We are not to ‘do what is right in our own eyes’. We are to worship as the Lord ‘chooses’(5,8,13-14). Remove every distraction. Get rid of those things which keep you from crowning Christ as Lord of your life. When you are tempted to put other things before the Lord, ‘be careful not to be ensnared’ in the ways of the world (29-31). When we are tempted, we must take our stand on God’s Word. ‘Everything’ He has given to us - This means more than our favourite passages! Don’t ‘add to it’, making ‘the traditions of men’ more important than the Word of God. Don’t ‘take from it’, ignoring the parts you don’t like (32; Mark 7:8; Acts 20:27).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
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‘We Will Give Ourselves Continually To Prayer And To The Ministry Of The Word.’

Deuteronomy 8:1-9:21
The ‘wilderness’ was a place of ‘testing’. God was ‘disciplining’ His people. He was teaching them to ‘walk in His ways’(2,5-6). In the ‘wilderness’, we must remember this: ‘man does not live by bread alone... man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord’(3). Everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord - His warnings as well as His promises! He speaks to us in warnings: ‘Take heed lest you forget the Lord your God...’(11). He speaks to us in promises: ‘the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land’(7). ‘God forbid that I should glory...’ (8:17-18; 9:4-6; Galatians 6:14). God gave Israel the land. He gives us ‘the Kingdom’(Luke 12:32). As earthly kingdoms rise and fall, ‘the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed’(Daniel 2:44).

Deuteronomy 9:22-10:22
‘We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word’(Acts 6:4). Moses was an intercessor (25-29). The ministry of the Word needs to be grounded in prayer. Prayerfully seeking the Lord’s help, we are to place His Word at the centre of the life of His people (5). God shows His mercy by providing His servants to carry His Word in a ministry of blessing to the people, a ministry which helps the people to ‘go in and possess the land’(8,10-11). In gratitude to God, our Creator-Redeemer, we are to give ourselves to Him in obedience (12-15). Let your heart and life be changed by the Lord, never forgetting this: ‘He is your praise; He is your God, who has done for you... great... things’(16-21). ‘God... gives the growth’(22; Corinthians 3:7). Read Psalm 126:6 and pray!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
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God Is Holy - Fear Him. God Is Love - Love Him.

Deuteronomy 6:1-25
‘Hear’ and ‘do’(1-3; James 1:22-25). In our obedience to God, there is to be the fear of the Lord and love for the Lord (2,5). Fear and love: the two belong together. God is holy - fear Him. God is love - love Him. This is for every generation: ‘you and your son and your son’s son’(2). ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart’(5). Teach the children well so that the blessing of God may be ‘prolonged’ among us (7,2). Our promised land - heaven (John 14:1-3) - is far better than Israel’s promised land. Through faith in Christ, we have received ‘eternal life’(John 5:24; 6:40). Never take the Lord’s blessing for granted. Always remember to thank Him for all that He has done for you (10-12). Teach the children what the Lord has done for them (20-23). Then, and only then, tell them what they must ‘do’ for Him (24-25).

Deuteronomy 7:1-26
Enter, Destroy, Possess (1-2). Don’t try to jump straight from entering to possessing. Don’t forget to destroy. We enter the Christian life through faith in Christ. We will not ‘take possession of’ a fuller enjoyment of His salvation if we refuse to ‘destroy’ the obstacles to His blessing in our lives. Sin is like a ‘cancer’. It will ‘kill’ us if we let it (Romans 6:23). This is why we must fight it - with ‘the whole armour of God’(Ephesians 6:10-17). From beginning to end, our salvation is the work of God: ‘...it is because the Lord loves you... that He has... redeemed you...’(6-8). The Lord’s love speaks of His keeping power. He will complete the work He has begun (17-19; Philippians 1:6). Saved and kept by the power of God, we travel from Christ’s Cross to our Crown (Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:24-25; 5:4).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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Remember What The Lord Has Done For You, And Your Love For Him Will Grow Stronger.

Deuteronomy 3:1-29
The promised land was near. For Moses, it was ‘so near and yet so far’. He was excluded. Together with the sadness of Moses’ exclusion, there was the joy of the people’s entrance (27-28). When we consider Moses’ sadness and the people’s joy, we must remember this: Nobody deserved to go into the land! The land was God’s gift. Without His strength, the people of Israel would fail. With Him, they would be victorious: ‘You shall not fear them; for it is the Lord your God who fights for you’(22). There is here a basic principle of Christian living: ‘not by might , nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts’(Zechariah 4:6). ‘In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land. The battle belongs to the Lord. No weapon that’s fashioned against us will stand. The battle belongs to the Lord’(Mission Praise, 639).

