Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 20, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Patience

Sitting or standing or pacing...just waiting for something to happen--is that something you enjoy? Not many of us do. But how can we develop patience? The Bible teaches that patience doesn't come naturally.

What Does God Say?

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [That's patience.], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV).

The fruit of the Spirit is a picture of the character of Christ. As we become more and more like Christ, we'll exhibit more and more of His character. So, patience is something that God provides.

One of the ways God produces patience in us is by allowing us to be in situations that try our patience. That's not the way we want to learn patience, but it surely is effective.

What are some other ways that God might bring patience into your life?

Is there any truth to this statement: "Impatience is all about me--my rights, my time, my needs, my desires?"

List three people and three situations that often trigger impatience in you.

______________ _________________ ____________________

______________ _________________ ____________________

My Thoughts

What motivates you to be patient with others?

Does this statement play into your thinking? "The more we realize how patient God is with us, the more patient we become with the people around us."

My Part

Take time now to pray about people and situations that make you impatient. Ask God to provide you with the fruit of the Spirit so that you might reflect the patience of Christ.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 21, 2010
Topic: God/Jesus


Our Eternally Reliable God

Earl Riney said, "God writes with a pen that never blots, speaks with a tongue that never slips, and acts with a hand that never fails."

That is another way of saying that God is reliable. He never lies. He won't change. He is faithful. He is totally and eternally trustworthy.

What if you woke one morning to find that God had changed, that His character was not the same as it was the day before? Yesterday He was a God of love, but today He is angry and hateful. Yesterday, you could trust every word He spoke; today, you discover that many of His promises are lies. Yesterday, your fellowship with Him was warm; now He is cold and distant.

Praise the Lord! That can't happen! The Bible assures you that God's character is completely reliable and His promises are firm:

["The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works."] (Psalm 145:13, ESV).

Here are some more biblical thoughts about God's reliability. Read them carefully.

What Does God Say?

    * Your eternal hope rests on God's character.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23, ESV).

    * Your eternal life is anchored in God's reliability.

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9, ESV).

    * Assurance of God's eternal love is yours because of His faithfulness, according to the shortest chapter in the Bible!

Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:1-2, ESV).

My Thoughts

As a believer, you should respond thankfully to the awesome reliability and faithfulness of your Lord. Each of the three verses below speaks of a response that the psalm writer experienced. Look up the verses; write down the psalmist's response; then meditate on your own life. Ask yourself, How am I responding to God's faithfulness?

Psalm 26:3
Psalm 40:10
Psalm 71:22

How does the truth of God faithfulness serve as a warning to those who reject Him? See Psalm 96:11-13.

My Part

Memorize Lamentations 3:22-23. You'll then have one of the greatest promises of God's faithfulness laid up in your mind and heart!

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 22, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


What Do You Put Your Faith In?

When you sit down in a chair, do you do it cautiously, uncertain whether or not the chair is going to do its job? For most of us, the answer is no. Why do we trust that chair? We trust it because it has faithfully stayed in place each time we sat down. If, however, you had sat down in the chair and it collapsed, leaving you on the floor, you'd probably be a little more careful the next time. You might not have much faith in that chair. So, if we rely on things that prove faithful, how come we have such a hard time trusting God? Hasn't He proved faithful and reliable to us each time we needed Him?

What Does God Say?

"Look what happens to mighty warriors
who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead
and grow more and more bold in their wickedness" (Psalm 52:7, NLT).

"LORD, you are righteous,
and your regulations are fair.
Your laws are perfect
and completely trustworthy" (Psalm 119:137-138, NLT).

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise" (Hebrews 10:23, NLT).

"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful" (1 Thessalonians 5:24, NLT).

    * What happens to those who don't trust in God?
    * What are some of the attributes of God that are listed in these verses?
    * Why can we have hope that God will prove reliable?

My Thoughts

If one part of God's character was flawed, even if it was just a tiny flaw, then His entire character would be flawed. But we know that He is perfect. It's important to remember that just because we don't understand what God is doing, it doesn't mean there's something wrong with His character. Ask yourself these questions:

    * Why do I have a hard time trusting God?
    * Is my lack of trusting God because of something He did, or is my lack of faith the problem?
    * How has God proved faithful and reliable to me in the past?
    * What are some issues that I need to rely on God for right now?

