THINK" SERIES: PART 11 - "WHATEVER IS NOBLE OR OF GOOD REPORT"

" Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things". (Philippians 4:8)

The world views "nobility" as royalty. The British royal family, or some European elites, are regarded as the "standard" in terms of class, wealth, and nobility. This is, of course, a product of centuries of class divisions, and in modern times, an obsession of the media and culture.

Nobility means something else to God. In our passage above from Philippians 4:8, the word "NOBLE" (or 'of good report') is an adjective with quite a punch. The original Biblical Greek is "euphémos". In this context, euphemos means of good report, reputable and praiseworthy (Strongs 2163).

If we look across the spectrum in public life, not many can fulfill the demands of these attributes. They are attributes. The original meaning of the English words found in this verse (Phil. 4:8) for "meditate or think on these things" imply action. The Biblical Greek word is "logizomai" which means reckon, conclude, decide, reason and more.....all verbs of action. We also get the word "logic" from this Bible word.

The Bible is not just true, inspiring, encouraging and more, but it inspires logic, thought, and positive action. I have a few friends who teach character development. One of them has made a living out of it, by developing an international ministry. Why is so much of the world, especially in certain areas of the United States, the Far East, and some developing countries, captivated by this concept of Nobility in thought, word, and deed?

Why? Because it is an attractive quality and leads only to good things - for families, churches, communities and business. People of Noble Character (which is the true meaning of GOOD REPORT) are:

- Pleasant to be around

- Dignified and courageous, yet as gentle as a lamb.

- Always willing to lend a helping hand of love, friendship and cheerful giving

- Genuinely generous with their time and resources

- Strong and humble. But do not mistake their humility and strength under control as a weakness. What they are exhibiting is the "meekness" which our Lord and Savior Jesus exhibited.

- Willing to mentor, share with, or instruct others in the paths which they can follow to become better-engaged and grounded children of God.

There are many more,  but these main qualities of Noble Character, inspired by Godly and a clean mind focused on making the main thing, the main thing, will not just glorify God through our actions, but they will serve to honor Him by showing His people as ones of people of truly "good report". 

As stated many times before, our actions are the results of our thoughts. Think on these pure and noble things, and we will stand before God and man, blameless and shining the Truth of His Gospel. Amen

Dear Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, help us to seal these truths in our minds: the Truths to the point where if any one of them is not yet second nature, that by the cleansing Blood of Jesus and the washing of Your Holy Word, each attributes or item listed in Philippians 4:8  will become to us, an integral part of our lives, in thought, word and deed, that we may glorify You and become living testimonies to the Glory of God, before God and man, in Jesus' Strong Name, amen.

PHOTO CREDIT HERE

"THINK" SERIES: PART 6 - "WHATEVER IS TRUE"

THINK BIBLICALLY - #1 

" Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things". (Philippians 4:8)

In John 18:38, Pontius Pilate encounters the bruised and brutalized Jesus for the first time and asks the eternal question "Quid Est Veritas" (Latin/Roman for What is Truth) — which you may recall from the stunning scene below from "The Passion of the Christ." 

Significantly, the first thing listed in the Bible for "whatever things..." we MUST consider to live and think biblically is Truth. Each item listed here deserves its own in-depth examination. The concept of Truth is primary, and today, there is so much confusion that only the wise will shine. Only the born-again will recognize Biblical Truth.

The world does not recognize Absolute Truth. For the unredeemed, and you hear it all the time, people should "live their own truth" or "you do you"....and other such inane, meaningless catchphrases. This trend began in Genesis Chapter 3 where the Devil delivered the first lie to deceive mankind and it never stopped. It ramped up in the free love/no responsibility 1960s and 1970s with the "I'm OK, You're OK" movement. Today it has become religion to the unsaved Religious Left to call/brand/tag anyone who believes in Absolute Truth, as hateful, intolerant, stupid, mindless,or worse for believing the following:

-  That the Bible is true, inerrant and the 100% closed Word of God.

-  That every true professing Christian MUST believe what is written in Genesis Chapters 1-11, and Who God is before he or she can truly call themselves a bible-believing Christian.

-  That God created the Heavens and the Earth in six (6) 24-hour days and the earth is less than 7,000 years old. He is Creator and there is no such thing as Evolution.

-  That the Triune God, Who is God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) has always existed in eternity past and always will, even when this current world system is destroyed and remade.

-  That Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World, the only Way to Heaven, and His Holy Spirit only indwells those who have repented of their sins and accepted Him as Lord of their lives.

