Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

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


To Vow or Not to Vow

Have you ever said, "God, if You will (fill in the blank), then I promise I will (fill in the blank)? It might be something we want with all our hearts. "God, if You heal my child, then I promise You I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life."

But is this type of bargaining with God something we could or should do? Jephthah did, and let's look at the consequences.

What Does God Say?

"Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, 'If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."...When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, 'Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot go back on it.'"  (Judges 11:30-31, 34-35).

    * What does Jephthah's vow indicate about his view of God's character?
    * How does Jephthah view his vow?

My Thoughts

There is nothing in Scripture that says a person shouldn't make a vow to God. Some look to Matthew 5:34-37 where Jesus says,

"But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.
"Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil."

Is Jesus saying we should never make vows? No, He's saying, "Don't get God involved in your vows to others. Don't make God your co-signer. Don't make God responsible for you fulfilling your vows." This puts God in a bind--a position He finds totally unacceptable.

But keep in mind, when we try to bargain with God like Jephthah did, we make some questionable assumptions:

    * Assumption #1: We know what's best for us and others. But what does the Bible say?
            Proverbs 3:5
            Proverbs 14:12

    * Assumption #2: We know what the future holds and thus the best way to get there. But what does the Bible say?
            James 4:14
            Ephesians 2:10

    * Assumption #3: We have to bargain with God in order to get Him to do what's best for us. But what does the Bible say?
            Jeremiah 29:11
            1 Corinthians 2:9

My Part

While vows are not forbidden, they are risky (consider Jephthah's experience) and, if we rightly understand the character of God, they are not even necessary. But what if I have already made a vow? Then do as Ecclesiastes 5:4 says, "When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!"

But what if you've made a vow you find impossible to keep (note: "impossible" not "difficult")? Then you need to go to the Lord and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9). A broken vow is not unforgivable, but it should not be taken lightly.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 21, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Jephthah's Critics

A story is told about D.L. Moody, the famous American preacher of the late 19th century. After a sermon one Sunday morning a man approached Moody and said, "I don't like the way you preach the Gospel."

D.L. Moody answered, "You know, I'm always willing to learn. Tell me about the method you use."

The man stammered a moment and said, "I guess I don't really have one."

"You know what?" Moody responded, "I like the way I do it better than the way you don't do it."

Mr. Moody may have silenced one critic, but you and I will face many others in our lifetimes. Let's look at an example from the Bible on dealing with our detractors.

What Does God Say?

In Judges 11 we read of Jephthah, one of the judges of Israel. When Israel cried out to be delivered from the Ammonites, God raised Jephthah up and used him to drive out the invaders. But while most of the nation was celebrating, the tribe of Ephraim had a bone to pick with this judge.

"The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, 'Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire'" (Judges 12:1, ESV).

In the fight for their national honor, the Ephraimites felt they had been left out. But Jephthah didn't have to think much about how to reply.

"And Jephthah said to them, 'I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand. And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand'" (Judges 12:2-3, ESV).

In other words, the tribe of Ephraim had plenty of opportunities to take care of the Ammonites themselves, but they wouldn't lift a hand to do so. And, finally, when somebody did step up, the Ephraimites had the gall to be offended when they weren't asked to help.

My Thoughts

    * What was the key to Jephthah's success in fighting the Ammonites?
    * What does that imply about the Ephraimites?
    * Where is your trust?

My Part

The sad thing about the Ephraimites is that they were more willing to fight their brothers over a perceived insult than they were over a foreign power oppressing their people. People like that exist in every age and require a special measure of patience and grace. If you're working today with people who would rather gripe than help, ask God for the patience and wisdom you need to be a good witness among them.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 22, 2010
Topic: God's Care, Salvation, Bible Characters


Wake Up Call

I'll admit it; I'm a fan of Doctor Who, the television series about a time-traveler with a soft spot for human beings and a knack for rescuing Planet Earth. And I've noticed that in episodes where the Doctor must save Earth from strange and alien threats, he's usually the first to recognize something is wrong. All the normal humans around him just go on about their business, oblivious that the life they know could soon be gone.

