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Bible Talk => Devotions => Topic started by: Slug1 on June 02, 2021, 08:58:48 AM
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Been reading in Judges about Samson.
[/size]I think of how God's Word recognizes Samson as a man of faith, Hebrews 11:32. Yet, he also lived life selfishly. Imagine a legacy of being known as faithful to God but at the same time, seems any parent would teach their children, "don't be like Samson..."
[/size]I look at myself in the mirror, maybe we all should look in a mirror and ask ourselves, "what do I do that should lead me to say to my child... don't be like me?"
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Funny you should mention that. I've had to ask that question several times myself.
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It's like comparing Daniel with David. Who was the better man? The answer is: they were equally great men of God. One was forced into a life of deprivation. The other had too much freedom. But both ultimately poured their souls out to God. That's the legacy we need to have, and not focus on our flaws. We must surely overcome our biggest errors though if we wish to leave a lasting legacy.
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Thought for the day:
Prayer must never be the last resort in any given situation. Prayer should be the first effort, before entering into any given situation.
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Thought for the day:
I was reading through 1 Samuel 15 this morning. After King Saul was given direction (an order) from the Lord, he set out to accomplish his mission = sets out to be obedient.
Yet, by verse 9, we find how King Saul begins to rebel against God's will = is disobedient.
Why?
Well, lets discern some symptoms of pride:
1) In verse 12 we can begin to discern how "pride" is manifest in King Saul's mind and heart = He's set up a monument to himself.
2) Verse 13, King Saul "believes" he is being obedient to God = is deceived by his pride.
3) Verse 15, King Saul justifies himself (his rebellion) = stubbornness/stiff necked.
Then in verses 17-19, Samuel CORRECTS King Saul by specifically speaking (reminds King Saul), what God said to do.
4) Verse 20-21, King Saul continues to be stubborn against what God said to do and deceives "himself" by his very words of justification = stands firm in his rebellion against God.
Samuel declares consequence in verses 22-23.
5) Verses 24-25, Once faced with consequence, King Saul admits his rebellion but "blames" others as an excuse = identifies himself as a people pleaser and lacks taking responsibility of one's own sin.
6) Verse 30, King Saul will NOT humble himself despite admission of his sin = continues to lack responsibility and will not release the pride (no repentance).
7) Verse 31, King Saul is mourned over = our loved ones and friends love us, even while one's pride has led one to rebel against God.
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Thought for the day:
God speaks to our conscience and we know this as "conviction." This conviction is a guide, what’s right or wrong to God (not to us), points us toward obedience, etc. As we heed this conviction more and more, we change and this is evident by what we desire. We may have once desired to not go to church because the football game was on but over time, the conviction of the Holy Spirit guided us to find more importance in serving God at church. So in time, our desire is not to sit home for the game but to instead, be that door greeter during service instead.
Conviction is when God is speaking "to" us... but when others view our new desires (how we changed and what we DO for Christ), this is not God speaking to us, but instead, God is speaking to OTHERS through us. They see how we serve, how we act when there is a problem (we exercise self-control and patience), how we remain righteous when the masses are doing wrong (we continue to do right) because our desire is NOW Christ-like.
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Thought for the day:
Prayer must never be the last resort in any given situation. Prayer should be the first effort, before entering into any given situation.
I like this very much.
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Thought for the day:
Truth has a way of getting out from being hidden in darkness and emerge into the light of day!
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Thought for the day:
I've read the following several times over the years:
In Essentials -- UNITY -- In Non-Essentials -- LIBERTY -- in ALL THINGS -- LOVE!
I wonder, even in my own life, how many times have we viewed the theology and/or actually looked critically, even judgingly upon brethren while they tripped and stumbled along in their process of sanctification, forgetting our own trips, stumbles and misunderstanding of Scripture(s)... and then ask God why there is no unity in "all" the Body of Christ?
Love... is the answer!
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That really gets to the heart of Christianity.
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Thought for the day:
1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
While I've read this verse in the past, discussed the verse periodically during Bible studies, the verse was part of this mornings OT reading.
What resonated with me this morning. One was from v9 where Jabez is identified as "more honorable," than his brothers. Is this "honor" accredited to him due to the quality of his relationship with God, revealed in that very short prayer?
1) Jabez gives God His due (glory) by admitting ALL blessings come from God.
2) While I've heard many thoughts concerning an enlargement of territory (borders), I've always leaned toward Jabez asking God for "more" responsibility. I say this because of the next two parts of the prayer.
3) Jabez asks God for guidance in all that he is responsible for.
4) Jabez finally asks God for protection in/over all that he is responsible for, that no mistakes (prevent him from doing any evil), are made which could "afflict or grieve" others.
Let me add this concerning the fourth part; in Hebrew 6087 the term is עָצַב - atsab - Verb - to hurt, pain, grieve. Some translations state that final part reads as Jabez asking God to not "receive" harm/hurt. Jabez isn't asking that. He's asking all that "he does," does not cause hurt/grief to others.
This verse is produce (fruit/example) of a man who has placed God FIRST in his life, a person who wants to be "like" God and who is focused on doing Kingdom work!
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Thought for the day:
Prayer must never be the last resort in any given situation. Prayer should be the first effort, before entering into any given situation.
Once I prayed for a situation I was not involved in and after I prayed did not think about it again . Then one day I heard the situation had resolved in a good way . As I thought about it I thought "well that tuned out good! " and Just as I thought that the Holy Spirit said to me " You did pray for the situation didn't you ?" Yes I had prayed and forgot until the Holy Spirit reminded me :) .