Deuteronomy 4:1-43
The people of Israel were involved in the work of the Lord. The work was based on God - not Moses. Moses would not be in the promised land. God would be there. Moses would ‘not go over the Jordan’. As God’s man. he was to prepare the people for their task: ‘you shall go over and take possession of that good land’(22). Privilege involves responsibility. Israel was a privileged people, redeemed by the Lord, delivered from bondage ‘by a mighty hand and outstretched arm’(34). Israel was a responsible people, called to obey the Lord: ‘Obey His laws and commands’(40). The Lord our God is ‘a merciful God’(31). He has saved us. We are to serve Him. Let Him reign in your heart. Let there be ‘no other besides Him’(35). Flee to Christ for refuge (42-43), and live each day with ‘the attitude of gratitude’.

Deuteronomy 4:44-5:33
Obedience is grounded in salvation. The Ten Commandments (7-21) are preceded by the divine declaration: ‘I am the Lord your God’ who brought you... out of the house of bondage’(6). He has redeemed us. We are to live for Him. The Word of God was spoken to Moses before it was spoken by him (27). We cannot begin to live for the Lord until we begin to listen to Him. The way of obedience is the way of blessing. Our obedience is to be offered in a spirit of gratitude to God for His gracious salvation. Never imagine it is because of our obedience that God loves us. His love for us is always prior to our love for Him. Remember what the Lord has done for you, and your love for Him will grow stronger. Forget, and you love will grow weaker. Loved by God, let us love Him - more!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
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Will We Be The New Generation? - ‘A New Creation In Christ’

Deuteronomy 1:1-46
With the exception of Caleb and Joshua, the older generation - including Moses - was not to enter the land (34-38). For the new generation, there was a challenge. There must be no more failures. One wasted generation was enough. This was the time for real commitment to the Lord. He loved them - He had ‘set the land before’ them. They were to rise up in faith and ‘take possession of the land’(8). We are called to go on with the Lord. ‘You have stayed long enough’ at a low level of Christian living. God is calling us on to maturity: ‘go in and take possession of the land; (6,8; Philippians 3:13-14). Do not hesitate to move forward with God: ‘do not fear... It is a good land which the Lord gives us’(21,25). Will we be the new generation, ‘a new creation in Christ’(2 Corinthians 5:17) ?

Deuteronomy 2:1-37
During their wilderness years, God’s people had many problems. God is greater than all the problems! Israel’s journey began in the land of ‘bondage’(Exodus 2:23-25). From there, He led them to the land of promise, ‘the land which the Lord our God gives to us’(29). This is ‘amazing grace’: ‘Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home’(Mission Praise, 31). In the giving and taking of the land, we see both grace and faith: ‘I have begun to give... this land over to you; begin to take possession...’(31). We are not saved by grace apart from faith. We are ‘saved by grace through faith’. We are not saved by faith without grace. We are ‘saved by grace through faith’. Saved by the Lord, let us press on to a life of ‘good works’(Ephesians 2:8-10).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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God's Word Is Full Of Blessing For Those Who ‘Put Their Trust In Him.’

Proverbs 30:1-33
In verse 5, we learn about God’s Word. His Word is ‘true’. His Word is ‘pure’. His Word is full of blessing for those who ‘put their trust in Him’. Trusting in Him , we learn that ‘His Word is truth’. God’s Word is full of blessing for those who ‘live according to His Word’. Living in obedience to His Word, we find that His Word makes us ‘pure’. Through His Word of truth, God leads us in the pathway of holiness, Jesus prays for us: ‘Make them pure and holy through teaching them Your Words of truth’. God’s Word is ‘more precious than gold’. May God help us to ‘hide His Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him’(John 17:17; Psalms 19:10; 119:9,11).
god's word,
Proverbs 31:1-31
‘A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies... Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised’(10,30). We are to seek ‘treasures in heaven’ rather than ‘treasures on earth’(Matthew 6:19-21). The riches of this world will not last for ever: ‘All your riches and splendour have vanished, never to be recovered... “Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!”’. There is one treasure which lasts forever - the treasure of salvation. Let us praise our Saviour: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and power and glory belong to our God’(Revelation 18:14-17; 19:1).
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Christ in all the Scriptures
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God Is Calling Us To Leave The Pathway Of Disobedience And Disaster And Walk In The Way Of Obedience And Blessing.

Proverbs 28:1-28
‘Blessed is the one who always fears the Lord. If you harden your heart, you will be ruined’(14). The blessing of God comes to us through the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour: ‘The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes’. To those who refuse to come to Christ and receive His salvation, God issues His solemn warning: ‘Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the Day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed’(Romans 1:16; 2:5). We receive ‘salvation’ through faith in Christ, ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’. Those who reject Christ and His salvation must face ‘the wrath of the Lamb’(John 1:29; Revelation 7:10; 6:16).

