Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 10, 2010
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness


When Is God Faithful? - 2

The story is told of a king who had suffered greatly from his rebellious subjects. One day they surrendered their arms, threw themselves down at his feet and begged for mercy. He pardoned them all. One of his friends asked, "Didn't you say every rebel should die?"

The King replied, "Yes, but I see no rebels here."

That's what God wants to do for us: pardon our rebellion. Let's see what it takes to receive His forgiveness and stop our disobedience.

What Does God Say?

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, ESV).

*—� What must we do to be forgiven?
*—� According to this verse, what is the basis for God's forgiveness?
*—� What is the difference between being forgiven and being cleansed?

My Thoughts

The word confess means to "agree with." As long as we are not willing to admit to God that we have sinned, God is not able to forgive us. We remain, instead, in a state of rebelliousness. On the other hand, if we're willing to agree with God that we have sinned, He is able through Jesus Christ to not only forgive us but to remove even the stain of sin. God says in Isaiah 1:18,

"'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.'"

My Part

While confessing our sins to others may be a good way to stay accountable, it is not required in order to be forgiven. Take a piece of paper and write down the sins you need to confess to God. Read them out loud to God; then shred or burn the paper. If you are struggling with a sin that you can't seem to overcome, find a trustworthy friend to be your accountability partner.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 11, 2010
Topic: God's Care, Faith/Trust


Pour Out Your Heart

Ecclesiastes 3:7 tells us there is "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak." And Psalm 62 includes both a time of silent waiting before God (v. 1) and a time to pour out your heart to Him (v. 8 ). So, what does this "pouring out your heart" involve?

What Does God Say?

"Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:8, ESV).

Pouring out involves a struggle during which the deepest gut-level emotions and needs of your heart flow out of you and into God's hands. We might call it "spilling your guts." It's when you're honest, earnest and purposeful in what you bring to Him.

Psalm 102 is described as "a prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD" (emphasis added, notes in ESV). Here's just a sample of the writer's poured-out heart:

"Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!
For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
I forget to eat my bread" (Psalm 102:1-4, ESV).

Among others, Psalms 28 and 31 show us what we can "pour out" to God: need for mercy, need for help, need for refuge, need to be saved from enemies. We can pour out specific needs or issues close to a person's heart; he or she brings to God what matters most and seeks God's face as well as an answer that meets their need and honors God.

My Thoughts

Look at prayers from an ordinary woman named Hannah and a king named Hezekiah.

1 Samuel 1:9-18
2 Kings 19:1-19
2 Kings 20:1-6

    * What mattered most to the person praying?
    * How was God addressed?
    * What did they seek as a response or answer to their prayer?
    * How do these prayers differ from yours?

My Part

Remember Psalm 62:8?

"Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us" (ESV)

Did you notice what comes before pouring out your heart? Trusting in God at all times, no matter what's going on in your life. It's a lot easier to pour out your heart or share what's really on your mind with someone you trust. Do you trust God with what's on your heart? He is the most trustworthy Friend you could ever have. Not only that, He's the only one powerful enough, wise enough, compassionate enough to take care of you.

What do you need to pour out to God today? Picture it filling a bottle or pitcher. Don't be afraid of what God might think or say about your struggle. Just pour it out, empty it from your heart and into His capable hands.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Title: Where's Your Trust?
Date: Feb 12, 2010
Topic(s): Faith/Trust
Scripture: Psalms 62:7-10


We all need money. That's a fact of life. It seems that the older we get, the more important money becomes. When we were younger, money was seen as the key to our dreams: our dream car, our dream house. As the years pass, money becomes a way to ensure that the retirement years are comfortable. It's no wonder many people put an emphasis on the money they have.

What Does God Say?

But for all its importance and power, the Bible tells us that money isn't worthy of our trust. David, in Psalm 62, tells us where we should place our trust.

"In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.

"Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us" (62:7-8, NKJV).

God, our Savior, our Glory, our Rock and our Refuge is the only one worthy of our trust. Money provides an inadequate substitute for the greatest need in our lives. In verse 10, David goes on to say,

"Do not trust in oppression,
Nor vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase,
Do not set your heart on them" (62:10, NKJV).

What David is telling non-Christians (thieves and extortionists) is this: "If riches increase, don't put your trust in them."

But it's likely that every dollar you have came from hard work and saving or from an inheritance. For you David's advice is, "Don't set your heart on those funds." It's not the lack of money; it's putting your trust in money that will ruin you in the end.