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That is so true! I often think, as I walk with God, that I'm praying about everything I'm doing. But on occasion I get into repetition, and believe I will always achieve the desired result just by repeating certain actions.
Then one day things don't turn out as usual, and I resort to the usual fix. But the fix doesn't work! Somewhere, along the way, I realize I hadn't prayed at all! And so, I pray. The answer doesn't always come instantly, and it isn't always yes. But amazingly, sometimes I do get definite results, for which I have to turn my face to God and sincerely thank Him with a grateful heart.
Someone has said that when we pray throughout our lives, we will forget some of those prayers, but God never forgets. As you say, God reminds us, sometimes years later: "Remember you prayed for this?" It's utterly amazing how God visits us many years later, having not forgotten a thing that we asked for! :)
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Thought for the day:
Does my knowledge and understanding of scripture, especially end-times related scripture, IMPACT the way that "I" live?
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Does my knowledge and understanding of scripture, especially end-times related scripture, IMPACT the way that "I" live?
Why should end times scripture affect how one lives? I thought the point was to lead a lifestyle that God approves of, and let Him worry about the end-timesy stuff.
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Maybe, even, if my knowledge of end times stuff does change the way I live them I'm not doing it right from the get-go.
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Thought for the day:
Does my knowledge and understanding of scripture, especially end-times related scripture, IMPACT the way that "I" live?
Yes, I think that's the essential thing. God's word is designed to effect changes in our lives--changes that benefit Him and us. If our eschatology lacks this kind of virtue, it's either wrong or we're just not fully getting it.
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Yes, I think that's the essential thing. God's word is designed to effect changes in our lives--changes that benefit Him and us. If our eschatology lacks this kind of virtue, it's either wrong or we're just not fully getting it.
A loved one asked me this, when they read the posted thought, "Well, does it?"
Here was my response:
honestly... there are times I can ask that question and say, "not when I decided to do, or say (_______).
What I do value, is the conviction from the Holy Spirit when He points out actions/words that should not have been done/said. I also value when any brethren have corrected (not accused/condemned) me of anything that does not testify to the change God has done in me, nor to the living as one should who pursues after Christ.
One truth learned/understood through Scripture, is about God's faithfulness, even during times/moments when I am not.
Also, His promises are illuminated and when I am aware of what is happening out there in the world, not only can I point out what promises have been fulfilled, but also know/have hope of future promises yet to be fulfilled.
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God's word is designed to effect changes in our lives--changes that benefit Him and us.
This is theologically weird. God is by definition perfect. Nothing that we do can "benefit" Him.
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God's word is designed to effect changes in our lives--changes that benefit Him and us.
This is theologically weird. God is by definition perfect. Nothing that we do can "benefit" Him.
This is why I'm a Christian, Fenris. Your religion once had faith in it. Now it appears not to have any understanding of God except the bare essentials of morality and justice.
The God I know isn't a philosophical concept removed of all human characteristics. He is not a man, though I believe He is revealed in Christ, but He made us in His image. As such, He does not need us, but showed us, through creating emotions in us, that He has endowed Himself with similar characteristics in His creation of us.
God does "benefit," not in the sense that He has any intrinsic human or worldly need. But His benefit is connected to the act of creation itself, in which the benefit is resident in His motive for creating us. He benefits when we obey simply because He created us for obedience.
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This is why I'm a Christian, Fenris. Your religion once had faith in it.
Of course my religion has faith in it. Every religion does. Why do you make outlandish statements like this?
Now it appears not to have any understanding of God except the bare essentials of morality and justice.
If by "bare essentials of morality and justice" you mean the morality and justice that God communicated to us in the bible, they yes, that's what we have.
The God I know isn't a philosophical concept removed of all human characteristics. He is not a man, though I believe He is revealed in Christ, but He made us in His image. As such, He does not need us
Well there you go. So what are we arguing about?
God does "benefit," not in the sense that He has any intrinsic human or worldly need. But His benefit is connected to the act of creation itself, in which the benefit is resident in His motive for creating us. He benefits when we obey simply because He created us for obedience.
If God created us "for obedience", then He could have created an army of robots instead. So perhaps God created us to express our free will?
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I'm going day by day, sometimes stumbling and sometimes falling flat on my face. Through it all I trust in God and pray that my love for Him increases.
The end times? Meh. I'm concerned with the here and now.
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I agree that now is more important, because it's what we do now that gets us where we want to go. But it's important to have directions! ;)
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Eschatology is part and parcel of our theology and doctrines. I guess I shouldn't be so flippant about it or seem to suggest it's not important. I'm merely saying that my relationship with God and how I live my life in the here and now is my focus.
We are to be in the scriptures daily as Scripture tells us. We also have jobs and how we interact with others is just as important. Is my love for Him reflected in my words and interactions? Is His light and love shining through me so that others who don't have a relationship with God want to know what the heck is going on?
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Thought for the day:
True joy comes in doing God's will. No matter how much emotional or physical pain, it may bring.
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Been reading in Judges about Samson.
[/size]I think of how God's Word recognizes Samson as a man of faith, Hebrews 11:32. Yet, he also lived life selfishly. Imagine a legacy of being known as faithful to God but at the same time, seems any parent would teach their children, "don't be like Samson..."
[/size]I look at myself in the mirror, maybe we all should look in a mirror and ask ourselves, "what do I do that should lead me to say to my child... don't be like me?"
I believe that Paul understood this and was conveying this message when he said "imitate me AS I IMITATE CHRIST."
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Of course my religion has faith in it. Every religion does. Why do you make outlandish statements like this?
If the object of our faith is not sufficient, then one could claim that our faith is bankrupt, or is a false faith.