datethewordtest

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  • Our Above All Actions

    1 Samuel 12:24 “Above all, fear the LORD and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you.”

    What is most important to you?  What actions are ABOVE ALL the actions you take? Long before Solomon gave his great conclusion to the purpose of life in Ecclesiastes 12:13 (“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all”) Samuel said above all FEAR THE LORD. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord God changes us.  We first acknowledge there is God and that He has complete authority over our lives.  As we fear the Lord He gets the highest of respect and reverence.  The fear of the Lord brings us to the conclusion that He and He alone to be worshiped.  

    Having reverence for God naturally leads to worship of God.  Thus Samuel follows up the call to above all fear God to faithfully worship God with all your heart. 

    What causes us to fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully?  Samuel calls on us to CONSIDER the great things God has done.  

    Reflection on God’s demonstration of love brings adoration of our awesome God. Without a doubt when you consider what He has done for you one can only cry out WORTHY IS THE LAMB!  

    What are your ABOVE ALL statements?

    Continue Strong considering the great things God has done for you,
    And Remember to Date the Word

  • A Life Verse for a Discipler

    1 Samuel 12:23 “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.”

    There is the joy of praying for others – and yes – there is the RESPONSIBILITY of praying for others. There is the joy of teaching others – and yes – there is the RESPONSIBILITY of teaching others. Samuel gives one of the most inspiring verses in the Bible of what it means to be a discipler as a discipler is going to pray for a person and teach them how to live the right way! 

    So, from 1 Samuel 12:23, let us be committed to praying for others and to be committed to teaching/discipling others.

    If you are unsure what to pray for as you pray for family and friends I suggest using Colossians 1:9-11 as a guide.  (This guide is on the Date the Word App where it is broken down to pray a request each day of the week) 
    Colossians 1:9-11 says, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (pray a person knows God’s Will) 10  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, (pray they WALK worthy/pleasing the Lord) being fruitful in every good work (pray their WORK for God is productive) and increasing in the knowledge of God; (praying they grow in WISDOM/understanding knowledge of God) 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; (pray they WITHSTAND trials and temptations by His power!)

    If you are not sure what to teach I suggest you take a good look at 2 Timothy 3:10 as Paul tells Timothy that he had “carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11  persecutions, afflictions,”
    These 9 areas lay a great foundation for any believer to build on.

    Samuel made a commitment, a commitment to PRAY FOR and to DISCIPLE God’s people.  I challenge you to look at 1 Samuel 12:23 as a guide as you make your 2025 commitments.  Commit to praying for a group of people.  Commit to discipling a group of people.  

    Make the COMMITMENT of I WILL PRAY and I WILL DISCIPLE!

    Continue Strong as a discipler
    And Remember to Date the Word

  • God Never Forsakes His People

    1 Samuel 12:22 “For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.”

    I believe there is no greater promise for the believer than the promise of God’s continual presence with us. He has promised over and over that He will never forsake us.  He continually walks with us, even as we go through the various valleys of life. 

    Do you need a quick reminder?  I can give you at least 50 verses but I will only put here:
    Exodus 3:12  (To Moses) So He said,  I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.

    Judges 6:16  And the LORD said to Gideon,  Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.

    Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

    Isaiah 43:1-5 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel:  Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
    2  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
    3  For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4  Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.
    5  Fear not, for I am with you;

    Matthew 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20   teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  Amen.

    Hear His promise today as He says  I will never leave you nor forsake you 

    Continue Strong being grateful that He never forsakes you
    And Remember to Date the Word

  • The Best Wish For Christmas 

    John 12:21 “Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we WISH to see Jesus.””

    If allowed to make a wish, what would you wish for?  What do you wish to see?  What do you wish to know?  What do you wish to have? Who would you wish to see?  With Christmas in just a few days, you may have already made your Christmas wish list. What did you put on it? Based on John 12:20 there were certain Greeks at a feast in Jerusalem and they wanted to see Jesus, as expressed in John 12:21 “Sir, we WISH to see Jesus.” 

    I hope as you make your wishes for Christmas and a New Year it will be to see, yes, know Jesus, and as you grow to know Him more you will want to make Him known.   

    Wise men seek Him. Wise men share Him.

    Continue Strong Wishing, Desiring To Know Him, 
    And Remember to Date the Word

  • Don’t Be A Fool With Your Soul!

    Luke 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’”

    It is sobering to know that our lives on earth end and more often than not it comes with an unexpected deadline. Yet when our lives end it is just beginning as we have a soul that will continue to live for all eternity.  The location of our soul is determined by a decision we make here on earth while living.  Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment.”  This judgment is not the final judgment but it is the first judgment that has you either in heaven or hell at the very moment of your death.  If you have decided to accept Christ and have been born again you immediately go into heaven when you die.  2 Corinthians 5:8b says, “to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”  But if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior you will perish and be in hell.  