My Thoughts

For what things do you trust money?

   1. Are these verses saying that having money is bad?
   2. How can you use and save your money wisely while still exercising trust in God for the future?

My Part

Money is not evil, but it often reflects a person's heart better than any mirror. What do your spending/saving habits reveal about where you place your trust?

Do you seem to spend your cash on trivial things?

Just like every other area of our lives, our finances are something we ought to be bringing to the Lord daily in prayer. Look through your bank statements and other financial papers and ask God if there are any areas you can exercise more trust in Him.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 15, 2010
Topic: God's Care


Living In God's Presence

Amy Carmichael commented about God in her book, Gold by Moonlight: "It is not the sense of His presence; it is the fact of His presence that is our strength and stay."

Nothing is more comforting than the knowledge that God is always with you. But what does the Lord want you to know about His presence?

What Does God Say?

Joseph, son of Jacob, was mistreated by his brothers, who sold him to Ishmaelite slave traders Genesis 39:1-2 (ESV) tells us what became of him after that.

"Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master."

As a slave or, later on, as a ruler in the palace of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, Joseph never forgot that God was with him and never failed to practice God's presence in his life.

My Thoughts

Read Psalm 139:1-18, paying attention to God's closeness to you.
God has chosen to be with His people. As a believer, you may confidently claim His promise to Joshua: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

The following Bible passages tell you several things about God's being "with you." Find the passages and answer the questions below. Think about what each passage means to you personally.

    * Psalm 27:4--What did King David desire above all else?
    * Psalm 34:18-19--Where is God when you go through problems and difficulties?
    * Psalm 140:12-13--What does God promise to believers who are persecuted?
    * Isaiah 57:15--In what two places does God say He dwells?
    * Jonah 1:3-4--What wrong notion did Jonah have about God?
    * Jeremiah 23:23-24--What does God say about trying to hide from Him?
    * Matthew 1:23--What name of Jesus reflects the truth of His presence with you?
    * Revelation 21:3--What is God's eternal desire and plan for you and all His children?

My Part

Oswald Chambers, in his book, Run Today's Race, makes this observation about God's unchanging presence with us: "Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God" (p. 26).

Memorize Psalm 23:4. Ask the Lord to give you the same kind of confidence David had about God's presence with him.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 16, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Time to be Quiet

It sounds crazy! Impossible! The idea of waiting before God and especially waiting in silence doesn't seem to fit with our noisy, busy world. We can't even wait at a stoplight or for our order at a drive-thru without making noise about it. But waiting quietly is an important part of connecting with God and listening to Him.

What Does God Say?

King David put it like this in Psalm 62:

    * "For God alone my soul waits in silence;
      from him comes my salvation.
      He only is my rock and my salvation,
      my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken (Psalm 62:1-2, ESV).

Waiting means...waiting. The dictionary refers to "delaying action for a specified time or until some event occurs; to be expectant or on the watch." Waiting on God means stopping long enough for Him to speak, expecting Him to respond, being alert to His work. And you can't do that very well if you're rushing about, filling every moment with noise and activity.

David also talks about waiting silently or in stillness in verse 5 of this same psalm:

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him" (ESV).

Silent waiting means you're not doing all the talking--in fact, you're not doing any of the talking. You're ready, eager and confident that you'll hear from Him.

If you're willing to slow down, be quiet and wait, you might hear great things from God. David mentions:

"Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work" (Psalm 62:11-12, ESV).

Tapping into God's power and steadfast love, putting your confidence in Him as your rock and salvation--those things make the quiet waiting worthwhile.

My Thoughts

Psalm 62 isn't the only place that talks about waiting on God. Take a look at these passages.

Psalm 27:13-14
Psalm 33:20-21
Psalm 37:7
Psalm 130:5-6

    * What can you do while waiting?
    * What is not part of waiting silently?
    * What do you gain from time spent listening to God?
    * What do you learn about God in these waiting times?

My Part

You can't "wait" in a hurry; you'll need more than 30 seconds on your way out the door in the morning. So, plan it into your time with God once or twice a week.

