Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 7, 2009
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

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 8, 2009
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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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 9, 2009
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.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 12, 2009
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


A Virtue to be Desired

Ferdinand "Fred" DeMara, also known as "The Great Imposter," was infamous for pretending to be something other than he really was. After graduating from high school, DeMara passed himself off at one time or another as a military man, a civil engineer, a doctor of applied psychology, an attorney, a child-care expert, a Catholic monk, an evangelical Bible college professor, an editor, a cancer researcher and an expert in numerous other jobs. He was finally exposed during the Korean War, while doing surgery on wounded soldiers as a Canadian naval doctor whose identity he had stolen.

Fred DeMara grossly lacked the virtue of integrity. But he is not alone in this world!

Integrity includes the quality of being whole. A bridge without integrity may collapse; a database that contains corrupted information is said to lack integrity. You have integrity when you are who and what you say you are. It means you are "transparent," readily understood, honest and free from pretense or deceit. But let's see what God says about integrity.

What Does God Say?

God looks with great favor on the person of integrity. He gives you an example in the patriarch Job.

Job 1:1(ESV) says: "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil."

The word "blameless" in the Old Testament speaks of integrity. Job was not sinless, but he was genuine and without hypocrisy. He was morally upright and open with God and man. Look at the following Scripture passages and write down what you see about Job that demonstrates his integrity:

    * What does Job 1:3 show about his reputation in his home territory?
    * Job 1:5. What was Job's attitude toward his children?
    * Job 1:8. What was God's appraisal of Job's character?
    * What three men does Ezekiel compare for their sterling integrity (Ezekiel 14:14, 20)?
    * What does the apostle James say about Job in James 5:11?

My Thoughts

Job is a model of blamelessness, but what about the importance of integrity in your own personal life? What are some things the Bible says to believers?

    * How does God view the person of integrity or blamelessness (Proverbs 11:20)?
    * What does Ephesians 1:4 teach you about God's ultimate purpose for His people?
    * According to Philippians 1:9-11, how should you be living now in order to be blameless and pure at the return of Christ?
    * How is your testimony for Christ affected by your integrity or lack of it (Philippians 2:14-16)?

My Part

In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul prays, "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Take an integrity inventory. Is every area of your life what you say it is? Your spiritual life? Your thought life? Your use of your body? If there are places that need more transparency and more purity, tell God about it and ask Him to give you the grace to change.

Then memorize this short prayer from the Psalms:

"May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you" (Psalm 25:21, ESV).

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 13, 2009
Topic: Holiness


Man of Integrity

I've always been interested in the cosmos. I like to watch shuttle launches and moon landings on TV. And I'm fascinated by fiction programs depicting starships zooming between galaxies. One thing I've learned from those shows is how important a spaceship (of any kind) is. The outer hull of a ship is a thin line between life and death, and when it's compromised, bad things happen.

The engineers, on these outer space programs, talk about the integrity of the hull. If the integrity is good, the ship is good. Now, the Bible doesn't have anything to say about starships and space travel, but it does have a lot to say about integrity. And as we take a look at the life of Job, I think you'll see that integrity is vitally important for your life as well.

What Does God Say?

In my dictionary, the word integrity is defined as "incorruptibility." That's the exact description we get of Job in the Bible. "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1, ESV).

If we knew nothing else about Job, this would be an impressive description indeed. (But, in fact, it's all the more impressive because we do know more about Job!) As you look at this description of Job, notice where his integrity comes from--he was "one who feared God and turned away from evil."

Fearing God is not what it sounds like at first. It is not abject terror of the Almighty. No, fearing God is the quality of revering Him in such a way that your devotion to Him is evident in your life. It's loving God and respecting Him. It's drawing near to Him and turning away from the evil that surrounds you.

Understanding this quality of integrity is vitally important because if we aren't near to God, we'll miss His will for our lives. If we don't draw near to Him and follow His standards, we're nothing more than derelict vessels drifting through life without a purpose.

We'll look more at this in the next section.

My Thoughts

As you read Job 1:1-22, think about the following questions:

1. Why is this description of Job so important in light of what is about to happen to him?

2. What does Satan say is the basis for Job's integrity?

3. What do these verses tell us about Satan's limitations?

My Part

Consider today where your integrity may be weak. Ask God to help you strengthen it so that no matter what comes, you'll be able to stand.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 14, 2009
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship, Bible Characters


Integrity, by David

Integrity is not about being perfect or sinless. It's about being transparent before God, honest, faithful and committed. It means doing what you say you'll do. It means doing the right thing. Let's see how that worked for one man.

