Bible Minute

[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 4, 2008
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"

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 5, 2008
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).

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 6, 2008
Topic: Service/Servanthood


Become Faithful

What is the best motivation for being faithful? I would say it's God's faithfulness. How can you show your faithfulness to God? One important way is by consistently serving others. How do you begin? Let Jesus tell you:

What Does God Say?

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'

"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!''" (Matthew 25:34-40, NLT)

1. List the common acts of service Jesus refers to.
2. How would you describe those who are in need in these verses?
3. When was the last time you responded to someone in need?
4. What was the King's reaction to those who'd answered the needs of others?

My Thoughts

Take a step toward becoming faithful today. Ask God to impress on your heart ways you can faithfully serve Him by faithfully serving others. Then be on the lookout every day for ordinary ways to be of help to people who can never repay or reciprocate.

My Part

Learning to become faithful is a process. What happens if you blow it or find it too difficult? Will God be mad at you and stop being faithful to you? The answer is in these words from 2 Timothy.

"If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is" (2 Timothy 2:13, NIV).

Praise God for His faithfulness and ask for His help in being more like Him.

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 9, 2008
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 Web site 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."

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 10, 2008
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.
          o Which of these is usually the source of your impatience?
          o What fall-out have you experienced because of this?
          o 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.

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 11, 2008
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 the Bible 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.

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 12, 2008
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 carton 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.

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 13, 2008
Topic: Salvation


Saved by Mercy

Napoleon was once asked to pardon a woman's son. He responded that the boy had committed an offense and that justice must be served. The woman's son would die.

"But I don't ask for justice," the mother cried. "I beg for mercy."

"Your son doesn't deserve mercy," Napoleon responded.

"Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and I ask for mercy."

"Well, then," the emperor said, "I will give mercy." And he spared the woman's son.

"Saved by Mercy" is the title of today's study. So, let's see what the Bible says about God's mercy:

What Does God Say?

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV).

   1. We've been saved by what?
   2. How does that fit with mercy?
   3. Why does God have mercy on His children?
   4. What does God's mercy mean to you?

My Thoughts

Understanding how you are saved by mercy means grasping what it is to be completely and totally forgiven of all your sins--past and present and future. It also means that we will hear God pronounce the following verdict:

"T here is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV).

Check out these Scriptures to understand more about the breadth and depth of saving mercy.

"As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12, NASB).

Did you ever wonder why the Bible does not say "as far as the north is from the south?" Because if you go south at one point you will cross the South Pole and then you will be heading north. North and south meet at the poles. But if you go east, you can travel for a million billion years, and you will never touch west.

"And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins" (Jeremiah 31:34, NLT).

If all your sins and transgressions have been separated as far as the east is from the west, if God remembers them no more, then you have been saved by mercy and your sins are gone, gone, gone--completely, totally and forever. Now, that's the richness of God's mercy in Christ!

My Part

Read the following description of "saved by mercy" and let it guide your heart in expressing your gratitude, praise and awe to your Savior and God.

"He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth"
(Psalm 103:10-11 NLT).

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by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 16, 2008
Topic: God's Love


God's Loving Heart

When Robert Louis Stevenson retired to the Samoan Islands for his health, he became to the natives of that island a kind and generous friend. Stevenson was concerned that there was only a path leading from the harbor of his island over which his new friends must walk in order to bring provisions to the interior. With his own money and personal efforts, Stevenson had a good road constructed for his people. In gratitude the Samoans called it, "the road of a loving heart."

The Bible reveals another "loving heart"—the heart of God. Let's look at how Jesus showed this heart as He ministered to the needs of others.

What Does God Say?

The psalmist says:

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy (Psalms 145:8, NKJV)

Read the verses below and indicate how Jesus showed this loving heart of God:

    * Matthew 14:14
    * Matthew 15:32-38
    * Matthew 20:30-34
    * Mark 1:40-42
    * Mark 6:33-34

My Thoughts

True compassion is not simply an emotion; it's an action as well. As we see in the life of Jesus, God doesn't just stop with feeling the pain of His creation, He does something about it. Of course His greatest act of compassion was to send His Son to die on the cross for our sins.

My Part

While we can never equal God's compassion, we are still to imitate it. Take a few moments right now to ask God to bring to mind someone who needs to be shown compassion. Carefully consider how you might show God's loving heart to this person in a practical way.

