Bible Minute

[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 28, 2007
Topic: Faith/Trust




When is God Faithful? - 1

Sometimes we better understand a question if we frame it in the negative: Instead of asking, "When is God faithful?" we could ask, "When is God not faithful?" The Bible teaches us there is no such time.


What Does God Say?
 
"Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9 NASB).

When are we most likely to question the faithfulness of God? It often happens when we have been unfaithful, or when we have sinned or given in to temptation. The Bible assures us that even then, not only is God faithful, but He provides help and strength to deal with those situations.

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will make the way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The key to understanding faithfulness is to know that God is always God. His faithfulness originates from His character, so it does not depend on us or what we do or don't do. If the faithfulness of God does not depend on our situation--it depends on His character--then God will always be faithful to us.


My Thoughts
 
Are there times when you've doubted the faithfulness of God? Describe the situation that created the doubt.

Are you able to look back and see now that God was faithful even though it may not have been apparent to you at the time? How has the situation changed?

Do you believe that there is a limit to God's faithfulness? Read Romans 8:32 and write it out in your own words.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the assurance that God will faithfully and generously be there for us and provide for us.


My Part

Is the faithfulness of God an encouragement to you?
Does it bring a sense of relief and peace?
How does His faithfulness encourage you to be more faithful?

Take a few moments right now to verbally or in written form praise God for His faithfulness, to ask His help in learning to trust His character in every situation and to commit yourself to being faithful to Him as best you can.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 29, 2007
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness




When is God Faithful? - 2

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

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

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


What Does God Say?

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

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


My Thoughts

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

"'Come now, and let us reason together,'
Says the LORD,
'Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.'"


My Part

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

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 30, 2007
Topic: God's Care, Faith/Trust




Pour Out Your Heart

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


What Does God Say?

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

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

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

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

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


My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 31, 2007
Topic: Faith/Trust




Where's Your Trust?

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

What Does the Bible Say

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

For what things do you trust money?

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

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

Do you seem to spend your cash on trivial things?

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

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[nChrist]

Title: Running From God
Date: Sep 3, 2007
Topic(s): Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3



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

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

What Does God Say?

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

My Part

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

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

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[nChrist]

Title: Looking Up
Date: Sep 4, 2007
Topic(s): Christian Living/Situational, Bible Characters
Scripture: Jonah 1-3
   

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

What Does God Say?

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

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

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

Then Jonah's life began to look up:

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

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

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

Think about this:

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

My Part

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

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

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 5, 2007
Topic: God's Care




God In Your Life

All of us go through dark days in our lives. And many of us who are familiar with God's Word turn to a Bible verse like this one for comfort:

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4, ESV).

But did you know that God walks with you in the good times too?


What Does the Bible Say

You read verse 4 above and saw one instance when God walks with you. If you look at verses 1 through 3, you'll see other situations when God's presence is apparent.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1, ESV).

A good shepherd never lets his sheep just wander. He guides them; He knows when the sheep need food or water and leads the flocks to places where that need can be met.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures" (Psalm 23:2, ESV).

There is hardly a more idyllic scene than a green field under a crystal blue sky. It's a place of peace and happiness. And it's a place you'll only find while following the Good Shepherd.

"He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul" (Psalm 23:2-3, ESV).

In John 4, Jesus met a woman whose soul was in desperate need of restoring. She had been with five husbands, and those relationships had not relieved her dissatisfaction with life. Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14, ESV).

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, leads us to the still, deep waters which will restore our soul. He leads us to Himself and to a relationship that will satisfy our deepest longings.

"He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (Psalm 23:3, ESV).

God wants to see you succeed in life, not just because it's best for you but because it brings Him glory as well. He does this by leading us on the paths of righteousness--where we meet the challenges of this world God's way--where we live by godly virtues and not by the world's wisdom.


My Thoughts

With God as our shepherd, we are the sheep. But we're sheep with a choice. Every day you have numerous opportunities to plot your own course in life or to follow the Shepherd's leading. What choice will you make today?