What Does God Say?

Integrity is really a heart issue. It's being upright and transparent before God, having the right character and motivation deep inside. Here's what the Bible says about King David:

"He [God] chose David his servant
and took him from the sheepfolds;
from following the nursing ewes he brought him
to shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel his inheritance.
With upright heart he shepherded them
and guided them with his skillful hand" (Psalm 78:70-72, ESV).

Now, David was not perfect or sinless; just read 2 Samuel 11 to see his adultery with Bathsheba and the lengths to which he went to cover it up. But throughout his life, David was a man who walked before God in integrity. /p>

Those who knew David, knew exactly what to expect from him. He didn't compromise his honor or God's plan to save his own life (1 Samuel 24:1-7; 26:6-20). He kept his promises to his friends (1 Samuel 20; 2 Samuel 9). He held back revenge even though he had many opportunities (1 Samuel 25). He forgave and even mourned his enemies (2 Samuel 1, 3, 15, 18 ). And with loyalty and faithfulness, David served Saul, the king he was chosen to replace (1 Samuel 16-18 ).

All these things are aspects of integrity in action. And in 1 Kings 9:4-5, God tells Solomon, the new king, to follow David's example, "And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father" (ESV, italics added).

My Thoughts

You don't have to be sinless to have integrity. But when you do sin, integrity determines how you deal with it. Go back to David's example after his adultery with Bathsheba. Read the whole story in 2 Samuel 11-12.

How do you see the following marks of integrity at work?

    * Honesty before God about sin instead of trying to hide it.
    * A willingness to accept the consequences of sin.
    * A renewed commitment and faithfulness to God.

My Part

Integrity is really tested when you fall into sin or when difficulties and hardships come into your life. True integrity doesn't take the easy way out or blame God for not making life better. (See Job 1:20-2:10.)

Is your integrity being tested today? What can you do to maintain it? Where do you need God's help or a little more personal transparency before Him? What can you take from David's example to help you stand firm in your integrity?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 15, 2009
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Bible Characters


Handle with Care

If "Good guys finish last," why should you make the effort to be the good guy? If "No good deed goes unpunished," wouldn't it be easier just give up doing the good and right thing?

If you've ever thought that, you have an idea of how easily integrity can be destroyed. Even if you've lived your entire life doing the right things, it takes only that one compromising moment to destroy your reputation.

What Does God Say?

Job was a man of integrity; he was upright, blameless and transparent before God. It's right there in Job 1:1, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil" (ESV).

Satan challenged God saying that Job's integrity was based on the fact that God had made life so good for him (Job 1:8-12). God then allowed Satan to put Job to the test. Job didn't know about this challenge, but how did he respond?

First, in Job 1:20-22, we see that "Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong" (ESV).

Then when his physical health was threatened and his wife told him to "Curse God and die" (Job 2:9), Job refused to compromise. "But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips" (Job 2:10, ESV).

Turning on God, compromising faith, letting go of honesty and uprightness just because it's too hard, all that is a sure way to destroy this fragile thing called integrity--and so is greed, anger, dishonesty and incomplete obedience. Whenever you do less than the good, right and honest thing according to God's standards--your integrity is compromised.

My Thoughts

So, when it's tough to be "the good guy," what will help you hold on to your integrity?

Know that God takes integrity very seriously. Read Psalm 7:8-9.

    * How do you think you'd stand up to God's integrity test today?

Be prepared for opposition to your integrity. Read Proverbs 29:10.

    * How have you seen people oppose integrity in your life or in those around you?
    * How do you respond to that opposition?

Remember that integrity is worth the effort. Read Psalm 41:12; Proverbs 10:9; 11:3 and 13:6.

    * How does integrity protect you and guide you?

My Part

What about your life today? Would you say that you have integrity? Do you think God sees it that way? Where have you been tempted to compromise integrity: in your business, your time or your choices about money or service? What about what you say and when?