My Part

Lack of faith in God isn't the result of something He has or hasn't done. God is reliable in what He promises you and me, and He's proved it over and over again.

Do a word search in your Bible for the words "faithful" and "trustworthy." Most Bibles have concordances in the back where you can look up a principal word. The concordance will give you passages where that word occurs so you can learn how it's used. There are so many stories of God's faithfulness in the Bible. Spend some time reading them, and then spend some time in prayer thanking God that He is One who is always faithful and reliable.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 25, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Compassion

If you say, "I care about him" or "I care about her," are you saying exactly the same thing as if you said, "I have compassion for him or her?" Do the two words--caring and compassion--mean the same thing? Actually, compassion has much deeper connotations. The Bible gives numerous examples of genuine compassion.

What Does God Say?

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous" (1 Peter 3:8, KJV).

Why does Peter say both to have compassion and to love each other?

Might it have to do with the fact that compassion has to be something that is done, not just felt? It's important to feel it, but if we don't do something about what we feel, the result is that we will not show compassion. Nobody is better off if we simply say we love him or her. People are better off if we demonstrate that we love them.

Read the following Scriptures to see how Jesus felt about certain people and situations. Put a check by any of them in which He felt compassion.

"And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14, KJV).

"Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled" (Matthew 15:32, 35-36 KJV).

"So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him" (Matthew 20:34, KJV).

"They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him" (Matthew 20:33-34, KJV).

"And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother" (Luke 7:13-15, KJV).

My Thoughts

When we see someone in need or suffering; and we're moved from tears to action, we're being like the Lord. For God did not just love the world, compassion moved Him to send Jesus to the cross.

Do you care about hurting people? Does it break your heart? Do the tears flow? Do you feel pity? If you're going to be like Jesus, then you must not only feel--you must also act to do whatever you can to help. That's compassion.

My Part

When we see someone in need or suffering; and we're moved from tears to action, we're being like the Lord. For God did not just love the world, compassion moved Him to send Jesus to the cross.

Do you care about hurting people? Does it break your heart? Do the tears flow? Do you feel pity? If you're going to be like Jesus, then you must not only feel--you must also act to do whatever you can to help. That's compassion.

Ask God to help you be sensitive to people with needs, especially those who need the Lord. Then pray that He would help you have the willingness and the courage to do something. Or simply ask God to give you the compassion of Jesus.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 26, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Learning Compassion

"He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous" (Psalm 112:4 NKJV) Wouldn't you love to hear someone describe you like that? In more conversational language, someone might say, "She's kind and caring, a woman who always does the right thing." Either way, it's much better than being told, "You're a selfish jerk!"

Becoming this kind, compassionate person is something we should all aspire to. Not only does it speak well of us, it speaks volumes about the God we serve. It should be no surprise then that God tells us in His Word how to become compassionate.

What Does God Say?

Psalm 112 starts out with some very practical advice: "Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 112:1, NKJV). This phrase isn't just a shout of joy like you might exclaim when you get your paycheck. When the Bible says, "Praise the LORD!," it's a command, a directive, a call to action. Becoming a compassionate, caring person begins with giving praise to God. It begins when you acknowledge God's greatness and take joy in it.

"Blessed is the man who fears the LORD" (Psalm 112:1, NKJV). It seems like a contradiction to advise fear right after calling us to praise. But fear in this sense doesn't mean terror or fright. Fearing God means respecting Him and His authority while also drawing near to Him as a Father.

We see the third element of learning compassion in the last part of the verse: "Who delights greatly in his commandments" (Psalm 112:1). We sometimes think of Bible reading as benefiting our minds--we learn more about God by reading. But more than that, Bible reading affects our whole person.

The key to learning compassion is a regular time at the feet of God.

My Thoughts

As you read Psalm 112:1-4, think about the following questions:

    * What would the type of praise described in this study look like in your life?
    * Can you think of any other relationships that have the same element of "fear" in them?
    * What do you think it means to "delight" in God's commandments?