My Part

Tonight, set aside half an hour and look back over your day. Take a pen and a piece of paper and write down every instance you can think of when God was leading you. Were there any times you fought Him? Were there any times you choose to follow God? Were there any times God may have been leading and you weren't even aware of it at the time?

Let God remind you today that He's always walking with you, always ready to lead you to those green pastures and still waters, not just in the dark times but every other time as well.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 6, 2007
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship




Aw, Lord, Do I Have To?

Bible translators who work with languages that are not yet put into writing often struggle to find the right word or phrase to convey the correct meaning of a portion of Scripture. One worker hunted long to find a way to translate the word obedience into the tribal language he was recording but had no success.

One day, the translator was going for a walk; and he whistled for his dog to come with him. The dog immediately ran to its owner. An old tribal man who saw what happened said to the missionary, "Your dog is all ear." 

The missionary immediately knew he had the exact phrase to express obedience.

Are you "all ear" when it comes to obeying God? Let's look at some lessons about obedience and disobedience today.


What Does God Say?

Read this from Luke 5:4-8 (ESV):

"And when [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch' And Simon answered, 'Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.'  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'" 

Jesus ran an "obedience school" for His disciples. He wanted them to learn to trust Him absolutely in every area of life. Peter hadn't been a disciple very long. He was weary from a night of unsuccessful fishing, and he felt he knew far more about fishing than Jesus did. But Jesus told him, "Go back out there on the water and try again."

Peter revealed his reluctance as he replied, "OK, Master, if you say so."

When the boats almost sank from the weight of the fish, Peter realized how sinful his attitude had been. He fell on his knees and said, "Lord, don't have anything more to do with this sinful man!"


My Thoughts

It's pretty irritating when your dog doesn't come the first or second time you call, isn't it? And you might say that it's downright infuriating when the dog just totally ignores you and keeps on doing its own thing when you call!

If a person willfully disobeys God, that is one thing; if he or she delays or reluctantly obeys God, that is another. But do you see how both attitudes show lack of faith?

Here is a Bible record of a person who willfully disobeyed God: Read 1 Kings 11:4-11.

Who was the person who disobeyed?
      * What did he do that angered God?
      * How many times had God told him not to do what he did?
      * What was the outcome of this person's disobedience?
      *
Now, look at another person who was reluctant to obey God but changed his mind and later obeyed. Open your Bible to the Book of Exodus, chapters 3 and 4, and look at these verses about God's command to Moses to deliver the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt.

What did God want Moses to do (Exodus 3:10)?
      * What was Moses' first response to God's order (Exodus 3:11)?
      * What was Moses' second response (Exodus 4:1)?
      * What was his third response to God's order (Exodus 4:10)?
      * What was Moses' fourth reaction to God's command (Exodus 4:13)?
      * What was God's response to Moses' continuing reluctance to obey (Exodus 4:14-17)?
     
Someone has said, "Delayed obedience is disobedience." As long as you are reluctant to obey and you hold off doing something that God has told you to do, no matter what your intentions are, you are disobeying the Lord. And if you do finally get around to obeying, the blessing will never be as great as if you had obeyed the moment the Lord showed you what you should do.


My Part

Is God revealing anything to you these days that you ought to be doing but are delaying to do because of your lack of faith? Is there any area of your life where you are willfully disobeying Him?

Read Matthew 21:28-31 to see something Jesus had to say about willful disobedience and reluctant, delayed obedience.

Determine that you will no longer delay. Take the first step today to be obedient to God.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 7, 2007
Topic: Jesus, God, Faith/Trust




Trust Jesus

Whenever a character in a movie or on TV says "Trust me," you get the feeling you probably shouldn't trust him at all. And if he says "Trust me, I know what I'm doing," then it's probably time for everyone in the scene to clear out! It's just not going to be good.

Not so with Jesus. When He says, "Trust Me," you can not only trust Him completely, but you should. And He definitely knows what He's doing. 


What Does God Say?