Historically, some Christian orders or communities would practice the discipline of silence, setting aside a period of time when talking was not allowed so a person could devote that time to prayer and listening to God. You also may want to set aside a quarter hour or so when you turn off all the other noise in your life, put your own voice on hold and be quiet before God. Keep your Bible handy because that's His Word to you.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 17, 2010
Topic: God


Finding a Constant in the Midst of Chaos

There was a popular commercial a few years ago showing a guy going into an electronic store and buying a computer. The store associate promised him that it was the latest and newest computer on the market. It held more information, ran faster and outlasted all other computers. On his way home, the proud new owner drove by some men changing a billboard. To his dismay, in the ten minutes since he had purchased his computer they were already advertising an even newer and more updated model! Isn't that how most of life seems? Things are constantly changing, and we just can't keep up. But in the midst of our chaotic world, there is one person we can learn to lean on no matter what.

What Does God Say?

"I...wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken" (Psalm 62:5-7, NLT).

"Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again--
my Savior and my God" (Psalm 42:5-6, NLT).

"I know the LORD is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me" (Psalm 16:8, NLT).

"I am the LORD, and I do not change" (Malachi 3:6, NLT).

What is the one thing that doesn't change in life?
What should we do when we're discouraged?
What images in these verses describe God?

My Thoughts

No matter how much we resist, things in life are going to change. We're going to grow older, people are going to let us down, our kids will leave home. But as Christians, we have confidence that God will never change. He doesn't need to change because He is already perfect. Because God never changes, He'll always remain faithful to us. We never have to worry that His character and His goodness will change. Consider these questions:

When life gets hard, do I try to hang on by myself or do I turn to God, my rock?
How has God proved faithful to me in the past?

My Part

God does His part. He remains faithful to us and is the rock we can hang onto when we're in the middle of a rapidly changing world. Hopefully you have begun to think about the ways that God has proved faithful to you in the past. Take it a step further and share that with others. Maybe there is someone in your life that needs to hear it. Send them a card or an email telling them how God has been faithful and unchanging in your life.

Also, take some time today to thank God for being the rock and the fortress in your life.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 18, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


More Than a Virtue

The third chapter of Ecclesiastes starts with these familiar words: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV). Sounds great, doesn't it? But if you're like most people, you'd rather be doing something than waiting for something to happen.

Many people will tell you to take life by the horns. "Stop waiting and make something happen." It sounds like good advice, but is it really?

What Does God Say?

David was a man who faced that choice. In the Bible, we read about how David was pursued by Saul the King of Israel. One day, David and his followers hid in a cave to avoid Saul's passing army. Saul, not knowing that David was there, also went into the cave. "Now's your opportunity," David's men whispered to him. "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you'" (1 Samuel 24:4, ESV). In other words, "Kill him and take the throne!"

David could've solved two problems if he'd taken their advice. First, David could have ended Saul's murderous pursuit of him; and second, David would be free to become king as God had promised. So, David made up his mind. Creeping forward in the dark cave, David took out his sword and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

David told his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed" (1 Samuel 24:6, ESV).

David recognized that when God was ready to remove Saul from the throne and elevate David, God would do just that. We'll think about how to apply this kind of patient trust in God's plan to our lives in the next section.

My Thoughts

As you read through 1 Samuel 24:1-7, think about the following questions:

    * How would David's life have changed for the better if he had killed Saul? For the worse?
    * If you were in David's position, what would you have done? Why?
    * Are you frustrated with where you are today? How does this passage affect your outlook?

My Part

Patience is more than a virtue; it shows our faith and trust in God. David truly believed in God's promises, and so he was willing to wait for God's timing. In our world today we have all kinds of ways of speeding through life, from speed dating to get-rich-quick schemes. But let's take a lesson from David and learn to trust in the promises and the timing of God.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 19, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Revealing God's Wisdom

All of us want to be wise and want others to have that opinion of us. But many people don't know where to find wisdom. They look to human philosophies or the latest self-help books trying to find the answers to life. The Bible, however, tells us the source of genuine wisdom.

What Does God Say?

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:2-5, ESV).

    * Wisdom appears in the context of trials and patience. How do these three subjects fit together?
    * Where does wisdom come from?
    * What is God's attitude toward those who ask Him for wisdom?

My Thoughts

Wisdom begins with becoming a Christ-follower and choosing to guide your life according to His Word.

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-27, ESV).

My Part

Take time now to pray and ask God to help you spend time in His Word seeking His wisdom. Make it your goal to read His Word at least four times each week. For information on the positive results of reading God's Word four times a week, visit www.poweredby4.org. Sign up for Powered by 4 and absorb God's wisdom into your life.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 22, 2010
Topic: Holiness


Firm Foundation

On the day that a fortress' wall falls to an invading army, no one praises the wall for its many decades of solid support and protection. Anyone who cares will instead ask, "What made it collapse today?"