My Part

In the classic book The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, the lion, Aslan, makes the comment, "Once the feet are put right, the rest of him will follow." Another way to put that would be to say, "Your heart will follow where your feet lead." Your heart may not feel the emotions of compassion and delight today, but don't let that keep your feet from walking that way. Today, set your feet right by spending time in prayer and reading the Word. Pray that God would take hold of your heart and give you the compassion which burns in His heart.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 27, 2010
Topic: Relationships, Christian Living/Situational, God's Love


A Heart like God's

When Robert Louis Stevenson retired to the Samoan Islands for his health, he became a kind and generous friend to the natives of his island. Stevenson was concerned that there was only a dirt path leading from the harbor of the island to the interior. His new friends had to walk that path in order to take provisions to their homes. Using his own money and with great personal effort, Stevenson had a good road constructed for the people. In gratitude the Samoans called it "the road of a loving heart."

As Christians, compassion is a sign of God's love flowing through us. Do people see Him and His love--in you?

What Does God Say?

"Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous"(Psalm 112:2-4, NLT).

"O God, insolent people rise up against me;
a violent gang is trying to kill me.
You mean nothing to them.
But you, O Lord,
are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness"(Psalm 86:14-15, NLT).

"If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion--how can God's love be in that person"(1 John 3:17, NLT).

    * How do these verses describe God?
    * What characteristics do the godly have according to Psalm 112:2-4?
    * What is a sign that someone has God's love?

My Thoughts

We're not born with hearts like God's, so it's important that we ask Him to give us a compassionate heart. Once we have a heart full of compassion, we have to take it one step further. We must have intentional compassion. We have to intentionally look for ways to express that compassion. Am I too busy in life to see the needs of others?

Is compassion a lifestyle for me, or is it something I do a few times a year?

What are some ways that I can show compassion each day?

My Part

Take some time today to ask God to give you a compassionate heart. Ask Him to show you skills He's given you that you can use to help others.

Slow down long enough to see people's needs. Who is in your life that needs compassion? What are some practical ways that you can help them? Write it down. Let your compassion be intentional.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 28, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


God Is Truthful

Have you ever been lied to? Who hasn't? Each time someone lies to us, we trust that person less and less. It complicates relationships when you're never sure whether or not you're hearing the truth. You don't have to worry about that with God. He is always truthful.

What Does God Say?

Why is God always truthful? Well, He cannot lie. In Titus 1:1-2, the apostle Paul drops in this amazing fact: "Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago" (NASB, emphasis added).

Notice it doesn't say He will not lie but that He cannot. It's completely impossible for the perfectly holy God to ever even try to lie. He defines and embodies truth because He is the "LORD God of truth" (Psalm 31:15 , NKJV). God always speaks total truth: no lies, no exaggerations, no half-truths, innuendos or embellishments. He doesn't "spin it" to make it sound better.

"I the LORD speak the truth;
I declare what is right" (Isaiah 45:19, ESV).

What's true of God the Father is also true of God the Son. John 1:14 describes Jesus as "the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" ( ESV). And Jesus told us about the Holy Spirit in John 16:13: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come" ( ESV).

Lies and half-truths come from the devil. In John 8:44, Jesus points out that Satan "has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies" ( ESV). Satan is a master of the slippery stuff and the lies that look good, and he loves to lie about God--as you see in Genesis 3.

My Thoughts

What's made you question God's truthfulness? Where did it come from? Remember, Satan loves to lie about God or to get you to believe God isn't truthful or can't be trusted. Read through Genesis 3 and jot down the lies he told. Review Genesis 2 and see what God really said.

Since God is truthful with us, He expects us, His children, to be the same. Read Ephesians 4:17-32 and describe what kind of person you were, and what kind of person you are becoming with the help of Christ.

    * What role does truth have in that?
    * What do you do with lies and other unfit speech?

My Part

Take some time to evaluate truth in your life.

    * What kind of lies do you slip into telling? Half-truths, spins? "Little white lies"? Do you like to exaggerate or embellish the truth?
    * What usually prompts you to lie? Secret habits, failures, mistakes, a desire for power or popularity?
    * Do people trust you to tell the truth? Has lying wrecked some of your relationships?
    * What needs to change? Your view of God's truthfulness or how you speak truth?

Being truthful with yourself about lying or believing lies about God is not easy. However, the Holy Spirit "will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13, ESV). The Spirit shows you how to understand and trust God with the truth and how to deal with lies and a lack of truthfulness in your own life. Ask for His help today.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 29, 2010
Topic: Holiness


Called to be Different

What comes to your mind when you hear the word holy? Do you picture a huge cathedral with tall, stained glass windows? Maybe you see a choir singing hymns while dressed in long, white robes. Our idea of holiness can be a little intimidating, so it's no wonder that when we're told to be holy we get a little nervous. What does it mean to be holy? And more importantly, how are we to live holy lives when we are imperfect people? Let's see what God's Word has to say.

