Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 29, 2011
Topic: Salvation
Born Again

You've probably heard the expression "born-again Christian." Since 1977 when Jimmy Carter became our 39th president, this phrase has been in the news. The media frequently uses it in interviews and stories. But it's obvious that a lot of people have little idea what it means. Does the Bible provide any understanding of what a "born-again" Christian is?

What Does God Say?

A man named Nicodemus went to talk with Jesus one night, and Jesus explained to him the concept of "being born again."

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.'
"'What do you mean?' exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?'" (John 3:3-4, NLT).

    What is required to see the Kingdom of God?
    How did Nicodemus understand the phrase "born again"?
    Why did Jesus use the phrase "born again"?

"Jesus replied, 'I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life."

"'So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit (John 3:5-8, NLT).

    Jesus says a person must be "born of water and the Spirit." How are these two "births" defined in the preceding verses?
    Who is the source of spiritual birth?
    In what ways is the Spirit like the wind?

My Thoughts

So, you might be wondering about the experience of coming to Christ. That experience is so transforming, so life-changing, so eternity-altering that it can only be expressed as being "born again" (1 Peter 1:23), "born . . . of God" (John 1:13) or as the apostle Paul says, "a new person with new life" (2 Corinthians 5:17). It means that you are a new person; your old life if gone; all your sins are forgiven; you have a home someday in heaven and a new purpose--to live for Christ--in this life.

John 3:16-17 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. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him " (John 3:16-17, NLT).

When people believe in Christ as their Savior, it means they believe that He died on the cross to pay for their sins. They accept Him as Lord. From that point on, the Bible says that God sends His Spirit into their lives to give new life in Christ and to empower them to live their lives to please Jesus.

My Part

The question you might be asking now is...

How can I be born again? Click here and learn how you can come to Christ.

What's your future look like once you've met Christ? Jesus told us, like He told Nicodemus:

"There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son (John 3:18, NLT)

That makes being born again serious business.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 30, 2011
Topic: Salvation, God's Love
From Death to Life

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, ESV). It really couldn't get much simpler than that. God loved, God gave, we believe, we live forever. Let's take a closer look.

What Does God Say?

John 3:16 is the summary statement of the Gospel. It perfectly encompasses God's complete plan for us. But it's not the only verse in John 3.

John 3:17-18 goes on to tell us, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (ESV).

While we love to focus on God's love, we can't forget our condition. We were in bad shape; sin had condemned us to be forever separated from the Holy God. It's not like we were in "neutral" and things could go either way; we were hopeless. It was up to God to fix things, and He did so through His Son, Jesus. When we believe that Jesus did what was necessary for our salvation; when we place our trust in Him and His work on the cross, then we make the transition from condemnation to salvation, from death to life. That's why John 3:17 and 18 are included.

God's love provided us with the Savior. God's love provided us with an opportunity to believe and thereby say goodbye to condemnation. Do you see what happens? You don't have to be afraid any longer of God's wrath or punishment or judgment because through Christ you are now one of God's own. And "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1, ESV).

My Thoughts

Ephesians 2:1-10 offers a more detailed "before" and "after" picture of what's summarized in John 3:16-18. As you read through these verses, consider these questions.

    What were you like "before" (vv. 1-3)?
    What did God do? Why?
    What part did Jesus have?
    What does God want your response to be?
    How do you tap into this salvation?
    When "work" shows up, what's it for?

My Part

That God would love us so much He'd be willing to sacrifice His own Son so we could enjoy a relationship with Him today and through eternity future, defies description! But it doesn't mean we can't accept that that's the way it is.

That's what John 3:16-17 touches on: believing and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, the gift of God's great love, the One who makes eternal life possible and who removes you from condemnation. This isn't just about head knowledge but about belief in action, putting your faith and trust in what Christ has done. Have you done that? Do you realize you can live without fear of condemnation? Have you tapped into God's boundless love and rested in the saving work of Jesus?

