Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 14, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Father Knows Best

What began as a radio program, Father Knows Best, became a popular and long running (1954-1960) TV sitcom. The plot revolved around Jim Anderson (played by Robert Young), his common-sense wife Margaret (played by Jane Wyatt) and their children Betty, Bud and Kathy. It always turned out that whenever the kids needed advice on anything, they found they could turn to their father because father always knew best.

What may have been only a fantasy on TV is a reality when it comes to God. As our Creator, God knows us better than anyone else. His wisdom is sufficient for all our needs. Let's see what God's Word says about this.

What Does God Say?

"And Solomon said, 'You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?

"It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, 'Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you" (1 Kings 3:6-12, ESV).

    * What kind of an attitude did Solomon have?
    * What did Solomon ask for?
    * Why do you think this pleased the Lord?

My Thoughts

Knowing that you don't know is always a good place to start. Solomon looked at the responsibilities of being king and said, "God, I don't know how to do it. I'm like a child when it comes to handling this job." God honored that kind of an attitude and not only gave him wisdom but a whole lot more (1 Kings 3:12-13).

Are you in a place where you don't know what to do? Then that's good. That's where God wants you to be. As our Creator, He does know what to do; He simply wants us to look to Him for wisdom.

My Part

There is so much in life that leaves us totally confused. Therefore begin each day by admitting to God that you are at a loss for answers and need His wisdom. With that prayer in mind, open your Bible and begin your daily reading of His Word (for a Bible reading guide, go to backtothebible.org). Keep a notebook handy and record the wisdom God shows you. In a very short time, you'll discover that Father really does know best.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 15, 2010
Topic: God


Created in Wisdom

I'm continually amazed by the complexity of Creation. From the majestic spirals of distant galaxies to the incomprehensibly intricate network of neurons in the human brain, every aspect of Creation displays the wisdom of God.

Maybe "wisdom" isn't the word you'd pick to describe God's work of Creation. The word skill seems more appropriate. In fact, in the Hebrew language, the words wisdom and skill are the same. In the next section we'll look at how God exercised that wisdom in creating the world and how we can use that same skill in living our lives.

What Does God Say?

Proverbs 8 is an incredible passage of Scripture because we see that the wisdom God used in creating the universe is the same wisdom you and I need to live our lives. Wisdom is personified in this chapter and speaks directly to us as we read.

"'To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man....
My mouth will utter truth.
All the words of my mouth are righteous....
Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold'" (Proverbs 8:4,7,8,10, ESV).

Finding wisdom is something we are all called to do. It is the cornerstone of truth, and the path of righteousness. Learning the right way to live, the life that pleases God, is worth more than any amount of money.

This is the same wisdom God used to create the world (verses 22-31). And the next verses tie it all together.

"'Blessed are those who keep my ways...
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the LORD'" (verses 32, 34-35, ESV).

This is all possible because of Genesis 1:27,
"So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them" (ESV).

Sin has made this harder, but it hasn't changed the fact that we still bear the image of God. We can still find the right way to live by listening intently to His voice and choosing the path of righteousness.

My Thoughts

As you read Proverbs 8:1-36 think about the following questions:

1. What are some characteristics of a life lived by wisdom?

2. How do those who reject wisdom live? How do they end up?

My Part

Proverbs is an excellent place to start a Bible reading habit. Proverbs has 31 chapters so, reading a chapter a day, you will finish in only a month. As you read, ask God to give you a mind of wisdom. Ask for His guidance in choosing the right way to live each day.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 16, 2010
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship, Bible Study/Theories


Searching for Treasure

One of the better known treasure hunts in modern times is the search to find the rumored wealth known as the "Beale treasure." The hunt began when an eccentric man, who left Virginia for the gold and silver mines of the West, returned home, supposedly hid a vast amount of wealth and then disappeared forever. All he left behind were several messages written in a mysterious code. One of those messages when deciphered told of the treasure and its approximate location. Other documents were supposed to narrow down the whereabouts of the cache but they are written in code. Since the Beale documents first came to light, thousands of man-hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent attempting to break the code and find the legendary treasure. So far, no one has succeeded.

God's Word tells us that we should search for wisdom with the same diligence. Wisdom's not a treasure hidden in the ground or in some damp and moldy cave but in the pages of the Bible itself. Let's look at some of the ways the Bible says we should search for wisdom.

