Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Dec 30, 2009
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship


Mark of Discipleship

Being from Nebraska, I'm automatically expected to be a devoted follower of Nebraska football. But if anyone asks me, I say, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, "I'm a fan, but not a fanatic." What I mean is that while I enjoy watching the games, I can't, for instance, name any player on the roster let alone his stats for the last two seasons.

When it comes to being a Christian, I would hesitate to call anyone fanatic--that word has a negative connotation. Fortunately, the Bible has a much better, more positive word to describe a devoted follower of Christ: disciple.

What Does God Say?

What does it take to be a disciple? Let's look at Jesus' description. In John 17, Jesus prayed specifically for the disciples. "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you" (John 17:6-8, ESV).

To be a disciple you need to know Jesus. That's the first step; but, unfortunately, many people never get beyond that step. They recognize Jesus and even put their faith in Him, but they never take the next step towards being a disciple (kind of like me and Nebraska football).

To be a real disciple, you not only need to know Jesus, you need to know and keep His Word. Jesus said, "and they have kept your word." This is where a lot of us stumble. There are a lot of people who claim to be Christians and probably have made a genuine confession of faith, but they know next to nothing about the Bible.

And to be a really effective disciple, you have to read God's Book.

My Thoughts

Start by reading the rest of John 17 and think about the following questions.

    * What challenges did Jesus know the disciples would face in following His Word?
    * Why was Jesus confident the disciples would be able to overcome these challenges?
    * What does Jesus pray for the disciples that would come later?
    * Why is it worth it to be a disciple and not just someone who knows Jesus?

My Part

The Bible's not as intimidating as you might think. Instead of one large book, think of it as 66 smaller books--and almost half of them (27) can be read in less than 15 minutes. As you read your Bible, ask God how He would have you apply what you read. Ask Him to show you how to be a true disciple.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Dec 31, 2009
Topic: Faith/Trust


Be a Caleb

Henri Frederic Amiel, a 19th century Swiss philosopher, wrote: "To know how to grow old is the masterwork of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living."

No one demonstrates the mastery of this "art of living" better than Caleb. Let's look at what the Bible reveals about this extraordinary man.

What Does God Say?

We first meet Caleb in Numbers 13. He and Joshua are two of the 12 men chosen to spy out the land. When they return, he and Joshua are the only ones to give an encouraging report. His recommendation to the people was: "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it" (Numbers 13:30).

That recommendation was not followed and the Israelites ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years as a consequence. Of those in that generation, only Caleb and Joshua were allowed to enter the Promised Land. God says of Caleb, "But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it" (Numbers 14:24, NASB).

    * What is Caleb's attitude toward challenges?
    * What two observations does God make about Caleb?

We then meet Caleb many years later in the land of Canaan. In Joshua 14:10-12 we read:

And now behold, the Lord has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out as the Lord has spoken" (NASB).

    * How old is Caleb when we meet him in these verses?
    * How does he describe himself?
    * What request does Caleb make?
    * What is Caleb's confidence based on?
    * What similarities do we see between the "young Caleb" and the "old Caleb"?

My Thoughts

Caleb faced many challenges. His life was in danger as a spy in Canaan (Numbers 13:2-6); the people threatened to stone him (Numbers 14:10); and he was forced to wander for forty years in the wilderness because of Israel's rebellion (Numbers 14:34). Even when he arrived in the Promised Land, he had to fight to conquer the portion of the land that had been promised to him (Joshua 15:14-15). But he faced all these challenges with a steadfast faith in God. Whether he was a mature man of 40 or an old man of 85, he never wavered in his trust in God's ability to deal with the challenges in his life. It was this confidence that caused him to have what God called "a different spirit."

If you are like most of us, you are facing many challenges as this new year begins. You may have lost your job, have huge medical bills, wayward children, etc. Whatever the challenge, you need to place your trust in God as Caleb did. Don't wait until you're 85 to begin. Caleb was able to face the challenges in the latter part of his life because he had trusted God for the challenges he faced when he was younger.