These are all areas where it would be easy to do the one little thing that undermines integrity. Jot them down; then bring your list before God and ask for His powerful help in making--and keeping--you a person of integrity.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 16, 2009
Topic: Speech/Words


Keys to Integrity

We've been talking about integrity in these studies the last several days. And the more I think about it, the more I think the little word grit in the middle of integrity is so appropriate. Sometimes you just have to accept and deal, in a determined way, with a difficult situation. The expression for doing that is "grit your teeth." And when you're dealing with troubling circumstances, it's really important to demonstrate integrity with what you say and do.

What Does God Say?

Job is a great example. After all had been stripped away from him--his wealth, his children and his health--Job's wife told him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die" (Job 2:9, ESV). Hardly anyone would have blamed Job if he had done just that.

But, instead, Job replied, "'Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips" (Job 2:10, ESV). Now that's integrity. That's grit in action. Though mystified as to why God would allow all this calamity to befall him, Job grits his teeth� and resolves not to curse God.

Many of you may be familiar with the New Testament text on the subject of controlling the words that come out of your mouth. In James 3 we find, "For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body" (3:2, ESV).

James goes on to talk about how the tongue in our mouths is like the bit in a horse's mouth or the rudder on a ship. Our tongues, unguarded, can literally determine the course of our lives--or more seriously, the course of someone else's life.

We'll look more at the importance of controlling our tongues in the next section.

My Thoughts

As you read James 3:1-12, think about the following questions:

1. James opens this chapter with an admonition to teachers. Why is this so important in light of what follows?

2. James likens the tongue to a spark that will set a forest ablaze; how have you seen the truth of this statement?

My Part

As I wrote this study, I remembered a line from a song I learned when I was a child in Sunday school.

Oh be careful little tongue what you say*

But what really caught me was the final part of that verse.

For the Father up above is looking down in love

What a simple yet profound statement. We are to guard our tongues because God is always watching us. But He's not looking down His nose at us, waiting for us to slip up. He's looking down in love, ready to help and guide us, understanding that we sometimes mess up. As you think about the words you say and the potential impact they have on others, say a prayer to God and ask Him to guide you in His love and give you words He would have you say.

*Be Careful, Little Eyes, What You See. Lyrics in Public Domain.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 19, 2009
Topic: Prayer, Christian Living/Situational, Sin/Temptation


Temptation Puddles

Temptation is a little like puddles on the sidewalk. You can walk carefully to avoid them, or you can jump right in! Or sometimes, you're so busy paying attention to one puddle, you miss seeing another and you get wet even if you're trying not to.

When we pray "Lead us not into temptation," we're asking for God's help in walking carefully around those puddles that make us wet with sin. We say, "Lord, as You lead me, help me not to give in to these opportunities to sin."

What Does God Say?

This prayer about temptation is part of what Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13.

"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil'" (ESV, emphasis added).

Praying those words doesn't mean that God will remove every temptation from our paths. It does mean, however, when evil appears (as it does regularly), we need to look to Him to deliver or rescue or pull us back from it. First Corinthians 10:13 teaches us more about temptation: "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" (ESV).

What we need to ask for is God's wisdom and guidance. We need His guidance when we encounter the dangers of temptation so that we'll be alert and know how to avoid them. And we need His wisdom to see temptation as an opportunity to turn from evil and hold on to His holiness.

And guess what? Jesus understands our problem with temptation. Hebrews 2:18 tells us "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" (ESV). And because of that, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16, ESV).

My Thoughts

Read James 1:13-15.

    * Temptation doesn't come from God. Why not?
    * Where does temptation come from?
    * How does temptation start? What's the process?
    * What is the ultimate end of temptation?

Look at Jesus' temptation in Matthew 4:1-11.

    * How did Satan tempt Jesus?
    * What did Jesus do to stand firm?
    * What can you learn from Jesus' example?

My Part

Think back to that sidewalk of puddles. What are the "puddles" in your life that tempt you to get your feet wet with sin? How do you avoid them? What happens when you're caught off guard?

Jesus used God's Word as His defense against Satan. What about you?