What Does God Say?

It reminds me of Judges 13 and the people of Israel. For years they had fought invaders and raiders, but now they couldn't see the enormous threat on their doorstep: the Philistines. The Philistines were a neighboring people and the threat to Israel was assimilation, and Israel's own apathy towards God. Judges 13:1 says, "And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years" (ESV).

Remember the cycle of Judges? Israel would turn away from God, get into trouble, ask God for help, follow Him, then turn away again. Here, for the first time, they do not cry to God in their distress. In fact, they don't even realize the trouble they're in! But the Lord saw what they did not and put His plan in motion. His solution wasn't an alien traveler in a blue police box. He didn't even call up a military leader, a prophetess or a vigilante as He'd done earlier. He...sent a baby.

"There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, 'Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines'" (Judges 13:2-5, ESV).

Why a baby? It's not clear. Perhaps God wanted to give His people more time to figure out they were in trouble. Or maybe it was His sneak preview of the future, eternal Savior. Judges 13 doesn't spell out the divine reason, only the divine purpose: The baby would grow to be a man who would begin to save his people. "And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol" (Judges 13:24-25, ESV).

My Thoughts

God chose to use a baby, but then the Lord often chooses what surprises us to accomplish His task. But, more importantly, God chose to intervene despite the apathy of His people. In Deuteronomy 31:1-47, we see that God, who chose Israel to be His people, will judge but also save. As you read that passage, look for the promises of God's faithfulness even when His people are not faithful.

    * What is the blessing for being a person who remembers the Lord and doesn't settle for apathy?

Psalm 106:34-46 echoes Deuteronomy 31 but with a clear reference to the time of the Judges and Israel's turbulent relationship with God.

    * Jot down the ways Israel was disobedient and unfaithful to the Lord.
    * How did He handle their unfaithfulness?
    * What changes in 106:44?
    * What hope does this give you, knowing the times you've forgotten, ignored or turned your back on God?

What does Isaiah 17:10 say that we lose when we forget God is our salvation?

My Part

The faithlessness of His people does not change the faithfulness of God. And that's good news for all of us. What do you need to do with that truth today?

The announcement of Samson's birth provides another challenge. In Judges 13:5, the angel says that this boy will "begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines" (emphasis added). Samson wasn't there to complete the fight against the Philistines--that honor would go to David a few generations later.

Samson was the wake-up call; his opposition to Philistines sparked a changing awareness of the threat. By 1 Samuel, Israel was no longer ignorant of the Philistine threat but frequently in active conflict. And eventually David stepped into the fray and finished the job.

Do you see a need, a calling, a cause for Christ where others see nothing or they can't be bothered to care about it? Maybe God is prompting you to be the wake-up call to those who are apathetic. You may not be the one to finish the job, but you can sound the alarm and start the ball rolling. Like Samson, you can begin...

Pray for boldness and wisdom in the opportunities God puts before you and for sensitivity to see, listen and act on what He has to say.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

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


Holy for the Lord

In the Old Testament we find a group of people called Nazirites. These men and women (although there is no biblical example of a female Nazirite) took a vow that included abstaining from the fruit of the vine (wine, grapes, raisins); not cutting their hair and not coming into contact with a dead body. According to Rabbinic tradition, this vow could last from 30 days to, as in the Samson's case, a person's whole life. During this time, they were considered "holy" (set apart) to the Lord (Numbers 6:5), and the way they lived was to reflect this (Numbers 6:1-8 ).

Samson, however, never took his Nazirite vow very seriously. He married a Philistine woman in Timnah in spite of his parents' objections (Judges 14:1-3). He slaughtered 30 Philistine men to pay for a foolish vow (Judges 14:19). He became involved with a harlot in Gaza (Judges 16:1) and finally reaped the consequences of his disobedience at the hands of a Philistine woman named Delilah (Judges 16:4-21). His life is a tragic example of what happens when a person fails to live set apart (holy) for the Lord.

What Does God Say?