Proverbs 29:1-27
‘The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern’. So many people have a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude. They have stopped listening to God’s Word and they have lost interest in living God’s way - ‘Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint’. For those who are ignoring God, refusing to listen to His Word and turning away from the pathway of obedience, God has a stern Word of warning: ‘If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover’. God is calling us to leave the pathway of disobedience and disaster and walk in the way of obedience and blessing: ‘Blessed is he who keeps the law’(7,1,18).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
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Today, We Are In ‘The Valley Of Decision.’ We Must Make Up Our Mind About Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 26:1-28
‘There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!’(13). This is the voice of fear speaking. We need to speak with the voice of faith- ‘I believed, and so I spoke’(2 Corinthians 4:13). We know that ‘the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour’. The devil can fill us with fear. We must not let him do this. We must face him with faith - ‘Resist him, standing firm in the faith’(1 Peter 5:8-9). When we ‘resist the devil’, standing firm in the faith, ‘he will flee from us’(James 4:7). Let us face the ‘roaring lion’ with faith in an even more powerful ‘Lion’. Jesus Christ - ‘the Lion of Judah’- ‘has conquered ’Satan. He ‘has triumphed’ over him (Revelation 5:5). May Christ’s ‘perfect love drive out our fear’(1 John 4:18).

Proverbs 27:1-27
‘Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring’(1). God speaks to us about today. He says, ‘Now is the day of salvation’. Today, we are in ‘the valley of decision’. We must make up our mind about Jesus Christ. Today may be your last opportunity to act on God’s precious promise: ‘Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved’(Joel 3:14; 2:32; Acts 2:21). Tomorrow may be too late. Your life may be over before tomorrow comes. Tomorrow, you may hear God’s Word of judgment: ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you evildoers!’. Tomorrow, you may face ‘eternal punishment’(Matthew 7:23; 25:46). Tomorrow need not be a day of judgment. Choose Christ today. Let today be your‘day of salvation’.
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
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As We Read God’s Written Word, Let's Keep Our Eyes Fixed On Christ, God's Living Word.’ of God’

Proverbs 24:1-14
‘Wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future hope for you’(14). How do we find wisdom? We read the written Word of God, seeking God’s promised blessing: ‘The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul. The Lord’s instruction never fails. and makes the simple wise’. As we read God’s written Word, keeping our eyes fixed on Christ, the living ‘Word’ of God’, we discover that He is the ‘Wisdom’ which is ‘sweeter than honey’ and we rejoice in Him, our ‘Hope of glory’- ‘You believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls’(John 1:1-2,14; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Psalm 19:7,10; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:8). ‘Ask God’ for ‘wisdom’.‘Seek and you will find’(James 1:5-8; Matthew 7:7).

Proverbs 24:15-34
‘Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again’(15). We are ‘kept by the power of God’. We do not raise ourselves. It is the Lord who is ‘able to keep us from falling’. He ‘knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations’(1 Peter 1:5; Jude 24; 2 Peter 2:9). When our ‘faith’ is ‘tested by fire’, we must pray that God will give us His victory: ‘Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace’(1 Peter 1:6-7;Daniel 3:17). When our strength is almost gone, the Lord comes with His Word: ‘My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness’(2 Corinthians 12:9), ‘Amazing grace!... Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home’(Mission Praise, 31).

Proverbs 25:1-28
‘The Lord will reward you’(22). The work done by God’s servants is tested by fire: ‘the fire will test what sort of work each one has done’. There is work of real ‘quality’- ‘gold, silver, precious stones’. There is work which has no real value - ‘wood, hay, straw’. God wants us to think about the work we do in His Name. We are to ‘remove the dross from the silver’(4). We are not to be content with superficial work which does not lead to changed lives. Our words are to be ‘apples of gold in a setting of silver’. They are to be words of wisdom, words which are ‘better than fine gold’, words which ‘surpass choice silver’(11; 8:19). We are to bring God’s Word -‘good news’- and God’s Spirit -‘rivers of living water’- to our hearers (25; 1 Peter 1:12,23-25; John 7:37-39).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

We Care About Our World

We Care About The Nations
Come visit The Prayer Ministry, pray for the needs of others around the world, or post your own prayer requests. Prayer For The Nations.

The Prayer Ministry

To Those Who Put Him First In Their Lives, God Gives His Great Promise Of Blessing.

Proverbs 23:1-18
‘Continue in the fear of the Lord all day long. Let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life’. To those who put Him first in their lives, God gives His great promise of blessing, ‘There is surely a future hope for you. You have a bright future. Surely you have a wonderful future ahead of you’(17-18). What a glorious future lies ahead of those who love the Lord: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him’(1 Corinthians 2:9)! We must not become ‘short-sighted’. We must look ahead to ‘the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’. God has given us ‘His very great and precious promises’. Let us press on in ‘faith’, becoming more and more ‘active and effective in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ’(2 Peter 1:3-11).

