Tag: Christianity

Posted 17 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 19-21
NT: I Thessalonians 5:4-28
Ps: Psalm 82
Pr: Proverbs 25:9-10

Today´s notable verse:

¹⁶ Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually; ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; ²⁰ do not treat prophecies with contempt. ²¹ Test everything. Hold on to the good. ²² Avoid every kind of evil.

I Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 17 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 16:16-21, Jeremiah 17-18
NT: I Thessalonians 4, I Thessalonians 5:1-3
Ps: Psalm 81
Pr: Proverbs 25:6-8

Today´s notable verses:

⁷ “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. ⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” ⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ¹⁰ “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

Jeremiah 17:7-10 (NIV)

A few things of note here. The first two verses are reminiscent of Psalm 1:1-4.

Verse 9 demonstrates the depraved state of man without Christ. Many people believe that human nature is inherently good, yet we see here clearly that, apart from God, human nature deceitful above all things and beyond cure. There is no good in man apart from God – yet God provides hope to we who are hopeless.

Finally, the apparent juxtaposition in verse 10, between heart/mind and conduct/deeds merits some interest. On the surface, it would be easy to overlook the apparent disparity in this verse – that God would search the heart and examine the mind, in order to judge according to conduct and deeds. The heart and mind represent intent, will, and thought – all internal matters; conduct and deeds represent outward action. Yet, God equates the two here. This verse could be taken two ways, both plausible: one, that the inward thoughts, will, and intent of our heart and mind dictate our outward conduct and deeds; two, that God considers our inward thoughts, will, and intent equal to our conduct and deeds.

¹¹ Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

I Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 14:11-22, Jeremiah 15, Jeremiah 16:1-15
NT: I Thessalonians 2:9-20, I Thessalonians 3
Ps: Psalm 80
Pr: Proverbs 25:1-5

Today´s notable verse:

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

I Thessalonians 3:11-13 (NIV)

I am touched by the passion and intimacy with which Paul writes the Thessalonians, especially in the midst of his own suffering and persecution.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 12-13, Jeremiah 14:1-10
NT: I Thessalonians 1, I Thessalonians 2:1-8
Ps: Psalm 79
Pr: Proverbs 24:30-34

Today´s notable verse:

³³ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- ³⁴ and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:33-34 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 10-11
NT: Colossians 3:18-25, Colossians 4
Ps: Psalm 78:56-72
Pr: Proverbs 24:28-29

Today´s notable verses:

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 4:23-24 (NIV)

Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did.”

Proverbs 24:29 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 8:8-22, Jeremiah 9
NT: Colossians 3:1-17
Ps: Psalm 78:32-55
Pr: Proverbs 24:27

Today´s notable verse:

²3 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:23-34 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 6:16-30, Jeremiah 7, Jeremiah 8:1-7
NT: Colossians 2:8-23
Ps: Psalm 78:1-31
Pr: Proverbs 24:26

Today´s notable verse:

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6:16a
(NIV)

My church did a series, entitled Old School, based on this verse, using it to illustrate the church’s core values. While methods and packaging may change, the fundamental values of the church should, and do, not change. The eight-week series elaborated on each of the church’s core values:

1. Life-Giving Family Culture (11 June 2006)
2. Strategic Service (18 June 2006)
3. A Can-Do Attitude (25 June 2006)
4. Love for God and People (2 July 2006)
5. Devotion to the Will of God (9 July 2006)
6. Personal Relationships (16 July 2006)
7. Creativity (23 July 2006)
8. Team Ministry (30 July 2006)

(Links are mp3 files.)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 4:19-31, Jeremiah 5, Jeremiah 6:1-15
NT: Colossians 1:18-29, Colossians 2:1-7
Ps: Psalm 77
Pr: Proverbs 24:23-25

Today´s notable verse:

¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 2:31-37, Jeremiah 3, Jeremiah 4:1-18
NT: Colossians 1:1-17
Ps: Psalm 76
Pr: Proverbs 24:21-22

Today´s notable verse:

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 15 October 2006, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah 2:1-30
NT: Philippians 4
Ps: Psalm 75
Pr: Proverbs 24:17-20

Today´s notable verse:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

While Philippians 3 may be one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible, this passage may be my most oft-quoted. While the passage quoted yesterday exemplifies the life and perspective of the believer, this passage represents the approach to navigating the struggles and hardships of life successfully. If you are facing a situation that is bringing depression, anxiety, or distress into your life, I urge you to meditate on this passage to learn how the peace of God may reign in your life even during times of hardship.

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice…

Proverbs 24:17 (NIV)

How profound are the love and compassion of Christ – the same love and compassion with which we are to view the world? This love is that which willingly dies for all the sin in the entire history of the world; compassion that extends even to those who falsely accuse the only perfect, sinless man ever to walk the earth – even to those who nail him to the instrument of his death: compassion that prays for even their forgiveness. The world incorrectly interprets this principle as “karma”: what goes around, comes around. In reality, it is merely a matter of humility – recognizing that without Christ we are no better than anyone else, and recognizing that without Christ our “enemy” is doomed to an eternity of unimaginable hell and suffering.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.