As Christians, we don't take a vow like the Nazirites, but we do become new creatures when we accept Christ as our Savior (2 Corinthians 5:17). We become "holy" (set apart) for the Lord (1 Peter 1:15-16). Consequently, like the Nazirites, there are things we should abstain from. Let's look at what the Bible says.

    * List at least 10 activities that we should abstain from according to Galatians 5:19-21.
    * Which of these activities might you struggle with the most?
    * Read Romans 6:12-13. Write it out in your own words. How might it help you in your effort to overcome activities that are not pleasing to God?

My Thoughts

Being set apart for the Lord doesn't mean we should become monks or hermits. Jesus says as He prays to His Father in John 17:15, "I do not ask You to take them out of the world" (NASB Updated). But it does mean that our lifestyle should be different from the world. While "in the world," we shouldn't be "of the world." Our lifestyle should reflect the fact that we are a holy people set apart for the Lord.

My Part

Ask the Lord to remove from your life anything that might be hiding the fact that you are set apart for Him. Read Romans 12:1-2 and use it as a guideline for your prayer.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 26, 2010
Topic: Holy Spirit, Sin/Temptation, Bible Characters


Spiritual Workouts

Do you think Samson worked out? Or was his strength such that he never needed to do push ups or weight training? It has nothing really to do with this study; I just wanted to ask the question.

Well, maybe it does have something to do with it. You see, whether or not Samson could handle a kettle bell, he was apparently a little weak on his spiritual workouts. And he lost everything!

What Does God Say?

Samson was the strong man of Israel. He could rip apart lions, decimate a crowd with a jawbone and haul city gates around. But he lost it all--in a big way--with a woman named Delilah (read Judges 16:4-16). Samson had a history of uncontrolled lust, and while the Bible says he loved Delilah (16:4), he was not wise in his relationship with her. He lost first his good sense; when she pleaded for the secret of his strength, Samson wasn't wise enough to suspect her motives or to deal honestly with her. He trusted his strength to get him out of the jam, and three times it did. Three times he fell for the same trick--and he didn't have the good sense to leave the situation!

Samson also lost his strength. This strength was a gift from God and his Nazirite vow (including the cutting of his hair) was the seal of that gift. Look at verse 17, "And he told her all his heart, and said to her, 'A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man'" (ESV). Delilah spotted the truth, shaved his head and Samson awoke a weak and captive man.

Which led to the worst loss of Samson's career: The Spirit of the Lord left him. Judges 16:20 states, "And she said, 'The Philistines are upon you, Samson!' And he awoke from his sleep and said, 'I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the Lord had left him" (ESV). And the Philistines, for added insult, blinded him and make him a slave-laborer in the prison mill.

My Thoughts

Sin will undermine your spiritual strength. Samson shows us that throughout his life. He couldn't discipline his lusts and desires the way he disciplined his body and strength. He thought he was strong enough to handle the stuff he shouldn't have handled--ungodly alliances, lust and a persistent, sneaky enemy. We also fall for the same lies and traps.

Real spiritual strength, the kind that helps us fight temptation and keeps us from sin, comes from God who has given the Holy Spirit to empower us and His Word to instruct and encourage us.

John 8:34. What does Jesus say that sin does to us?
Romans 8:1-2. What has freed you from the power of sin?

Read Romans 8:5-11. Jot down what happens when we're controlled by the sinful nature. Then look for the effects of the Spirit's control. What should you do to develop spiritual strength, instead of letting sin control you?

As for the spiritual workout--maybe Samson lifted weights when he should've trained as a runner! Joseph had the better tactic: he turned away from the temptation and ran (Genesis 39:12). What other "workout" advice do you find in these verses?

1 Corinthians 6:18
Ephesians 5:3-21

My Part

We have help from the Holy Spirit of God. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might" (ESV). And we can draw on the strength of the Lord, no matter what we face (Isaiah 40:29-31).

It's hard to build and maintain spiritual strength when temptation surrounds us and sin entangles, clings or trips us up (Hebrews 12:1). What are you given for the fight (Ephesians 6:11-18 )?