-  That Jesus was born of a virgin woman, by the Sovereign Plan and Will of God the Father, into a couple from the lineage of King David, in Bethlehem as prophesied in Micah 5:2.

-  That Jesus the Man, Who never sinned in His 33 years on earth; never gave up His Divinity; was both God and Man; taught what is recorded in the Gospels and then was killed by evil men. That was allowed to happen, again by the pre-determined plan of God as a payment for our sins.

-  That Jesus was crucified on the Passover that year, and rose from the Tomb on Resurrection Sunday, just as He had said, to fulfill God's plan. He ascended to the Throne on the Right Hand of God The Father, from Where He reigns today and forever more, amen.

In brief, these are the essentials and basics we must believe, in order proceed with comprehending all Scripture. These essentials are what comprise Truth, i.e. Absolute Truth, Objective Truth. Anything else is a lie.

Modern archaeology has been proving, almost weekly, that the events and places recorded in Sola Scriptura - the Bible alone are 100% true. In the early 1980's when Mt. St. Helens in the state of Washington erupted (more on that in future posts or videos); within years, coal was formed, which confounded atheist scientists who believe it takes thousands of years to create even one inch of coal, and the layers of lava basically showed up Evolution to be the fraud that it is (more on that later as well).

As a man thinketh, so is he. When we are confronted by the world which says "absolute truth" does not exist. They have made an Absolute statement by declaring such a thing. Under the terms of logic, therefore, their argument is easily dismissed and thrown into the dustbin of history, because they have contradicted themselves and are not even doing their own subjective analysis to "you do you".  

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life - absolutely. We stand on that, forever and ever, against the wind and against the World. If we are to think Biblical - whatever things are True, we absolutely believe. Amen. 

Image Courtesy FREEBIBLE IMAGES (Thank you)

"THINK" SERIES: PART 2 - REASON

God, in the form of Jesus Christ - invites us to LITERALLY "“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord: "“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

Can you imagine, GOD, Yahweh, Who can speak universes into existence with the sound of His Voice, Who can destroy great armies with a single word,  Who knows every hair on our heads, Who sees us in our weakness, sickness and sin - yet still loves US...THAT GOD - is inviting sinful, weak, no-account humans to come talk and reason with Him, so that we can not just go to Heaven when we die but that we can do life with Him right now! That Yahweh, that God - He is not only for us, He loves us.

Look at the Lord's choice of word of invitation - come let us REASON. Reason in His original Hebrew is YAKACH. Bible Hub translates and defines "Yakach" as ".... to reprove or correct. It is often used in the context of bringing someone to a point of understanding or conviction, typically through argument or evidence. The term can also imply a form of judgment or decision-making, where clarity and truth are established. In the biblical context, "yakach" is frequently associated with God's correction of His people, as well as the role of prophets and wise individuals in guiding others toward righteousness".***

It is more than encouraging...actually, it is more stunning, to read about the lives of former atheists like Lee Strobel or J. Warner Wallace or the most recent one Josh Timonen. While Josh is not a household name, the man he works for IS. That man is the world's foremost and most well-known living ATHEIST Richard Dawkins! Timonen not only produced videos and documentaries extolling the virtues of "Atheism" where it takes more Faith, to NOT believe in the Creation and God, but he sold merchandise, touted Dawkins, and even got public praise and acknowledgments in books and in person from Richard Dawkins.

But, having grown up in church and walked away, there was always something inside of him. It is inside every human being. That something is called the Law of God written on our hearts, as the Bible says. Dawkins' right hand man - Josh Timonen - began reading the Bible to "reason this thing out". Then he read a book written by another famous former Atheist - Lee Strobel. Lee was the legal correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, who was so offended as an all-out Atheist, when his wife got saved and started attended Willowcreek Church in Barrington, Illinois, that he set out to disprove the Bible.

In the process, Lee Strobel got saved and wrote "THE CASE FOR CHRIST" (Click here to watch this documentary on YouTube). After reading The Case for Christ, Josh himself was radically saved as it confirmed the reasons for Faith in God, through Jesus Christ, that this now former atheist was processing.

Click here for J. Warner Wallace's reasons to believe as well. Wallace is a former LAPD homicide detective and former atheist who used his investigative skills, to prove the reality of God in Christ.

