Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 26, 2010
Topic: Bible Study/Theories


Who, Me? Pray for Them?

Do you ever avoid praying for someone because they have done something to hurt or anger you? Do you pass over some people in your prayers because they are making life difficult for you? Do you steer clear of praying for a contentious spouse, a rebellious child, a mean boss or a corrupt politician?

Well, the Lord isn't silent about circumstances like these. Get your out Bible and look at what it says about praying for difficult people.

What Does God Say?

Jesus gave a simple, clear command recorded in Luke 6:28 (NLT). He said:  "Pray for those who hurt you."

Jesus Himself set the example of the proper attitude toward those who accuse us, malign our character and even persecute, torture or kill us. Just before dying on the cross He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34, NASB)

My Thoughts

Does the Bible mention anyone besides Jesus who has actually prayed like that? Yes, it does. Read about the following three incidents in the Bible and respond to the questions.

    * Numbers 12:1-16
          o What two people made life difficult for their brother? (vv. 1-2)
          o What was God's reaction? (vv. 9-10)
          o What did Moses do? (v. 13)
          o How did God respond? (vv. 14-15)

    * Job 42:7-10 (This is the last chapter of Job, after Job's neighbors had spoken harshly against him and made several accusations about his "spiritual shortcomings")
          o What did God think of the neighbors' bad-mouthing? (v. 7)
          o How did the three men react? (vv. 8-9)
          o What did Job do for the three? (vs. 10)

    * Acts 7:59-60, Acts 8:1 and Acts 9:1-17 (After Stephen, the first Christian martyr, gave a powerful testimony for Christ: he was taken outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned to death.)
          o What did Stephen pray? (Acts 7:60)
          o What young man was there? (Acts 7:59; 8:1)
          o What was the outcome in the life of the young man who witnessed this murder? (Acts 9:1-17)

My Part

Jerod, who had had some trouble one day with Abby, his little sister, offered his usual bedtime prayer, "God bless Dad and Mom and Abby, for Jesus' sake. Amen." He arose, but soon got on his knees again, and said, "Lord, never mind Abby. Amen."

Maybe you feel like Jerod sometimes. There are people you'd like to leave out of your prayers. But take a moment to read what the Lord says in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, ESV):

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Think of those people you don't feel much like praying for. Stop now, consider their needs and remember them in prayer. They need God's work of mercy and grace in their lives too.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 27, 2010
Topic: Prayer, Christian Living/Situational


A Different Approach to Revenge

Most of the really good action movies begin with a character or characters who are plotting revenge. They want to get back at someone who's injured them. Many comedies, too, depict people who humorously try to extract payment from those who have hurt them. But, unfortunately, it's not just Hollywood who's bought into the idea that we need to seek revenge. Many times we as Christians harbor feelings of resentment and anger toward those who have hurt us. Today we're going to see what the Bible has to say about responding to those who've been unkind to us.

What Does God Say?

"When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified--one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they don' know what they are doing.' And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice" (Luke 23:33-34, NLT).

"'But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you'" (Luke 6:27-28, NLT).

Who did Jesus ask God to forgive?
Who are we called to love?
How are we to respond when people hurt us?
What do we do about people who hate us?

My Thoughts

We have a tendency to try and play God. Have you ever prayed and told God how He should deal with a person who has hurt you? The scary part is, if we pray that someone else will get what they deserve, it means God has to give us what we deserve as well. When the Bible tells us to pray for the very people who have hurt us, it's not to inflict more pain on us. Prayer is not about our hurt, it's about the needs of other people. Consider these questions:

    * Is there someone whom I have not forgiven?
    * Am I praying for that person?
    * If so, am I praying for revenge or am I praying that God will have mercy on them?

My Part

It's no surprise that it's hard to pray for good things to happen to those who've hurt us. But you will never be closer to God than when you're praying for them--and not asking for revenge. Remember that justice comes from God and not us. If you aren't ready for them to get the very best that God has for them, then you're not ready to pray for them.

Take some time today to think about the people who have hurt you. Pray that God will allow you to forgive them. If you're ready, start praying for them every day. Pray that God will be gracious, forgiving and merciful to them. Not only will it help you deal with your feelings of anger, but you will become closer to God.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 28, 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: May 31, 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: Jun 1, 2010
Topic: Service/Servanthood, Christian Living/Situational, Faith/Trust


Confidence in Christ

Do you struggle with confidence? Not just for your day-to-day responsibilities but confidence to serve the Lord? To speak up for Him? To do all that He gives you to do? Well, you're not alone. We each need confidence--a sure and certain trust--to accomplish our service. But we need to find it in the right place, and that's only Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him, you tap into confidence--and everything else you need--to do whatever He calls you to do.