If you're not sure, please take a few minutes to learn more.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 1, 2011
Topic: Holiness, Christian Living/Situational, Obedience/Discipleship, God
Clean & Pure

We're good about washing our hands, keeping our clothes clean, or even tidying up the house once in awhile. But that's how we view "clean": the removal of dirt on the surface of things. Purity goes deeper; it's cleanliness to the core. And purity is what God wants to see in us.

What Does God Say?

Psalm 24 makes the case for purity as a necessity or requirement for enjoying God's presence.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation" (Psalm 24:3-5 ESV).

This psalm is focused on coming into God's presence. As a holy righteous God, He can't keep company with sin, filth and impurity. So, we, as sinful, impure people need a good cleaning inside and out in order to enjoy His presence. Clean hands are a great start: hands free from the stain of sin, hands that are not busy in doing what's dirty or wrong in God's eyes. The Hebrew word used here for clean refers to innocence and being free from guilt. So, these clean hands (or feet, ears, eyes, etc.) have nothing to be guilty about.

But it's more than our outward actions that need to be clean. The psalmist includes the need for a pure heart. Purity carries an idea of absoluteness; a complete lack of anything that would soil or mar or affect its quality. An ounce of pure gold is completely gold through and through, with no other minerals or particles present. A pure heart means that our motives, our desires, and who we are to our core is clean and true and unstained—according to God's standards.

Right now, you may be thinking that level of purity is impossible. You know the mess of your mistakes, failures and sin, and all the spots and stains in your heart and even on your hands. But God Himself makes it possible for you to come before Him with clean hands and a pure heart. You can see that 1 Peter 1:13-21; Hebrews 9:11-14; and 1 John 1:5-10, and in our coming studies.

My Thoughts

In Psalm 26:1-12, David asks God to test him to make sure he is clean and pure, acting in integrity. What are some ways he keeps himself clean? What do you see that may reflect a pure heart?

How does Philippians 2:14-16 describe being clean and pure? What will we look like if we are clean and pure before God?

In 1 Timothy 1:5, what comes from a pure heart? What other companions does a pure heart have? How do you see God's standard of cleanliness in those companions?

Read 1 Peter 1:14-22 and describe the two ways we are purified. What does a pure heart help you do for others?

In 1 John 3:2-3, what can motivate us to be pure today? Why?

My Part

Purity allows us to enjoy the presence of our holy God. That's what David calls us to in Psalm 24. And in Matthew 5:8, Jesus says "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (ESV).

And there's a benefit to purity for us. Not only can we enjoy the presence of God, but we enjoy His blessings and we are made righteous (Psalm 24:5).

So, how would you rate your clean hands today? What actions or pursuits are making you dirty before God? What about your heart? Is it pure or does it need a good scrubbing down of wrong motives or sinful desires?

David knew that he could take his impure heart and dirty hands before God and have them cleansed (Psalm 25:6-7; Psalm 51:1-7). You can too. Purity is possible and you can start today. "If we confess our sins, he [Jesus] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 ESV).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 4, 2011
Topic:
Washed in the Blood

I'll be honest; I'm not that great at washing dishes. Oh, I had plenty of practice when I was younger, thanks to my parents: ("We don't need a dishwasher, we have kids!") But most of my time in the kitchen was spent arguing with my sister over whose turn it was to wash--somehow, it was always my turn.

But even though I'm not that great at washing dishes, I do know you can't get a greasy pan clean using only water. You need soap, and better yet, soap designed specifically for "powering away grease!"

Purity in our lives works the same way. There's a trick to getting rid of the sin that stains our soul; a special ingredient that will make even the blackest spot, "white as snow!" We'll find out more about that spiritual soap in the next section.

What Does God Say?

The need for, and benefits of purity are given for us in Psalm 24. Verse 1 says, "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein."

When you understand that sin is what makes us impure, and that sin is acting against God's will, then the reason for purity becomes clear: We live on God's earth and are His people, and having broken His laws, we need to make ourselves right with Him--we need to become pure. We'll look more at how to become pure in the next section, but first, look at verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 24.