We've looked at several verses today that can help you walk warily around the puddles of temptation. First Corinthians 10:13 is a great verse because it reminds you to seek the "way of escape that you may be able to endure it." When He was tempted, Jesus used several Scripture passages (like Deuteronomy 8:3). Here are a few more you could memorize so you're prepared when temptation comes: Psalm 119:9-16; 119:35-37; 119:105; Proverbs 3:5-8; Ephesians 6:10-19.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 20, 2009
Topic: God's Love


God of the Second Chance

On September 23, 1908, at the Polo Grounds in New York City, there were two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs were battling for the National League pennant with the score tied at 1-1. The Giants had two men on base: 19-year-old Fred Merkle on first and Moose McCormick on third. Al Bridwell slapped a single up the middle, scoring McCormick.

The game seemed to be over. But instead of tagging second base, Fred Merkle trotted off the field to the Giants' locker room. The Cubs threw the ball to second, forcing out Merkel. The run didn't count, the Giants lost the pennant and Fred Merkle picked up the name, "Bonehead Merkle."

But that's not the end of the story. Fred Merkle got another chance. In spite of having blown the pennant game, he went on to play 14 more seasons including five trips to the World Series.

God does the same thing. He doesn't give up on us because we mess up (sometimes in a very significant way). We can see that from the story of Jonah.

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.

"But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up" (Jonah 1:1-4, ESV).

"Then they [the men on the ship] said to him, 'What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?' For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, 'Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you'" (Jonah 1:11-12, ESV).

"And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights" (Jonah 1:18, ESV).

"Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish." And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land" (Jonah 2:1, 10).

"Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth" (Jonah 3:1-3, ESV).

    * Jonah knew that it was the Lord speaking. What was his response?
    * What was God's response to Jonah's disobedience?
    * Jonah repented while in the belly of the great fish. What was God's response to Jonah's repentance?

My Thoughts

Relief pitching ace, Donnie Moore, couldn't seem to resolve his anguish over losing an American League championship series game a few years ago. In a moment of total despair, he shot his wife and then shot himself.

It's human to grieve over our failures, but God doesn't want us to surrender to it. No matter how badly we've failed, it's not the end. God stands ready to give us a second chance (and even a third or fourth). What we are coming out of our failures may not be what we were before we failed, but God is still in control (Jeremiah 18:2-4).

My Part

Are you grieving over a failure? If it involved sin, confess it (1 John 1:9) and then move on. This may mean mending relationships or even making restitution. But failure doesn't have to be fatal. Whether anyone else does or not, God will give you a second chance. Write a prayer of thankfulness for your second chance--keep it in your Bible to remind you that failure is not final with God.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 21, 2009
Topic: Salvation


God's Mercy on You

Robert G. Ingersoll was a very outspoken atheist. One night after an inflammatory speech in which he emphasized the folly of believing in God, he dramatically took out his watch and said, "I'll give God a chance to prove that He exists and is almighty. I challenge Him to strike me dead within 5 minutes!" At the end of the allocated time, the atheist exclaimed, "See! There is no God. I am still very much alive!"

After the lecture a young fellow said to a friend, "Well, Ingersoll certainly proved something tonight!"

"Yes, he did," his friend replied. "He proved that even the most defiant sinner can't exhaust the mercy of God in just five minutes!"

From beginning to end, the story of the Bible--measured not in minutes but millenniums--reveals the inexhaustible mercy of God. Let's take a look at what God's mercy means for us today.

What Does God Say?

In Ephesians, Paul sets the stage for us."You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world" (Ephesians 2:1-2, ESV).

Maybe you are acutely aware of just how sinful you are. You want to believe that Jesus loves you but wonder how he could accept someone with a past like yours? Maybe you know exactly what Paul was talking about when he said, "We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind" (Ephesians 2:3, ESV).

God knows the specifics of your life. He knows the specifics of every single life that has ever crossed the face of this earth. And nothing anyone has done makes this verse any less true: "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--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

(Ephesians 2:4-7, ESV).

I know I don't deserve any mercy from God. But mercy isn't about what we deserve. Mercy is about God and His love for us.

My Thoughts

As you read Ephesians 2:1-10, think about the following questions:

1. How does Paul describe our lives before we met Christ?
2. Even though we are dead in trespasses and sin, what does God do for us (v. 5)?
3. After salvation, what's the next step for believers?

My Part

If you have more questions about God's mercy and salvation, we'd be happy to help. You can read more about it by clicking on "Meet Jesus" or emailing us at info@bibleminute.org.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 22, 2009
Topic: Sin/Temptation, Forgiveness/Unforgiveness


Good News/Bad News

Have you heard the good news/bad news jokes? For example, there was the doctor who called his patient and said, "I've evaluated your condition, and I have some good news and some bad news."