So what happens when a person, in this case, the man who rode shotgun for the biggest living atheist in the world - Josh Timonen, does his independent research, reasons with it, then reasons with God? He comes to Faith in Christ, just like J. Warner and Lee! How about that, huh. God is so good. To wind up this brief discussion on the Almighty and Most Powerful Force in the Universe - our Heavenly Father, I leave you with the words of Josh Timonen, after he began sharing his Conversion to Christ testimony with a man, who has had life-changing impact on me, since I first saw him and Kirk Cameron in town almost 25 years ago - Ray Comfort.

Timonen describes part of his journey like this: "Jesus actually lived, He actually died, and He actually rose....and I have to deal with that. I can’t just push that aside and say, ‘Oh, it’s a myth.’ No, these are real events. Then, I’m asked to do something. It’s a personal thing between Him and me. And that’s where it kind of struck differently...." ****

If you're having trouble with YOUR Faith, with YOUR walk with Christ, go thou and do likewise. Search out J. Warner Wallace's COLD CASE CHRISTIANITY and subscribe, like I did, years ago to his podcasts. I was gloriously born again in July 1988, but the learning never stops and now, I know at least 10% about our wonderful Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. You too can begin to walk victoriously in Him, amen.

Glory to His Name!

CREDITS: 

*** = BIBLE HUB (click here)

**** = Focus on the Family  (click here)

IMAGE (click here)

RESPECT - THIRD VALUE OF A SOLDIER OF CHRIST

 

MUSIC OF THE HEAVENS RECORDED

 

TEXTS:

JOB CHAPTER 38

PSALM 8

A PSALM OF THANKSGIVING (PSALM 103 KJV)

1   Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2   Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3   Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4   Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5   Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6   The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7   He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8   The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9   He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10   He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19  The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20  Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21  Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22  Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

(Public Domain)

Read the standard King James Version online...

A HYMN OF PRAISE TO OUR GOD

Our King, Creator and Lord of the Universe, all Creation worships You. All who are called by Your Name, most gracious Yahweh, stand in awe of You and one day, every knee shall bow, even those lost to perdition and cry out - Jesus Christ is Lord.

Father, as we come to the final week of what has to be the swiftest month ever, we stand grateful that You delivered us from the dominion of darkness, into the Kingdom of Your marvelous light.

While we were lost in our transgressions and stuck in the filthy miry clay, of rebellion, stubbornness and sin, like even some who call themselves Christians today, You turned to us and heard our cries. 
While we waited patiently, You brought us up from the desolate pit.

While we were sinking in the quicksand of a vortex of sin, You set our feet upon a rock

You put a new song in our mouths. A hymn of praise to our God.

You put a new birth of freedom in our hearts. We rejoice, oh we rejoice.

You put a blanket of shalom over our troubled souls. You are the balm of Gilead

You put our bitterness aside and cause us to run to You. Then Jesus came.

Jesus came, oh Lord, and set us free

Jesus came, oh joy and happy are we

Jesus came, when the dark night threatened hopeless and fear

Jesus came, and fill our hearts with His loving care.

Lord, we are not proud. We are delight in You. We will sing mightily of Your wondrous works. We will tell the world, from the rooftops, even the mountaintops, of the great things You have done for us. 

Your plans will not be thwarted. No man can defeat You. No devil or his demons can place obstacles or bad people in Your Way. 

You are for Your Elect, dear Holy One of Israel. Your Eyes runneth to and fro across the whole earth in search of those few who remain loyal to You. Lord, here we are - send us. We have overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimonials to a lost and dying world of what a good, good Father You are. There is none like You. There is none like You.

So as we come to the end of one and the start of another, help us to remember that Time is in Your Hands. Our Time is in Your Hands.  Eternity draweth nigh. Help us to not play games, to not sin or become narcissists and to not bring shame upon Your Holy Name.

Give us wisdom and direction, day by day, as the times are evil and we never know what one day would bring or the next. May we always trust You completely in everything we do, say, or think and may it all be for the Glory of God, Who sits on the Throne with the Mighty Savior, the Lord Jesus at His Side, in His Name I pray, amen.

PRAYER FOR PROTECTION, MISSION AND PURPOSE

Most merciful Father, Creator of Heaven and earth, at the start of this new week, we approach the Throne of Grace on bended knee, seeking Your guidance, direction and Grace in the form of Your mercies, new as they are every morning. Thank You for Your kindness, not just to all generations past, but to us on this day, as we see new horizons, new possibilities, new challenges and new potential pitfalls ahead if we are not careful to stay in the lane, which You have set out for us.

Help us to not just seek favor for ourselves, but to love the unloveable.

Move us to not just do the easy things, but to trust You with the impossible.