My Part

There are many verses that encourage us to trust God. A few of them are Psalm 20:7, Proverbs 3:5 and Isaiah 30:15. Write each of these verses on a separate notecard and place them where you will be reminded to trust the Lord no matter what challenges the coming new year may hold.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 1, 2010
Topic: Jesus


Hope in God's Word

Christmas is such a special time of year. People, especially children, look forward to it. For many, it's a cherished, exciting, hopeful season. But not everyone is delighted at the thought of Christmas. For some, the holidays are a difficult struggle, emotionally and financially.

They need help and hope. The Bible teaches us that is exactly why Jesus came.

What Does God Say?

"The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

"'The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
That the blind will see,
That the oppressed will be set free,
And that the time of the LORD'S favor has come"
(Luke 4:17-19, NLT).

What was Jesus telling us about God's purpose for sending His Son?
To which people would this news be most wonderful?

For some, Christmas this year will not be easy--maybe because of a loss; maybe because of bad memories; maybe because they've never really grasped the importance of Christmas in the first place.

Perhaps Christmas has always been a time with family and friends, and that almost never went well. Perhaps Christmas has been a time of parties that never satisfied them. Or Christmas has been a time when they would spend money and get gifts they didn't want. So, Christmas never has been special.

But Christmas is all about the birth of a Savior. And it's that Savior who brings hope. And when you know Him as your Savior, you can experience hope and peace and joy. There's no better time than Christmas to put your faith in Jesus and change your Christmases and your future forever.

"Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life" (Titus 3:7, NLT). In Jesus there is not just hope, there is hope that we will live forever with Him.

My Thoughts

Aren't you glad that there is a Christmas story? And that God in His love and mercy saw fit to give His Son to die for your sins? What a sad and hopeless world this would be without God and Jesus, Christmas and Easter and the anticipation of heaven.

But God made known to us through His Word and His Son how He has chosen to bless us, be with us and take care of us. The Bible is the most hopeful book in all of creation and time because, in it, we find Jesus and the good news of hope and life which He came to bring. It is ours for Christmas and for each day.

My Part

Take time this Christmas to go to God's Word and read again the Christmas story--in both Matthew and Luke. Then keep reading until you get to the cross and the empty tomb story. You will find Jesus who loves you and the hope He brings to your life.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 4, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


What God Wants

"God, what do You want from me?" What kind of picture comes to your mind when you read that question? I see a man at the end of his rope screaming at the heavens. I see an elderly woman breathing a silent prayer before climbing out of bed in the morning. I see a teenager at summer camp having just met the Savior for the first time.

No matter the situation, God has answered the question. In Deuteronomy God tells us exactly what He wants from us. "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God will all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statues of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, ESV).

What Does the Bible Say?

The first thing God requires is to: "fear the LORD your God." Fearing God doesn't mean living in terror of Him. Instead, it's keeping a balance between reverent respect for who He is--the God of the universe--and what He wants: a relationship with us. It's drawing near to Him as a father but respecting His authority as king. The next two things mentioned in Deuteronomy take this idea further.

"Walk in all his ways"--that means becoming the kind of person God is. It means learning to like the things God likes and hate the things He hates. We walk in God's ways by copying Him as the Holy Spirit works in us (Galatians 5:22-23). Reading the Gospels is a great help in this. By looking at the life of Jesus, we can see exactly how God would respond in various situations.

The next thing God wants us to do is to love Him. It would be enough for God to command our obedience, but He also desires our love. Again, looking at the life of Jesus, we see this love demonstrated; and we are encouraged to respond in kind.

Finally, God wants us to serve Him with all our hearts and souls and to keep His commandments. Serving God will take us out of our comfort zones more often than not. But it also displays trust. We "say" a lot about our God to those watching when we obey Him--even when it's not the popular decision.

My Thoughts

Throughout the rest of the day, think about the following questions: How can you learn God's ways? In what ways did Jesus demonstrate His love for you today? What opportunities do you have to serve?