What are you doing today to help you develop spiritual strength?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 27, 2010
Topic: Sin/Temptation


Lust Control... Thought Patrol

While people focus on outward appearances, God sees our hearts. He knows our deepest secrets, and He understands our true motives: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked" (Galatians 6:7, NIV). That's why we must never toy with sin or attempt to hide it. God wants us to confess it quickly and repent immediately. Allowing sin to have a foothold in our lives can be deadly. Consider Samson's demise.

What Does God Say?

His story is tragic: What "might have been" didn't exactly come to pass. Set apart by God to accomplish great things for the kingdom...and then destroyed by character flaws. Samson, the strongest man of his generation, was literally brought to his knees. Why? This he-man had a weakness. The warrior who once struck down a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey was unable to conquer his tendency toward lust.

"Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, 'See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him'" (Judges 16:4-5, NIV).

Samson's lust for foreign women and ultimately his pride in his physical strength proved to be his downfall. Yet Samson's story points to a heart problem that every man, woman and child struggles with: sin. And the only way to fix a mixed-up, sin-filled heart is by having a daily truth encounter. That means spending time in God's Word and in prayer.

My Thoughts

Look over these passages to learn more about our tendency to sin and the power of confession.
Romans 6:12-14
Romans 7:21-25
1 Corinthians10:13
1 John 1:9

    * Even though you've committed your life to Christ, the bent toward sinning still exists. And if you allow it, those habits and desire which were developed under your sin nature will literally takes control. The result is a strained relationship with God. What's the key to overcoming and winning this battle?
    * Once we confess our sins to Jesus Christ, can we be confident that they are totally forgiven? Is our relationship now fully restored with God?
    * Can we trust that when the pressure heats up, Jesus will intervene?

My Part

Everything you say, everything you do, every place you go, every thought you think is known by the Lord. Nothing can be hidden from Him. So, when you find yourself drawn to an immoral act--anything you would want to keep secret from others--don't make Samson's mistake. Instead, (1) consider the consequences, (2) get on your knees and pray and (3) run from the temptation.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 28, 2010
Topic: Sin/Temptation


Loose Cannon

Do you know what a "loose cannon" is? It's an old nautical expression from the days when ships were armed with banks of cannons for defense. These cannons were so heavy they had to be securely lashed to the deck because if a cannon ever broke loose in a storm, it could do serious damage to the ship, not to mention the sailors.

Samson is a good example of a loose cannon in the Bible. A powerful man, raised up by God to defend the people of Israel. But a man who could never quite control his lusts. As a result, his life was chaotic and ended tragically.

What Does God Say?

Judges 16:21-31 tells of Samson's last days. Samson had always been a burr under the Philistines' saddle. Not long before, Samson had struck down 1,000 Philistines single-handedly with only a jaw-bone as a weapon.

When Samson fell in love with Delilah, the Philistines paid her to find the secret of his strength. Samson finally told her of his Nazirite vow to never shave his head. While sleeping, Delilah had a man cut off seven locks of his hair and the Philistines were then able to capture and subdue him. They blinded and imprisoned him. While in prison, they forced him to spend his days doing the humiliating task of turning a grindstone (a job normally done by oxen).

Lastly, he was dragged into their assembly to be mocked. Blind and powerless, Samson appeared defeated. But it was to God that he cried for mercy. "Then Samson called to the LORD and said, 'O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes'" (Judges 16:28 ESV).

We'll see how God answered Samson's prayer in the next section.

My Thoughts

Read Judges 16:21-31 and think about the following questions.

    * How did God answer Samson's prayer for strength to avenge himself?
    * How did God show mercy to Samson before Samson even asked for it?
    * What lessons about losing control can you learn from Samson's life?

My Part

Nearly every boy who grows up hearing the stories about Samson dreams of being as strong as he was. But the tragedy of Samson's life is that he wasn't strong where it counted. He never had control of his lust; and, in the end, it got the best of him.