    Even knowing how certain death is we still find so many putting off this decision as they have different priorities for their lives. Here is Luke 12 Jesus addresses having the wrong priorities. 
    First, there are the wrong priorities regarding money.  Then there are the wrong priorities regarding time and eternity.  In Luke 12:16-19 we have a man who thinks he has plenty of time to get right with God and be prepared to meet him.   Yet our verse tells us that time has run out.  God calls this man a fool as he has failed to be prepared for life after death.

    While preparing for and pursuing earthly pleasures he was unprepared for eternal pleasures and now will face eternal punishment.  

    With the uncertainty of a certain ending to life, Scripture appeals to accept Jesus now. For instance,  2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  

    While there is uncertainty about when your life will end, I beg you to let there be no uncertainty about your eternal future being in heaven. 

    Are you prepared to meet God face to face?  There is a heaven and there is a hell. Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.  Are you prepared to meet God face to face as you are appointed once to die and then the judgment?

    Don’t be a fool with your soul!

    Continue Strong by having prepared your soul for eternity! 
    And remember to DATE The Word!

  • Forever Or A Moment

    Proverbs 12:19 “The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.” 

    The NLT reads “Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.” 

    One of the main teachings in the Book of Proverbs is how important it is to be honest.  Being honest is to be highly valued while being dishonest is greatly discouraged.  Over and over Solomon presents the contrast of consequence.  Here is Proverbs 12:19 the contrast of consequences could hardly be more different as the honest one is established FOREVER and the liar is but for A moment.  

    We need to realize that what we choose when the temptation to lie arises will contribute to our character  Honesty establishes one’s character whereas lying causes cracks in one’s character. 

    My paraphrase of Proverbs 12:19b is lying may save your bacon for a moment, but far greater will be the damage to one when the lie is found out. 

    One of the earliest CONVICTIONS we have to decide on is the honesty conviction.  You have to decide how truthful you will be. Are you going to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?  Or are you going to tell only enough truth to get you out of trouble?  

    As you consider the contrast of consequences of being honest as compared to lying how does the truth about telling the truth and the truth about lying inform your conviction about being an honest person?  

    Honesty is not only the best policy it is the only policy!

    Continue Strong choosing to tell the truth,
    And Remember to Date the Word

  • Be Wise And Speak Helpful, Not Hurtful Word

    Proverbs 12:18 “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.”

    Proverbs has much to SAY about the use of our WORDS. Verses with the words word or the tongue, lips, and speech, number over 150 verses.  From these Proverbs, we find the incredible power of a single WORD.  The strongest statement of the power of words is in Proverbs 18:21 where we read “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” 

    Our verse to consider tells how words can hurt as it compares words to that of the piercing of a sword.  Words can cut into a person’s heart and soul.  Cruel words will leave deep scars just as if one had been sliced by a sword or cut by a knife. We want to believe that old statement that “sticks and stones may break our bones but words will never hurt us” to be true, the truth is WORDS CAN and DO HURT.

    On the other hand, out of the very same mouth, one can bring forth a different type of words in which another person is helped and encouraged and built up. Choosing to speak just the right word at the right moment in the right way to a person can be PRICELESS as the words are helpful and bring health (life) to the person.

    If we are honest with ourselves I suspect all of us have had at one time or another the four different experiences of Proverbs 12:17.  We most likely have used words that harmed another person as we spoke cruel and critical words.  Our words caused pain.  Telling the truth we most likely have been on the receiving in of cruel and critical words that cut us to the core.  We have been hurt by words and we have hurt others with our words.   In telling the truth I do suspect that, humbly, you can recall times you spoke some words that helped another person.   And I truly hope you can recall someone speaking into your life words that did encourage you and build you up.  I know I have had many and I am so grateful.  

    Are you being careful with your words? As you reflect on the use of your words and the use of words from others I trust you can see the WISDOM in choosing words that are helpful and build others up as opposed to using words that harm and tear down.   

    Oh, be careful little tongue what you say because your WORDS can surely harm and hurt.

    Continue Strong speaking helpful, not harmful words,
    And Remember to Date the Word

  • A Good Citizen Of Two Worlds

    Mark 12:17 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.”

    Mark 12:17 is an answer by Jesus to the question posed by religious leaders “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? They wanted to know “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” To that question came the brilliant and astonishing answer   “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  Looking at a coin with Caesar’s image he responded, “Give Caesar the things that are his.”  In other words, He said, “Yes, pay your taxes.”   

    What makes this verse so much more astonishing is the next part as He tells them to give to God the things that are HIS.  They were not expecting this answer.