What Does God Say?

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2, NLT).

"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes" (Ephesians 1:4, NLT).

"For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time--to show us his grace through Christ Jesus"(2 Timothy 1:9, NLT).

"But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy'" ( 1 Peter 1:15-16, NLT).

    * What kind of life has God called us to?
    * Why does God tell us we should be holy?
    * How does being holy set us apart from the world?

My Thoughts

When we see the word holiness in the Bible, it means "to be set apart--distinct." It doesn't mean that we're to be perfect or sinless because only God can be those things. God wants us to be holy in that we are separate from the world. We desire to be like Him and not those around us. Ask yourself these questions:

    * When others see me, do they see someone who has been transformed by God?
    * Do my actions show that I desire to be like God and not the world?
    * Am I living the holy life that God has called me to?

My Part

If you are a Christian, then you have been called to live a holy life, to be set apart by God as belonging to Him. We have to take a good look at our lives and hearts to see if we are truly living holy lives.

If there are things in your life that you need to change, now is the time to do it.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 1, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, God, God's Love


The Promise Keeper

God keeps His promises. Is that hard for you to believe? I hope not because the Bible is full of the evidence. Open it up and take a look.

What Does God Say?

Hebrews 10:23 reminds us to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (ESV).

    * That "He" is God. He made the promises, and He's faithful to keep them. You can live in complete confidence that God will do what He promises to do. First Thessalonians 5:24 boldly states: "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (ESV).

God's faithfulness, reliability and truthfulness make it impossible for Him to break a promise. Over and over, we find God making--and keeping--His promises. Read the Scriptures below and write out 1) the promises God made and 2) how He kept them.

To Abraham:

1) Genesis 17:15-19
2) Genesis21:1-7

1) Genesis 17:3-8
2) Joshua 24:2-18

To Jacob:

1) Genesis 46:1-7
2) Genesis 50:1-3, 12-14; Psalm 105

To Hannah:

1) 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 10-18
2) 1 Samuel 1:20-28

To David:

1) 2 Samuel 7:5-16
2) 2 Chronicles 6:3-11 and Luke 1:26-33

To Zechariah and Elizabeth:

1) Luke 1:5-25
2) Luke 1:57-66

My Thoughts

If you're thinking God made promises only to a special few and none of His promises apply to you, look up these promises God makes to every believer.

Psalm 23
Psalm 67:6-7
Hebrews 13:5-6
John 14:15-31
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 John 1:9
1 John 2:25
1 John 5:11
1 John 5:14-15

    * Which promises do you need today?
    * What helps you now to trust God to keep His promises?

Of course, God's greatest promise is summarized in John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (ESV).

God promised that Jesus, His Son, will be our Savior and Messiah and that He will redeem us from sin and give us eternal life. You can find the threads of that promise throughout the Old Testament. Then you can see it fulfilled in the New Testament--as well as whenever someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ.

My Part

Knowing God as our Promise Keeper means two things. The first is a matter of trust: You can trust God to keep His promises to you and to be faithful as you wait for that fulfillment. Go back to the promises we've touched on that have you concerned; take them to God in prayer, asking Him to help you trust Him as He keeps that promise.

Second, as our Heavenly Father, He models promise-keeping to us. So, we should be faithful in keeping our promises and following through on the commitments we've made. What promises have you made that require you to be faithful? What can you do today to keep those promises? Take the opportunity to be faithful to all your promises.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 2, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Our Dependable God

Some years back, a poll was conducted to determine "The Ten Most Obnoxious Personality Traits." Number ten (the worst) was Lack of Dependability.

You probably would agree that the person who doesn't show up on time for appointments or doesn't do what he or she has promised to do is more than simply an irritation. In fact, that person is unworthy of your confidence.

However, God's trustworthiness is never to be compared to men's. His character is pure; His ability is boundless; His Word cannot fail and His strength and power are far beyond your comprehension. Because you can absolutely trust Him, you can have the peace that He has promised to all who know Him personally. Let's look at some things that God says about His dependability and why you need to set your hope on Him alone.