What Does God Say?

In Ephesians 3:7-12, Paul talks about the ministry he was given by the grace of God. And though he was "the very least of all the saints" (3:8, ESV), he could preach the Gospel, build up the church and spread the light of Christ because "this was according to the eternal purpose that he [God the Father] has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him" (3:11-12, NLT, emphasis added).

Paul's only secret (and yours too) is to put your faith in Jesus; He gives you that confidence. You can rely on Him for the power, strength, wisdom and whatever else you need because He has it all--and He can always be trusted. In 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, Paul writes that "such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (ESV). Jesus is our sufficiency, our "enough," and that gives us confidence. It makes us secure and bold in coming to God and in our service, just as Paul was.

Jesus goes beyond giving confidence; He is our confidence. He is your security and certainty in a frightening and uncertain world as Proverbs 3:24-26 shows you:

"If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught." (ESV)

My Thoughts

Read Philippians 3:3-9.

    * What does Paul say he could draw on for his confidence?
    * What does he choose instead?
    * How does he view those other sources? What value do they have?

Each of these verses tells you what you get when your confidence is rooted in Christ.

Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19, Hebrews 10:35 1 John 5:14

    * What do you gain?
    * How does this help you approach God? Deal with your life today?

My Part

So, let's go back to our earlier question: Do you struggle with confidence? Where do you need it most? What are you drawing on for the day-to-day certainty you need? Are you looking in the right place?

If you're trying to muster up confidence on your own or you depend on the encouraging words of others, you're always going to feel inadequate and uncertain. But when you turn to Jesus, He is your "enough"--He's all you need. His confidence is a gift of certain hope that will never fail. Take a few moments today to ask for His confidence to pour into your life. Maybe there's one area, an opportunity to serve or to speak up for Christ, where you've held back. Ask for His specific help in that area, and then get ready to follow through.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 2, 2010
Topic: Jesus, Christian Living/Situational


Sufficiency

"Lord Jesus, I thank You for saving me, for forgiving all my sins, for making me a part of God's family and giving me a home in heaven. I know You are busy saving others, so I'll take it from here and do all I can for You."

Good prayer, right? Well, the first part is great--but the last part is not so great. Check out what Jesus told us.

What Does God Say?

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, NLT).

   1. Christ compares Himself to the vine and us to the branches. What happens to branches that are not attached to the vine?
   2. What does this verse mean when it refers to "fruit"?
   3. What can you do apart from Christ?

Salvation--the beginning (justification or getting saved), the middle (sanctification or living for Jesus) and the end (glorification or being in heaven and being like Jesus) all depends on Jesus: who He is, what He did for me on the cross, what He wants to do in my life now and what He will do for me in eternity.

My Thoughts

In light of what Jesus told us, read this verse and write out your understanding of sufficiency for a Christ-follower.

"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5, ESV).

Read it again in this translation: "We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4-5, NLT).

Now, explain sufficiency for a believer.

My Part

How do you live for the Lord, so He will be the enabler in your life? Perhaps the apostle Paul can help us.

"So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light" (Colossians 1:9-12, NLT).

Take time to pray this prayer for yourself. Then thank God that because Jesus is in your life, His sufficiency enables you to live in a way that pleases and honors Him and bears much fruit.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 3, 2010
Topic: God, Faith/Trust


Sufficiency for Everything

The story is told of a poverty-stricken lady who had never seen the ocean. After years of scrimping and doing without, she finally saved enough money to take a vacation by the seaside. As she stood on the beach watching the mighty waves roll in, she was overheard to say, "Well, what d'ya know, I've finally seen something there's enough of."

You and I, however, don't need a trip to the beach to see something that there is "enough of"; we only need to look at to our God. Let's see what His Word has to say about that.

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).

    * Why was Paul given a "thorn in the flesh"?
    * What was the solution to Paul's situation?
    * What was Paul's response to God's solution?
    * How can we be weak and strong at the same time as Paul claims?

My Thoughts

Paul's situation is a classic "good news/bad news" scenario. The good news is that God is sufficient for any situation. The bad news is that we have to go through difficult times to experience it. While most of us would prefer to avoid trials and tribulations, God's Word teaches us this is the only way we can prove God's sufficiency.