    Church father Tertullian wrote, “‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s;’ that is, give to Caesar his image stamped upon his coin, and give to God His Own image stamped upon you; so that while you render to Caesar the coin which is his due, you may render your own self to God.”  (Pulpit Commentary)

    Jesus taught we have responsibilities to our government and then He added that we have responsibilities to God.  

    A citizen of heaven should be a good citizen on earth and a citizen on earth should be a faithful citizen of heaven.  

    While giving a tribute (tax) to the Roman government Jesus calls the questioners to give themselves in totality to God.  In essence, He exposed them for not being loyal to Caesar and not being loyal to God.  No wonder they were astonished at this teaching!  

    So, are you paying your taxes? I trust you are.
    So, are you presenting yourself to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him?  I trust you are.

    Continue Strong as good citizens of Earth and Heaven,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • The Wise Will Carefully Choose Their Response To The Critic

    Proverbs 12:16 “The anger of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”

    How do you respond to an insult?  Our verse gives a contrast in response to the critic.

    Whereas the fool responds with indignation to the insult, the prudent (the wise) ignores the insult.  The fool is ready to beat up the person while the prudent brushes it off.  The fool has no patience and explodes in retaliation.  The prudent, on the other hand, will carefully choose their response with patience and will refuse to engage in senseless name-calling to defuse the matter.  The fool has no filter!  Their action only makes matters worse.

    How do you respond to the critic? 
    Are you more like the FOOL who is quick-tempered, with a short fuse, and responds with equal or MORE force?
    Are you more like the prudent?  Do you carefully consider your responses to the critic?  
    I like to define the prudent as one who carefully considers the consequences of their choices.  
    Do you process the critic’s attack and insults with a patient thoughtful response?

    Here are a few thoughts on responding to the critic’s insults:
    Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
    NLT “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”
    Proverbs 23:9 says, “Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.”

    As you serve the Lord you will be attacked and criticized.  I had only been a Christian a short time when I encountered vicious name-calling.  My past life without Christ was demanding a response of both verbal and physical, but the new life in Christ was calling for self-control.  While difficult, I ignored the insults that day. 

    Remember that as Christians our testimony is so often revealed by our tongue and our temper.  We reveal how different we are when we don’t return an insult with an insult. 

    Continue Strong with self-control of temper and tongue!
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Get A Grip On Greed

    Luke 12:15. “And Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life DOES NOT consist in the abundance of the things one possesses.”

    When asked to be an arbitrator in a financial dispute between two brothers Jesus seizes the opportunity to teach the importance of GETTING A GRIP ON GREED. Luke 12:15 starts with a double warning as He says, “Take heed and beware.”  A double warning demands our full UNDIVIDED attention. 

    So, ARE YOU LISTENING?  So, ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?  

    Having demanded we LISTEN Jesus says, “Take heed and beware of COVETOUSNESS.” His warning is to WATCH OUT for COVETING or GUARD against being GREEDY.  As He tells this to His crowd they most likely recalled the Tenth Commandment of the Ten Commandments.  To refresh your memory it states, “You shall not COVET your neighbor’s house; you shall not COVET your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor ANYTHING that is your neighbor’s.”  Exodus 20:17  

    The tenth commandment is different from the other 9. It is the most personal and secretive.  It is broken with an attitude.  The attitude of coveting then will lead to various actions.  Now, if I am coveting, you do not see it.  If you are coveting, I do not see it.  It is an inside sin.  The sinful attitude comes as one is never satisfied with what one presently has, and one has a driving desire to get more and more so that they can be at least equal to if not better than their neighbor.  There is never ENOUGH for them.  

    There is no CONTENTMENT with a COVETING person. The coveting person makes gold their god!  

    With the double WARNING of guarding against COVETING, Jesus now teaches a lesson that flies in the face of what we have been taught to think about money, things, and possessions.  The WHY of why we should not covet (ARE YOU LISTENING) is, “Your life does not consist in the abundance of things you possess.”    

    YOUR LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS YOU POSSESS! 

    With one sentence Jesus CONFRONTS and DEBUNKS the thinking that fuels COVETING.  Your self-worth is not tied to your net worth!  Your net worth does not determine your self-worth!

    How do you now apply JESUS’ TEACHING from Luke 12:15 to your THINKING?  For me, it was the quote, “THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS”  that helped me go against the world’s thinking.  It has helped me to GET A GRIP ON GREED!

    Are you GUARDING your heart against being GREEDY?
    Are you CONTENT or does your heart COVET more and MORE and MORE?
    How does the quote THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS help you apply the teaching that Jesus has given?

    Continue Strong content and be satisfied with Jesus!
    And remember to DATE The Word