datethewordtest

Author: admin

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 4 (10/4) is Proverbs 10:4

    “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the 
    hand of the diligent makes rich. “ – Proverbs 10:4
    Using your HANDS to Produce a RICH LIFE

    The book of Proverbs will COMPARE and CONTRAST numerous relevant issues and some get very personal. For example, Proverbs will contrast the wise and the foolish. Proverbs will contrast the righteous and the wicked.  Proverbs will contrast the rich and the poor.  Proverbs will contrast the diligent and the lazy.  

    In Proverbs 10:4 we get what we might call a two-for-one.  There is a contrast between the rich and the poor, and the lazy (slack hand) and the diligent.  

    The verse highlights the word “hand” for it speaks of one’s work.  Our hands are our tools for action.  Here we see a person’s hands described as SLACK or idle with the idea of idle on purpose.  In other words, this person is lazy on purpose and does not want to work.  They are a SLACKER.  The definition of a slacker is a person who avoids work or effort.  The hardest work the slacker will do all day is thinking of ways to get out of work.  While there is no excuse for being lazy the lazy slacker works diligently to come up with every excuse possible to not work!  In Proverbs 26:13 the lazy person calls in and says “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” One of the reasons the lazy can’t get to work is because of a unique attachment disorder. Proverbs 26:14 tells of this slacker is attached to his bed; “As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed.” 

    Proverbs says when a person’s hands are slack, they become POOR or living in POVERTY.  This is more than not having money.  It speaks of having a life that lacks value.  One does not have things to look back on or things to look forward to.  A poor person can have a RICH life but here we see a person who has made decisions that bring about a poor life!

    On the other hand, you have the hand of the diligent who does what must be done and does it with excellence. They roll out of bed daily, roll up their sleeves, and pursue their God-given dreams.  Their work produces more than money as it produces achievement and accomplishment that gives opportunities to be a blessing to others. A rich person can have a POOR life but here we see a person who will experience a RICH LIFE.  Yes, the diligent experience of life is vastly different than the lazy slacker! 

    Are you approaching today with excitement and enthusiasm with a desire to give your best effort and strive for excellence, to make a difference? Or will you look to do as little as possible, keeping your hands as idle as possible? 

    Will the actions of your hands have you known as “the Lazy slacker” with a life of poverty or “the Diligent” experiencing a rich life?

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 4 (10/4) is Proverbs 10:4. It says, “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. “

    Continue Strong with a STRONG WORK ETHIC!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 3 (10/3) is Leviticus 10:3

    “And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who
    come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I
    must be glorified.’ So Aaron held his peace.” – Leviticus 10:3
    Handle HOLY things with REVERENCE

    Some of the stories of the Bible are tough to read as they shock us as well as shake us as we realize God is incredibly serious about holy things being appropriately handled.  The names of Nadab and Abihu and their story may not be very familiar as we tend to pass over reading Leviticus in our Bible reading but their names are in Leviticus 10 as is their story.  With just two verses we learn that holy things are to be handled seriously and there is swift and severe judgment from God when they are not. 

    Here are the two verses: Leviticus 10:1 “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.  2  So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.”

    Sobering to read, is it not?  Like reading about Uzza touching the Ark of God, and the anger of the Lord was aroused and God killed Uzza.  It is like reading about Ananias and Sapphira dying for lying in Acts 5.  

    Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord because of disobedience with holy things.  And as Moses reviews, if you will, analyzes, the situation he speaks to the new High Priest, Aaron, and tells him clearly what God’s expectations are for those who will be serving Him as priests.  As a reminder here is what God said.  “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.”

    To the point: There must be a holy reverence for the one who is Holy!

    While the story of swift and severe judgment shocks us and maybe shakes us we need to let it shape us.  Are we handling holy things lightly?  Are we handling holy things carelessly?  Do we have a reverence for the one who is Holy?

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 3 (10/3) is Leviticus 10:3. It says, “And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ So Aaron held his peace.”

    Handle HOLY things entrusted to you with all reverence!

    Continue Strong having reverence and respect for God,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 2 (10/2) is Luke 10:2

    “Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” – Luke 10:2
    PRAYING FOR MORE LABORERS

    The Lord gives us a prayer request as the ANSWER to an ASSESSMENT He has made.  From Luke 10:2 we find He assessed two things about the POPULATION of people. His first assessment is there is a GREAT NUMBER – the harvest is great. 

    Is the population great? Oct. 2, 2023 the world’s population is nearly 8 Billion. In 1860 it was 1 billion. When I was born in 1960 it was 3 billion. If I live to 77, 2037 it is projected to be at 9 billion. WOW.  9 BILLION.  The harvest is TRULY GREAT!! 