In Psalm 24:3-4, David explains why we need to be pure in the first place.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully."

The holiness of God demands purity in His presence. And while that may sound like a permanent block between mankind and our Creator, the Bible has some good news: there is way to become pure.

My Thoughts

In Isaiah 1, the prophet offers this invitation from God:

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD;
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool" (1:18 ).

Later on, Isaiah adds this,

"But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed. ...
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5,11).

This was Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah who we know to be Jesus. Paul, in his letter to the Romans elaborates. Read Romans 3:20-26 and think about the following questions:

What does Paul say is ineffective in making us right before God?
Who needs, and who can receive the gift from God?
How is it that Jesus can accomplish what the law cannot?

My Part

Are you trying to wash yourself clean with good works? Before you go any further, accept the offer of Jesus; the salvation made possible through His blood. That's the only way you'll ever be truly clean.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 5, 2011
Topic: Service/Servanthood
Counted Faithful and Fit for Service

Timid? Physically weak? Unqualified to be a leader? The apostle Paul won't accept any of these excuses from Timothy, his ministry protégé. He knows that God's call is on this young believer's life, and that he has exactly what it takes to serve the Lord: Timothy's heart is clean.

What Does God Say?

"In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work" (2 Timothy 2:20-21).

Times are difficult in Ephesus, both morally and spiritually. Bringing eternal peace to this hostile corner of the world is no task for the faint of heart--especially those who are unclean. So, Paul wants to encourage Timothy to persevere in his Christian faith and life. He knows firsthand that God uses our weakness to demonstrate His strength. But we must approach the Lord with a sincere heart and strive to be pure. "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22).

Paul urges Timothy to be spotless in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity: "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

My Thoughts

Timothy was perhaps 25 years younger than Paul, so he knew it was important to follow and imitate his older Christian friend. During their long journeys together, they saw heathen temples, dark prisons and many people come to Christ. Timothy picked up all kinds of great guidance from his teacher, ranging from: Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young (1 Timothy 4:12) to: Endure hardship ... like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3).

Paul and Timothy were the closest trainer-trainee team in the entire Bible, and it's worth following their example today. Here's a thought: Look around your church, find a "Timothy" and offer to become a "Paul" to him. Mentor a younger believer, boosting his desire to live for Jesus. But if you identify with Timothy, consider latching on to a mature believer. Perhaps your pastor will have some thoughts.

    Read 2 Corinthians 12:9. Does this verse comfort you--especially when you feel disqualified from serving the Lord?
    Read 1 Timothy 4:11-16. List the areas of life in which a believer ought to be an example.
    Read Galatians 6:1-2. Who holds you accountable to live in obedience to God?

My Part

Know how to be a mentor:

    Be available to serve. Be willing to give others undistracted time.
    Be a great listener. Anyone who talks too much won't be much help.
    Be transparent about your own struggles. No mentor is perfect. Those who can admit their imperfections are worth more than those who hide behind an "I've-got-it-all-together smile."

Know how to be a good mentee:

    Be outgoing. Don't wait for your mentor to initiate the conversation. Come up with discussion topics before you get together. Let your mentor know what it is you expect in your relationship with him.
    Be considerate. Make sure the relationship with your mentor doesn't eclipse your growing friendship with Christ. If you let that happen, you'll become a leech that monopolizes your mentor's time. He should willingly give you his time, but he has his own life to live too. Discover the healthy balance.
    Be hungry. Ask questions, lots of them. Write down the answers. Tell your mentor if his advice helps. If it doesn't, let him know and invite more input. Watch your mentor and see what makes him tick. Find out how he and Jesus relate.