In John 13, as Jesus washed His disciples' feet, Peter was confused. Jesus told him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand" (John 13:7, ESV). This is probably the hardest part of trusting Jesus--not knowing or understanding what He's doing in our lives. But He also tells us, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me" (John 14:1, NLT).

You see, learning to put your trust in God and in Jesus is essential for growing to spiritual maturity. It's not blind trust: God gives us plenty of evidence throughout His Word that He is worthy of our complete trust, even when we don't fully understand. Just read the stories of Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, David and many others.

And there are benefits to trusting God. Look at Nahum 1:7: 
"The Lord is good,
a strong refuge when trouble comes.
He is close to those who trust in him" (NLT). 

What about Psalm 56:3-4:
"But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?" (NLT)

Or Psalm 52:8: "But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God's unfailing love." (NLT)


My Thoughts

Proverbs 3:5-6 has familiar instructions for trusting God. Look at these verses with a these questions in mind:

How much are you supposed to trust God?
      * What part of your heart or mind struggles with trusting Him?
      * What's the extent of your own understanding of life's issues?
      * Why would leaning on God's understanding be better?
      * What are the benefits you've found in trusting God?

My Part

When Jesus says, "Trust Me," the hard part is usually getting over that "doubt reflex"--the one that makes us say, "Not likely!" Do a self-check to see what's holding you back.

What has He asked you to trust Him with lately? Your future plans? Your money? Your marriage? Your children? Your time?
      * What's making you question His ability to deliver or His understanding of your situation?
      * If you're judging God's trustworthiness based on your experience with people, ask Him to change your standard. It should really be the other way around. 
     
Now, in your head or on paper, take your trust questions and lay them out; look them over and take a few minutes to commit them to God. Put them "in trust" with Him, just as you'd commit important documents to a lawyer or banker. Then ask God to fulfill in you what Paul prayed for believers in Romans 15:13: "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit" (NLT).

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 10, 2007
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness


He's Faithful

Are you like Jesus' disciple, Peter? Or are you more like Judas? Now, first of all, when I ask, "Are you more like Judas?," I'm not asking, "Are you the type who would betray Jesus?" And I'm not asking, "Are you the type who would disown Jesus in public?"

I'm asking, how do you respond when you have messed up? Do you respond like Peter or Judas?

What Does the Bible Say

There's one constant among all human beings: we're all sinners. We've all disappointed God. In this regard, we are all like Peter; and we are all like Judas.

But there's another constant to consider. Paul, in his second letter to Timothy tells us, "If we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13-14, ESV). That means God always keeps His promises; His faithfulness is part of what makes Him God.

So, back to our original question: when faced with your own unfaithful tendency in the light of God's unwavering faithfulness, are you like Peter or more like Judas?

Peter must have felt very ashamed because he disowned Jesus--especially after boldly declaring he would die before he would desert Jesus (See John 13:37). But when the resurrected Christ appeared on the shore where Peter and the others were fishing, Peter couldn't make himself wait until the slow boat returned to shore to be in the presence of his Lord. Soon after Peter reaffirmed his love for Jesus.

Judas also felt remorse for his actions. But instead of going back to the ever-faithful God, Judas took his own life. He chose to ignore the faithfulness of God.

My Thoughts

Too many people spend their time dwelling on their own faults. But instead of bemoaning our faithlessness, we should be praising God's faithfulness. If you've been wandering away from God lately, be like Peter and return to Him. Don't let the devil convince you that God could never love you again. There isn't a person alive who hasn't disappointed God in some way. Today the choice is yours: either dwell in your misery or rejoice in God's faithfulness.

My Part

First John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (ESV). If you have been unfaithful, confess it to God. Confession means to admit to God that you’ve sinned against Him. There is no other way to experience the forgiveness, love and joy of God your Father.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 11, 2007
Topic: New Life


Take Responsibility

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

What Does God Say?

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

"Does God relish the thought of punishing? Let's see what His Word says:

Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live" (Ezekiel 18:23 NLT).