My Part

There's an old hymn by Avis B. Christiansen that says:

Only one life to offer,
Jesus my Lord and King;
Only one tongue to praise Thee
And of Thy mercy sing (forever).

Only one heart's devotion--
Savior, O may it be
Consecrated alone to Thy matchless glory,
Yielded fully to Thee.

Take a few minutes and pray the words of that hymn. Pray that God would show you how you can use your one life to make an impact for Him.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 5, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


What's All This about Service?

What comes to your mind when you think of a servant? A person who waits on someone who is barking out orders? Well, we know that as Christians we are called to be servants of Christ, so the idea of "serving" can be a little confusing. In today's lesson, let's take a deeper look at service--what it means and how to implement it in our everyday lives.

What Does God Say

"And now, Israel , what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul" (Deuteronomy 10:12, NLT).

What are the four things that God requires of us?

"And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5, NLT).

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him" (Romans 12:1, NLT).

In light of these verses, ask yourself these questions:

    * What parts of ourselves should be involved in loving God?
    * Why should we give our bodies to God as a sacrifice?

My Thoughts

From the verses above, we know that we are called to serve the Lord with every part of our being. In fact the New Testament word for service (latreia) can be translated as worship. Service is the way that we worship God. We don't have to be in a church or on a mission field; we can serve God wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Ask yourself:

    * Am I giving my talents and abilities to God?
    * If not, how can I use them to serve God?
    * How can I use my job to serve God?

My Part

God doesn't want only 20 or 40 percent of us; He wants 100 percent of us. Spend some time today thinking about your service--are you giving Him 100 percent? If not, pray that God will help you use every part of yourself as service to Him.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 6, 2010
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship


100 Percent

If I asked you to give God 100 percent, would you immediately think I meant money?

Well, don't worry; this question really isn't about money; it's about you. All of you: heart, mind, soul and strength.

What Does God Say?

In fact, that's what God wants from you. Check out Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (ESV). And Jesus underscored this: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37, ESV). That's definitely 100 percent!

Jesus goes on to say, "This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:38-40, ESV). Did you notice that it begins with love? It's not "serve the Lord" or even "obey the Lord." He says "love." When you choose to love God like that, the obedience and the service fall into place. You honor His commandments because your love for Him keeps you from lying, adultery, coveting, creating idols and all the rest (Exodus 20:1-17).

But to do this will take all of you--heart, mind, soul and strength.

My Thoughts

The Bible talks about the heart as the center of all activity, the real intents and desires that drive and determine what you'll do and become, and "from it flow the springs of life" (Proverbs 4:23, ESV).

    * How's your heart for God?

The soul is the eternal spirit, the "you-ness" God created in you that continues when your body fails and dies. In talking about the end of a person's life, Ecclesiastes 12:7 describes it as "the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it" (ESV).

    * Does your soul belong to God? Will it spend eternity with Him?

The mind is your will, where you make choices and reason through your actions or attitudes. "Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).

    * What choices have you made to follow God? What decisions do you try to make without Him?

And you can't leave out your physical strength, the body, because it houses (for our time on earth) all the rest. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1, ESV).

    * How much of your mind, heart, soul and even body have you given to God?
    * Do you think you're holding onto something that He wants from you?
    * What's keeping you from giving 100 percent?

My Part

So, how do you do this 100 percent thing, 100 percent of the time? Well, there's no easy formula. But it begins with a choice. Choose to love God--for who He is and what He's done for you.

Then start asking, How can I show God I love Him? If I love God, what other choices do I make? Remember, He'll help you. So make sure you ask God to show you each day how to give Him more and more of yourself.

Try Proverbs 3:5-9 as a guide. Verse 5 focuses on the heart and soul; verses 6 and 7 instruct the mind and will, verses 8 and 9 look at your strength or assets (oops, there's money!).