Know how to be fit for God's service:

The Lord, in His desire to make us pure and holy for use in His kingdom, is going to work with us as a whole being. He'll teach us about faith, goodness, knowledge, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love, as well as self-control. We must let God instill in us a new definition for holiness. In its simplest definition, it means, "wholly set apart for God." We must offer Him our whole beings. We can't put ourselves in better hands.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 6, 2011
Topic: Holiness, Christian Living/Situational
Blessed Is the Man

Sometimes when you read the Psalms--especially when you read several at once--it's easy to lose perspective on what's really being said. For instance, it's possible to look at Psalm 112 and sum it up by saying, "God blesses the righteous." That's true, but it misses a lot. Let's go deeper into this Psalm and look closer at the link between our fear of God and the blessings He provides. We'll start by first looking at what the Psalm doesn't say.

What Does God Say?

Actually, this section should be titled "What God Doesn't Say" because, for just a moment, we're going to look at Psalm 112 from a different perspective. In the next section we will come back and look at this Psalm and see what it actually says. But for a moment, let's consider a "negative translation" of this Psalm and what it implies rather than what it says.

Here's how verse 1 might look:

"forsaken is the man who does not fear the Lord,
who finds His commandments burdensome."

Verse 2 might continue: "His children will be weak in the land...."

And verses 3 and 4:

"Poverty and misery are in his house,
and his rebellion continues forever.
The darkness persists for the unjust;
he is stingy, unmerciful, and thinks himself the greatest."

And one more, verse 7:

"He is constantly afraid of bad news, inside he is a coward,
because he only has himself to trust in."

And so on. It's a pretty bleak picture. One I'm sure no one aspires to. And though this "negative translation" of Psalm 112 hints at the path to blessing, the correct translation--the way God meant these verses to be read--leaves no doubt. Let's look at the real Psalm 112 in the next section.

My Thoughts

Take some time to read all of Psalm 112 and think about the following questions:

Who is the person that God that blesses?
What blessings does this person enjoy?
What can you do today to enjoy more of God's blessings?

My Part

Write out what you want out of life. What words would you use to describe your ideal life? Now, read through the Psalm again and look for the adjectives that describe "the man who fears the LORD." Here are a few: Mighty. Blessed. Gracious. Firm. Steady. A lot of these adjectives probably also appear on the list you made earlier, and on the lists of thousands of men and women just like yourself. This is the life you were created to live, and the Bible shows you exactly how to live it.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 7, 2011
Topic: Holiness
Man's Impurity; God's Remedy

When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt into the desert wilderness, one of the first hindrances to their journey came at the waters of Marah. The people were dehydrated and crying out for water, but the oasis was filled with impurities that made the water bitter and undrinkable. There was anger in the camp, and Moses sought the Lord's answer. God showed him a log and Moses threw the log into the water. The water miraculously became pure, drinkable and refreshing. You can read the story in Exodus 15:22-27.

In 1999, the World Bank Institute reported that over one billion people lack safe water and that 80 percent of infectious diseases are waterborne, killing millions of children each year.

But the pollution and impurity of the human soul is even more widespread than water pollution. In fact, the impurity of sin is found in 100 percent of people. God's Word is clear about that.

What Does God Say?

Proverbs 20:9 "Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin?"

Moral purity is not the way of the natural man. Read Romans 1:21-25 and make a note of how impurity has taken over.

    How did people treat God?
    What happened to their thoughts?
    What did they exchange for the glory of God?
    What did God give them up to?

As a natural human being, you don't have the power or the ability to make yourself clean. You can abstain from doing wrong; you can strive for moral purity, but the impurity is still there. "'Although you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me,' declares the Lord GOD" (Jeremiah 2:22 NASB).

Impure thoughts, pornography, sexual immorality, obscene language and general moral degradation are rampant in people of our day and age.

There is a West African proverb that states, "Filthy water cannot be washed."

But God has the answer to our impurity. When a person receives Christ as Savior, at the same time, he receives the Holy Spirit as the Helper who is able to purify and cleanse the inner life. Purity is the result of the Spirit's cleansing, using the pure Word of God in the believer's heart. Like the waters of Marah, God can make the bitter soul sweet.