What Does God Say?

Read Psalm 119:1-16 and consider how the following verses direct us in our search for wisdom:

    * Psalm 119:2
    * Psalm 119:8-9
    * Psalm 119:11
    * Psalm 119:15
    * Psalm 119:16

My Thoughts

Unlike the Beale treasure, God is not trying to make His wisdom difficult to find. Instead, He says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you," (Matthew 7:7, ESV). That doesn't mean there's not work involved, but the results are guaranteed. If you are willing to search, you won't come up empty handed (Proverbs 2:4-5).

My Part

A great place to begin your search for wisdom is in the Book of Proverbs. (Proverbs is part of what is called the Wisdom Literature. The other books in this category are Job and Ecclesiastes. Of course, all the Bible contains wisdom, but these three have the greatest focus on wisdom.) Read a Proverb each day for 31 days. Go back to Psalm 119:1-16 and select one of the ways (meditate, apply, memorize, etc.) it suggests for finding wisdom. Use a different way each day.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 19, 2010
Topic: New Life


Take Responsibility

It's not my fault: "My family was dysfunctional." "The devil made me do it." "He did it first." "My wife is mean." "The teacher was unfair." It's the blame game. Human nature always causes us to shy away from taking personal responsibility for our actions--especially when it comes to sinning. Instead we look for a scapegoat to blame or a way to rationalize our actions. The Bible is clear that the God who knows all, sees all and reads the human heart always and only holds the responsible person accountable.

What Does God Say?

"For all people are mine to judge--both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die...The child will not be punished for the parent's sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child's sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness" (Ezekiel 18:4,20, NLT).

"Does God relish the thought of punishing? Let's see what His Word says:
Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live" (Ezekiel 18:23, NLT).

So, God makes this promise to all:
"But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done" (Ezekiel 18:21-22, NLT).

"Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don't let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!" (Ezekiel 18:30-32, NLT).

My Thoughts

God says that you can have a new heart and a new spirit. That's more than a heart transplant--that's a radical transformation! That means being changed from the inside out. Is that possible?

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).

Does that make sense to your head as well as your heart? God holds us personally responsible for all of our sins: thoughts, attitudes, words, actions. He does that so we can choose to acknowledge our sins, take full responsibility for them, repent of them and choose to turn to Christ so we can be forgiven and receive a new heart and a new spirit from God.

My Part

None of us appreciate irresponsibility in others. God not only does not like it, He does not allow it. But He does give us the opportunity to be responsible. Today, choose to accept responsibility for your life--acknowledge your irresponsibility to God and choose to accept His forgiveness and new life. Knowing that God gets no pleasure from punishing you but delights in giving you a new spirit and a new heart, it's your choice. You, and you alone, are responsible.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 20, 2010
Topic: Sin/Temptation


Stopping the Spiral

In aviation the situation is known by many names: death spiral, graveyard spiral, suicide spiral, vicious spiral. In all cases the affected airplane heads downward for a one-point landing--cockpit first. All types of airplanes can be caught in this phenomenon, and it is something that even seasoned pilots can experience. And as the names imply, the result is usually deadly.

The Bible also talks about a spiral--a spiritual spiral--that is equally deadly. Let's see what the Bible says about that spiral and how we can get out of it.

What Does God Say?

"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14-15, ESV).
"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22, ESV)

    * With what do our temptations begin?
    * Yielding to this temptation results in what?
    * What is the ultimate outcome?

My Thoughts

Notice that in 2 Timothy 2:22 Paul gives the steps for dealing with this issue of temptation. First he says to "flee." Don't hang around places where you might be tempted. Then secondly, actively pursue those things which will build up your spiritual life. If our lives are filled with things which produce righteousness, faith, love and peace, there will be little room for temptation to get a foothold. And thirdly, make friends with godly people. If the wrong company can corrupt us (1 Corinthians 15:33), the right company can strengthen us to overcome temptation.

My Part

If you are caught in a deadly spiral of sin, determine how you can apply the steps above to pull out of this spiral. Are there places you need to avoid? Are there activities such as Bible study, regular attendance at church, daily devotions and consistent prayer time that you need to add to your schedule? In addition, are your friends helping or hindering your walk with the Lord. If they aren't helping, then it's time to look for some new friends.