Read Genesis 39:6-10 and contrast Samson's inability to control his lust with Joseph's reaction to the same temptation. Write down the attitudes and actions that made Joseph successful at overcoming temptation. How can you adopt those same attitudes or actions to help you be spiritually successful?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 29, 2010
Topic: Worship/Praise/Worthiness


Inventing Your Own Religion?

The Bible clearly reveals that there is only one way to be saved from sin and forgiven. That is by receiving God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Every other way offered is man-made, leaving its followers uncertain and tragically lost forever.

Still, people persistently try to invent or discover some more "acceptable" ways to control their eternal destinies, filling the world with a trash heap of false religions and doomed souls.

Judges 17 gives us an overview of the birth and consequences of a man-made religion. Open your Bible to that chapter, and let's summarize how one man's pride and errors led to the pollution of God's truth in one entire tribe of Israel.

What Does God Say?

Read Judges 17:1-5. You can learn a lot from these verses about how false religions can get started.

    * This religion begins with a man named Micah, who lived in the hill country of the Hebrew tribe of Ephraim (which just happened to be where the Ark of the true God was stationed at Shiloh in the time of the Judges).
    * Micah's mom is missing about 27 pounds of silver (1,100 pieces), so she calls down a curse on the person who took it.
    * Micah hears the curse and fearfully tells her, "Look, Mom, I'm the one who made off with it; but I still have the money." His mother then blesses Micah in the Lord's name!
    * Micah returns all the money to his mom, who in turn dedicates it all for the purpose of making two idols--one of wood, covered with silver and the other of solid silver. A silversmith does the job for 200 pieces of silver.
    * Micah makes a shrine and places it in his house with other religious trappings and idols. He consecrates his son (not a Levite as required by God's Law) to be a priest.
    * Finally, Micah, with his mother's help, owned his personal, full-fledged false religion--a mixture of superstition, idolatry, ignorance and misplaced faith. The consequences of his foolishness and disobedience are recorded in the rest of Judges 17 and 18. Read the next portions in your Bible and answer the questions so you may see the outcome:

          o Judges 17:7-13. What kind of man showed up at Micah's house (17:7-8 )? What did Micah hire him to do (17:10-12)? What was Micah hoping to get for himself (17:13)?
          o Judges 18:1-10. Which Israelite tribe was searching for a place to live (18:1)? At whose house did their spies arrive (18:2-6)?
          o Judges 18:14-20. What happened to Micah's shrine and his priest?
          o Judges 18:30-31. What did the tribe of Dan do with the idols and the priest? What was the priest's name? An interesting note: he was a grandson of Moses!

My Thoughts

Heresies and false religions usually take root in the minds of people who feel they have some better answers to life than God and the Scriptures. They depart and drift away from biblical truth, adding their own favorite opinions from Eastern religions, cults, the occult and humanistic philosophies. Finally, anything that is God's truth is overshadowed by Satan's lies and another deceptive religion is hatched.

No wonder the writer of Hebrews 2:1 (NASB) says, "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it."

My Part

Remember these facts about idolatry:

    * Worshiping anything besides God Himself is idolatry.
    * Trusting anything other than the Lord Himself is idolatry.
    * Any philosophy or person you allow to take the place of God in your heart is an idol.

Memorize 1 John 5:21. It is a very short verse with clear instruction for you! Take stock of your own life in order to detect any tendency to drift.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 1, 2010
Topic: God


Great Is God's Faithfulness

    * "Maybe I will bless you."
    * "I might guide you."
    * "Once in a while I may help you."
    * "I'll try not to forget you."
    * "Call on Me, and I'll think about answering you."
    * "Perhaps I will save you."
    * "If I feel like it, I will forgive you."

How would you like to have a Bible with promises like those? It's doubtful you would spend much time reading it, isn't it? It surely wouldn't make the bestseller list. An unfaithful, ever-changing God is unimaginable. Yet sometimes we treat Him as though He can't be trusted.

What Does God Say?

The truth is that the Lord is never, ever, anything but faithful to Himself, His Word and His people. He cannot change. The prophet Malachi says of God,

"For I am the LORD, I do not change;
therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob" (Malachi 3:6).