    1 Thessalonians 4:7. What does God give to you to defeat impurity?
    Psalm 119:9 How is impurity guarded against?
    Psalm 12:6. What are the words of God compared to?
    Galatians 5:16-21. What are the results of not following the leading of the Holy Spirit?

My Thoughts

The Spirit of God gave us the Word of God, so reading the Bible, thinking about what it says and applying its lessons to your life gives the Spirit opportunity to cleanse and purify your heart and mind. Godliness and holiness are marks of purity infused into your life by the Spirit.

There is also a coming event that the Holy Spirit uses to keep us alert to our need for living a life of purity. What is it? Find out by reading 1 John 3:2-3.

My Part

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7 again. Do you detect any evidence of impurity in your life? Read Psalm 51:10 and pray it back to God.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 8, 2011
Topic: Holiness, Christian Living/Situational, Obedience/Discipleship, God
A Renewed Mind

Growing up, I hated onions. I picked them off my burger or out of a casserole. I didn't like the taste, the smell, the crunch. I was anti-onion all the way! Then one day, someone dared me to try an onion ring…and it changed my life. I now love onions, eating them in all the ways I used to despise. An onion ring is now, in my book, a wonderful thing!

My mind was renewed, at least with regard to onions. It sounds weird, I know, but that's really what Paul is getting at in Romans 12. Trust me on this.

What Does God Say?

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2 ESV, emphasis added).

When we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit moves in and begins to overhaul us from the inside out. That includes our thinking, our minds. Our minds are renewed--refreshed, renovated, upgraded to Godly7.0--and that in turns transforms us, carrying over into our actions. Just as my changed mind about onions affected my eating habits, so the old sin-influenced and self-focused way of thinking changes to match the holy, pure, God-focused perspective which in turn shapes our actions. The way we live follows the way we think.

In Colossians 3, Paul uses the metaphor of getting dressed. "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator…put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" (Colossians 3:9-10, 12-13 ESV, emphasis added).

Take off the old; put on the new. Delete the old files; transfer in new ones. Eliminate the habits that drag you down; replace them with new healthy habits that build you up. And it begins when you let the Spirit do His work in your mind and thinking.

My Thoughts

So, what is this new way of thinking like? Look at Philippians 2:1-11.

    What thinking and actions are listed in 2:3-4?
    How does that contrast to the "old" way of thinking?
    What is our model for a renewed mind (2:5-6)?
    What attitudes or thinking characterized this model (2:6-8 )?

Read Romans 8:1-11.

    What is the mind focused on when we live by the Spirit?
    What does that bring into our lives?

My Part

So, the Holy Spirit works to renew your mind, developing the kind of thinking in you that reflects Christ Jesus, and in turn that transforms your life. What do you want the Spirit to change in your thinking? What attitudes or objects of focus do you recognize need to change in order to reflect Christ? What about your actions based on your thinking?

Go back to Romans 12 and finish the chapter. Verses 3-8 relate to interaction with other believers as part of the Body (church). And verses 9-21 address how we relate to anyone and everyone. Look for ways in which changing your thinking would result in a change in action, or an attitude that reflects Christ's perspective instead of how we would "humanly" approach something. For example, verse 14 talks about blessing those who curse us (as Christ did) instead of cursing them right back (natural human response).

Jot down some of those changes you would like to see or need to be addressed in your life. Go over your list, asking the Holy Spirit to renew your mind and submit to His ongoing work. Then keep track of these; look for opportunities to think and act differently. You may be surprised at the transformation.

And when you can, order the onion rings!

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 11, 2011
Topic: Faith/Trust
Faithful When You Fail

I remember a video game I used to play many years ago. The player controlled this cute character named Lolo through a series of rooms. In each room, he or she had to figure out how to get to the exit while avoiding various traps and hazards. Obviously, as the game progressed, the puzzles got harder, and some puzzles were incredibly difficult. But I knew there had to be a way. It'd be a pretty poor game if some puzzles didn't have a way through.

What Does God Say?

The analogy is far from perfect, but I was thinking of that game as I read today's verse:

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV).