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce" (ESV).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 7, 2010
Topic: Service/Servanthood


Sacrifice of Service

All of us, whether we're moms at home, pastors of congregations, missionaries on the field or business professionals, are called to serve God with our whole lives. That's the idea behind Romans 12:1. Paul tells us, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (NKJV).

We typically think of sacrificing our lives as giving up our lives--death. But God calls us to be living sacrifices. What does that mean?

What Does the Bible Say

Let's look a little closer at Romans 12:1.

"Living sacrifice." Being a living sacrifice means being obedient to God's will each and every day. It means sacrificing our want and desires, if necessary, to serve Him.

"By the mercies of God." One of the major themes in the Book of Romans is how God, through Jesus, has demonstrated His love and mercy by forgiving and atoning for our sins. Because of this, when we believe in Christ, God gives us eternal life instead of death. Now, being alive through God's mercy, we can live according to Christ's example.

God's mercy also enables us to: "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God." We willing lead lives that keep our bodies pure before our God and our hands clean before our Maker.

    * For the Christian, our sacrifice doesn't begin the day we die, it begins today--it ends the day we die.

The Bible goes on to tell us that presenting our bodies to God is "Your reasonable service." Some translations say, "spiritual act of worship," which is a valid translation as well. Paul says that our service is "reasonable." It's logical, the natural next step. It makes sense that a person saved by grace through faith would want to serve God with his or her life. (See Ephesians 2:8-10).

My Thoughts

What are some ways you can demonstrate a life of service in your home? At school? In church?

My Part

Start by looking for ways to serve in your home. Begin your morning by praying that you would be attentive to God's prompting and the opportunities that arise. As you encounter other people who are active in service, encourage them through a letter or card. Find creative ways your whole family can participate in serving the Lord together.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 8, 2010
Topic: Service/Servanthood


Willing to Serve

Someone observed, "Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity. " But God doesn't need any advisors--the all-knowing God is quite capable of making His own decisions with no input from any of us.

But it is true that God is looking for servants. Let's look at the kind of people who please God with their service.

What Does God Say?

And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD. And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD (Exodus 35:21-29, ESV).

    * What kind of an attitude does God want His servants to have?
    * What was the purpose of the gifts/services rendered by these Israelites?
    * What do you think motivated these people to serve the Lord by giving so generously?

My Thoughts

We serve the Lord in many ways, one of which is through the gifts that we give. When it comes time to write your check or put your offering in the offering plate, what kind of an attitude do you have? Compare this passage in Exodus35 to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 in the New Testament. What similarities do you see?

My Part

In addition to giving material gifts, list at least two other ways you could serve the Lord this week. Share this with a friend and ask him or her to hold you accountable not only for the service itself but also for the attitude you show as you serve.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 11, 2010
Topic: God/Jesus


What Kind of God?

What kind of God do you have? How do you see Him? In fact, take a moment right now and jot down five or six words that, to you, describe God.

Maybe you've come up with words like awesome or powerful, angry or judgmental, loving, compassionate, strict or expecting obedience. Actually, there's much more to God than we generally consider. But sometimes that's a problem.

What Does God Say

The problem starts when we have an incomplete view of God. Maybe we prefer to focus on His love and compassion and forget how much He hates sin or how willing He is to judge evil. Or we start treating God like He's one of us. We limit Him and decide what kind of God He'll be.

Guess what? That doesn't fly with God. First, because we're the creation, not the Creator:

"For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he did not create it empty,
he formed it to be inhabited!):
'I am the LORD, and there is no other.'" (Isaiah 45:18, ESV).

When you create a painting or a cake or a piece of furniture, it owes its existence to you. You're the greater of the two. It's the same with God--He created us, and we owe our existence to Him. We're the work of His hands, not His equal as He reminds us in Isaiah 45:9-10:

"Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
a pot among earthen pots!
Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?'
or 'Your work has no handles'?
Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?'
or to a woman, 'With what are you in labor?'" (ESV).

So much for putting God in a box and telling Him how to be God!

My Thoughts

Take a look at a few more things we need to know about God.