Proverbs 23:19-35
‘Keep your heart on the right path’(19). How are we to do this? We must seek ‘truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding’(23). We must give our hearts to Christ. He is ‘the Truth’(John 14:6). We must open our hearts to Christ. He is ‘our Wisdom’(1 Corinthians 1:30). Opening our hearts will mean opening our Bibles. Giving our hearts to Christ will mean giving time to reading God’s Word. As we read ‘the Scriptures’, we will receive ‘instruction’. We will learn about ‘salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’. We will receive ‘instruction for right living’(2 Timothy 3:14-17). As we read God’s Word, we must pray that the Holy Spirit will give us ‘understanding’ (1 Corinthians 2:9-13). ‘Be filled with the Spirit’. ‘Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly’ (Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

There Is A Better Way Than The Way Of Drunkenness. It Is The Way Of Being Filled With The Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 20:1-30
‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; whoever is led astray by it is not wise’(1). We need to learn the truth of these words - before it’s too late! There is a better way than the way of drunkenness. It is the way of being filled with the Holy Spirit: ‘Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit’(Ephesians 5:18). We must not ‘live according to the flesh’. God calls us to ‘live according to the Spirit’. He warns us against making the wrong choice: ‘To set the mind on the flesh is death’. He shows us the way of blessing: ‘To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace’. ‘Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth’. May God help us to turn from ‘the works of the flesh’ and seek ‘the fruit of the Spirit’(Romans 8:5-6; Colossians 3:2; Galatians 5:19-23).

Proverbs 21:1-31
‘The victory belongs to the Lord’(31). When defeat seems inevitable, God comes to us with His Word of encouragement: ‘The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save, a Warrior who gives victory. He will take great delight in you. He will renew you in His love. He will rejoice over you with singing’(Zephaniah 3:17). God’s Word shows us the way of victory. It is the way of faith in our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ‘This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?’(1 John 5:4). God ‘gives victory’ to us. We must receive His victory by ‘faith’. Living for Christ is never easy - ‘In this world you will have trouble’. Don’t let this get you down. Jesus says, ‘Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world’(John 16:33).

Proverbs 22:1-29
‘So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you’(19). Many people say, ‘It’s not for me’. They know that others have been greatly blessed through reading God’s Word. Still, they do not take the trouble to read God’s Word for themselves. They can’t be bothered. Receiving God’s blessing doesn’t really matter that much to them. Don’t miss out on God’s blessing. God’s Word is for ‘you’. It’s not just for somebody else. It’s for you - ‘even you’. Some people say, ‘I’ll read God’s Word tomorrow’. When ‘tomorrow’ comes around, they’re still saying the same thing - ‘I’ll read God’s Word tomorrow’! Sadly, their ‘tomorrow’ never comes. They never get round to reading God’s Word. They’re missing out on so much. Don’t say, ‘I’ll leave it till tomorrow’. Read God’s Word ‘today’.
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

'The Grace Of Our Lord Overflowed For Me ...'

Proverbs 18:1-24
‘The fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream’(4). ‘The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus’(1 Timothy 1:14). This is the ‘wisdom’ we must seek - the wisdom which receives ‘salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’(2 Timothy 3:15). True wisdom finds its overflowing joy in the Saviour: ‘The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe’(10). We rejoice in Jesus. He is God’s Son - ‘You shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High’(Luke 1:31-32). He is our Saviour - ‘You shall call His Name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins’(Matthew 1:21). He is ‘the Friend who sticks closer than a brother’(24). Jesus is God’s Son. Be wise. Let Him be your Saviour and Friend.

Proverbs 19:1-29
‘The fear of the Lord leads to life’(23). ‘The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him’(Psalm 25:14). What a strange combination - friendship and fear! We ask, ‘How can there be friendship where there is fear?’. Here, we have a special kind of friendship - ‘the friendship of the Lord’- and a special kind of fear - ‘the fear of the Lord’. Why is this friendship and fear so special? It’s because the Lord is special! He is the God of perfect holiness - ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty’. We must come before Him in ‘the fear of the Lord’- ‘Woe is me! I am undone; I am a man of unclean lips...’. He is the God of perfect love. He calls us into friendship with Himself - ‘Your guilt is taken away and your sin forgiven’(Isaiah 6:3,5,7). We rejoice in ‘the friendship of the Lord’. Let us respect Him with ‘the fear of the Lord’.
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

What Kind Of People Are We To Be? We Are To Be God’s People, Learning To Live A Life Of Love.

Proverbs 17:1-12
What kind of people are we to be? What kind of life are we to live? We are to be God’s people - people who are learning to live a life of ‘love’(9). How do we learn what love is like? We learn from God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father loves us- ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...’(John 3:16). In the Son, we see perfect love- ‘The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me’(Galatians 2:20). Through the Spirit, our lives are filled with love- ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love’(Galatians 5:22). We can only be an influence for love if we are learning to be influenced by love. We are to be people ‘under the Influence’. We are to live our lives under the influence of God’s love. This is the Godly, Christlike, Spirit-filled life - the life of love.