Inspire us to not just be like any other, but to believe the Holy Spirit for the incredible.

Stay with us not just through the difficult, but exhort us as we rejoice in  everything winnable.

 

Let us, who are faithful pray to You, immediately when we call short of the mark.

Let us, who are forgiven, forgive others who have trespassed against us.

Let us never walk in rebellion when You call us to repentance thinking You are okay with sin when Holiness is Your standard, without which, no one will see God.

When the floodwaters of trial and tribulation come, may we find our hiding place in You.

When the high and low tides in the ocean of life wash over us, may we be continually covered by the Precious Blood of the Lamb.

When the modern day Babylonians throw Your people into the fires of persecution, let them see that You are the Fourth Man in the Fire.

 

You will never and have never abandoned us.

You protect in times of battle and hail.

You surround us with shouts of deliverance

You instruct us in the Way we should go.

You bring hope when the road ahead seems hopeless

You let us know the days of the wicked are limited and their day of reckoning draws nigh.

 

So teach us to number our days and nights that we may have hearts of obedience, devotion to You and the passion to serve You. For You have surrounded us with Your chariots of fire, which the world has not seen nor will they ever know.

 

Give us this week, a heart to reach the lost or to at least pray for their dark souls, for even the vilest enemy can be made clean by the Word of the Lamb and the power of His testimony.

 

Give us this day, our daily bread – supernatural food, which only Your Spirit can provide that we may found acceptable in Your sight, should anyone of us be called up before You, until we meet again.  May Your gracious kindness and love, in hearing this prayer, move our hearts so that we may be constantly be found praying always in the Spirit, in all prayer and supplication, as Thy Word says in Philippians.

 

Father, most Mighty God in Heaven, we come before You now,  and ask all of these in the most Holy, Precious and the Strong Name of Jesus Who is Christ, amen and amen.

PRAYER FOR A NEW DAY AND WEEK

Heavenly Father, Maker of Heaven and earth, great is Your Name and greatly to be praised. You are worthy of all praise, all glory and all honor, this day, this week and this moment – now and always – as we live with breath borrowed with an expiration date from Your Kingdom Throne.

 

We thank You at the start of a new week, as one day comes to an end and the cycle continues through this current Age, that You have given us so much more than we have asked for, Oh Lord. In Your Grace, in Your Mercy, in Your Shalom – the peace that passes ALL understanding, You have given us the ability to be more than our feeble minds can even comprehend.

Father we can be like the giant oak, planted by the running waters of life, or we can be like the fig tree, which the Lord Jesus cursed because it bore no fruit.  Therefore, give us the boldness and courage in our weakness to use the power you filled us with, when You sent Your Holy Spirit to indwell us, so:

That we may bear fruit in and out of season

That we may take the long view as You do, and see the end from the beginning as much as we can

That we may not shake and cower at the first sign of opposition to our calling, because You did not give us a spirit of Fear, but the same Spirit Who raised Christ from the dead

That we may place our own selfish needs on the shelf and fish for great catch so that the King may be glorified – King Jesus.

 

Lord we know that when we quit navel-gazing and feeling sorry for ourselves, You open up the windows of Heaven and pour Your goodness on down in over-abundant measure. Hallelujah.

We know that when we water our hearts, mind and soul with the fresh and living Water of the Holy Spirit and Your Word, our leaf will not wither and whatsoever we do shall prosper.

We know that even though we wonder how long shall the wicked reign, we instinctively know in our spiritual hearts that You watch over the righteous…and that not one hair on our heads will be harmed by the evil one and his minions.

We know all these things because all Your promises are Yes and Amen! Hallelujah.

So thank You on Lord, on each passing day, that You put new joy in our hearts.

Thank You for the new wine which overflows our wineskins

Thank You for the grain of Your abundant provisions

Thank You for the sweet peace and rest You have blessed us with each day and night

Thank You for the families and spouses and children and grandchildren and more You have blessed Your faithful ones with.

Most of all, dear Lord, thank You for the Lord Jesus, our soon coming King, Who sits upon the Throne and as each day passes,  He sees the Day when He will mount the White Horse to bring Judgement and the Kingdom Reign upon the earth.

At the end of a new day, and at the start of a new week, we live for that Great and Glorious Day, when the King shall rise and lead the Armies of Heaven through the Eastern Sky. We honor, proclaim and bless His Mighty and Holy Name  - the Name above all other Names, the Name of Jesus, amen and amen.