Consider the following Scripture passages in your Bible and record what they say about God's faithfulness and how it affects your life.

    * According to Psalm 31:23, what does God do for the faithful?
    * Psalm 71:22. What kind of open response should you have to God's faithfulness?
    * What does Galatians 5:22-23 say faithfulness is a part of?
    * 2 Thessalonians 3:3. What special protection does your faithful God promise you?
    * Psalm 33:4. You can trust God's Word. What else does the Psalmist say you can trust?

My Thoughts

Since God Himself is faithful in all things, He also requires and rewards faithfulness in His followers. God's faithfulness assures your salvation, your forgiveness of sins and your deliverance from temptation. But it is your faithfulness that openly demonstrates your love for your Savior.

    * Matthew 23:23. What three responsibilities were the scribes and Pharisees neglecting in their lives that caused Jesus to rebuke them sharply?
    * Revelation 2:10. Which eternal crown of reward does God give for faithfulness?
    * 2 Timothy 2:2. What kind of people did Paul instruct Timothy to look for in order to keep on spreading the truth of the Gospel?

Dr. Richard Halverson, former U.S. Senate chaplain, once said, "The emphasis must be on God, not on faith. The strength of faith is the faithfulness of God."

--Rod Sargent, NavLog, June/July 1984, page 7

My Part

Perhaps you have sung the hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness," which is based on Lamentations 3:22-23. When you have access to a hymnal, look up the hymn and read through all its verses. Then, memorize the Bible passage and remember to thank God regularly for His great faithfulness.

'The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3;22-23, ESV).

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 2, 2010
Topic: God, Faith/Trust


The God Who Keeps Promises

There's a tradition that promotes this theory: "If you have your fingers crossed, you can tell a lie without suffering the consequences." But unlike men and women, God isn't looking for a way to tell a lie without being punished. God never lies. He's a promise-maker and a promise-keeper. He keeps His Word and fulfills His promises--always!

What Does God Say?

"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9).

While there's no firm and fast agreement on how long a generation is, Psalm 90:10 says,

"The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

If we take 70 as a generation and multiply it by 1,000 that gives you some indication of God's continuing faithfulness in staying true to His Word?

Now, read again Deuteronomy 7:9 and answer the following questions.

    * What does God promise in Deuteronomy 7:9?
    * How many years would "a thousand generations" include?
    * Who does He make this promise to?
    * What is required of those who receive this promise?

My Thoughts

It is this same promise-keeping God who made our salvation possible according to 1 Corinthians 1:9.

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship [ Your fellowship with God's Son began when you received Jesus into your life.] with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (NASB).

    * In the above Scripture to whom is God faithful to keep His promises?
    * What difference has being "called into fellowship" with Jesus made in your life?
    * Write out at least two examples of God's faithfulness in your life.

My Part

Consider your own faithfulness. Do you believe that God wants you to keep your promises? Is that hard for you? If it is, memorize the following verse that assures you that God is working in you to give you the ability to do those things (like keep promises or be a faithful person) that He wants you to do.

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13, NLT).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 3, 2010
Topic: Sin/Temptation


Confession Is Good for the Soul

In 1884 Grover Cleveland was running against James G. Blaine for the presidency of the U.S. Blaine supporters discovered that Cleveland, who was a bachelor at the time, had fathered a son by Mrs. Maria Crofts Halpin, an attractive widow who had been on friendly terms with several politicians. Subsequently, these men tried to pin an immorality tag on Cleveland by distributing handbills showing an infant labeled "One more vote for Cleveland." The move, however, backfired badly. Rather than deny the story, Cleveland decided to tell the truth and admit the wrongdoing. His confession helped defuse the issue, and Cleveland was elected president.

Satan does the same thing. In fact, Satan is called the "accuser of our brethren" (Revelation 12:10). But God provides a solution to this problem in 1 John 1:9.

What Does God Say?

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

    * Whom is this verse written to?
    * How is God described in this verse?
    * What two benefits come with confession?