When we walk in the assurance that God is sufficient for every situation, we project a confidence that only Christians can have. The confidence is not that we will avoid hardships, but that God is able to see us through these difficulties--not simply to survive but to actually thrive.

My Part

This evening, light a candle and then turn off the lights. As you sit basking in the glow of the candlelight, think about these questions:

    * When does the candle shine the brightest?
    * What does this tell you about God's sufficiency?
    * How does this apply to your life?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 4, 2010
Topic: Service/Servanthood


Who Is Sufficient?

With the world's economy like it is, you're probably hearing the word insufficient pretty often these days. Those long lines to government offices aren't made up of people who are complaining about having all they need. The government can't print money fast enough to answer the pleas of the victims of insufficiency.

Sufficient is a truly biblical word. You can find it in several places. It carries the idea of "having enough" to do a job or an "ample amount" to meet your needs. It refers to "being able" or "having adequate resources or competence" to do what needs to be done.

You may think of money when you think of sufficiency or insufficiency, but let's look at what the Bible teaches about it because the Christian's sufficiency goes far beyond his or her material possessions.

What Does God Say?

The apostle Paul wrote about the effectiveness of his ministry, saying, "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5, ESV).

God calls upon all His people to serve Him. The first thought many Christians have about service is that they are insufficient or incompetent to carry out such a holy and weighty task. Humanly speaking, they are right, but that is why God steps in and provides the competency or ability to do any task He calls them to do.

Basically, He enables you to serve by two different means: First, He gifts you to serve; second, He uses other gifted people to impart their skills to you. Let's look at a helpful example in the Old Testament and answer a few questions.

In Exodus, God gave the responsibility to design and craft the parts of the tabernacle, which was to be His temporary dwelling place on earth, to two men. One was named Bezalel and the other, Oholiab. Read Exodus 31:1-6 and Exodus 35:30-35.

In Exodus 31:1-6:

    * Who ordered the building of the Tabernacle and its furnishings?
    * Who appointed the people to do the task?
    * Who provided the ability to get the job done?

Any similarity between the answers to these questions is not a coincidence. What does this tell you about serving God?

In Exodus 35:30-35:

    * Besides providing wisdom and skills to Bezalel and Oholiab, what other ability did God give to them (v. 34)?

Finally, read Exodus 36:5-7 to see what else happened in the hearts of all the people.

    * Was the provision of God sufficient (v. 7)?

My Thoughts

You serve the same God as Bezalel, Oholiab and their coworkers did. When you look at the overwhelming tasks God gives you to meet the needs of others, you may sometimes feel what Paul expressed in 2 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV)--"Who is sufficient for these things?"

The Lord's way of making disciples follows the model you see in Bezalel and Oholiab. He enables a believer; then that person teaches and strengthens another. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV): "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." The word, "able" is the translation of the Greek word meaning "sufficient."

    * Where did Timothy's strength ultimately come from?
    * Who had passed his competence on to Timothy?
    * What was Timothy to do with his skills?

My Part

One of the pieces of furniture that Bezalel crafted for the tabernacle still remained intact almost 500 years later when Solomon became king of Israel(see 2 Chronicles 1:5).

Service that you do in the power of the Lord's sufficiency, however, lasts eternally and can be like gold, silver and precious gems (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Where do you get the gold and silver to build with? It's not earthly money, but the "works" God provides for you to do in the ministry He gives you (Ephesians 2:10).

Do you need more? Paul didn't.

    * Memorize what he said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "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."

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 7, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Obedience/Discipleship


Running Ahead of God

We often think that only in modern times have humans become impatient. We have fast cars, fast computers and fast food. We use cell phones now, so we don't have to wait to talk to our friends--and with the rise of texting, writing out whole words can be tiresome--idk y, ttyl (I don't know, why?; talk to you later).

But humans have always been impatient. It's always been hard to wait, and if we have to wait too long, we often take matters into our own hands. Over 4,000 years ago, Abraham and his wife did that very thing.

What Does God Say?

Genesis 15 ends with this wonderful promise from God to Abraham: "'To your offspring I give this land'" (Genesis 15:18, ESV). Abraham and Sarah didn't have any children at the time, so they knew they'd have to wait. Problem was, Abraham was 86 years old and Sarah was around 76 years old when chapter 16 begins.