 

NDP 2021 - PRAYER BASED ON PSALM 18

Most Merciful Father in Heaven, You are the Source, Giver, Sustainer, Redeemer of all Life. We worship, adore, reverence and magnify Your Most Precious and Holy Name.

Father, we come to You on bended knee as Your children, washed by the Blood of the Lamb, seeking Your guidance, wisdom and direction as to the ways we should focus, or refocus our spiritual hearts to where You would like us to be.

Lord from the radiance of Your presence, the clouds flee, Moses turned his back, the stars fall before You, the thunder rolls and the lightning - they all declare Your awesome power. Even the waves cease their turmoil when Your Son commanded "Be still"!

There is none like You. Still in Your awesome Majesty, You reached down from heaven and pulled us out of the deep. The currents of sin were drawing us down into the depths of the pit. Yet You, oh God, in Your mercy, grace and long suffering, confronted the enemy and became our Support, our Help, our Salvation, our Sanctifier, our one True Hope and for that, today, tonight, always and forever, we are eternally grateful.

Father, embed Your Word in every fiber of our being.

Enable us to walk upright day after day, in a crooked and perverse generation.

Excite us daily in the joy of the journey with Jesus.

May we extol the virtues of the Savior in thought, word or deed.

May we examine also our hearts daily to see if we are indeed in alignment with Your Will.

May we eagerly serve one another as Christ came to serve.

May we elevate the Name of Jesus above every other name.

May we earnestly keep short accounts with You, that little sins do not turn into iniquity, and then rebellion which will cause harm to our families, friends and our Testimony to a sceptical and evil world out there.

Lord, may we remain faithful through thick or thin. Because to the faithful, You prove Yourself Faithful.

May we remain innocent in Your Holy Eyes, because to the pure, You prove Yourself pure.

May we pray our enemies into Your Mighty Hands, because to the crooked, You prove Yourself shrewd.

Lord, this week, we pray protection over the helpless that You be a refuge and a hiding place to them.

We pray perseverance to the saints all over the world and here in north American since You promised to be a Mighty Warrior to those who harm Your saints.

We pray provision for those who need Your lovingkindness and the hands and feet of Your Kingdom - Christians - to reach those in need.

Let our feet be as swift as the feet of a deer as You secure us on higher ground and may Your Mighty Presence - the Holy Spirit - Who lives in us, Your redeemed, draw us even closer, day by day, into the wonders of You, in Jesus' Strong Name, I pray, amen.

CONSIDER THIS: BEHOLD

 “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age….Matthew 28:20

CONSIDER THIS: The word “BEHOLD” appears in the Bible (the universally accepted King James…and other versions) over 1320 times! The word means to fix your attention (eyes, mind etc) on something; to fix your eyes upon or to direct your fixed gaze to! The great John the Baptist said “BEHOLD, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world”. The brutal Pontius Pilate said “BEHOLD The Man!” Are you beholding the Man – Christ Jesus today? Is not just your Sunday gaze, but is your Monday-Saturday night gaze, mind, body, soul and every fiber of your being in the manifest presence of Jesus Christ and the Beauty and Majesty of Him Who sits on the Throne?

ACTION: Being in the manifest presence of the Lord – Jesus Christ – is only possible on this side of heaven, if one is filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means only one thing – a person’s sins are forgiven and we are born again. Therefore, since we have the Spirit of Christ in us through being redeemed/saved/rescued by Him, our only way to being found in His image is through knowing Him more and more each day. It is a process, a marathon and something which will take us right up until our final breath. This requires an intentional walk closer and closer to Him through reading and learning the Scriptures – the Bible and through daily prayer and devotion to Him, in thought, word and deed. The task today, if we have completely not gotten in the swing of it, the previous 22 days of the 31 days of Prayer, is to firmly set this goal before us and start moving the very next minute towards it. It is as easy as backing out of the driveway unto the street in the morning. It will require the foot on the gas pedal of active faith, from here on out.

Father, in the Name of Jesus, we pray that You firm up our resolve in this way, that we may not only know that we are saved and a follower of Jesus Christ, but we will know, for certain, that we are walking in His Will, but seeking His Presence in EVERYTHING we do each and every day, no matter how small or large we think the thing is. Lord, help us to be more like Jesus. We love, adore and glorify His Precious and Holy Name, amen and amen.