The patient said, "Well give me the good news."

The doctor replied, "You have only 24 hours to live!"

"If that's the good news," the patient gasped, "what is the bad news?"

"The bad news," the doctor said, "is that I couldn't get ahold of you yesterday."

When it comes to the topic of sin, the Bible also has some good news/bad news. Let's see what it is.

What Does God Say?

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12, ESV).

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24, ESV).

"But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:21-23, ESV).

    * How did sin come into the world (see Genesis 3:1-7).
    * What is the bad news in these verses?
    * What is the good news?

My Thoughts

Have you taken the bad news seriously? Sin is a killer. First, it kills you spiritually. Because we are born in sin, we are born with the part of us that makes contact with God dead--unresponsive to God's spiritual presence (Colossians 2:13). Eventually, it kills you physically. (Read Genesis 5 and count the number of times it says, "and he died.")

But the bad news is not intended to breed despair. It is meant to point you to Christ. Romans 6:23 not only gives us the bad news that sin brings death, it also gives us the good news that God has given us a gift (the word there means a "free gift"), and that gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

My Part

If you recognize that you are a sinner and face death, don't wait another moment to accept God's free gift--eternal life in Christ Jesus. Click on "Meet Jesus" at bibleminute.org and find out how you can receive this free gift.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 23, 2009
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness, God's Love


God Forgives You

Do you ever wonder if God will really forgive you? Do you worry that, perhaps, you've done something just too awful to be forgiven? Think again. God can and does forgive you. Look at all the things He's already forgiven in His people: adultery, rebellion, murder, lying, disobedience, a lack of faith - the list of forgiven people even includes some of those who killed His own Son!

What Does God Say?

So, why does God offer us forgiveness for our sin or wrongdoing? Well, God forgives because of His boundless love for us. Isaiah 38:17 says,

"In love you have delivered my life
from the pit of destruction,
for you have cast all my sins
behind your back" (ESV).

Psalm 103 praises God because:

"He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies...
The LORD is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
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.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west" (103:3-4, 8-12, NLT).

That sounds like a forgiveness that covers everything!

So, what makes forgiveness available? Jesus Christ, who died to pay the penalty for our sin. Romans 5:8 says, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (ESV). Colossians 1:13-14 adds, "He [God the Father] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom [Jesus] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (ESV).

Do we have to do anything? Well, yes. We need to be honest about our sin before God and confess it. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (ESV). Forgiveness is always there and available for us; God doesn't change His mind or decide to forgive on a case-by-case basis. We just ask, and in asking we recognize how great our need is. We won't be "sin-free" until heaven, but we can live with a lot less sin in our lives now. That's what repentance and forgiveness bring about.

My Thoughts

Look up these verses to see why God forgives you:

Exodus 34:6-7

    * God forgives me because of His______________.

Psalm 51:1

    * God forgives me because of His______________.

Psalm 103:8-12

    * God forgives me because of His______________.

Isaiah 55:7

    * God forgives me because of His______________.

My Part

When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty of our sins, once and for all. His death and Resurrection provided us with salvation and eternal life. That's a fact. When you come to Jesus and accept His salvation, believing that He died for you, God's forgiveness becomes an active fact in your life. Have you done that? Do you recognize and trust that God has forgiven your sin?

But what if you sin again, if you do something you're not sure God will forgive? That's where 1 John 1:9 becomes important. You don't have to be "saved" all over again; you just need God's help to "clean up" what you've done. We often refer to it as "keeping short accounts with God." It's like paying your credit card balance every month--the account stays clear. It's made possible by regular fellowship with God and the Holy Spirit's help so you can live with "clean hands and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:4).

God's forgiveness is a fact; you can count on it, even if you don't "feel" forgiven. Are you tapping into His forgiveness? Do you believe that He can and does forgive you? Are you seeking to turn away from your sin and live in a way that pleases Him? God does His part. Are you doing yours?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 26, 2009
Topic: Hope, God's Care


When You're Down, Look Up

When you're feeling down and discouraged, where is your focus? When I feel that way, I'm usually focused on me--my problems, my worries, my pain--and I really can't see anything else--including God. But as long as we stay self-focused, we can't receive any help. Help comes only when we set our eyes, our hearts and our hope on something better.