Proverbs 17:13-28
‘A friend loves at all times’(17). Jesus speaks of His love for us - ‘Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’- and our love for Him - ‘You are My friends if you do what I command you’(John 15:13-14). His love comes first. Our love is a response to His love: ‘We love, because He first loved us’(1 John 4:19). Jesus didn’t wait until we obeyed His Word perfectly before He laid down His life for us: ‘God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’(Romans 5:8). He didn’t start loving us because we started loving Him. He loved us long before we ever thought of loving Him. He loves us. He died for us. We are to love Him. We are to live for Him. His love is a perfect love. Our love is to be a growing love.
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

To Find Jesus Christ Is To Find Wisdom.

Proverbs 16:1-17
‘Wisdom is better than gold... understanding is to be chosen rather than silver’(16). What is wisdom? In 1 Corinthians 1:30, we learn that Jesus Christ is Wisdom. To find Jesus Christ is to find Wisdom. How do we find Jesus Christ? How do we find Wisdom? Jesus tells us - ‘Seek and you will find’(Matthew 7:7). For so many of us, the most important thing is getting on in the world. Jesus says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’(Matthew 6:19-20). Which world is more important to you - this world or the world to come? Jesus puts this question to every one of us. This is the question we must answer. May God help us to give this answer - ‘I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold... I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today’(Mission Praise, 319).

Proverbs 16:18-33
What a difference there is between a self-centred life and a God-centred life. Where does the self-centred life lead us? - ‘There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death’(25). Is there a better way, a way that leads to true happiness? Yes! There is the God-centred way: ‘He who gives heed to the Word will prosper, and happy is he who trusts in the Lord’(20). True happiness does not come to those who seek it in the things of this world. It comes to those who seek the Lord. ‘Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey’(Mission Praise, 760). God invites us to choose between two very different ways - our own way and His way: ‘the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’(Romans 6:23). Choose Christ!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Let People Know That Jesus Is Your Saviour And Lord.

Proverbs 15:1-33
‘The path of life leads upward for the wise’(24). The wisdom which leads upward is centred on Christ. He is the Way to the ‘Father’s House’(John 14:2-3,6). ‘Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it’(17). Jesus teaches us the way to live wisely: ‘lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’(Matthew 6:20) - ‘I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I’d rather be His than have riches untold...’(Mission Praise, 319). ‘The lips of the wise spread knowledge’(7). Christ is our Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30). We must not keep Him to ourselves. Share Him with others. Let people know that Jesus is your Saviour. Let them know that He is your Lord. Don’t just ‘believe in your heart’. ‘Confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord’(Romans 10:9). Your words will help others to find Him.
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Let Glasgow Flourish By The Preaching Of God’s Word And The Praising Of His Name.

To watch the music video, "Let Glasgow Flourish", click here. This song comes from the singer - songwriter, Garry Brotherston. You can read his testimony here. You can read about his album, "Stuck in the Lampshade of Life" here.

The Preaching Of God’s Word And The Praising Of His Name.

Proverbs 14:1-19
‘A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man with the fruit of his deeds’(14). Jesus speaks to us about ‘good fruit’ and ‘bad fruit’. He warns us not to be deceived by those who have no real love for Him: ‘You will know them by their fruits’(Matthew 7:15-20). How does good fruit grow in the ‘tree’ of our lives? - ‘Blessed is the man... whose delight is in the law of the Lord... He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season’(Psalm 1:1-3). There is good fruit to be enjoyed when we take delight in the Word of the Lord. There is bad fruit to be thrown away. Let’s throw away the bad fruit - ‘...strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness...’- and enjoy the good fruit - ‘love, joy, peace...’. Let ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ grow in you - ‘be filled with the Spirit’(Galatians 5:19-24; Ephesians 5:18).

Proverbs 14:20-35
'‘Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society’(34). Our nation can flourish again - by the preaching of God’s Word and the praising of God’s Name. Times of blessing can come again - if we will listen to God’s Word and sing His praise. Times of blessing will not come if we refuse to listen to the Lord, if we will not worship Him. We are living in difficult times - ‘dark powers are poised to flood our streets with hate and fear’. We must learn to see things as God sees them - ‘You stand appalled to see Your laws of love so scorned and lives so broken. Pray for mercy - ‘Have mercy, Lord’. Pray for revival - ‘Revive Your Church again’. Pray that Christ’s ‘glorious Cross shall tower triumphant in this land’. Pray that ‘righteousness’ will flow ‘like a never-failing stream’(Mission Praise, 509).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

The Blood Of Jesus, God's Son, Cleanses Us From All Sin.

