Author Archive

About Our Daily Bread     |      RBC Ministries     |      Donate
Wholesome Words September 8, 2010 Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn   READ: Ephesians 4:25-32 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. —Eph. 4:29 In November 2008, the US Supreme Court debated the constitutional limits on foul language. The Federal Communications Commission cited a national broadcasting company for allowing two entertainers to use two common profanities on the air. The broadcasting company argued that “fleeting” profanity that was not blatantly sexual should not be punished. Others countered that it is our duty to protect children from such language. The issue of inappropriate language was not up for debate in the church at Ephesus. Paul instructed believers that one of the ways they were to respond to the blessings of redemption and being made alive in Christ was by guarding their speech (4:29). Paul did not want them to be characterized by their old way of living, which included corrupt and unwholesome speech, profanity, malicious gossip, slander, or anything that injures another and sparks dissension. Instead, he wanted the Ephesians through their words to “impart grace” and encouragement, as the need arose. As followers of Jesus Christ, we want the words that flow from our hearts and out of our mouths to be a life-giving spring. And may all who hear our words receive a blessing. —Marvin Williams Lord, set a guard upon my lips, My tongue control today; Help me evaluate each thought And watch each word I say. —Hess God’s Word should shape our words.

From Gail:

It is easy to say “I didn’t mean that,” when we say mean things to people, but it is sound psychology and scripture that deep down inside, buried in the subconscious, you did mean it, or you wouldn’t have said it.  In these situations, we need to work through our feelings to get the subconscious to the conscious level so we can deal with whatever is causing us to say mean things, especially to those we love.

¹⁸But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man.  19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15)

Today, ask God to reveal secret sins in your life and to give you insight into why you say or think mean things.  Ask yourself what this situation reminds you of that mean things came out of your mouth.

   ²⁴But his bow remained strong and steady and rested in the Strength that does not fail him, for the arms of his hands were made strong and active by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,Genesis 49

God brought us out of Egypt with a powerful hand.” Ex 13:24

I’m singing my heart out to God—what a victory!
      He pitched horse and rider into the sea.
   God is my strength, God is my song,
      and, yes! God is my salvation.
   This is the kind of God I have
      and I’m telling the world!
   This is the God of my father—
      I’m spreading the news far and wide!
   God is a fighter,
      pure God, through and through.
   Pharaoh’s chariots and army
      he dumped in the sea,
   The elite of his officers
      he drowned in the Red Sea.
   Wild ocean waters poured over them;
      they sank like a rock in the deep blue sea.
   Your strong right hand, God, shimmers with power;
      your strong right hand shatters the enemy.
   In your mighty majesty
      you smash your upstart enemies,
   You let loose your hot anger
      and burn them to a crisp.
   At a blast from your nostrils
      the waters piled up;
   Tumbling streams dammed up,
      wild oceans curdled into a swamp. Ex15:1-3

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. —Psalm 55:17

If you know that God’s hand is in everything, you can leave everything in God’s hands.

¹⁷ This is what the LORD says—
       your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
       “I am the LORD your God,
       who teaches you what is best for you,
       who directs you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17)

Psalm 119

¹  Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
       who walk according to the law of the LORD.

 ² Blessed are they who keep his statutes
       and seek him with all their heart. 

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure?
       By living according to your word.

¹¹Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

¹⁸ Open my eyes that I may see
       wonderful things in your law. 

 ²⁹ Keep me from deceitful ways;
       be gracious to me through your law.  

³⁷ Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
       preserve my life according to your word.  

⁵⁰ My comfort in my suffering is this:
       Your promise preserves my life. 

 ⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray,
       but now I obey your word. 

 ⁶⁹ Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
       I keep your precepts with all my heart.

 ⁷⁰ Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
       but I delight in your law. 

⁷⁸ May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
       but I will meditate on your precepts. 

 ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
       and a light for my path. 

Do you realize that in general, the Bible is one big prayer?  You can take anything in the Bible and personalize it to form your own prayer to God, even the history.  The above example is an example of this.

Today, as you read your Bible, personalize certain verses to form your own prayer to God.  Remember Hebrews 4:12:

For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God’s timing is unique. Be still and know that I am God.
About Our Daily Bread     |      RBC Ministries     |      Donate
Silence, Please! September 2, 2010 Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn   READ: Psalm 46 Be still, and know that I am God. —Psalm 46:10 Our world has become increasingly noisy. But according to a news report, science has found a way to achieve absolute silence: “Scientists have shown off the blueprint for an ‘acoustic cloak,’ which could make objects impervious to sound waves. The technology, outlined in the New Journal of Physics, could be used to build sound-proof homes, advanced concert halls, or stealth warships.” When we seek out a quiet place for devotional time with God, we may wish we had an “acoustic cloak.” But even if we could silence all external sound, the internal noises of worry would still reverberate in our minds. We are told: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). But how do we calm our hearts in practical terms? God understands our dilemma and has provided His own “acoustic cloak” to quiet our hearts. It involves exchanging our cares for His peace. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). As we place our concerns in God’s capable hands, we find a quietness that only He can provide. —Dennis Fisher Be still and know that He is God For pathways steep and rough; Not what He brings but what He is Will always be enough. —Anon. God gives peace to those who are quiet before Him.

From Gail:

I have found there is a time for quiet prayers.  There is also a time for speaking and a time for listening.  Quite often we quit waiting on God to speak because we are in too big of a hurry.  For God, there is no time as we know it.  When we ask God “when God, when,” his answer is “when the time is right.” 