The word used for temptation in this verse can also be translated as "test." I like that word because it implies that, like other tests, I can pass it successfully. It tells me that temptation can have an upside--that I can grow stronger in my relationship with God if I keep my focus on Him. Of course, I never seek temptation (I never asked for any tests in school either!), but I can know that each temptation is an opportunity to draw closer to God.

So, what does this have to do with the faithfulness of God? Just like I could know that the game designers would never give me an impossible puzzle, I can know that God will never allow me to face an impossible temptation. There is always a way of escape. While failure may be an option, so is success.

Also, God's faithfulness means that even when I fall, when I fail the test, He doesn't give up on me. He'll be ready the next time temptation comes my way. And in the meantime, He's given me His Word to read so that I can be ready as well.

My Thoughts

When you reread verse 13, read verse 12 as well and think about the following questions:

    Why doesn't God just stop any temptations from reaching us?
    How would meeting temptation be different if God wasn't faithful?
    Why is verse 12 so important?

My Part

I'm reminded of the hymn that states,

Let Thy goodness like a fetter,
Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander--Lord I feel it--
Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart,
O take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.*

Look at the words in that hymn that talk about "binding" and "sealing." It's because of God's faithfulness that we can even ask that. Because of His steadfast love towards us, we can always stand back up after we fail.

*"Come, Thou Fount," Robert Robinson; lyrics in Public Domain.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 12, 2011
Topic: Sin/Temptation
Returning to the Light

In The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Zane Hodges writes, "When a believer loses personal touch with the God of light, he begins to live in darkness. But confession of sin is the way back into the light."

What Does God Say?

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

    What does John's use of the words "we" and "us" imply about the intended recipients of this letter?
    What is your spiritual condition when you have sinned?
    What must you do when you sin?
    What is God's response?
    Why does John start the statement with the word "if"? What does that tell you about your responsibility when you sin?

My Thoughts

So, what should you do if you fall into sin? 1 John 1:9 tells you: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

But what does it mean to "confess"? How do you know God will hear your confession and forgive you?

King David was a true believer. He sang and wrote psalms of praise to God that came from his heart. In spite of that, he gave in to temptation and sinned against God and man when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and tried to hide the sin by killing her husband (2 Samuel 11:2-27).

The prophet Nathan confronted David with his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-15). You can read David's confession to God in Psalm 51. His prayer is a model for every believer who is guilty of sin. Turn to that Psalm in your Bible and answer these questions:

    What honest admission did David make to God about his sin (Psalm 51:3-4)?
    What did David say that reveals his true sorrow over his sin (Psalm 51:17)?
    Look up 2 Corinthians 7:10 to see what the apostle Paul says about "godly sorrow."
    How did he express his desire for God's forgiveness (Psalm 51:1-2, 7-9)?
    How do you know that David believed God had heard him and would restore him (Psalm 51:12-15)?

David's prayer shows you how true confession must involve acknowledging your sin before God, looking at it as God looks at it, regretting the action of your sin, asking to be cleansed by the blood of Christ and believing that God is faithful to cleanse you, forgive you and restore you to fellowship and service.

David's sin had consequences, but God's forgiveness was complete, as was David's restoration to fellowship. God is faithful. He will not forget His promise to forgive you when you confess your sin and call upon Him to cleanse you through the power of the sacrificial death of Christ.

My Part

As John points out, we all sin and need to confess those sins to God. But sometimes a believer may feel that he or she has sinned against God so terribly that He will never forgive the wrong that has been done. They wonder, What's the use of trying to get right with God? He'll never hear me, and I'll never get out of this mess I'm in. But when God tells us that He is faithful, He is also promising that He is faithful to forgive even the blackest sins.

If you are in that place right now, don't delay a moment longer! Go to God in prayer; do what David did; acknowledge your sin and accept His gracious forgiveness. Don't forget to thank Him for His faithfulness, which He shows even when His children have been unfaithful.

Remember, fellowship can be restored. "When a believer loses personal touch with the God of light, he begins to live in darkness. But confession of sin is the way back into the light."