My Thoughts

The word confess means "to admit." One of the most difficult parts of dealing with sin is admitting that it is sin. Oftentimes we want to deny it (I didn't do it!). Other times we try to rationalize it (It's not hurting anybody!) or even excuse it (My parents should have raised me better. It's all their fault!). None of those, however, work with God. Until you acknowledge that the letter "i" in the middle of "sin" stands for yourself and no one else, you'll never experience the fullness of God's forgiveness.

Confession doesn't require the involvement of another person. It can be just between you and God. However, sometimes it is helpful to let another trustworthy person know about your sin so that he or she can be an accountability partner as well as pray for you.

Furthermore, confession doesn't require restitution but such action may help deal with the guilt feelings. Satan is an expert at playing the guilt card and preventing forgiven sinners from actively serving the Lord. While we don't "buy" God's forgiveness by paying back what we owe, we demonstrate that we are forgiven by restoring as much as possible of what has been lost through our sin.

My Part

Is there sin in your life that needs to be confessed? Don't delay; do it now. And if there is some restitution that is needed because of that sin, pay up; accept God's forgiveness and cleansing and begin anew.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 4, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, God's Care, Faith/Trust


Faithfulness Shortage

On a scale of one to ten, how faithful (trustworthy, reliable, loyal) do you think the people you meet every day at work or at school or in the marketplace are? Think of number one as not at all faithful and number ten as faithful all the time. Now, where would you rank your personal faithfulness level?

The thing is, faithfulness isn't really as common as we'd like it to be. If faithfulness means keeping our promises, following through on our responsibilities, being committed and reliable--someone others can count on--then we're all in trouble. You can probably even give specific instances when you (or someone else) failed to be faithful.

What Does God Say?

The good news is, God is not just like we are. He never scores a one in faithfulness. He is faithful all the time, no matter what we do in return. And when you feel like everyone has left you in the dust, when no one cares or keeps their commitments to you, God is still faithful.

Just look at the experiences recorded in the psalms. Over and over the writers reflect the hardship of living with unfaithful people, but they come back to the sure knowledge that God never fails to be faithful. For example, faced with enemies, betrayers and faithless people, David goes to God in Psalm 86:15 and says,

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (ESV).

God is the only one who can ever be perfectly faithful. And when that's what you need, do as David did and go to God:

"Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!" (Psalm 143:1, ESV).

God is not only your source of faithfulness, He's also your model. As His children, we have a responsibility to become faithful people too. Faithfulness should become fruit in our lives, evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in us (Galatians 5:22). That's the challenge.

My Thoughts

How does God show His faithfulness to us? Check out these verses for some ideas.

Genesis 9:11-16

Psalm 91:4

Psalm 145:13

1 Corinthians 10:13

2 Thessalonians 3:3

1 John 1:9

Some of these things only God can do. But based on what you've seen of God's faithfulness, what can you do to be a faithful person?

My Part

There is definitely a shortage of faithfulness in our world. But you can make a difference. Is there someone who needs your forgiveness? A promise you need to keep? What about sticking with a task or following through on something God has called you to do? Maybe it means just turning up on time or being prepared for that Bible study you attend. Perhaps you need to talk to your friend or your spouse and find out just what they need from you in terms of faithfulness.

Being faithful isn't easy; it means going against the flow in many ways. But there's a little word of encouragement found in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (ESV). When God calls you to be faithful, just as He is faithful, He's going to help make it happen. Take the risk; do your part to end the faithfulness shortage!

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 5, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Don't Look Down

"Don't look down!"

When was the last time you ignored that advice? You may have regretted it! Maybe heights don't scare you that much, but for many, looking down from a precarious perch can actually be dangerous.

In a sense, that's the same kind of advice Peter's giving in our passage for today. But first he begins in 1:3 by looking up.

What Does God Say?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3, ESV). Read through that verse again, and read the next two as well. Notice how many times Peter tells us we have something to be grateful for.