Psalm 100:3
Isaiah 40:28
2 Peter 3:9
1 John 4:7-20
Isaiah 45:21-22
Deuteronomy 9:7
Exodus 34:6
Psalm 145:8-20

    * What did you see of God?
    * What kind of response does He deserve from you?
    * Does your view of God conflict with what He says about Himself in His Word?
    * Have you looked at Him from only a few angles, the ones you're most comfortable with?
    * What needs to change in your view of God?

My Part

Let me ask you again, what kind of God do you have? The only sure way to develop a better understanding of who God really is, is by exploring His complete Word, not just the parts you like best or what makes you feel good. It may mean coming to grips with a God who really doesn't put up with sin or learning to accept the mercy and grace that a just and holy God offers.

Whenever you read the Bible, pay attention to what God says about Himself. Jot your finding and the references in the back of your Bible or your journal. See how your view of God grows and develops more fully. You can begin with the passages we've looked at here, or try a survey through Psalms 90-100 and see what you find.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 12, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Pay it Forward!

When someone is clearly responsible for committing a crime, that person stands before a judge and pleads "guilty." There isn't anything he or she can do after that, the perpetrator's fate is in the hands of the judge and the jury. You could say that individual is at the mercy of the court. As Christians, we mess up and sin. We can't go to God our Judge and make excuses for what we did. We confess our sin and accept whatever punishment He feels is acceptable. The good news is that God is able to show us mercy through Jesus Christ.

What Does God Say?

"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)" (Ephesians 2:4-5, NLT).

"He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve" (Psalm 103:10, NLT).

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT).

"People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy" (Proverbs 28:13, NLT).

    * How does God show us His mercy?
    * What are we to do because of the mercy He's shown us?
    * Who receives His mercy?

My Thoughts

God doesn't have to give us mercy. We know that we are sinners, and we are completely undeserving of that mercy. He chooses to give us His mercy because He loves us that much. When you think about it like that, it really makes you grateful that we serve Him, doesn't it? Sometimes it can be hard to accept God's mercy. We feel that our sins are too great, even for God. Just know that no sin or sinner is greater than God's mercy! Ask yourself these questions:

    * Have I taken advantage of His mercy?
    * Does my life reflect the thankfulness I have for the mercy God has given me?
    * Am I accepting God's mercy or am I still stuck in past sins?

My Part

God doesn't want us to just accept His mercy but to pass it on to others. God will only give mercy to those who are merciful themselves. If God can be compassionate and merciful to us, why would we not show that same compassion and mercy to others?

Take some time today and thank God for His mercy. Then make sure you are sharing that mercy and compassion with others in your life.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 13, 2010
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness


Mercy

When the lady saw her portrait, she complained to the artist, "That picture doesn't do me justice."

He replied, "You don't want justice; you want mercy."

So it is when we realize how sinful we are. We don't want justice; we need God's mercy. When the psalmist talks about the wonderful blessings of a personal relationship with God, mercy is high on his list.

What Does God Say?

"Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle" (Psalm 103:1-5, NASB).

What is first on the psalmist's list? Forgiveness. Total and complete forgiveness for all his sins. Jesus made that possible. By His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus opened the way for God to forgive our sins, and He rescued us from having to pay the awful penalty that was justly ours. That is mercy in the most profound way: God, extending His mercy to us, does not give us what we deserve.

My Thoughts

"The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:8-12 NKJV).

He removes our sin as far as the east is from the west. Why did the Bible not say as far as the north is from the south? Because at the North Pole and the South Pole, north and south meet. If you go south one step past the North Pole, you are now going south. But if you start going east, you can travel forever and never go west! How far then does God promise to remove our sins? That's mercy!

My Part

If there is anything in your life that you need to confess and ask God to forgive, why not do it now?