Select one of these steps to work on this week.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 21, 2010
Topic: Sin/Temptation


Patterns of Temptation

Two Korean soldiers were joking and laughing as they walked along a path to join their unit. The war had been over for months, so there seemed to be no danger to worry about. One of the men suddenly spotted something shiny in the ditch beside the path. Stepping aside, he reached down to retrieve the object. There was a deafening explosion as a land mine went off and when the dust settled, the soldier lay dead and his companion had both legs blown off. A sign they had just walked by read, "Danger, Stay on Path."

God's Word puts up some danger signs to warn you about temptation as you walk on your daily spiritual journey.

What Does God Say?

James 1:12-15 (ESV)
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

How does this happen? Let's look at some people who were tempted to do wrong and ended up in a tangle of sin and shame.

Read Genesis 3:1-10 and re-read verses 6 and 7.

    * What did Eve see?
    * What did she desire?
    * What did she do?
    * Why did Adam and Eve hide? (3:10)
    * What happened as a result of their sin? (see Genesis 3:22-24)

When Joshua led the people of Israel into the Promised Land, the first city they conquered was Jericho. God told the people that they were to keep none of the captured goods for themselves, but a man named Achan disobeyed and was later caught with the stolen things. Look up Achan's confession in Joshua 7:20-22.

    * What did Achan see?
    * What was his temptation about what he saw?
    * What did he do to satisfy his desires?
    * What happened because of his sin? (see Joshua 7:24-26)

My Thoughts

Do you see the pattern of temptation? They saw something...they desired it...they took it for themselves...they hid the results as well as they could from God and man, but they were caught and had to face the consequences.

The same thing happened to David in his adultery with Bathsheba. He saw her; he desired her; he took her. Then David tried every way he could think of to hide the sin, but he suffered tragic consequences for the rest of his life (see 2 Samuel 11 and 12).

Do you wonder what resources God has given us to ward off the temptations Satan brings our way? Here is some help. Look up the Bible answers to these questions:

    * What does Jesus say about how we should regularly pray against Satan's temptations? (Matthew 6:13 and Matthew 26:41).
    * If you are tempted, is there any way out before you fall into sin? (1Corinthians 10:13).

My Part

First Corinthians 10:13 says that temptation is a common experience for all people.

Someone once said of temptation, "You can't keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair!"

Take some time right now to consider whether there are some weak spots in your life--an old habit, a wrong pattern of activity or a desire for something that requires disobedience to God in order to get. If you identify a weakness, ask the Lord now to give you strength and to deliver you from the temptations of the evil one.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 22, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Faithful Failures

Many popular preachers are teaching that if you have faith, nothing bad can befall you. You can be healed of all your diseases; delivered from all your financial woes and be blessed with every good thing.

But is that what the Bible teaches? Let's look at some "men of faith" to find out.

What Does God Say?

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, ESV).

    * What did God permit to keep Paul humble?
    * What was Paul's response?
    * What did God provide instead of healing?
    * What was Paul's response when God chose not to heal him?

"And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head'" (Matthew 8:20, ESV).

    * What did Jesus lack?
    * How is this contrary to popular teaching today?

My Thoughts

When we look at the examples of people of faith in the Bible, we find their lives were filled with hardships and difficulties like everyone else. In addition to Paul and Jesus, there was Abraham who left his friends and family to live in the desert. Moses spent 40 years herding sheep and then 40 years leading a ragtag group of rebellious grumblers. David lost one son in infancy and two adult sons by murder. Timothy suffered stomach problems (1 Timothy 5:23). Epaphroditus became so ill he almost died (Philippians 2:27). Trophimus had to be left behind at Miletus because he was too sick to travel (2 Timothy 4:20).

If you are having difficulties, don't blame your lack of faith. Faith doesn't prevent problems; it helps you survive them.

My Part

What are you doing to increase your faith? Based on your study today, indicate one step that you are going to take in this next week to increase your faith.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 23, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Defining Faith First

In today's Bible Minute radio spot, Dr. Kroll defines faith as "a confidence in the righteous character of God that fosters trust and hope when our circumstances foster doubt and despair." That's a good thing to have in writing. And it's based on how we see faith develop and act throughout the Bible.

What Does God Say?

Faith begins to grow in us when we recognize the righteous character of God. You see it in action in the Bible when people choose to put their confidence in Him, no matter what their circumstances.