Proverbs 13:1-11
‘The light of the righteous rejoices’(9). Jesus is our Light. He is ‘the Light of the world’. In Him we rejoice. Through Him, ‘we have now received reconciliation’. We are no longer walking in darkness. We are walking in the light with Him, giving thanks to God that ‘the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin’(John 8:12; Romans 5:11; 1 John 1:7). What a wonderful thing God has done for us in Christ. He has ‘called us out of darkness into His marvellous light’. Let us ‘declare His praises’, rejoicing in His great love, His rich mercy and His saving grace (1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 2:4-5). Keep on rejoicing! There is light at the end of the tunnel - even when you have ‘to suffer grief in all kinds of trials’. Don`t lose sight of ‘the goal of your faith’- ‘the salvation of your souls’(1 Peter 1:6-9).

Proverbs 13:12-25
What do you do with the Word of God? How do you respond to the Word of God? What a difference there is between those who respect God’s Word and those who despise His Word. We have here a word of warning- ‘He who despises the Word brings destruction on himself’ and a word of promise- ‘he who respects the commandment will be rewarded’(13). Those who keep on ignoring God’s Word are putting themselves in great danger - ‘He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck will suddenly be broken beyond healing’(29:1). Those who take God’s Word seriously will find ‘great reward’- God’s Word ‘revives the soul’, ‘makes wise the simple’, ‘rejoices the heart’ and ‘enlightens the eyes’. May your heart often meditate on His Word. May your mouth often speak His Word (Psalm 19:11,7-8,14).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Only What We Want To Hear

Do we listen, when others speak? Or do we only want to hear, what we want to hear?



In His Glorious Name Ministries Online

"He Who Follows Worthless Pursuits Has No Sense." Only One ‘Way’ Makes Sense - Christ.

Proverbs 12:1-14
The Word of God shows us the way we are not to go as well as the way we areto go. We are told that ‘the root of the righteous stands firm’(12). We are warned: ‘he who follows worthless pursuits has no sense’(11). Do you have any sense? Here’s the most sensible thing you could ever do: Let ‘Christ dwell in your heart through faith’. Be ‘rooted and grounded in love… the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge’. Does it make any sense to live a life of emptiness - ‘worthless pursuits’- when you can be filled with all the fullness of God’? What sense is there in living a life that amounts to nothing - ‘worthless pursuits’- when you can have ‘His power at work within you’? There are two ways: the way of giving ‘glory to God’ and the way of ‘no sense’(Ephesians 3:17-21). Only one ‘Way’makes sense - Christ (John 14:6).

Proverbs 12:15-28
What harm can be done by ‘reckless words’(18). We need to take care how we speak. As those who belong to Christ, we have a special responsibility. We are to ‘witness’ for Him. We are to give our ‘testimony’, declaring what He has done for us. We are to speak of the ‘one thing’ that is more important than anything else - what the Lord has done for us: ‘I used to be blind, but now I can see’(John 9:25). This is what the Lord has done for us - ‘He has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light’(1 Peter 2:9). There is a better way than the way of ‘lying lips’(22). When the ‘lying tongue’ has no more to say for itself, there will be one confession of faith which will remain forevermore: ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’. This confession brings ‘glory’ to ‘God the Father’. Let it be your confession of faith: ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’(19; Philippians 2:11).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Choose Christ. Choose Life.

Proverbs 10:1-22
What a difference there is between the ‘wise’ and the ‘foolish’. It is the difference between ‘righteousness’ and ‘wickedness’(1-2). Throughout life, there are choices to be made. We may choose wisely, being led by the Lord ‘in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake’. We may choose foolishly, going ‘astray’, refusing to ‘call upon the Lord’(Psalms 23:3-4; 14:2-4). We must be very careful about the choices we make. There is a ‘way that leads to life’ and a ‘way that leads to destruction’(16-17; Matthew 7:13-14). ‘Flee from the wrath to come’. Choose Christ. Choose life. ‘He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him’(Matthew 3:7; John 3:36).Choose Him now. ‘Now is the day of salvation’(2 Corinthians 6:2).

Proverbs 10:23-11:11
'‘With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbour’ (9) - This kind of thing is going on all the time! There is no respect for the ‘neighbour’. An easy target, he is treated with contempt. He is slandered without mercy. It is not without reason that God’s Word says to us, ‘The tongue is a fire… With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men… My brethren, this ought not to be so’(James 3:6-10). God knows what we are like. We ‘destroy’ people with ‘the tongue’. It is character assassination. What drastic effects this kind of thing can have: ‘a city… is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked’! Can the blessing return again? God’s Word is clear - ‘By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted’- , but we must learn to speak and live as ‘the upright’ and not as ‘the wicked’(11).