[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: Jul 13, 2011
Topic: Faith/Trust
Very Little Is Very Big

They don't take much at a time--just a bit--but over the years they've brought some rich gold and silver mines to the brink of bankruptcy. They are known as "highgraders," and they are found worldwide.

A highgrading miner secretly pilfers a small amount of rich ore and smuggles it out of the mine by concealing it in imaginative ways, such as putting it in a sandwich, scattering it through his hair or cramming it in his ear. After all, he figures, what difference does a little gold dust make to a rich mining corporation?

It can make a lot of difference. At one mine in Nevada in 1908, four miners were arrested when a whole wagonload of ore they had highgraded was discovered in their homes.

So, what difference does a little unfaithfulness make? You might be surprised. Let's see what the Bible has to say about that.

What Does God Say?

Jesus talked to His disciples about faithfulness as recorded in Luke 16:10-12 (ESV). He said: "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?"

God is faithful, and He requires faithfulness in your life. Look up these references in your Bible and write down the answers to the related questions:

    What does Psalm 31:23 say God does for the faithful?
    What eternal reward does God say He has for the faithful in Psalm 101:6? In Revelation 2:10?
    In the believer, from where does the quality of faithfulness come (Galatians 5:22)?

My Thoughts

The highgraders in Nevada were dishonest in the little things. But their intent to sell the wagonload shows you that they were also dishonest in much.

Oswald Chambers wrote in his book, Not Knowing Whither, p. 135: "The life of faith does not consist of acts of worship or of great self-denial and heroic virtues, but of all the daily conscious acts of our lives."

God notices the small things. You build faithfulness into your life as you daily approach the little things in a godly way. Godliness is God-likeness. He is faithful and cannot waver. As you become more and more like Him, you will build faithfulness and become more conscious of how you are using the time, resources and abilities God has entrusted to you.

Read the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 and write down what you see there about faithfulness and unfaithfulness.

My Part

You may feel you have very little going right now that requires much faithfulness on your part. But ask yourself: What about my time? What about my Bible study and devotional life? What about my spiritual gifts and my natural talents?

The time to be faithful is now.
The place to be faithful is where you are.
The way to be faithful is to be Christlike in all you do.

"Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?" Proverbs 20:6 (ESV).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 14, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational
God's Amazing Patience

According to RoadRagers.com, "Road rage (also road violence) is the informal name for deliberately dangerous and/or violent behavior under the influence of heightened, violent emotion such as anger and frustration involving an automobile in use."

"Losing it" is pretty common these days. At times, you may wonder if patience has totally gone out of style. People want their hamburgers within 60 seconds. Items they order from a website should arrive by "next-day delivery." More than one person ahead of them at the grocery checkout constitutes an unbearable delay, and the failure of drivers in front of them to make instant jackrabbit starts when the light turns green is downright intolerable.

A dictionary will tell you that patience emphasizes calmness, self-control and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay. Another word some Bible translations use, especially when speaking of God, is longsuffering, which speaks especially of His patient endurance of the evils of sinful people. Let's see what the Bible has to say about the amazing patience of God.

What Does God Say?

When the Lord established the nation of Israel at Sinai, He wanted Moses and the people to know how He would treat them. You get an interesting look into God's heart when you read Exodus 34:6-8 (ESV):

"The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.' And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped."

    You may hear some people say "God is a God of love, so He never would get angry." From the Bible passage above, how would you answer them?
    You may hear others ask, "Why does God pay no attention to all the evil going on in the world?" From the passage, what would you tell them?

Now, look at some other verses about God's patience and answer the questions.

    What do Romans 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 say is the desired outcome of God's patience toward sinners? Compare 2 Peter 3:15 also.
    Read 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10. What is the end result of scorning the patience of God

My Thoughts

God is a God of love, so your Christian life is to be marked by love. He is the Light of the World, so you are to be a light in the world. He is faithful, so you are to be faithful.