For example, Job was a man who was "blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1, ESV). The foundation of his faith was related to the righteous character of God. When his world came crashing in, he held fast to his faith in God's character. Job 1:20-21 tells us "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD'" (ESV). And in the midst of his suffering he could still say,

"'Though he [God] slay me, I will hope in him'" (Job 13:15, ESV).

Like today's working definition, Job placed his confidence in the righteous character of God and found hope, even when his circumstances brought nothing but doubt and despair.

In David's Psalms, we see the same kind of faith in action. David had plenty of experience with setbacks, enemies and troubles that overwhelmed him. Yet his faith started early and served as the core for the rest of his life. In 1 Samuel 17:37, David said to Saul, "'The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine'" (ESV). He already had faith in God's character to deliver him. And that never changed throughout his life. Read Psalm 31 or 59 and look for both his circumstances and his faith. You'll see that it's faith that always wins out.

When you start with confidence in the righteous character of God, you'll find what you need to face life with hope rather than despair.

My Thoughts

Hebrews 11 offers this pattern of "faith first." Read 11:4-40 with these questions in mind:

    * What did each person do "by faith"?
    * What circumstances were they in? (See references below.)
    * How do you see their faith in handling those circumstances?
    * How is God's righteous character reflected or active?

Hebrews 11 doesn't give all the details so look up these additional references if needed, or pick several to examine their story more closely.

Abel: Genesis 4:1-16

Enoch: Genesis 5:21-24

Noah: Genesis 6:11-22; 7:1-10; 8:15-22

Abraham: Genesis 12:1-6; 15:1-6; 17:15-21; 21:1-7; 22

Sarah: Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-7

Isaac: Genesis 27

Jacob: Genesis 48

Joseph: Genesis 50:22-26

Moses: Exodus 2:1-15; 12:1-28; 13:3-16

Rahab: Joshua 2; 6:25

Gideon: Judges 6:11-24; 7:19-23

Barak: Judges 4-5

Samson: Judges 13; 16:23-31

Jephthah: Judges 11:1-28

Samuel: 1 Samuel 3; 7:3-17 (much of 1 Samuel)

David: see 1 & 2 Samuel.

My Part

Faith is not dependent on our circumstances or even our feelings but on the character of God. Faith in God comes first. If you choose to anchor yourself to Him, you're choosing faith. So, do a little evaluation of your faith condition today:

    * What do you know about the righteous character of God?
    * How much do you put your confidence in Him?
    * Is there someone or something else you occasionally place your confidence in?
    * What circumstances cause doubt and despair in your life?
    * What can you do today to shift your confidence to God and allow for hope instead?
    * What would you like to do "by faith" in your life?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

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


Faith That Grows

Is salvation the end of the Christian life? If it is, on earth it's the front end.

The Bible teaches us that the faith we begin with is to be a faith that is growing and maturing.

What Does God Say?

Read the two scripture passages below and write down (in column form) at least three characteristics of those who have not grown in their faith (immature) and three characteristics of those who have (mature).

"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

"Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church" (Ephesians 4:11-15, NLT).

"You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's Word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong" (Hebrews 5:12-6:1, NLT)

My Thoughts

What three characteristics are in your first column? How about your "mature" column? It's likely you want to be a growing, maturing follower of Christ. But how do you grow in your faith? Hebrews 12:1-2 gives this instruction:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne" (Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT).

Answer these questions when you've finished reading the scripture above:

   1. How are you supposed to deal with sin?
   2. What "race" are you running?
   3. What does "run with endurance" mean to you?
   4. Who should you stay focused on while you are running this race?

Now, look at Romans 10:17:

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."

   1. Where does faith come from?
   2. What does staying in the Word have to do with your faith?
   3. How many times a week do you read your Bible?
   4. Would you like to read it more days? If so, make the commitment today to make that one small change in your life.

My Part

Faith is primarily a personal relationship with God that determines the priorities of one's life. As you stay focused on the Lord and stay in the Word, your faith grows. As your faith grows, you become more focused on Jesus and hunger more for His Word. Amazing how that works, isn't it?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 27, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


What Faith Is

In order to develop a flourishing faith, we need to first understand what faith is. In some cases, the word faith is used as a synonym for religion when speaking of the Christian faith. In other cases, faith is used to describe a strong desire or expectation. But faith is much more than that. Let's look at Hebrews 11, one of the defining chapters of the Bible on the topic of faith.