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by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 17, 2008
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, God, God's Love


The Promise Keeper

God keeps His promises. Is that hard for you to believe? I hope not, because the Bible is full of the evidence. Open it up and take a look.

What Does God Say?

Hebrews 10:23 reminds us to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (ESV).

    * That "He" is God. He made the promises, and He's faithful to keep them. You can live in complete confidence that God will do what He promises to do. First Thessalonians 5:24 boldly states: "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (ESV).

God's faithfulness, reliability and truthfulness make it impossible for Him to break a promise. Over and over, we find God making--and keeping--His promises. Read the Scriptures below and write out 1) the promises God made and 2) how He kept them.

To Abraham:

1) Genesis 17:15-19
2) Genesis21:1-7

1) Genesis 17:3-8
2) Joshua 24:2-18

To Jacob:

1) Genesis 46:1-7
2) Genesis 50:1-3, 12-14; Psalm 105

To Hannah:

1) 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 10-18
2) 1 Samuel 1:20-28

To David:

1) 2 Samuel 7:5-16
2) 2 Chronicles 6:3-11 and Luke 1:26-33

To Zechariah and Elizabeth:

1) Luke 1:5-25
2) Luke 1:57-66

My Thoughts

If you're thinking God made promises only to a special few and none of His promises apply to you, look up these promises God makes to every believer.

Psalm 23
Psalm 67:6-7
Hebrews 13:5-6
John 14:15-31
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 John 1:9
1 John 2:25
1 John 5:11
1 John 5:14-15

    * Which promises do you need today?
    * What helps you now to trust God to keep His promises?

Of course, God's greatest promise is summarized in John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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" (ESV).

God promised that Jesus, His Son, will be our Savior and Messiah and that He will redeem us from sin and give us eternal life. You can find the threads of that promise throughout the Old Testament. Then you can see it fulfilled in the New Testament--as well as whenever someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ.

My Part

Knowing God as our Promise Keeper means two things. The first is a matter of trust: You can trust God to keep His promises to you and to be faithful as you wait for that fulfillment. Go back to the promises we've touched on that have you concerned; take them to God in prayer, asking Him to help you trust Him as He keeps that promise.

Second, as our Heavenly Father, He models promise-keeping to us. So, we should be faithful in keeping our promises and following through on the commitments we've made. What promises have you made that require you to be faithful? What can you do today to keep those promises? Take the opportunity to be faithful to all your promises.

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 18, 2008
Topic: Faith/Trust


Our Dependable God

Some years back, a poll was conducted to determine "The Ten Most Obnoxious Personality Traits." Number ten (the worst) was Lack of Dependability.

You probably would agree that the person who doesn't show up on time for appointments or doesn't do what he or she has promised to do is more than simply an irritation. In fact, that person is unworthy of your confidence.

However, God's trustworthiness is never to be compared to men's. His character is pure; His ability is boundless; His Word cannot fail and His strength and power are far beyond your comprehension. Because you can absolutely trust Him, you can have the peace that He has promised to all who know Him personally. Let's look at some things that God says about His dependability and why you need to set your hope on Him alone.

What Does God Say?

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV) is one of the greatest statements in the Bible about the trustworthiness of God. It says:

"You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock"

As you meditate on those verses, write down your answers to the following questions:

    * In verse 3, what is the fruit or result of trusting God?
    * In verse 4, what do you believe the comparison of God to an "everlasting rock" means for the person who trusts in Him?

My Thoughts

Your trust is only as good as what you are trusting. Sadly, as sinful human beings, we are prone to trust in all kinds of things other than God. The Bible mentions some specific objects that can be the focus of your faith but cannot possibly meet any of your eternal needs. Look up these verses and write down what they warn you against.

    * Psalm 49:6
          o What are some ways people trust this today?
    * Psalm 44:6 with Psalm 20:7
          o What would be modern equivalents of these things?
    * Psalm 118:9
          o What does this tell you about depending on political promises?
    * Isaiah 42:17
          o What does this tell you about trusting religion instead of God?

God promises benefits to the person who trusts in Him. You will see some of the benefits in the following Bible verses. Name them.

    * Jeremiah 17:7
    * Psalm 33:21
    * Psalm 37:5-6
    * Psalm 56:11
    * Psalm 119:42
    * Isaiah 12:2

My Part

There is no question that God is wholly trustworthy. It is His nature, and He will never go back on His promises. He will always be there for you.