Wouldn't it be a shame to walk with God in faith all the days of your life and come down to the last years only to have the walls of your faith crumble because you don't have answers to the issues that face you?

I wonder if that was David's concern as he wrote Psalms 16.

What Does God Say?

David starts out Psalm 16 by reminding himself about where his strength really comes from.

"Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
O my soul, you have said to the LORD,
'You are my Lord,
My goodness is nothing apart from You.'
As for the saints who are on the earth,
'They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight'" (Psalm 16:1-3, NKJV).

The strength of a wall, like the strength of a life, is only as good as its foundation. And for David, his foundation was the Lord. He put his trust in God--it was God who gave his life meaning.

David describes the fate of those who don't put their trust in the Lord in the next verse.

"Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god" (16:4, NKJV).

He then goes on to reaffirm his commitment to God.

"O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance" (16:5, NKJV).

David follows this up by telling us the way to remain steadfast, the way to remain strong in our faith even into our last days.

"I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved" (16:7-8, NKJV).

What a confident declaration! "I shall not be moved!" This statement gives David (and us) hope. "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices" (16:9, NKJV).

The secret to remaining strong in the faith even in the last seasons of life is to hold close that which made you strong in the first place: a commitment to a personal relationship with God. We'll look into this more in the next section.

My Thoughts

As you read Psalm 16, think about the following questions:

What benefits does David draw from his relationship with God?
How is verse 10 also a reference to Jesus Christ?
Where can you find true joy?

My Part

Write down Psalms 16:8,

"I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved."

Place this verse somewhere where it will be visible every day. Let it remind you as you go about your day to place God before you in everything you do. Pray that God will continue to strengthen your faith day-by-day and that nothing will move you.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 23, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Living in Confidence

Getting swindled is one of the most humiliating experiences you can go through. A person sets you up by gaining your confidence and then misleads you in order to get your money or some other possession. It's called a "con game"--short for "confidence game." And it's as old as the Garden of Eden. Satan conned Adam and Eve. He was a beautiful and charming person, and they put their confidence in him. They lost not only their innocence, but their God-given dominion over the earth. Since that time, Satan has been the "prince of this world" and confidence games are played daily causing loss to thousands of unwary people.

Living in a world like this, you may wonder at times, "Is there anybody I can trust?"

God wants you to know where your confidence must be placed if your life is to be eternally blessed. Want a hint? Despite the advice of this world, it is not in "self-confidence," nor by trusting some other human being!

What Does God Say?

    * God is the only solid Rock in whom you can place all your confidence:

"On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:7 ESV).

    * You can have complete confidence in God because of His name and nature:

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (Psalm 20:7, ESV).

    * Because of who God is, you should trust Him without wavering:

"Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward" (Hebrews 10:35, ESV).

My Thoughts

Your trust and confidence in Christ affects every part of your Christian life. Some areas where confidence is a necessity are listed below. Look up the related verses and read them in your Bible.

    * Your ability to walk the Christian walk (Proverbs 3:26).
    * Your need for God's care for yourself and your family (Proverbs 14:26).
    * Your desire to be sure God hears your prayers and will provide (1 John 5:14).
    * Your right to approach God when in need (Hebrews 4:16).
    * Your hope for assurance of God's love in the judgment (1 John 4:17).
    * Your longing to be unashamed at Christ's coming (1 John 2:28 ).

Neither you yourself (by working up '"self-confidence"), nor any other human being, can give you what you need for the Christian life and for facing the future. This comes only from God.

Write down some areas where you feel your trust in the Lord is weak. Meditate on Psalm 62:7 and think about how you can strengthen your confidence in God in those areas.

My Part

Memorize Hebrews 4:16 from the version of the Bible that you use. Repeat it out loud (or write it on a piece of paper) every time you feel your walk with Christ getting jittery.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 24, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Trust At All Times

In Leicester, England, there is an inscription on the outside wall of an old church, "In the year 1653 when all things sacred were throughout this nation either demolished or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley Baronet founded this church. Whose singular praise it is to have done the best things in the worst times and hoped them in the most calamitous."

It may be easier to trust in trouble-free times, but it is also possible to trust in difficult times. The Bible teaches that we can trust 24/7, regardless of the situation or the times or the obstacles.

What Does God Say?

"Trust in the him [the Lord] at all times" (Psalm 62:8 NLT).

Here's the full verse:
"O my people, trust in him at all times.
pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge" (Psalm 62:8 NLT).