The same is true of patience and longsuffering. As God is patient, His people must be patient. Read the following Bible verses and answer the questions.

    What should motivate you, as a believer, to be patient? See 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.
    Who makes patience possible in the Christian's life? Read Galatians 5:22-23.
    What does God have to say about "getting even"? Romans 12:19 will tell you.

My Part

Commit Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV) to memory. It doesn't contain the word, patience, but it shows you what patience should look like in your daily life, and it tells you why every believer should practice it.

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

[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: Jul 15, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational
Make Peace

We love to talk about the vague goal of "world peace." It's a running line for beauty queens, politicians and those lost in a haze of idealism. But while "world peace" may sound impossible, you can bring more peace to your world. How? Follow God's example and practice patience (longsuffering).

What Does God Say?

Patience (or longsuffering) is critical to creating peace in our relationships and circumstances. In Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul links the two. "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (ESV).

Another translation puts it like this: "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace" (Ephesians 4:2-3, NLT).

Being patient with the faults and differences of others makes it possible to build unity and create peace in our relationships. How? When you exercise patience, you defer your anger. You have time to think and to be pro-active, time to in find a solution instead of being reactive and unproductive.

Colossians 3:12-15 tells us, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful" (ESV).

My Thoughts

Go back over Colossians 3:12-15.

    List the things we're to "put on" and describe how you demonstrate each one.
    Why do they fit together?
    How might each quality impact a relationship and bring about peace?

Romans 12:15-18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 also offer ways patience can bring peace in your relationships.

    What's the end goal we're trying to reach?

My Part

Let's be honest, our lack of patience comes from two areas.

    Selfishness--I focus on my wants, my wishes, my way; and when other people don't fall into that agenda, I'm upset.
    A demand for immediacy--not just what I want but when I want it.

    Which of these is usually the source of your impatience?
    What fall-out have you experienced because of this?
    What can you change about that today?

Think of a relationship or situation where a little patience on your part could have produced peace. What happened? If you exercised patience, what would have changed? What solutions might you have found? What's keeping you from making it right?

Patience (or longsuffering) is not something we can manufacture on our own. It comes as we let the Holy Spirit guide, influence and intervene in our lives. As you consider patience and peace, ask the Holy Spirit to do His work in your life. Committing Ephesians 4:1-3 or Colossians 3:12-15 to memory can be a great way to be ready for the next time you need patience and peace.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 18, 2011
Topic: Faith/Trust
More Than a Virtue

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

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

What Does God Say?

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

My Part

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

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 19, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational
Patience Is Possible

Of all the things that try our patience, people are most likely to be at the top of our list. It's no wonder that Linus, from the Peanut cartoon strip, said, "I love humanity; it's people I can't stand."

Whether we're talking about work, church or home, it's people that most often cause our patience to wear thin. That's what led Ulrike Ruffert to say: "Patience is the ability to put up with people you'd like to put down." But before you allow your impatience to cause you to make an angry reply or hurtful comment, consider what the Bible has to say.

What Does God Say?

"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all" (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 NKJV).

    List the types of people that Paul acknowledges may try your patience.
    How should you respond to these people in addition to being patient?
    What does Paul instruct you to avoid?
    What are we to pursue?

My Thoughts

It's easy to justify impatience. You've warned this person before. You've told this individual at least 15 times how to do something. Your freedoms have been infringed upon once again by someone else's hang-ups. And you have a right to be impatient!

But look at how God has dealt with you. How many times have you done the same thing wrong? How many times has He helped you through another difficulty (many of which you have created yourself). Yet He continues to deal with you in a loving way.

Being patient isn't the same thing as being passive. Nor does patience mean that you do nothing when someone is out of line or has a special need. Patience is reflected not in what you do but how you do it. Even positive actions can be ruined if they are done in an impatient way

My Part

Who in your life pushes the impatience button? Bring that person before the Lord and ask what actions you should take. At the same time, ask for the Holy Spirit to produce in you a patience that will help you take action in a way that will be good for you and for everyone else involved in the situation.