If there are sins in your life that you have already confessed but have been uncertain of God's forgiveness, then right now thank the Lord for complete and total forgiveness and trust in His mercy.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 14, 2010
Topic: Holiness


To Be Holy

Who wants to be known as a "holy Joe?" Not many of us. Who wants to dress up in a white robe, carry a cross and march through the malls singing, "Onward, Christian Soldiers?" Again, no one I know aspires to such a life. Yet the Bible is quite clear that God is holy and that we are to be holy. "But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:15-16, NLT).So, what does that mean?

What Does God Say?

Let's first look at what "holy" doesn't mean:

The Old Testament says about Israel, "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God...the LORD your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure" (Deuteronomy 7:6, NLT).

Now, it is certain that if Israel was to be holy, it did not mean they were to be sinless. Their history is marked by disobedience and rebellion as the Chosen People. Furthermore since both Israel and the early Christians were "normal" and "ordinary," it also does not mean "super-spiritual" or "weird."

Now, let's look at what it does means to be holy. The key to understanding holiness is found in this verse.

"So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I, the LORD, am your God" (Leviticus 20:7, NLT).

Every time the word "holy" is used, it's designed to show separateness. So, to be holy means "to be set apart" for the unique distinction of having a close connection with God. It means "being unique, separate, distinct, marked out by God as belonging to Him."

My Thoughts

In the best sense of the word, holy means that, as a Christian, I have this distinct and unique relationship with God that separates me from the rest of the world as I model my life after Christ, the holiest person who ever lived.

    * If you are going to be holy, what implications does that have for situations and relationships?
    * What does it mean to be holy

    at home,
    at school,
    at work?

Does your lifestyle, your words, your attitudes and actions reflect a distinct and unique relationship with God?

My Part

Now that you understand what it means to be holy and realize that God intends for you to live a holy life, perhaps it would be a good time to personally dedicate or rededicate your life to God.

Evaluate your life looking for any area where you are especially vulnerable and it might be difficult for you maintain holiness. Tell God about that concern and take time to ask Him for His help in living a life that is distinct and separate.

    * Commit or recommit yourself to be holy even as He is holy.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 15, 2010
Topic: Holiness


Like Father, Like Son

It starts in the nursery at the hospital. As excited friends and relatives press their noses against the viewing window, someone is sure to say, "Oh, look, he has his father's ears" or "She has her mother's eyes." And that's to be expected--even at birth a child bears some resemblance to his or her parents. Oftentimes, as they grow older, the resemblance between parent and child becomes even more evident.

The same is true spiritually. As you mature in your Christian walk, the resemblance between you and your Heavenly Father should grow more evident. And no resemblance is more important than in the area of holiness. Let's see what God's Word says.

What Does God Say?

Leviticus 11:45 (NLT) says, "For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy."

God says He is "holy." That means He is morally perfect and that He is set apart from people and sin. He is unique. There is no other like Him."

So, how can God say that you must be holy? How can you be holy? It must be possible, because He says you can. You are a human, and you can't become a god. But you can be separated from sin and separated to God.

God does something wonderful when you believe in Christ as your Savior. He accepts you as His child and credits Christ's holiness to you. You begin to look like your Heavenly Father and a process of growing more like Him begins.

Look at what the apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 1:14-16 (NLT) says: "So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'"

My Thoughts

God says you are to be holy. Look up these Bible passages and see some ways that this holiness should look in your life. Write down what you see.

John 17:17
1 Timothy 2:8
Colossians 3:12, 13
Romans 12:1
2 Peter 3:11-13
1 Peter 2:9,10

My Part

Hebrews 4:12-13 doesn't contain the word "holy," but it tells you how the Word of God works in your life to expose those things that need to be changed in order for you to become daily more like God--to grow in your resemblance to Him. Meditate on this passage and ask the Lord to reveal any flaws in your life that need to be corrected. Ask Him to mold you into a holy vessel, set apart for His service.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 18, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Being Patient

When Jesus walked the earth, He never had a public relations manager--not that Jesus would have taken his or her advice anyway. Jesus came with a specific mission, and He had the perfect plan to carry it out. He didn't need someone to enhance His image or promote His preaching.