CONSIDER THIS: LEADERSHIP

 "Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…Matthew 20: 25-26

CONSIDER THIS: The model of leadership has been set for us by God Himself, when He gave up the eternal throne and poured Himself out, then lowered Himself to be born as a man. This is the epitome of Servant Leadership. Fast forward to today….for some reason, some of Christ’s under-shepherds, ministers and just plain Christians prefer to be served, in the modern church today….thereby seeing things differently than our Boss Jesus (in the above verse).

ACTION: The plan for today is to really search our own hearts and minds to see #1. if we even deserved the Blessings He has given us (NO, we don’t) and then, #2. why aren’t we then humble and obedient to be His True Servant as He stated? Contemplate this for the next several days and then journal your response by studying the Foot-washing Technique of the Lord Jesus and why He did what He did here.

Oh Most Gracious and Heavenly Father, we thank You for the Grace which sent Jesus to be our perfect model of excellence in Character, Humility, Love and Leadership. Help us to understand that to be like Christ is first of all to follow Him in obedience, submission and commitment to YOUR WILL, YOUR WAY and YOUR WISDOM….and not the wisdom of the world, which leadeth to destruction. Lord, help us to see this truth and to begin to readjust our focus from navel-gazing to Kingdom minded, in Jesus’ Strong Name amen.

CONSIDER THIS: CHOOSE

 "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD….Joshua 24:15.

CONSIDER THIS: Yogi Berra said when “you come to a fork in the road, take it”. If you’re looking for a philosophy in life, this is not it….and neither, anything from the “spiritual mind” of men. Go to God, because Doctrine is one of those things in life, with which we do not mess or take lightly. The choice today is before us on the road of Life. We can choose to fool ourselves and walk with the perishing world in all its sin, perversion, corruption and evil, while thinking we are serving God, thinking He is okay with that….or we can simply CHOOSE righteousness, holiness, purity and consecrate ourselves to Him, as Joshua did. You have to make that choice. There is NO middle ground.  

ACTION: Each of us are not only supposed to do this but it is literally wise, in so many ways, to wake up, daily, in the Faith and reaffirm our devotion to the Lord. One way to do this is to resolve to read all three (3) EXTREMELY short books of 1, 2 and 3 John (close to the final book of the Bible – Revelation). This reading of 1, 2 and 3rd John should be done over the period of the next week, with thoughts being recorded in margins of bibles, or prayer journals.

Oh most gracious God and Father in Heaven, thank You for all You have done and the freedom of Will to choose to be in Your Family throughout eternity. Most of all, we thank You for choosing US as Your children to be in the Family of God, through Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith. Help us now and from here on out, to be careful in all aspects of our daily life choices, to honor You in every way and to seek You in Word, Spirit and Truth, in Jesus’ Name amen.

CONSIDER THIS: REST

 REST….“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.…Hebrews 4:11.

CONSIDER THIS: A person can be both busy, hardworking and always on the go, while at the same time, functioning from the assurance which God’s Rest gives. Are you that kind of a person? What does this mean anyway? What is this “rest” the Bible talks about and how does it apply to me?

ACTION: Read Hebrews chapter 3:7 through chapter 4:13. Pray for revelation and discernment about this powerful message and passage from the Lord .

Begin a Prayer Journal or if you have a Journaling Bible, begin notes on topics like “What is God’s “rest” and then record any thoughts or difficulty you may experience truly resting in the Lord? The key is prioritizing in prayer and submission to the Will of God, so that the Work of God can proceed in and through us.

Pray and journal like this – Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus Strong Name asking for wisdom, guidance and direction about how to remain in Your Will, how to remain obedient and fully reliant on You, and still accomplish the things I am supposed to, in my daily life. Father I trust You completely in this. I accept completely the answers You will provide and I rest in this decision to fully walk in this Truth all the days of my life, in Jesus’ Name amen.

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OUR LIVING HOPE - STRONG AND SECURE

 TEXT:

1 PETER 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

ARCHITECT AND ARROWS

TEXT: PSALM 127

 1  Unless the Lord builds the house,

    those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

    the watchman stays awake in vain.

2   It is in vain that you rise up early

    and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3   Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

    the fruit of the womb a reward.

4   Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

    are the children of one's youth.

5   Blessed is the man

    who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

THE LORD IS OUR KEEPER

TEXT:

PSALM 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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PLUMBLINE DEVOTIONAL: COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

TEXT:

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

POWER PRAYER PRAYER THAT TRANSFORMS - PART 2

TEXT:

Colossians 1:11-12 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

POWER PRAYER THAT TRANSFORMS - PART 1

TEXT:

Colossians 1:9-10

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.