We are born again; we have a living hope; we have an imperishable inheritance waiting for us; we are guarded through our faith in God and awaiting His future return. Notice also the source of these blessings--the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are saved because of God's mercy, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We have a living hope because of His Resurrection. It's the power of God that backs His promises and preserves our inheritance. So, by the time we get to verse 6, it feels natural to read, "In this you rejoice"! It's almost impossible not to rejoice after all that.

Peter's been focusing our eyes upwards, but notice in verses 6-7 the brief downward focus, "though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith...may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

This is genuine faith. It's the faith that saves our soul, the faith that seals us in God's protective power, the faith that refuses to look away from God regardless of circumstances. It's the faith that reminds us to look up, not down.

My Thoughts

As you read the verses for today, think about the following questions:

1. What blessings does Peter mention?

2. Who gives us these blessings?

3. How long-lasting are the blessings?

4. What's one reason we have to endure trials?

5. What will our faith result in when Jesus comes again?

My Part

Are you finding it hard to look up these days? Take some time and remind yourself of what God's done for you. Pray to Him, and ask Him to show you the ways He's blessed your life that you may not have seen. Make it a point in the coming week to spend some time reading the Word and praying to God first thing in the morning. Before life has a chance to get you down, spend some time looking up.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 8, 2010
Topic: New Life


Object Lessons

The passage of the Bible we're looking at today begins with Jesus' announcement: "'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified'" (John 12:23, ESV). That sounds like a very exciting prospect. It reminds me of the movie Aladdin where the boy wishes to become a prince. A huge celebration breaks out and the newly-made Prince Ali is paraded through the capital streets.

But Jesus was not about to be celebrated in such a princely fashion.

What Does God Say?

"'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life'" (vv. 24-25, ESV).

   1. How are Jesus' words in verses 24 and 25 different in tone from verse 23?
   2. Why did Jesus use an agricultural-type example to teach this truth?
   3. What allows the grain of wheat to bear fruit?

Jesus' path to glory would ultimately end in heaven's throne room, but not before leading Him to the grave. Jesus was teaching His disciples a very important object lesson--you have to die in order to live. You have to give yourself to something larger than yourself in order to be of any value.

In Aladdin, the pauper-turned-prince had to drop his ruse in order to save the day. He had to put to death His princely persona. God created all of us with incredible potential: the ability to change lives forever. But before we can have any lasting value in His service, we need to embrace His life and His goals and leave behind our own.

My Thoughts

What do Jesus' words in the next verse mean for you today? "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him" (v. 26, ESV).

My Part

As you think about how God might be calling you to serve Him today, take some time to express your worries and doubts to Him. God understands this isn't an easy calling, so give Him the opportunity to calm your fears and prepare you for greater things to come.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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Daily Bible Study

Date: Nov 9, 2010
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship


Get a Life

Maybe someone has said to you (or you've said to yourself), "You need to get a life!" If your heart was beating and your lungs were breathing in air, you knew the person wasn't talking about a physical life. Instead, your adviser was suggesting you needed to focus more on the things that make life enjoyable.

Jesus, on the other hand, tells us just the opposite. In John 12:25 (NASB), He says, "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal." Jesus expands upon this seeming contradiction in the Book of Matthew. Let's take a look.

What Does God Say?

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done (Matthew 16:24-28, ESV).

    *
    * What does Jesus mean by losing your "life"?
    * What promise do these verses end with?

My Thoughts

On the surface, it seems like Jesus is talking in contradictions. "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." It's only when we look at the context that it makes sense. Jesus is looking beyond the few years that we spend on earth. He has eternity in mind. The people who live totally for the "now," might gain great wealth and power, but they will leave it all behind when they die. Those people will lose everything they felt was worthwhile in life.

Even Christians can get sucked into focusing on things that are only temporal and forget that it's those things of eternal value that really matter. The life we want to be sure to "get" is not this life but the next one.

My Part

What is the focal point of your life--the things of the world or the things of Christ? Make a list of the most important things in your life. Put a star beside those things that have eternal value. Determine to focus on these items and put a lower priority on all the rest.