Sarah took matters into her own hands and gave Hagar, her handmaiden to Abraham, to bear children. The results were less than perfect. Jealousy arose between Sarah and Hagar. Hagar boasted that she could have children and Sarah couldn't. And, finally, Sarah kicked the pregnant Hagar out of the house. So much for trying to fulfill God's promises on her own.

As it happened, Abraham and Sarah would have to wait another 14 years until Isaac was born. And when it happened, it was perfectly clear that it was God providing the child and not some scheme of Sarah and Abraham's.

My Thoughts

As you read Genesis 16, think about the following questions:
What are the consequences of Sarah and Abraham's actions?
How do you see the graciousness of God at work?
What things do you have trouble waiting on God for?

My Part

It's interesting that, as far as I can tell, God never specifically punishes Sarah and Abraham for taking matters into their own hands. It's a reminder that the consequences of our sins are often punishment enough. Maybe you're dealing with the consequences today of trying to move too fast, of getting ahead of God. Remember the words of 1 John 1:9 as you pray today and allow God to restore you to the right path.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 8, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Salvation


Being Right

Mark Twain said, "Always do right. This will gratify most people, and astonish the rest." If that were only possible, Twain might be right. But all of us know that "always doing right" is a pretty impossible standard. Fortunately, God has a different standard. Rather than "do right," He wants us to "be right." Let's see how the Bible distinguishes between these two.

What Does God Say?

The focus of the Law was on "doing right." But look at what Paul says in Romans 4:1-6.

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works" (NKJV).

    * What was the basis for Abraham's righteousness?
    * Read Genesis 15:4-6. What did Abraham believe?
    * Read the following verses and indicate what they tell you about "being right" (righteousness):

      Ephesians 2:8-9
      John 3:16-17
      John 1:12

My Thoughts

Righteousness is having a "right" relationship with God. As the verses above indicate, that relationship comes not by "doing right" but by believing (faith) that God has provided the way to this right relationship through His Son, Jesus Christ. Abraham had faith that Someone from his descendents would be a blessing to all the nations (Genesis 22:18 ). We, for our part, have faith that God sent that Someone in the person of Jesus Christ.

Whether we lived in Abraham's time or we live today, righteousness comes not from "doing right" but from "being right." And we can only "be right" through faith in Jesus Christ.

My Part

Take a few moments today to thank God for the righteousness which is ours not by works but through Jesus Christ. We can "be right" with Him because Jesus died for our sins. If you are not right with God, you can become "right" by accepting Christ as your Savior. To find out more about how to do that, click here.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 9, 2010
Topic: Salvation, Forgiveness/Unforgiveness, God's Love


What God's Love Does for You

God loves you and that's a wonderful thing. But how does His love take care of your problem with sin? Let's take a look.

What Does God Say?

God loves you and wants a relationship with you. But since God is also righteous and holy, our sinfulness makes that relationship impossible--unless God does something about it. And He did. John 3:16 tells us "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life" (NLT).

That's the first thing God did to take care of our sin: He sent His Son to die for you to pay the penalty for your sin, so you could have eternal life with Him.

Secondly, His love also made it possible for you to be set free from sin. Romans 6:22-23 says, "But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (NLT).

And there's a third thing: In His love, He offers us complete forgiveness, not the kind that says "It's okay, don't worry about it"; then reminds you of it every now and then. This is forgiveness that rolls your sins up into a ball and throws them so far away they'll never be found or held against you again. Psalm 103:12 says,

"He has removed our sins as far from us

as the east is from the west" (NLT).

And Romans 8:1 promises no condemnation--once you believe and are "in Christ Jesus."

My Thoughts

You've just looked at three ways God deals with your sin because of His great love for you. The Bible offers many other insights into what God's love does for us. For example, read through Psalm 103 for a few more ideas.

    * How do you see God's love in action?
    * What does His compassion impel Him to do?
    * What are some of the "benefits" He gives to His people?
    * What does God understand about who we are as humans?
    * What do you learn here that makes you want to trust Him further?

My Part

So, now that you've caught a glimpse of God's love in action, what's next? In Ephesians 3:16-19 Paul prays for the believers "that from his [God's] glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God" (NLT).

Take some time to put these verses into your own words. Have you experienced "how wide, how long, how high, and how deep" God's love is? Are you putting down roots in His love? Are you tapped into His power and strength, the limitless resources of the Spirit? Use your answers to these questions as your own prayer of praise to God for His immeasurable love.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 10, 2010
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship


Running From God

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister, a student at Oxford University in England, ran the first officially-recorded sub-four-minute mile at 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. This took place at the Iffley Road Track in Oxford, England. Six weeks later John Landy from Australia broke Bannister's record with 3:57.9. Currently, the mile record is held by Hicham El Guerrouj, who set a time of 3 minutes 43.13 seconds in Rome in 1999.