Proverbs 11:12-31
‘He who wins souls is wise’(30). ‘He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward’(18). Righteousness is not purely a private matter. God’s Word tells us that ‘those who turn many to righteousness shall shine like stars for ever and ever’(Daniel 12:3). Winning others for Jesus Christ is not easy. To those who commit themselves to this great work, God gives His precious promise: ‘He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him’(Psalm 126:6). In this work, we must remember: It is not what we do that makes the real difference. It is the Lord working through us. Never forget: ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain’(Psalm 127:1). Always remember: When our work is done ‘in the Lord’, it is never ‘in vain’(1 Corinthians 15:58).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Christ Is Our Wisdom. Receiving Him, We Receive Wisdom. Growing In Him, We Grow In Wisdom.

Proverbs 8:1-36
Hoping for ‘good luck’, some people expect good things to happen to them - all the time! God says, ‘Seek wisdom. Be ready for the hard times’. Wisdom comes from God. He speaks to us with words of wisdom (2:6; 6-8). Wisdom is not only for ‘kings and rulers, princes and nobles’. It is for everyone who loves the Lord (15-17). Wisdom calls us to choose good rather than evil, life rather than death (13,35-36; Hebrews 5:14; Deuteronomy 30:19). The way of wisdom is the way of happiness (32-34). Our path may not be paved with gold. Wisdom is better than ‘silver, gold and jewels’(10-11). Christ is our Wisdom. Receiving Him, we receive wisdom. Growing in Him, we grow in wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:6). As you rejoice in Christ, remember: ‘He who wins souls is wise’(11:30). Don’t keep Wisdom to yourself. Share Christ with others.

Proverbs 9:1-18
There is, in verse 5, a Gospel invitation: ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed’. We eat bread. We drink wine. We remember our Saviour (Matthew 26: 26-29). ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’(10). ‘This sounds so old-fashioned’- so the world tells us. ‘The fear of the Lord’- This is something we must not forget. If we do not fear the Lord, we will forget Him. If we forget Him, we are fools. What is foolishness? Is it a lack of education? No! - It is a lack of obedience. When we do not ‘honour’ God, we are ‘without sense’. ‘Claiming to be wise’, we show that we are ‘fools’. If we are wise, we will keep ‘going straight on the way’, looking always to Jesus Christ who is the true and living Way. He leads us from ‘the depths of hell’ to the heights of heaven (13-18; Romans 1:21-22; John 14:2,6).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

The Wisdom of the Prudent

"Oh, I just did that without thinking.." "I really didn't mean that--I just wasn't thinking..."

How many times have I done something without thinking? Numerous. Words are hard to chase down. Actions may even be worse. Can we somehow come to a place in our lives where we actually consider what we're doing before we do it?

As we ask God for guidance in our lives, we can ask Him to help us to be wise by remembering to give thought to our ways when incidents come up and choices present themselves.


http://picturemythoughts.blogspot.com

We Do Not Glory In Our Own Obedience. We ‘Glory In The Cross Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.’

Proverbs 7:1-27
The way of obedience is the way of life: ‘keep My commandments and live’(2). This is not a shallow legalism. It is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is ‘walking in the Spirit’. It is living as ‘a new creation’. We do not glory in our own obedience. We ‘glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’(Galatians 5:16; 6:16,14). Obedience is a mark of spiritual maturity. The ‘mature’ are ‘those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil’(Hebrews 5:14). In His Word, God shows us how we are to live and how we are not to live. We must ‘listen’ to God. We must ‘be attentive’ to His Word, thinking on and doing ‘these things’ which will glorify Him (24; Philippians 4:8-9). ‘Sin so easily entangles... let us fix our eyes on Jesus’(25-27; Hebrews 12:1-2).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

‘By Grace You Have Been Saved.’ Be Careful To Obey God In Everything.

Proverbs 6:1-15
'‘Save yourself... like a bird from the hand of the fowler’(5). ‘He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler’(Psalm 91:3). In Scripture, we have both the promise of grace and the call to faith: ‘By grace you have been saved’(Ephesians 2:5), ‘Your faith has saved you’(Luke 7:50), ‘Keep yourselves in the love of God’, ‘To Him who is able to keep you from falling’(Jude 21,24). Laugh at ‘the sluggard’(6-11), but do not laugh too quickly or too long: You may be laughing at yourself! Looking at the sluggard is like looking into a mirror. We see so much of ourselves in him! ‘A worthless man, a wicked man’- ‘He “fancies himself”. He’s “a chancer”’. He better watch out: God doesn’t share this man’s opinion of himself - ‘calamity will come... he will be broken beyond healing’(15).

Proverbs 6:16-35
God’s Word is our ‘lamp’ and ‘light’(23; Psalm 119:105). It leads us in the way we are to go (22). It exposes the darkness of the ways we are to avoid. It shows us the ‘things that the Lord hates’, the things which are ‘an abomination to Him’(16). Why does God list the ‘things’ which are not pleasing to Him? He wants us to watch how we live. He wants us to keep on choosing His way. We must not allow things to drift. Keep God’s Word in ‘your heart always’(21). Let ‘the reproofs of discipline’ keep you from straying (23). The world tells us, ‘Anything goes. Do what you like. It doesn’t matter how you live’. God’s Word speaks about sin: There is ‘no sense’ in it. It is the way of self-destruction. It will not ‘go unpunished’(32,29). Be careful to obey God in everything.
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

"May You Rejoice In The Wife Of Your Youth... May You Ever Be Captivated By Her Love."