What Does God Say?

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV) is one of the greatest statements in the Bible about the trustworthiness of God. It says:

"You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock"

As you meditate on those verses, write down your answers to the following questions:

    * In verse 3, what is the fruit or result of trusting God?
    * In verse 4, what do you believe the comparison of God to an "everlasting rock" means for the person who trusts in Him?

My Thoughts

Your trust is only as good as what you are trusting. Sadly, as sinful human beings, we are prone to trust in all kinds of things other than God. The Bible mentions some specific objects that can be the focus of your faith but cannot possibly meet any of your eternal needs. Look up these verses and write down what they warn you against.

    * Psalm 49:6
          o What are some ways people trust this today?
    * Psalm 44:6 with Psalm 20:7
          o What would be modern equivalents of these things?
    * Psalm 118:9
          o What does this tell you about depending on political promises?
    * Isaiah 42:17
          o What does this tell you about trusting religion instead of God?

God promises benefits to the person who trusts in Him. You will see some of the benefits in the following Bible verses. Name them.

    * Jeremiah 17:7
    * Psalm 33:21
    * Psalm 37:5-6
    * Psalm 56:11
    * Psalm 119:42
    * Isaiah 12:2

My Part

There is no question that God is wholly trustworthy. It is His nature, and He will never go back on His promises. He will always be there for you.

If you have been following the Bible Minute studies, you know by now that godliness or God-like-ness is a trait that every Christian should model. Today, you have looked at the trustworthiness of God, so that means a godly person is also to be trustworthy in the way that his or her heavenly Father is trustworthy. First Corinthians 4:1-2 (ESV) says: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy."

Take stock and see if there are any areas in your own life that come short of the trustworthiness God calls upon you to possess.

A Scripture passage with a promise from God is Proverbs 3:5-6. Commit it to memory!

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 3, 2010
Topic: God




God Is Truthful

If the force of gravity ever wavered, life on earth would not be possible. If the North Star rotated as do the other stars, navigation principles would have been vastly more difficult to learn. And if God was ever untruthful, we could throw the Bible out the window and give up any hope of ever knowing who God is and what He wants. But the Bible assures us otherwise.

What Does God Say?

The truthfulness of God is so important that Paul reminded Titus of it before he finished greeting the young pastor: "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began" (Titus 1:1-2, ESV, italics added).

    * Read those verses again and list some of the things that would be impossible if God did lie.
    * How would this affect the confidence we have in our salvation?

God's truthfulness means that we, too, can know the truth. God's truth in our lives means we can know right and wrong and know that right is right for everyone and wrong is always wrong.

God's truthfulness gives us hope of eternal life. God is a God who makes promises and keeps all of them. When Jesus promised that He will return and usher us into heaven (John 14:3), we can count on it.

In the next section we'll look more at what God's truthfulness means for us.

My Thoughts

As you read Titus 1:1-2, think about the following questions:

    * How would life be different if God weren't always truthful?
    * How would life be different if you could be as truthful as God?

My Part

Titus isn't a long book (46 verses in three chapters), so take the next ten or fifteen minutes to read it. Look for the ways the truth should impact our lives. Look for how Paul describes the people who are opposed to God and His truth.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 4, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Be Holy

The word holiness means to be "separate" or "distinctive." In other words, our lifestyle should be different from those around us who have not trusted Christ as their Savior.

So, how do we achieve that? Let's see what God's Word says.

What Does God Say?

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16).

    * According to verse 13, where does holiness begin?
    * As holy people, what are we to look forward to?
    * What should we avoid?
    * What is our motivation for holiness?

My Thoughts

We often think of holiness in terms of what we do, but it begins before we take any sort of action. Peter says it starts with our minds. Verse 13 says we are to "gird up the loins" of our mind. This expression refers to the clothing worn in biblical times. Both men and women wore tunics (the men's tunic usually reached to their knees, the women's to their ankles). A girdle was also worn around the waist to hold the tunic against the body. When working in the fields or needing to move quickly, a man would tuck the hem of his tunic into his girdle to give more freedom of movement. This was called "girding up" the loins.

Peter says we must be prepared in our minds for the work of being holy. The apostle Paul describes it as a "renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). This comes about as we allow our minds to be "washed by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26). Spending time in God's Word creates a renewed mind that is ready for the challenge of holy living.