Yet even as speedy as these athletes were, none of them could outrun God. That was a lesson that Jonah learned the hard way.

What Does God Say?

"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.' But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD" (Jonah 1:1-3, ESV).

    * Where was Jonah suppose to go? Where did he choose to go instead?
    * According to these verses, what did Jonah hope to accomplish by his actions?
    * Could Jonah actually have accomplished his purpose? Why or why not?

My Thoughts

God told Jonah to do something the prophet found distasteful. God told him to go to the Assyrians (the Ninevites) and warn them that if they didn't repent, God was going to destroy them. The Assyrians were Israel's enemies; and, in fact, would conquer and deport most of northern 10 tribes in 722 B.C.

While Jonah didn't know these details, he knew that Assyria was a threat to his homeland. And he had an inkling that if they repented, God would forgive them and not destroy them. So, he chose instead to run away from what God was telling him to do.

While you may not be physically running from God, are you avoiding something God has told you to do? Is there a relationship that needs mending, but you've turned away from your part in that restoration? Is there someone that God wants you to witness to? Is there an area of your life that God has told you that He wants you to change?

My Part

Make a list of 2-3 items (people, activities, habits) that God has spoken to you about recently. If none come to mind, pray that God would show you any part of His will that you might be running from.

Select the most significant item from this list and say "yes" to God. Take the first step today toward accomplishing this part of God's will for you.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 11, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Bible Characters


Looking Up

Not everyone is a fan of roller coasters. Even if you enjoyed them as a kid, when you got older your enthusiasm for riding them probably wore off. Nowadays your stomach gets queasy just thinking about those loops and hills, and you'd much rather keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. If that's you, then there's an easy solution--avoid roller coasters. The problem is the unexpected roller-coaster-like ups and downs in life. One minute you're up and the next you're down. So, what do you do when you find yourself riding that kind of rollercoaster? Let's take a look.

What Does God Say?

Jonah was a guy who truly lived with the ups and the downs. His story starts out as an up. "Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me'" (Jonah 1:1-2, NKJV). Not many people can say the Word of the Lord came to them--what an up!

God called Jonah to do some very important work for Him. But Jonah refused to obey, and here comes his downfall. "But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD" (Jonah 1:3, NLT).

So, what did God do? "Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights" (Jonah 1:17, NLT). God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah--you can't get much lower than the belly of a fish!

Then Jonah's life began to look up:

"Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish. He said,
I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble,
and he answered me" (Jonah 2:1-2, NLT).

"Those who worship false gods
turn their backs on all God's mercies.
But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise,
and I will fulfill all my vows.
For my salvation comes from the LORD alone" (Jonah 2:8-9, NLT).

"Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time" (Jonah 3:1, NLT).

Think about this:

What did Jonah do when he found himself at his lowest point?
Who is the only person who can rescue us when we've hit rock bottom?
Did God give up on Jonah when he messed up, or did He give him a second chance?

My Thoughts

We're often stubborn people who like to be in control; we want to run our own lives. But as we see from the life of Jonah, trying to run your own life will only get you into "deep" trouble.

Are you going through a down time? You're probably not living in the belly of a great fish, but maybe something has you knocked down and you just can't seem to get back up.

Ask yourself: Am I looking up to God to deliver me, or am I trying to do this on my own?

The story of Jonah reminds us that we serve a forgiving and loving God. Jonah shows us that God not only rescues us, He gives us a second chance!

My Part

Our part is really being willing and letting God do His part. Whatever hurt, pain or sin you're trapped in--whatever has you flattened, look up! Look to God and ask Him to rescue you.

Life is full of ups and downs but God is there to lift us back up and deliver us from those low points. We just have to let Him.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 14, 2010
Topic: Salvation


At the Cross

Of all the great theologians this world has known, the Christian singer/songwriter Carman will never be counted as one of them. But when I think of the victory that was accomplished at the cross, I'll always think of his song "The Champion."

In the song he paints the long conflict between God and Satan as a boxing match, with the saints of God observing on one side, and the villains of history leering on the other. Near the end of the song, Satan strikes the killing blow to Jesus and all watch God come out to start the ten-count.