But for just a moment, let's place ourselves in the shoes of a PR (Public Relations) person alongside Jesus at the scene of one of His miracles. As we look at the way Jesus acts, we'll learn a little about what it means to be patient and to trust in God's timing.

What Does God Say?

Read Mark 7:31-37 and picture yourself walking with Jesus to the Sea of Galilee after spending time in the region of Tyre. This is what happens somewhere along the way:

"And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him" (Mark 7:32, ESV). Now, put on your PR shoes. Here's a man both deaf and unable to speak. You know Jesus can heal Him, and you know people will be amazed by the miracle. So, your first instinct tells you to congregate as many people as possible and then wow the crowd with the sensational healing. But that's not Jesus' plan.

"And taking him aside from the crowd privately" (Mark 7:33, ESV). Privately? Jesus healed the man, but no one saw. No one was amazed. No one went to tell his or her neighbor about the miracle man. (Well, people did, but that came as a result of the next part). But it gets worse (from a PR perspective).

"And Jesus charged them to tell no one." (Mark 7:36, ESV). Talk about a public relations nightmare! Jesus just healed a man, and He wants to keep it secret? At this point, you may very well throw your hands up and say, "I quit!"

My Thoughts

Today in the 21st century, we have the advantage of knowing the whole story. Jesus knew that He would die on the cross; He knew that Judas would betray Him and hand Him over to the Romans. And more importantly, He knew when all this had to happen.

Jesus exercised patience in waiting for the right time to make Himself known. He trusted that God's plan was the right one.

My Part

Patience is more than just a virtue; patience is the way to let God work out His plan in your life. Look at your life and find the areas where you are prone to impatience. Ask God to help you see why He might be holding things back in those areas. Pray that He would help you see the wisdom in waiting for His timing.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 19, 2010
Topic: Faith/Trust


Patience & Trust

If you see patience as a "grit-your-teeth, put-up-with-your-problems" sort of burden, it's time to adjust your perspective. According to God's Word, it's really more about persevering, not giving up, and trusting God even when you don't know or understand what He's doing. That's probably why we need patience--not so we don't "lose our cool," but so we learn to trust God.

What Does God Say?

Job is someone often held up as an example of patience. But that didn't stop him from questioning God or struggling to understand when trouble came into his life:

"Why did I not die at birth,
come out from the womb and expire?...
I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, but trouble comes" (Job 3:11, 26, ESV).

In Job 6:11, Job even wonders why he should be patient:

"What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should be patient?" (ESV).

However, even when pushed to limit, Job chose to keep trusting God no matter what.

"Though he slay me, I will hope in him" (Job 13:15, ESV).

Job didn't know what was really going on and why God allowed him to be tested. Read Job 1:6-2:10 for those details. But he did learn to trust God to be God--to be faithful in His character, His love, His mercy, His justice and His compassion.

My Thoughts

Frequently, our lack of patience comes because we're not sure God will be God, or that He knows what He's doing. Maybe we even think it would be better if we were in control. While the context is waiting for Christ's return (when He will make all things right), James 5:7-11 offers a picture of patience.

    * What do we wait for?
    * How do these verses describe the process of patience?
    * How can you "establish your heart" (verse 8 )?
    * How did the prophets exercise patience?
    * What else do you learn about Job's patience here (verse 11)?

My Part

Now, why do you need patience? Jot down your thoughts on the situations (or people) that require your patience or perseverance.

    * Are you not sure God will answer you or take care of your difficulties?
    * Does it make you anxious, frustrated or even angry with Him?
    * Do you find yourself wondering if you can trust God to be God and do what He knows is best in this situation?

Take a few minutes to review your thoughts. Then turn them into a prayer: be frank with God about your need; confess any anger, anxiety or disappointment; acknowledge any problems you have trusting Him; and then ask for His help in placing your confidence in Him. Don't simply grit your teeth and wish for patience, but ask God to help you trust Him more today.