So, God makes this promise to all:

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

My Part

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

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 12, 2007
Topic: Sin/Temptation


Stopping the Spiral

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

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

What Does God Say?

"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14-15, ESV).

"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22 ESV)

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

My Thoughts

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

My Part

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

Select one of these steps to work on this week.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 13, 2007
Topic: Sin/Temptation


Patterns of Temptation

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

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

What Does God Say?

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

My Part

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

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

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

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 14, 2007
Topic: Prayer


A Critical Conversation

Think of one of your closest relationships. Maybe it's with a spouse, a sibling or a best friend. Now, ask yourself, How often do I talk to that person? What do I talk about? More than likely, you'll find that you talk to him or her all the time and about everything! Our relationship with God should be like that as well. In fact, it should be our number one priority. He should be our closest friend, yet many times we talk to Him the least! Is prayer really just talking to God? Are there certain things I have to do and say? Sometimes we don't pray because we get confused about what prayer is really all about.

What Does God Say?

"Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it" (James 4:2, NLT).

"If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18 NLT).

"It's your sins that have cut you off from God.
Because of your sins, he has turned away
and will not listen anymore" (Isaiah 59:2, NLT).

"Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises" (James 5:13, NLT).

Consider these questions:

What is one of the reasons we don't get what we pray for?
What causes God not to hear our prayers?
When are we to pray?

My Thoughts

Prayer is our communication with God. It's our way to spend time with God and strengthen our relationship with Him. Prayer is about thanking Him for everything He's done for us; it's confessing our sins. Prayer is asking God for the things we want and need. Some people only go to God when they need something. Others only go to God when things are rough. What kind of friend would you be if you only talked to a person when you needed something from him or her?

Ask yourself:

How often do I spend time talking with God in prayer?
When do I pray? Is it just when I need something?
Am I making sure that there is no known sin in my life so my relationship with God can grow?

My Part

We are called to consistently pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We don't just have to pray before our meals or during our usual devotional times. We can pray any time of the day. Spend some time today giving your prayer life a serious check up. Think about when you normally pray and what you are praying for. If you need to, make a list. Write down all the things that you're thankful for, all the things you need to ask God for, etc.

If we learn to view prayer as our way of communicating with God and developing our relationship with Him, our attitude toward prayer will completely change--and, more importantly, our relationship with God will grow.

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Sep 17, 2007
Topic: Prayer, Sin/Temptation


How You Treat God - 1

If I were to start treating my boss like a servant, you can bet I would experience some consequences pretty quickly. If I were to start treating my best friend like a common criminal, he wouldn't be my best friend for long.

It's obvious: the way I treat the people in my life will directly affect the way they treat me. Does the same rule apply to the relationship I have with God? Yes, it can. While God's faithfulness to us never changes, our attitudes and actions can cause His responses toward us to change considerably!

What Does the Bible Say

"'Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger.... Therefore I will act in wrath....And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them'" (Ezekiel 8:17-18, ESV).

"If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18 ESV).

●While it's not an exhaustive list, look at Proverbs 6:16-19 and list the items mentioned that are an abomination to the Lord.

●What does it mean to cherish iniquity in your heart"?

My Thoughts

It feels almost blasphemous to say that there are times when God doesn't hear my prayers, but there it is in the Bible. But along with the predicament (God not hearing my prayers), the Bible also points out the problem: my sin. Not just the sin that comes as a result of being chained to a corrupted body (See Romans 7:18.) but the sinful habits and lifestyles we hold on to even after accepting Christ.

This isn't God being petty and juvenile. This is God saying, "I take this relationship seriously, and I want you to demonstrate that you take it just as seriously."

My Part

Are you feeling like God isn't hearing your prayers? It could be a test—God is demonstrating whether you will be faithful even if you don't feel His presence or see His hand responding to your prayers. On the other hand, there could abominations (sin) in your life. Ask God to show you anything in your life that is displeasing to Him. Use the list in Proverbs 6:16-19 as a starting point to reveal any thing that might be hindering your prayers.

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