Bible Study January 19, 2024

Galatians 6:6 – 10 (LSB)

“6 And the one who is instructed in the word is to share in all good things with the one who instructs him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

Do you believe we reap what we sow? It is true in the agriculture field we sow corn we reap corn; we sow wheat we reap wheat. The same thing holds true for all we do both the good and the bad.

There are consequences for doing bad there are consequences for doing good. Evangelist D. L. Moody was holding a revival preaching on these verses when a man stood up and said, “I don’t believe it.” He was arrested after the service for theft by a policeman who was waiting for him in the back of the church. Moody observed, “I really believe that when he got to his cell, he believed you reap what you sow.”

A word spoken in anger, some wrong act we do such as the one in the story above will always bring about negative results. However the opposite is equally true. A smile, an encouraging word, a pat on the back, time spent with someone who needs you to pray for them. All time well spent and will provide unbelievable results.

“The evil harvest of sin and the good harvest of righteousness are as sure to follow the sowing as the harvest of wheat and barley. “Life is not casual, but causal.” D. L. Moody

God Bless.

Bible Study January 18, 2024

Philippians 4:4 – 7 (LSB)

“4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your considerate spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

For a Christian to be at peace their heart and mind must work together to produce that peace. What we desire comes from the heart and our actions come from our hands. But the problem is they must be working together to achieve a right outcome. If not the peace we are seeking will pass away from us.

How do we achieve that peace and harmony in our lives? Paul answers that question in verse six by saying “by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.” Prayer is one thing but to do it with thanksgiving is yet another. Paul in a few verses later gives us the theme for on which our heart can settle all things in peace. It is found in verses eight and nine. “8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

We can pray for peace and be at odds with others and find no peace. We must set our minds on resolving the conflict that exists to gain the joy we are seeking. We do that by a favorite expression of a former pastor and good friend – “you guard your heart.”

Guarding your heart is a heart decision.

God Bless.

Bible Study January 17, 2024

Jude 1:2 (LSB)

“2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.”

Has anyone ever said to you “I see what God is doing in your life?”

No matter who said that it was a feeling that they may have been struggling with some issue, or that we had been blessed by God., they could see something different in our lives had occurred. We wanted to share with them or someone else about what happened. When this happens it is a great source of reassurance.

David was a recipient of that love from Jonathan. He made a covenant with David and gave him his coat as a symbol of that relationship. “Now it happened when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan cut a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even his sword and his bow and his belt.” (1 Samuel 18:1-4).

Jonathan showed David what God was doing in their lives. We can learn how deep the love between these two was. None of us can be loved too much nor can we love enough.

Is there someone you know that you could bless with support, a word of encouragement, a blessing for them?

“The smallest, good deed is better than the greatest intention.” Unknown

God Bless.

Bible Study January 16, 2024

1 Peter 2:11 – 17 (LSB)

Churches are always trying to find new methods of doing ministry. I remember James Kennedy years ago with his Evangelism Explosion plan. It worked well at the time. Then the Roman Road to salvation was developed which is effective in that we know the steps to leading one to Christ.

Then we have churches with great music programs (which I like) and great acoustics (which are very beneficial) we have some with elaborate lighting systems all leading to what we hope is an attitude of worship and a blessed worship experience. I have no issues with what any church does.

But the question that oftentimes presents itself is “Do we have to change?” Sometimes the method does not need to change. God’s primary means of reaching others is through evangelism. People need to see the hope of Christ in our daily lives and ask us about it.

When that happens we should be ready to give an answer. 1 Peter 3:13 says, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear,”

God’s method is to allow our light to shine that others may see Jesus through us by what we do and glorify Christ.

God’s message is Christ, His method is us.

God Bless.

Matthew 6:19 – 21 (LSB)

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus talks a lot about our treasures, money, and possessions. He knew a great deal about it because He knew it would be a stumbling stone to many. He had a knack for knowing what to teach. He knew what the downfall of many people would be.

Sometimes we spend money on things we need yet other times it may be binge buying. I know several people who have espoused a minimalist lifestyle. We are not there yet but getting closer as Cindy looks toward retirement.

It is not about what we acquire as Randy Alcorn has said “God doesn’t look at just what we give, He also looks at what we keep.”

I read the following story and thought I would share it today. Here is a person who gives so much his mother criticized him for it.

When the supermarket clerk tallied up my groceries, it was $12 over what I had on me. I began to remove items from the bags when another shopper handed me a $20 bill. “Please don’t put yourself out,” I told him. “Let me tell you a story,” he said. “My mother is in the hospital with cancer. I visit her every day and bring her flowers. I went this morning, and she got mad at me for spending my money on more flowers. She demanded that I do something else with that money. So, here, please accept this. It is my mother’s flowers.” —Leslie Wagner, Peel, Arkansas

God has incredible gifts for us – more than we can hold.

God Bless.