What Does God Say?

Hebrews 11:1 is one of the most concise definitions of faith in the entire Bible. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (ESV). How often have you heard the words assurance and conviction used in relation to faith? Not often. Faith is often portrayed as standing against assurance and conviction--when you can't be sure of something or someone, you are told, "Have faith." That's not what the Bible says.

"For by it [faith], the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible" (11:2-3, ESV).

If all we had were other people to put our faith in, then, of course, we couldn't have much reason for confidence. Even the best of us break our promises on occasion. But when we put our faith in God, we put our faith in the eternal, unchanging Creator of the universe. God declared, "I the LORD do not change" (Malachi 3:6, ESV). And it's because of His unchanging nature that we can have confident assurance that He will keep His promises.

How do we know what God has promised? We read what He has promised us in the Bible. We get to know God and draw near to Him. We learn what pleases Him. And then, like Abel, we will know the right sacrifice to bring to God; like Enoch, we will know the way to walk with the Lord.

"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). A faith that is just a label you wear or is just a vague hope that things might get better is no faith at all. But a flourishing faith is a faith that takes God at His Word; a faith that knows God's Word.

My Thoughts

As you read Hebrews 11:1-6 again, think about the following questions:

1. What was it that caused Abel and Enoch to be commended?

2. How did they express their faith in God?

3. Hebrews 11:6 says that we must believe that God "rewards those who seek him." Look up the word rewards in a Bible commentary and learn what kind of rewards you can look forward to.

My Part

One of the benefits of faith is certainly the assurance of the promises of God.How many promises could you list right now? Go ahead and try? As you study the Word this week, pay particular attention to God's promises. Try making another list in a week and again in a month. Ask God to help you always remember the promises He has for you.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 28, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Promises, Promises

A promise is only as good as the person who makes it. Someone has observed: "America is always a land of promise during an election." The political candidate who promises jobs and a utopia but can't deliver; the bridegroom who promises lifelong commitment, then is unfaithful to his wife; the soldier who pledges loyalty to his country but goes AWOL--all demonstrate that promises can be empty.

What Does God Say?

God promises, however, are never empty. They are totally trustworthy. It seems like you can find gracious promises on almost every page of His Book. Though many of His promises are already completed, there are loads more yet to be fulfilled. God made promises to the first couple as soon as He created them, assuring them of His provision and His purposes (Genesis 1: 26-29). When they broke faith with their Creator and sinned, their future seemed hopeless. But God promised them a Savior (Genesis 3:15). And His promises endured and flourished down through the generations of Old Testament history. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David and others received promises from God, assuring them of a wonderful future, although they often didn't see the fulfillment during their lifetimes.

Now is a good time for you to take your Bible and turn to Hebrews 11:1-13. Note especially verses 8-10 and verse 13.

    * What was Abraham's response to God's promise (11:8 )?
    * What was Abraham looking for in the future (11:10)?

If Abraham and others didn't see the fulfillment, what good was the promise? Well, God's promises are the soil in which faith grows. Look at Hebrews 11:13.

    * Does it say they died hopeless? How did they die? What had they seen in the promises God gave them? How did it make them look at this life?

Why does God delay the fulfillment of many promises? Read Hebrews 11:39-40 very thoughtfully. What does it say about "us," we who also wait in faith?

My Thoughts

Because of the birth and ministry of Christ Jesus, you, as a believer, share in God's promises. Try to find the promises that include you in each of the following verses. Jot them down.

    * 2 Peter 1:3-4
    * Ephesians 1:13
    * James 1:12
    * James 2:5
    * 2 Peter 3:13

My Part

The psalmist expressed something in Psalm 119:123 that all believers should look for--the final outcome of our salvation. Memorize this short verse from the ESV:

"My eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise."

And read 2 Peter 3:4-9. Our Lord is coming! Are you ready?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 29, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Flourishing Faith

When we experience the goodness and the greatness of God, we get all excited--perhaps we even want to express it with music like the composers of these well-known songs.

"Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow"

"O For a Thousand Tongues"

But is there anything about us that excites the Lord?

What Does God Say?

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, "'I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!'" (Matthew 8:10, NLT ).