If you have been following the Bible Minute studies, you know by now that godliness or God-like-ness is a trait that every Christian should model. Today, you have looked at the trustworthiness of God, so that means a godly person is also to be trustworthy in the way that his or her heavenly Father is trustworthy. First Corinthians 4:1-2 ( ESV) says: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy."

Take stock and see if there are any areas in your own life that come short of the trustworthiness God calls upon you to possess.

A Scripture passage with a promise from God is Proverbs 3:5-6. Commit it to memory!

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 19, 2008
Topic: God


God Is Truthful

If the force of gravity ever wavered, life on earth would not be possible. If the North Star rotated as do the other stars, navigation principles would have been vastly more difficult to learn. And if God was ever untruthful, we could throw the Bible out the window and give up any hope of ever knowing who God is and what He wants. But the Bible assures us otherwise.

What Does the Bible Say

The truthfulness of God is so important that Paul reminded Titus of it before he finished greeting the young pastor: "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began" (Titus 1:1-2, ESV, italics added).

    * Read those verses again and list some of the things that would be impossible if God did lie.
    * How would this affect the confidence we have in our salvation?

God's truthfulness means that we, too, can know the truth. God's truth in our lives means we can know right and wrong and know that right is right for everyone and wrong is always wrong.

God's truthfulness gives us hope of eternal life. God is a God who makes promises and keeps all of them. When Jesus promised that He will return and usher us into heaven (John 14:3), we can count on it.

In the next section we'll look more at what God's truthfulness means for us.

My Thoughts

As you read Titus 1:1-2, think about the following questions:

    * How would life be different if God weren't always truthful?
    * How would life be different if you could be as truthful as God?

My Part

Titus isn't a long book (46 verses in three chapters), so take the next ten or fifteen minutes to read it. Look for the ways the truth should impact our lives. Look for how Paul describes the people who are opposed to God and His truth.

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 20, 2008
Topic: Faith/Trust


Waiting on Appointments

The mother of three little girls saw them sitting silently on chairs, lined up side-by-side, each girl holding a doll in her lap. Their mom asked them, "What are you doing?"

"Playing doctor," they said.

"Well, who's the doctor?" their mother asked.

"Oh, there's no doctor. We're just the waiters," was the reply.

You may have had times in the doctor's office when you felt you were more of a "waiter" than a patient. What kept you waiting there? Probably, two things: first, the doctor gave you an appointment; and, second, you believe he tells the truth and will eventually keep the appointment as he promised.

God is not limited by time, but He works according to His own timing. When He waits to give you an answer, you, too, must wait in faith for His time. But since He has promised to act, you can be certain that the answer is on the way; and it will come in His time, not your time. Let's see what God has to say about His appointments.

What Does God Say?

Habakkuk, a prophet in Judah , lived amid people who had long been disobedient to God. He knew his nation deserved God's judgment, and he cried out to the Lord wondering how long He would allow flagrant evil and injustice to continue.

God's answer shook Habakkuk. He told the prophet that He certainly planned to punish Judah . He told him that Babylon , the world's most brutal and heartless nation, would do the job.

Habakkuk realized that his duty was to proclaim God's unwelcome prophecy to his people, and he would be scoffed at. They would surely ask, "Why would the Lord use such a depraved nation as Babylon to punish us, His chosen people?" They wouldn't believe him, especially if time went on and the events hadn't occurred.

God assured Habakkuk that in His time He does what He says He will do. You'll find God's words in Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV):

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay."

Possibly 20 years passed before Nebuchadnezzar's violent armies destroyed Jerusalem and took the survivors into captivity in Babylon .

Habakkuk learned the lesson of waiting for God's appointments. When God speaks, He speaks truth. He gave Habakkuk hope with one of the greatest statements in the Bible: "The righteous shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4, ESV ).

Faith is the proper response to God's appointments and His timing. Look at three other places in the Bible where the promise to Habakkuk is quoted:

    * Romans 1:17
    * Galatians 3:11
    * Hebrews 10:38

My Thoughts

Waiting isn't easy. It requires believing the person who has made the appointment is dependable. In the spiritual realm, it takes leaning on God when you are going through suffering or persecution. It causes you to wonder when God is going to right the wrongs in our world. Look up the verses below and record your answers to the questions about waiting on God.