Another way to look at it is like this–your pregnant but you are not willing to wait the nine months to have your baby.  You ask God to speed up the birthing process.  God says no because it would be all wrong because of the timing.  Wrong for you and the baby. 

” I don’t know right from wrong.”  It is a sad thing when I hear this from young people (although they would if they had adults in their life that did).  If you are wondering at this point, what right from wrong is, let’s review the Ten Commandments.  Remember, they are commandments, not ten suggestions.

The first four have to do with our direct relationship with God (vertical) and the last six have to do with our indirect relationship with God (horizontal)  as to how we treat others.

Exodus 20

   And God spoke all these words, saying:

   
“I am the LORD thy God, who have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

    
1. ”Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

What does this mean in today’s society.  It simply means anything you put before God is an idol–TV, sports, money,etc.  How about yourself?  If this is the case, you have unwittingly made yourself an idol.

  2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

This is an extension of the first commandment.  Back in biblical times, people made statues of their gods and bowed down to them.  We are never to make any image of God and bow down to it or worship it. 

3. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

This is not limited to swear words.  Any time you take the Bible lightly, you are taking God’s name in vain.  If you choose not to obey it, you are taking the Lord’s name in vain. 

  4. ”Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Jesus said “man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath made for man.” (Mark 2:27).  God knows we need a day of rest for our bodies and minds.  It is a time to worship and think on Jesus and all He has done for us. 

 5. ”Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

This doesn’t mean we have to agree with them on everything, especially when we are adults.  It doesn’t mean they have the right to order us around after we are adults.  What it does mean is to hold them in respect and respectfully disagree with them if need arises.

 6. “Thou shalt not kill.

This is not limited to murder.  There is a separate Hebrew word that is exclusive to murder.  This Hebrew word used includes murder.  It also includes killing someone’s spirit within them, their hopes, dreams, happiness, etc.

 7. ”Thou shalt not commit adultery.

This means betrayal of one’s spouse.  Since God considers us the “Bride of Christ,” he puts a strong emphasis on loyalty in marriage.  Under the New Covenant,however, looking at a woman lustfully is considered adultery because now what’s  in the heart counts.  Jesus says in Matthew 5:27, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

8. ”Thou shalt not steal.

Again, this is not limited to shoplifting.  How many times have you stolen someone’s ideas, hopes, dreams, happiness?  How about their pride and dignity.

   
9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

This simply means lying and it isn’t limited to the courtroom.  A lying tongue is an abomination to God.

 10.  “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.”

In other words, don’t have a “keep up with the Jones’s” attitude.  The Bible talks about being content with what we have and when the time is right, God will exalt you if you don’t try to exalt yourself.

I think if we are all honest with ourselves, we can honestly say we have broken all of them more than once.  Today is a good day to reflect on our lives.  Rid yourself of your “this is just the way I am” attitude” and resolve to make yourself a better person.  Take it slowly.  As the saying  goes, “inch by inch, anything’s a cinch.  Yard by yard it is very hard.”  List your ten major faults you want to improve on in the priority of importance and work on them one at a time.  Don’t be in a hurry.  Change takes time and most important, remember that only God can change your heart.

At any rate, now you know right from wrong, and God will hold you accountable based on what you know.  Choose wisely your actions and plans for life.

Luke 8

Women Who Followed Jesus

 ¹ Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, ² along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; ³ Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.

What can we learn from these passages?  First, women played an important role in the life of Jesus, and some of them obviously had wealth.  They loved him enough to support his earthly ministry.  They wanted to follow him because they loved him and he loved them.

What else can we learn from scripture about women of the Bible in the New Testament?

 ⁵⁶But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.  ⁵⁷And those who had laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Where were the women?  They were at the feet of Jesus while he was on the cross.  Later, only John came back. The others stayed away at a distance.  The others either denied him directly (Peter) or indirectly by fleeing.

   
 ²⁷And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women who also bewailed and lamented Him. ²⁸But Jesus, turning unto them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ⁵⁵And the women also, who came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher and how His body was laid. ¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, and other women who were with them, who told these things unto the apostles.

Because of their loyalty, it was the women that Jesus revealed himself to first after his resurrection.

What can we learn from this lesson?  It was all about who loved Jesus the most at this given period of time.  How much do you love Jesus?  Are you a true friend or just a “fair weathered” friend of Jesus?  Do you worship him just when things are going great?  What happens when things go bad, do you forsake him?

The circuit riding preacher used to ride across the land

With a rifle in his saddle and a Bible in his hand.

He told the prairie people all about the promised land

As he went riding singing down the trail.

The circuit riding preacher traveled through the mire and mud

Told about the firey furnace and Noah and the flood.

He preached the way to heaven was through water and the blood

As he went riding singing down the trail.

I saw a circuit riding preacher say these words one day, 

“Lord, I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day. 

And I would rather one walk with me instead of merely show the way.

The best of all the preachers are the men that live their creeds.

And to see their good in action is what everybody needs.

You know, Lord, I can learn to do it if you will let me see it done.

I can watch their hands in action but their tongues too often run.

The sermons they deliver may be very wise and true,

 but I would rather get my lesson from watching what they do. 

For I may misunderstand them and the high advice they give,

but there is no misunderstandings about how they act and how

they live.”

Yes, there is a land over the rainbow and it is called heaven.

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Remember, however, you must be made perfect to get into a perfect heaven, otherwise heaven would be corrupted.  Your soul becomes perfect when Jesus comes to live in your heart.