Read Matthew 8:5-10 and answer these questions:

   1. What was happening in these verses?
   2. What makes the fact that the centurion was a Roman significant?
   3. What reason did the soldier give for his faith?
   4. What words did Jesus use that showed He was excited?

When our faith is flourishing, the Lord is pleased. And not surprisingly the opposite is true.

"And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 8:26, KJV).

"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30, KJV).

"Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31, KJV).

   1. What phrase does Jesus use again and again in these verses?
   2. Why do you think in every scripture listed above Jesus asked a question?
   3. From what Jesus says in these verses in Matthew, how do you think He is feeling?

My Thoughts

Read the following verse and answer this question: Why do you think Jesus wants your faith to flourish?

"The Lord answered, 'If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, "May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea," and it would obey you!'" (Luke 17:6, NLT).

After reading the questions and verses above, you might be wondering, How can I help my faith grow? Dr. Kroll, Bible Teacher and author provides some help.

"Our faith flourishes when it's placed in the power of God. '"With God [Me],'" Jesus says, '"all things are possible"' (Matthew 19:26, NKJV). So, if you have faith in the power of God, God will do things that you don't even believe possible in your own life."

The power of God is one of three places to put our faith so that it will flourish and increase. Here are the other two: the Word of God and the promises of God.

My Part

Where do you begin? Paul tells us:

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17, NKJV).

The Word will reveal the promises of God that lay the foundation for your faith. In the Word, you will discover the greatness of God's power and that will strengthen and encourage your faith. Your faith can not only grow, it can flourish when placed in God's Word, God's promises and God's power.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 30, 2010
Topic: God, Faith/Trust


Trusting God's Program

You've likely seen the adventure movies where the hero's in a sticky situation and his sidekick worries out loud about getting through it alive. How does the hero respond? "Trust me, I have a plan." (But you and I both know he's really just making it up as he goes.)

God is not that kind of hero. He has a plan, a perfect plan designed to accomplish His goals for His glory--and for your good. Faith is all about trusting God, no matter what. As you get to know Him better through His Word, the Bible, you'll begin to see that He can be trusted even when you wonder about His program.

What Does God Say?

John the Baptist had been a good and faithful servant of God carrying out a demanding mission which came at a high price. Yet, even John had a few questions about God's plan. In Luke 7, we read that John, in prison, sent a message to Jesus. "And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'" (Luke 7:18-19, ESV). How John understood his mission depended on the answer to his question.

Jesus' response was simple: "And he answered them, 'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me'" (Luke 7:22-23, ESV). He tells John to be confident in what he knows and believes because Jesus was doing exactly what Scripture said the Messiah would do.

Hebrews 11 offers us many examples of men and women who, like John, had questions about the plan of God (for example, Abraham in his desire for a son; Moses leading people out of slavery, etc.) but who, in faith, confidently obeyed and trusted God to work out His plan perfectly. They couldn't know all that God would do to accomplish His purposes, but they exercised faith that flourished and was commended. That's what we need too.

My Thoughts

Look what Hebrews 11 says about each of the following men; then review the original story.

Noah--Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:9-7:24.

    * What was God's command or plan for Noah?
    * If you were in Noah's shoes, what would make you question God's plan?
    * How did Noah respond?

Moses--Hebrews 11:23-29; Exodus 3; 12:1-28; 14.

    * What was God's mission or assignment for Moses?
    * What do you think might make Moses question God's plan?
    * How did Moses respond?

Gideon--Hebrews 11:32-34; Judges 6:1-27; 7

    * What did God ask of Gideon?
    * If you were in Gideon's position, what would make you question God's plan?
    * How did Gideon respond?

My Part

We've looked at just a few examples of people who put their faith in God and trusted His plan, even when it seemed impossible.

    * What do you learn from these men about God's plan, even when it's hard to understand?
    * How does this challenge your faith in God?
    * Where do you need to exercise your faith even though you don't understand?

In reality, you're not taking a big risk by doing this because God is completely trustworthy. Everyone from Hebrews 11 would tell you that, along with many others found in God's Word.