    * Psalm 27:14
          o What attitude does God say you should have while you are waiting?
    * Lamentations 3:25
          o How does God treat the believer who waits?
    * Isaiah 30:18
          o When God waits, what does it do for Him?
          o When He waits, what does He do for you?
    * 1 Peter 5:6
          o What is another attitude you should have while waiting on God?
          o What is the promise to the "waiter" in this verse?

My Part

When you memorize this verse, you will have one of the most famous promises in the Bible stored away in your heart. Put it there!

"But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV)

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Bible Minute
by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 23, 2008
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Be Holy

The word holiness means to be "separate" or "distinctive." In other words, our lifestyle should be different from those around us who have not trusted Christ as their Savior.

So, how do we achieve that? Let's see what God's Word says.

What Does God Say?

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:13-16).

    * According to verse 13, where does holiness begin?
    * As holy people, what are we to look forward to?
    * What should we avoid?
    * What is our motivation for holiness?

My Thoughts

We often think of holiness in terms of what we do, but it begins before we take any sort of action. Peter says it starts with our minds. Verse 13 says we are to "gird up the loins" of our mind. This expression refers to the clothing worn in biblical times. Both men and women wore tunics (the men's tunic usually reached to their knees, the women's to their ankles). A girdle was also worn around the waist to hold the tunic against the body. When working in the fields or needing to move quickly, a man would tuck the hem of his tunic into his girdle to give more freedom of movement. This was called "girding up" the loins.

Peter says we must be prepared in our minds for the work of being holy. The apostle Paul describes it as a "renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). This comes about as we allow our minds to be "washed by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26). Spending time in God's Word creates a renewed mind that is ready for the challenge of holy living.

My Part

This week, take special note of what you are allowing your mind to dwell on. Memorize Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things." Let holiness begin in your mind and work its way out through your actions.

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 24, 2008
Topic: Holiness, Christian Living/Situational, God


Grow in Holiness

So, let me guess. You're perfect, right? You might answer yes, but would your friends or family agree? While we may joke about being perfect, most of us recognize that we're a long way from reaching that goal. But what about being holy? Believe it or not, that's possible.

Holiness isn't the same as sinless perfectionism. It means "to be set apart, distinct." God is holy because He is set apart and distinct from all other gods (and vastly superior in character, wisdom, faithfulness, justice, compassion, etc.). As God's people, we can be holy, too--set apart and distinct, belonging to Him. Let's see what the Bible says about this.

What Does God Say?

In the Old Testament, God called the Israelites to be His chosen people, set apart for a relationship with Him. Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" (ESV). And in Leviticus 11:44-45, God says, "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy…For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (ESV).

Now, the Israelites were by no means a perfect or sinless people. Just read through Exodus or Judges to see that! But they were still "set apart" to be God's holy people.

When Jesus came as Savior, He took care of our sin and made it possible for us to be presented before God as holy. Colossians 1:21-22 put it this way, "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he [Jesus] has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him [God]" (ESV).

Holiness is what we are because of what Jesus did. Sanctification is the process through which we express by our lifestyle the fact that we have been set apart for God (holy). "God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13, ESV). First Corinthians 6:11says, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (ESV).

My Thoughts

So, what does holiness look like? Halos, white robes and saintly expressions? No, holiness is made visible in how you live, the things that you do (or don't do) show you're set apart to God and distinctive from the world around you. As you read these verses, pull out things that can reflect holiness in your life.

    * Colossians 3:12-15
    * 1 Peter 1:14-16
    * Luke 1:74-75
    * 2 Corinthians 7:1

In Romans 12:1-2, you'll see that holiness is not only demonstrated by your actions; it involves a change of mind.

    * In what ways is your thinking still conformed to the world?
    * Where has to changed to line up with your status of “holy”?

My Part

Once you've looked at some of the ways we express holiness, check on these traits or actions or thinking in your life.

    * What changes have you seen since you first came to Christ?
    * Where do you need some work?
    * What keeps you from growing to better reflect the fact that you're set apart for God (holy)?

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow to better reflect your holiness, to be alert to those moments when you can choose to show that you have been "set apart to God" through your actions or thinking. If you journal, include your notes from this study and come back to it occasionally and do the self-check again to see how you're growing to better reflect your holy position.

________________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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