My Part

This week, take special note of what you are allowing your mind to dwell on. Memorize Philippians 4:8: "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." Let holiness begin in your mind and work its way out through your actions.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 5, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Pure Holiness

In the 1850s, cleanliness in the United States, north and south, rural and urban stood at Third World levels. Sanitation was not unknown, but the great majority felt no urgency to clean up. After all, dirt brought food, crops, survival. Dirt was good.

But when it was discovered that dirt--and specifically the lack of proper sanitation that often came along with it--also brought germs, disease, suffering and death, America came clean on a scale unequaled in world history.

What dirt does to the body, sin does to the soul. When we are saved, it is not so we can continue to suffer the disease that infected us before we knew Christ. Instead Christ purifies us and puts within us a hope that motivates us to continue to be pure. Let's see what the Bible says about this.

What Does God Say?

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

    * As redeemed people, how should we live?
    * What future event will motivate us toward holy living?
    * What two things did Jesus do for us?

My Thoughts

God's grace doesn't stop with just redemption; it goes on to purify our lives so that we might be His special people, not only in heaven but also right here on earth. By grace we are saved (See Ephesians 2:8-9) and by grace we are set apart (the literal meaning of "holy") to live pure and holy lives full of good deeds (Titus 2:14).

My Part

Is there some impurity in your life that is hindering your walk with the Lord? Confess it today and receive God's cleansing by grace (1 John 1:9).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 8, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, God's Love


The Faithfulness of God

What sort of characteristics do you look for in friends or employees? You probably want people who are honest, hardworking and loyal. What about faithful? Faithfulness is one quality that doesn't seem to be too important in the 21st century. It's hard to find someone who is truly faithful these days. It seems there is a lack of faithfulness in our workplaces and even in our marriages. Fortunately for us, we serve a God who is completely faithful.

What Does God Say?

"Your faithfulness extends to all generations,
You established the earth, and it abides" (Psalm 119:90, NLT).

"Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands "(Deuteronomy 7:9, NLT).

"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure" (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT).

"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9, NLT).

In what areas is God faithful?
How long does God's faithfulness endure?
How has God shown you His faithfulness?

My Thoughts

God is consistently faithful to us; therefore, we should strive to be consistently faithful to Him. As Christians, we are to have a relationship with God. Think of the close relationships you have with people in your life: your spouse, your children or your parents. Do you talk to them every once in awhile? More than likely, you are in contact with them every day. Your relationship with God is your most important relationship, yet many times we spend the least amount of time with Him. Consider these questions:

God has proved faithful to me; am I proving myself faithful to Him?
What do I need to do to maintain a consistent relationship with Him?

My Part

First John 1:9 said that God is faithful to forgive our sins. He can only forgive us when we ask Him. Take a moment today to pray and ask God to reveal any sin in your life. When you become aware of the sin in your life, admit it to God and ask for His forgiveness. Make confession and asking God's forgiveness part of your daily prayer life.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 9, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


When Is God Faithful? - 1

Sometimes we better understand a question if we frame it in the negative: Instead of asking, "When is God faithful?" we could ask, "When is God not faithful?" The Bible teaches us there is no such time.

What Does God Say?

"Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9 NASB).

When are we most likely to question the faithfulness of God? It often happens when we have been unfaithful, or when we have sinned or given in to temptation. The Bible assures us that even then, not only is God faithful, but He provides help and strength to deal with those situations.

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will make the way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The key to understanding faithfulness is to know that God is always God. His faithfulness originates from His character, so it does not depend on us or what we do or don't do. If the faithfulness of God does not depend on our situation--it depends on His character--then God will always be faithful to us.

My Thoughts

Are there times when you've doubted the faithfulness of God? Describe the situation that created the doubt.

Are you able to look back and see now that God was faithful even though it may not have been apparent to you at the time? How has the situation changed?

Do you believe that there is a limit to God's faithfulness? Read Romans 8:32 and write it out in your own words.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the assurance that God will faithfully and generously be there for us and provide for us.

My Part

Is the faithfulness of God an encouragement to you?
Does it bring a sense of relief and peace?
How does His faithfulness encourage you to be more faithful?

Take a few moments right now to verbally or in written form praise God for His faithfulness, to ask His help in learning to trust His character in every situation and to commit yourself to being faithful to Him as best you can.