"Ten...nine...eight...." It looks like the victory is sure, but then the villains are thrown into confusion; what's going on? "Five...four...three...." The body of Jesus is now stirring; the saints are on their feet. "Two...." A cheer breaks forth! Jesus is on His feet! He has won!

Like I said, Carman's never going to be counted among the great theologians, but he got one thing right in his song: The death of Christ at Calvary and His Resurrection three days later was an amazing victory for you and me.

What Does God Say?

Victory over what? Look at Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death" (ESV). Just as each hour of work I do earns me a certain amount of money, so each sin I have ever committed has earned me death. And while the majority of my life has "felt" good--I'm certainly not as bad as a lot of people out there--Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (ESV). That includes those of us who have led "good" lives.

That's why the death and Resurrection of Jesus is such a miraculous victory for you and me. If Jesus hadn't raised Himself from the dead, we would have no second half to Romans 6:23: "But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (ESV).

My Thoughts

Think about these verses and consider the following questions:

    * If before Jesus died we were condemned to death and after He rose we can accept eternal life, what did Jesus' death accomplish?
    * Why does God offer eternal life as a free gift?
    * What does it take to receive this free gift from God?

My Part

If you haven't accepted the free gift of Jesus Christ, please do so now! We have resources available if you want to know more. Check out "Meet Jesus" or drop us a note at info@bibleminute.org. We'll be happy to share with you how you can have a part in Jesus' victory.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 15, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Balancing Your Confidence

When you rely on your own powers and abilities to get things done, you are said to have "self-confidence." If you don't have it, there are plenty of books, college courses, websites and seminars out there just waiting to help you get it. Is it a bad trait or a good trait? Is it Christian or something to avoid?

What can we learn from people in the Bible about the characteristic of self-confidence? And how should a believer view it?

What Does God Say?

There are some Bible people who got into trouble because of overconfidence in themselves. Take a look at two instances in Simon Peter's life:

    * Mark 8:31-33.

          o What shows that Peter's confidence was in his own opinion?
          o What does Jesus say about that attitude?

    * Mark 14:27-31

          o What shows that Peter's (and the other disciples') confidence was in their own strength?
          o Now look at Mark 14:66-72. What was the painful outcome for Peter?

Saul, the first king of Israel, had several qualities that could have made him a great leader, but his overconfidence in himself caused him to grievously disobey the Lord and lose the kingdom. What did Samuel tell him in 1 Samuel 15:24-28?

There is another person in the Bible, however, whose lack of confidence led to a confrontation with the Lord. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, this future leader balked at the assignment.

    * Exodus 4:10-14

          o How did Moses feel about his ability to lead the people?
          o What did God point out to Moses in verses 11-12?
          o What was Moses' response to God's assurance (verse 13)?
          o What does this indicate about Moses' confidence in God?
          o How did God react to Moses' lack of confidence (verse 14-15)?

It appears that the Lord is not pleased with too much self-confidence or with too little. If you have overconfidence in yourself, you will fail and crash; if you lack confidence in God, you may find yourself unable to function as you should.

How can Christians find a balance that keeps them in a right relationship with the Lord and lets them be true to themselves?

In 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about the confidence he has in carrying out the tasks God gave him to do, in spite of grinding hardships that would have stopped many lesser persons. In 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (ESV) he says, "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God."

It is clear that God expects us to trust Him totally. But it is also clear that we are to use the strength and gifts God gives us to serve Him. Paul again speaks of the balance in his ministry in Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV): "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

    * Who does the proclaiming?
    * Who has the wisdom to do the proclaiming?
    * Who toils and struggles?
    * Whose energy powerfully works within Paul to accomplish the work?

My Thoughts

In Philippians 3:3, Paul tells his readers that he worships in the Spirit of God, glories in Christ Jesus and puts no confidence in the flesh. Then he goes on to say in

Philippians 3:4-7(ESV): "Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ."

Someone has defined "flesh" as, "Everything a person is without God." Paul could have leaned on his own background and strengths. He seemed to have everything going for him, and he had the self-confidence to follow that path, but in Christ he found a balance. His confidence that he could do a task wasn't lost, but his trust was in the Lord for the results, not in the flesh. Reliance on one's flesh never reaps any eternal reward from God.

My Part

Charles Spurgeon, the great English preacher, said, "Self confidence is acceptable only if it is rooted in God-confidence."

Where is your confidence placed? Here is a good Bible verse to keep in your memory bank:

Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.