Who is God speaking to?
Is this a word of encouragement?
What exactly does all mean here?

Why are the people of God able to trust at all times and in all situations? Here are two truths that help us understand living by faith.

What is the first truth according to the following verse?
"Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses--is there any other God?
No! There is no other Rock--not one!" (Isaiah 44:8 NLT).

Now, what is the second truth found in the verse below?
"Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock" (Isaiah 26:4 ESV).

My Thoughts

We know that the Lord our God is the only God--there is no other and the Lord who is our God is the strong and solid Rock on which we stand and in which we find safety.

Do you believe that? Do you believe it with all your heart? Do you believe that it is true for you? For the Christian, there can be no separation between faith and trust.

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6 ESV).

My Part

Take time now in prayer for a moment of thanksgiving and trusting. Praise God for who He is and who He wants to be in your life. Then ask for His help, providing the courage and the faith to trust Him at all times and in all situations.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

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


What's Best for Us

Years ago Ivory soap was one of America's favorite soaps. What made it so popular? It could float. But this attribute was not intentional--at least to start with. It was due to a mistake in its original production. In 1878, Harley Procter and James Gamble decided to create a new white soap that would rival the castile soaps made by their competitors. Their soap was a success, but in 1879 a worker accidentally allowed the soap solution to be over mixed. The new version of the soap was an immediate success because it bobbed to the surface of the water. That's the way it is in our lives. God turns even those things we consider evil into something good.

What Does God Say?

"When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.' So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, 'Before your father died he commanded, saying, "Thus you shall say to Joseph: 'I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.'" Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

"Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, 'Behold, we are your servants.'

"Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.' And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them" (Genesis 50:15-21, NKJV).

*—� Joseph recognized that his brothers meant him evil, so why didn't he punish them?
*—� How did Joseph demonstrate that he truly forgave his brothers?
*—� Joseph saw that God brought good out of evil not only for him, but for whom?

My Thoughts

Keep in mind that Joseph's transformation from slave/prisoner to second-in-command in Egypt didn't happen overnight. When he was sold into slavery, he was a teenager. When he was brought before Pharaoh to interpret his dreams, Joseph was a mature man. But during all this time, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to the Lord.

Some people become angry and even bitter at God because a tragedy occurs for no seemingly good reason. What advice would you give them based on the life of Joseph?

My Part

Maybe you or someone you care about has been unjustly treated. Write out this event in as much detail as you can. Bring this story to the Lord (maybe you would like to actually spread the page(s) out before the Lord as Hezekiah did in 2 Kings 19:14). Ask the Lord to 1) bring about justice in His own time, 2) bring good out of this for you and others, 3) give you patience and a positive attitude while you wait for Him to work. Then take the papers and destroy them putting the whole situation into God's hands.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Feb 26, 2010
Topic: God's Care, Bible Characters, Faith/Trust


When God Writes Your Story

Are you someone who peeks at the last pages of a novel, just to make sure the story turns out all right? Then you probably find it frustrating when God doesn't give you a sneak preview of how your own story goes. It's true, when we read the accounts of people in the Bible, we have the benefit of knowing how their stories end. But imagine what it must have been like for someone like Joseph who had no clue about the outcome of his own story. What do you do when you're in the midst of adversity and have no idea how it's all going to turn out? The Bible tells us.

What Does God Say?

Joseph started out just fine as his father's favorite son, with a gift for dreams (Genesis 37:3-11). But not everyone appreciated him. In fact, his brothers hated him enough to try to kill him, but sold him into slavery instead (Genesis 37:12-36).

As a slave in Egypt, Joseph ended up working for a powerful man, and that seemed fine until the boss's wife made false accusations which landed him in prison (Genesis 39). While still a prisoner, Joseph earned a privileged position, one where he was able to interpret some dreams for a couple of people who might provide him a way out. But he was forgotten and left alone again (Genesis 40). That's the first half of Joseph's story--setbacks, injustices, a few glimmers of hope and then...nothing.

Nothing except that "the LORD was with Joseph" (Genesis 39:2, 21, 23), and we see over and over that Joseph held onto his faith in God. Even a meteoric rise to power as second in command over all Egypt (Genesis 41) didn't change his faith in God.

Then Joseph faced an even greater test: His brothers, the very men who started the trouble, showed up again when he had the power to take revenge (Genesis 42-44). In fact, when the brothers figured out who they were dealing with, that's what they feared the most.

