"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?"
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 17
NT: John 19:23-42
Ps: Psalm 119:129-152
Pr: Proverbs 16:12-13
Today´s notable verse:
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:147 (NIV)
There is something about the stillness of the morning just before dawn; I have always found this time of the day to be one of the most opportune for communion with God.
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 15:23-37, II Samuel 16
NT: John 18:25-40, John 19:1-22
Ps: Psalm 119:113-128
Pr: Proverbs 16:10-11
Today´s notable verse:
124 Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees.
125 I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.Psalm 119:124-125(NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Posted May 30th; back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 14, II Samuel 15:1-22
NT: John 18:1-24
Ps: Psalm 119:97-112
Pr: Proverbs 16:8-9
Today´s notable verse:
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
Father, you know the desires of my heart, for you have given me them. I have set my course according to them, and I thank you, Lord, that you determine my steps! I thank you that you light my path one step at a time, developing my faith as I take each step.
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Posted May 30th; back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 13
NT: John 17
Ps: Psalm 119:81-96
Pr: Proverbs 16:6-7
Today´s notable verse:
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
John 17:3 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Posted May 30th; back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 12
NT: John 16
Ps: Psalm 119:65-80
Pr: Proverbs 16:4-5
Today´s notable verse:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (NIV)
It is all too true: in this world we will have trouble; yet, within us is the One who has overcome the world!
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Posted May 30th; back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 9-11
NT: John 15
Ps: Psalm 119:49-64
Pr: Proverbs 16:1-3
Today´s notable verse:
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
II Samuel 11:1 (NIV)
"But David remained in Jerusalem." All of the trouble with Bathsheba, Uriah, and Solomon started with one thing: David's failure to be in the place he was supposed to be, doing the thing he was supposed to be doing. That one act of disobedience left an opening for temptation, sin, and all its consequences. How true it is in our lives today! This principle, in part, is the reason that we are to focus not on avoiding sin, but rather on pursuing holiness whole-heartedly. When we are in the right place, with the right people, doing the right thing at the right time, then we avoid the situations that would otherwise tend to lead us into temptation and sin.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Posted May 30th; back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 7-8
NT: 14:15-31
Ps: Psalm 119:33-48
Pr: Proverbs 15:33
Today´s notable verse:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 (NIV)
Of all of God's blessings on our lives, this one - His Peace - has to rank among the highest: freedom from fear of the unknown, confidence in obedience, and reassurance of our faith. It is His Peace that enables us to take each step without subjecting ourselves to the emotional and mental highs and lows of uncertainty and anxiety. Thank God for such a blessing!
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 4-6
NT: John 13:31-38, John 14:1-14
Ps: Psalm 119:17-32
Pr: Proverbs 15:31-32
Today´s notable verse:
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
Reading these verses reminds me of the following response I made to this post from a very dear friend of mine at church - a young man who has come out of a homosexual lifestyle, but remains sensitive to those who are still lost in that lifestyle. (Please read his post.) Here was my response:
I am one of the most classically conservative people you will meet, so it may surprise you to hear that I am in complete agreement with the sentiment and anguish you express here.
Our Lord said that He came to seek and to save the lost. Throughout all of Scripture, we see that our Father's heart carries an extra measure of compassion for the helpless: the widows, the orphans, the aliens; and the hopeless: the sick, the infirm, the outcasts, the "sinners".
Few segments of human society today need Christians to emulate the love of Christ more than the homosexual community. How truly, deeply saddening it is to see that, out of ignorance, fear, revulsion, pride, and selfishness, it is Christians who most ostracize the very people whom Christ sees compassionately - as harrassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
How very hypocritical it is of the Christian mainstream, since much of that ignorance, fear, revulsion and pride reflect not upon the sins of the homosexual community, but rather reflect inward, upon our knowledge of our own sinfulness.
We do not, by our actions, words, or attitudes, need to convict the homosexual community of their sinfulness and separation from God. I daresay, the hopelessness, guilt, and despair much of the community face inwardly each day convicts them more than we ever could!
It is not our place to change lives, to change hearts, or to bring a single person to salvation and holiness; these are strictly the purvey of the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is merely this: to love. Love - so simple a word, yet so very difficult to fulfill!
It is our love that plants a seed of desire to seek relationship with the Father and a seed of hope for redemption from a pit of despair and hopelessness. It is our love that opens the door for the regenerative and reconciliatory work of the Holy Spirit.
Were Jesus to walk the earth today, he would fellowship not with tax collectors. Conceivably, our Savior would find Himself in the midst of a NAMBLA meeting, breaking bread, demonstrating godly love, and revealing Himself as The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
Why do we - the present, real, corporeal, empowered body of Christ - not do the same?
The harsh reality that my Christian bretheren must face is this one: my sin is equally worthy of Spiritual death compared to the standard of perfection and holiness God demands. God sees me equally sinful as any homosexual. Likewise, God is equally loving, merciful, and gracious to the homosexual community as He is to me.
Remember the words of Paul: "Do not consider yourselves more highly than you ought, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
We absolutely MUST learn to love the homosexual community in the way that Christ commands us, and which our own salvation compels us. WE and we alone are called to be light to a segment of our society so immersed in darkness.
They will know we are Christians by our love.
Do they?
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Posted May 30th; back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: 2 Samuel 2:12-32, II Samuel 3:1-39
NT: John 13:1-30
Ps: Psalm 119:1-16
Pr: Proverbs 15:29-30
Today´s notable verse:
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Psalm 119:9 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.
Posted May 30th; back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: II Samuel 1, II Samuel 2:1-11
NT: John 12:20-50
Ps: Psalm 118:19-29
Pr: Proverbs 15:27-28
Today´s notable verse:
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
John 12:24 (NIV)
Such is the nature of all Spiritual fruit. Just as we reap an abundant harvest in return for what we sow, so also the effectiveness of our Spiritual gifts and fruit is multiplied when we sacrifice ourselves in their use in the service to many.
I have often wondered why God asks us to give of our love and our trust so freely; but in doing so, I have discovered that whenever I give of my life into the life of another, my capacity to give does not diminish. On the contrary, by God's grace that capacity increases - and therein lies the legacy we leave.
The One Year Bible Blog's comments for today.