What Does God Say?

In Psalm 42, the psalmist speaks to his troubled heart:

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?"
Then he offers a solution:
"Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God" (42:5-6, ESV).

Why does he "hope" in God? Because he has the sure and certain confidence that God is faithful.

When we're down and discouraged, we need to get our focus back on God where it belongs. That's the perfect time to look to Him for our hope and to trust Him to deliver and take care of us. The rest of Psalm 42:6 says,

"My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you" (ESV).

It's time to remember God who is faithful, good, compassionate, powerful--all the things you need when you're down.

There's a second step included. The first is to look to God and remember who He is and what He can do, but Psalm 42:5 also encourages praise. You see Him as your hope; then you praise Him for that. You remember His faithfulness; then praise Him for that too.

Psalm 20:5 tells us to celebrate:

"May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!" (ESV).

Raise the flags; hang up the banners or set off fireworks; show everybody that you belong to the God who is your salvation. That's what setting up banners is all about. It's how you tell others about God's faithfulness and draw them in to celebrate with you.

My Thoughts

Of course, before you can celebrate it, it helps to be familiar with God's faithfulness and the hope He offers. Jot down what you learn about God's faithfulness from these verses:

Deuteronomy 7:9

Psalm 86:15

Lamentations 3:22-23

Hebrews 10:23

The fact of God's faithfulness is awesome, but you can also find a reason to celebrate when you see examples of when or how He is faithful. How do you see that in these verses?

Psalm 91:1-6

Psalm 143:1-2

1 Corinthians 10:13

2 Thessalonians 3:2-3

1 John 1:9

Lamentations 3:20-24 is an excellent way to adjust your focus. Put it in your own words or memorize it for future need.

My Part

What are some examples of God's faithfulness you've seen in your life? When you've found your hope in Him? Put those in writing as a concrete reminder for days when you're feeling low and discouraged.

Then follow the example of Psalm 20:5 and "raise a banner." Be specific as you tell your spouse, your children or grandchildren how God has been faithful to you. Drop it into an e-mail or a letter. If your family is around, turn dinnertime into a mini-party and give each member an opportunity to share. You can create a poster or maybe an actual banner that reminds you of God's faithfulness and how you find your hope in Him. Use your imagination to find a way to remember and celebrate today. It's a great cure for those times of self-focused discouragement.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Oct 27, 2009
Topic: Hope


Waiting in the Desert

King David was having a wilderness experience, and it wasn't a good one. In the first place, this wilderness was not a land filled with beautiful fir trees, snow-capped peaks and clear, rushing streams. It was a barren, waterless, sun-scorched, desert wasteland. Secondly, David wasn't there to relax on a camping trip with the family. He was fleeing for his life from his rebellious son, Absalom. David had sought God in the matter and longed to be back at home in the sanctuary of God.

But it was not the moment when God was answering his prayers. David had to pray and wait and wait some more upon God.

Maybe you've been in a spiritual desert. You've prayed. God has been silent. What can you do while you wait on God for an answer? Let's look at David's plight and hopefully learn some biblical lessons about dry times in your spiritual life.

What Does God Say?

Read Psalm 63:1-8 (ESV) below and answer the questions that follow.

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

    * How does David describe both his spiritual and physical state (verse 1)?
    * What three attributes of God gave David unswerving confidence in Him (verses 2-3)?
    * In spite of David's bleak circumstances, what were the many ways in which he responded to the Lord (verses 4-7)?
    * How does David express his ongoing faith in God (verse 8 )?

My Thoughts

Why does God sometimes leave you in the "desert" to wait for His answer? How should you respond in a way that honors Him and strengthens you? Look at some promises as you reflect on the following verses:

    * Psalm 25:5. What does the psalmist ask God to do while he waits?
    * Psalm 38:15. What confidence does the psalmist have while he waits?
    * Psalm 130:5. What gives the psalmist confidence that waiting is not hopeless?
    * Isaiah 30:18. Why does the Lord sometimes wait? What is granted to the one who waits on God?

My Part

Your desert of dryness is a good place for silently meditating on God.
Your desert of waiting is a good time for actively serving God and others.
Your desert of weakness is a good place for strengthening your faith.

Work in the next few days on memorizing what is likely the greatest passage on "waiting" in the whole Bible:

Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV)

"He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for 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."