But Joseph, without reading the end of the book, expressed his own faith in God's perfect plan. In Genesis 45:4-8, we read, "And he said, 'I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life...God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God'" (ESV).

Even later, after their father Jacob died, the old fears resurfaced and Joseph once again told his brothers, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Genesis 50:19-20, ESV).

My Thoughts

God can bring good out of evil. Joseph's entire life demonstrates that fact. What made the biggest difference for Joseph was that he trusted God to carry out His perfect plan...even if it was personally unpleasant or uncomfortable for him. Read through Genesis 37, 39-45, and 50 on your own with these questions in mind?

    * What are some of the things Joseph says about God?
    * How do you see his view of God influencing his actions?
    * What are some times when he demonstrated confident faith?
    * You see Joseph's brothers operating without much faith in God. How did that work for them? What characterized their actions?
    * How would you describe your faith in God to write your story?

My Part

Remember, Joseph didn't know how his story would end, but he was willing to trust God to do what was best, even when life was at its worst. Rejection, attempted murder, slavery, injustice, prison--Joseph held onto his faith through all that because he believed God was good, God was greater--and God knows the end of the story.

So, where are you at now? What answers are you anxiously waiting for? Are you willing to let God work it all out for good? You've read Joseph's life statement in Genesis 50:20, but what would your life statement be? Take a few moments to think it through and write it down. Keep it in your Bible or make it part of your prayer time as you commit your life to God.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 1, 2010
Topic: Sin/Temptation


Hiding from the Light

Cockroaches are creatures of the night. Turn on a light and they hurriedly scatter to find refuge in some other dark place. The same is true for those caught in the darkness of sin. They fear the light because it will reveal their deeds for what they truly are--at best empty; at worst evil.

When we come to Christ, however, we are no longer part of that darkness (Colossians 1:13-14). As creatures of the light, we should live differently than those who are still in darkness. Let's take a closer look at those differences according to God's Word.

What Does God Say?

Ephesians 5:8-14 (ESV)

"For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

'Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.'"

    * What were we before we received Christ according to verse 8?
    * If we walk in the light, what kind of fruit will we produce?
    * What are we to do with the works of darkness?

My Thoughts

Walking in the light brings responsibility. We can see; the rest of the world can't. Those who walk in darkness can't see to make choices, but we who walk in the light can tell the difference between what's pleasing to the Lord and what is of the world. That means we have the responsibility to refuse to participate in "the unfruitful works of darkness."

God's Word clearly tells us what kind of choices we should make as children of the light. Colossians 3:8-9 says, "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices." (ESV)

My Part

Ask God to shine His light into all areas of your life--your social life, your financial life, your sexual life. Be willing to put away those things which His light reveals are displeasing to Him.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 2, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Fellowship with God's People

On a hot summer day when you've been outside working, there's nothing like a tall glass of cold water to quench your thirst. It does something for your body that a soft drink could never do. And even though a glass of water may seem plain by comparison, when that liquid touches your lips, you know it's exactly what you need.

Fellowship with other believers works in a very similar fashion. You get something out of your relationships with fellow Christians that you just don't get from other relationships. Let's look at what John had to say about that in his letter.

What Does God Say?

In the first chapter of 1 John, the apostle makes this statement, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" (1:7, ESV). "Walking in the light" means living like Jesus lived. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are saying that we commit ourselves to living the kind of life that brings honor to Him.

The relationship we begin with Jesus also brings us into a relationship with others who have put their faith in Him. John says this is a sign of our salvation (see 1 John 1:7).

That doesn't mean that we're wrong for having relationships with people who aren't born again. If we don't constantly seek the company of believers, it doesn't mean that we're not saved. But if you've ever spent long periods of time among non-believers and then felt the refreshment and invigoration that comes from fellowship with other followers of Christ, you know how true John's statement is.

My Thoughts

As you read 1 John 1:5-7, think about the following questions:

    * Why is a relationship with God necessary for a relationship with other believers?
    * What might prompt a person to claim fellowship with God yet still be walking in darkness?
    * Do you have solid relationships with other Christians? How does that help you as you walk with Christ?

My Part

One thing we need to understand is that our salvation is never based on what we feel. If today you don't particularly crave the company of other Christians, that doesn't mean you're not saved. Remember, salvation is based on who God is, not on what you do or feel. If you have given your life to Christ and accepted His redemptive sacrifice on your behalf, then nothing will ever change the fact that you are indeed saved. And secondly, if you're not involved in your local church, why not call today and find out what opportunities are available?