The more you know Him, the more you'll understand that faith in Him is a secure anchor. And while it's okay to wonder, don't let the questions keep you from growing in your faith and stepping out in trust. Remember what the Lord says in Isaiah 55:8-9:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts" (ESV).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 3, 2010
Topic: Prayer


God's Answer to Your Prayers

Dr. Helen Roseveare, a missionary to Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo), told the following story: "A mother at our mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby. No incubator was available--not even a serviceable hot water bottle. So during morning devotions we asked the children to pray for the baby. One of the girls responded: 'Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead.' That afternoon a large package arrived. The children watched eagerly as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle! The heavenly Father knew in advance of that child's sincere request, and 5 months earlier He had led a ladies' group to include the needed item."

We've all heard stories of answered prayers and even experienced them in our own lives. But, sometimes, months or years will go by and a specific prayer will seem to elicit no answer. Let's allow God's Word to clarify our understanding of prayer.

What Does God Say?

"You don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it" (James 4:2, NLT). James is clear. If there is something we need, we have to pray for it. Often, for the Christian, the problem is not unanswered prayer but unasked prayer. Let's remember what Paul told us: "Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying" (Romans 12:12, NLT). He also tells us, "Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart" (Colossians 4:2, NLT).

The preceding verses urge us to pray, but what about the times we feel that our prayers are not answered. There are a number of reasons that may happen: we're praying outside of God's will; we don't understand completely the repercussions of what we're asking; it's not the right time. But the Bible makes it clear that there are other reasons. Read the following Scriptures and write out some of the reasons you find for unanswered prayer.

    * Psalm 66:18 (KJV)
    * James 4:3 (ESV)
    * Proverbs 1:28-30(NLT)
    * Isaiah 1:15 (NLT)
    * Isaiah 59:1-2(NLT)

My Thoughts

Read the following Scriptures. What does God require for answered prayer?

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully" (Psalm 24:3-4, ESV).

"Wash yourselves and be clean!
Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows" (Isaiah 1:16-17, NLT).

"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor" (James 4:7-10, NLT).

My Part

Now, take a few moments to pray for God's help; confess any wrongdoing to Him, consciously recognize your dependence on God; trust Him to hear your prayer.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 4, 2010
Topic: Prayer, God


The Place to Start

Remember the old song,

When you read, you begin with A-B-C,

when you sing, you begin with do-re-mi.

Now, think about this: How do think most people begin when they pray? We "begin with me-me-me." But is that the right place to start?

What Does God Say?

The simple, and biblical, answer is "no." Prayer doesn't begin with you; it's supposed to begin with God. One great example comes from Daniel 9 as this godly man prepares to take a very important plea before God.

"Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, 'O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land'" (Daniel 9:3-6, ESV).

Daniel starts by addressing God. I remember doing that as a kid, but my rushed "Dear Lord Jesus" came out like a secret code I used to get God's attention. Daniel does more than that here. Yes, he addresses God, but he also focuses on God's character and nature. Daniel lets God know that he understands just who he's talking to--the "great and awesome God," the one who "keeps covenant," who loves steadfastly.

These will be qualities of God that Daniel will call on later in his prayer of confession as he seeks God's mercy on Israel and asks for His steadfast love to be exercised in compassion and forgiveness. But before that, Daniel tells God what he knows about Him.

We need to start there as well. Prayer isn't about you or me. It isn't about demanding our wants and desires immediately. It's about addressing, praising and extolling God and calling on Him to be God, the only One completely able to answer our prayers.

My Thoughts

Daniel isn't the only example of this important lesson. See how these men began their prayers:

King Solomon in 1 Kings 8:22-25.

King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19:15-16.

    * How did each man address God?
    * What aspects of God's actions or His character did they focus on?
    * Where did their personal needs or requests come in?

When Jesus taught His disciples (including you) to pray, He started with God. Read Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4.

    * How should we address God?
    * What do we focus on?
    * When do your personal needs or requests come in?

My Part

So, where do you usually start when you pray? A quick "Hello, God," before you get down to the list of things you need from Him? Is your prayer time all about you and your concerns? Or do you take time to focus on God and who He is?

Take a few minutes right now to prepare for prayer. What is it about God that you need to acknowledge? For instance, what could you say about His character or actions? Jot those down before you pray. Maybe you could borrow from the prayers of Solomon, Hezekiah or Daniel. Psalm 8 offers you a great start, too, and the Psalmist expresses an appropriate perspective on his place before God.

If you want to try something very different from the norm, try praying without ever getting into your requests or concerns. Keep it focused solely on God, telling Him what you love and cling to and value in your relationship with Him.