Proverbs 5:1-14
Being married: There are many temptations - the ‘loose woman’(3-6). Be positive: Through ‘mutual love and respect’, let’s build ‘strong and happy’ marriages, in which ‘the marriage bond is honoured’. Singles: Don’t spoil everything by getting entangled with those who are ‘loose’ in their commitment to believing in and living for Jesus Christ! Bringing up children: There are many problems - the natural reaction of the child (11-12). Our children are to be brought up ‘in the nurture and admonition of the Lord’(Ephesians 6:4). We need the tenderness - ‘I don't condemn you’- and firmness - ‘don’t sin’- of Christ (John 8:11). Children: The natural reaction - ‘I hate discipline. I will not listen’- is the sinful reaction. Pray for God's help - to ‘obey your parents in the Lord’(Ephesians 6:1-3).

Proverbs 5:15-23
There is teaching here concerning faithfulness in marriage: ‘may you rejoice in the wife of your youth... may you ever be captivated by her love' (18-19). We may apply this teaching to our relationship with the Saviour. You loved Him so much in ‘your youth’. You were ‘rejoicing in Him’. You were ‘captivated by His love’. ‘You were doing so well’, but something happened - you have gone off course (Galatians 5:7-8). Is this the story of your life? Return to ‘your first love’(Revelation 2:4-5). There is also a warning against unfaithfulness (20). This can also be applied to our relationship with Christ. He ‘loved us and gave Himself for us’. He calls us to be ‘holy... a radiant church’(Ephesians 5:25-27). We belong to Him. Why settle for anything less than the Best, anything less than our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Pastor Wanted

There are a lot of hurting people in the world. Truth is we don't have to look far to find them. They are around us daily. At work, at the grocery store, within our communities, on the very streets that we live on and sometimes in our own homes.

What can each of us as Christian's do to reach out to others? Maybe the simplicity of a smile, maybe inviting and buying someone lunch, maybe that single mother that's struggling, maybe that girl or boy down the street that lost a father or mother through a divorce. Truly the opportunities to bless others are all around us, and everywhere. May we all be a friend to someone in need and simply be Christ like.

Blessings, from
In His Glorious Name Ministries Online

Look Beyond The Rising Sun To The Risen Son.

Proverbs 4:1-9
This is ‘a father’s instructions ’to his ‘sons’(1). The father has been a ‘son’(3). He has wrestled with temptation. He has needed the exhortation - ‘Let your heart hold fast...’(4) - and the warning - ‘Do not turn away...’(5). Now, we turn to the divine Father and Son. The Father does not keep His distance from us. Through the Son, He has come near to us. Through the Son, we come to the Father (John 14:9,6). When Scripture says, ‘Get wisdom’(7), it means this: ‘Come to the Father through Jesus the Son’. Wisdom brings ‘a beautiful crown’, ‘the crown of righteousness’, ‘the unfading crown of glory’(9; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4). Be wise. Be ready for the Lord’s Return (Matthew 25:1-13). ‘Purer... higher... greater - Our wonder, our worship, when Jesus we see!’(Church Hymnary, 374).

Proverbs 4:10-19
'‘The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day’(18). Face the risen Son. His life in us is like the rising sun. It begins with ‘the first gleam of dawn’. It ‘shines ever brighter until the full light of day’'. Christ ‘dawns on us like the morning light’(2 Samuel 23:4). In a moment of discovery, we say, ‘It’s just dawned on me’. It is very wonderful when Christ reveals Himself, when He brings us out of our darkness and into His light. This is just the beginning. There is so much more: ‘No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him’(1 Corinthians 2:9). ‘Light has dawned that ever shall blaze... Light a flame within my heart... Let my flame begin to spread’(Mission Praise, 422; Songs of Fellowship, 339).

Proverbs 4:20-27
''Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you' (25). Living the Christian life is like 'walking a tightrope' - We must 'not swerve to the right or to the left' (27; Deuteronomy 28:14; Joshua 1:7; 23:6). Looking straight ahead, 'let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...'(Hebrews 12:2). In the face of life's many difficulties, you may ask, "Can I 'run with perseverance the race marked out for me' (Hebrews 12:1)?". Keep your eyes on your own capacity for perseverance - and you will be filled with thoughts of your own weakness. Keep your eyes on Christ and His preserving power (1 Peter 1:5; John 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:37-39). You will grow strong - strengthened by Christ's Word: 'My grace is sufficient for you' (2 Corinthians 12:9).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
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