    His second assessment is the LABORERS are FEW. Those who are to be reaching the lost are few. This is heartbreaking. 

    More people with less soul winners. Friends, we have a problem. 

    So Jesus provides the ANSWER to the dismal assessment. The answer is to PRAY!!! We are to PRAY for laborers!!  WE ARE TO PRAY FOR LABORERS.  

    Let me be direct with a question regarding your prayer list.  If I were to look at your prayer list will I find this prayer request that Jesus asked you to pray on it?  Would I find that you daily are praying for God to raise up laborers to go into the field? 

    There is no question the harvest is great as we have nearly 8 billion people to reach! There is no doubt the laborers are fewer.  The ANSWER starts with PRAYING to the Lord for laborers!! (And be ready because you might be the answer to your own prayer!!)

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 2 (10/2) is Luke 10:2.  It says, “Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

    We are to be praying for laborers ON the field and praying for more laborers to GO to the field. 

    Continue Strong PRAYING for laborers for the great harvest.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 1 (10/1) is Romans 10:1

    “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is
    that they may be saved.” – Romans 10:1
    A MOST WANTED LIST 

    One cannot help but feel the PASSION the Apostle Paul has here in Romans 10:1 for the people of Israel to be saved.  Saying he wants to see people saved is not a cliche for Paul.  His heart longs for the lost to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This desire has action with the first action being he prays for the lost to be saved.  

    When I look at Romans 10:1 and see how Paul wanted to see Israel to be saved it makes me think of creating a MOST WANTED LIST of people that need to hear the gospel.  Most likely have heard of a MOST WANTED LIST.  It is a term used by the FBI to catch the most dangerous criminals.  We should have a MOST WANTED LIST for those who are LOST and need Jesus. 

    Who is on your MOST WANTED LIST? Who are the lost people that you want to be found? Who is spiritually blind but you want them to see? Who is spiritually dead that you want to be spiritually alive? 

    Taking action with today’s devotion I would like you to pause and create your most wanted list.  Write or type out Romans 10:1 on a sheet of paper and put a blank where the word Israel is and then write in the blank who you would so love to see saved.   Ex. Romans 10:1 says, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for _____________ is that they may be saved.” 

    Who is the family member, the friend, the co-worker or team associate,  the neighbor, etc., you so desire to see saved?   Write their names down and then start praying for them to have someone share the gospel with them. (That person just might be you.)  Pray their eyeswould be open to the glorious gospel message. And then look for opportunities to witness to them!

    Our verse to DATE the Word on October 1 (10/1) is Romans 10:1.  It says, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” 

    Now for the very serious questions:  Does your heart break for lost souls to be saved?
    Are you praying for the lost to be saved?  Are you witnessing?

    Continue Strong with a broken heart for souls to be saved!
    And remember to DATE the Word!

    PS.  Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 30 (9/30) is 1 Chronicles 9:30

    “And some of the sons of the priests made
    the ointment of the spices.” – 1 Chronicles 9:30
    EVERY JOB IS IMPORTANT

    There are a few books of the Bible and some chapters of the Bible that are, shall we say, challenging to read.  We come to Leviticus, and we see all these guidelines with many of them for the priest and the Levites who will be serving in the Tabernacle and we skip over to Numbers.  In Numbers, we see a lot of Numbers and we are ready to move on.  We come to 1 Chronicles and find one list after another with many names that we can’t pronounce, and we are ready to move to another book.  We come to Nehemiah 3 and it is one long list that tells of the people who are working on the rebuilding of the wall and where they are working but because it is so long we are prone to skip over to chapter 4.  Yes, some books and some chapters are difficult to read.  HOWEVER, those chapters and books are inspired by God and are in our Bible for various reasons.  And they deserve to be read and examined for there are nuggets of wisdom and truth to be discovered.  

    1 Chronicles 9:30 does not say much but what it says brings home the importance that every job is essential.  Our verse tells us some of the sons of the priest made the ointment of the spices.  Interestingly it did not say the priest did this.  It says the sons and the idea here is their younger sons were doing this.   

    In the Bible, we have a verse that tells of ointment being made from the spies they had.  What does it say to you that the Holy Spirit thought it was important to put in this detail?  

    For me, it is a reminder that so much of the work that is done in a church is done behind the scenes and that the behind-the-scenes work and workers can be unappreciated. The fact that the Holy Spirit put this small detail in the Word of God tells me that every task is a valuable task.  This ointment was to be used in the holy anointing oil as instructed in Exodus 30:23-25.  While we might see it as a small detail, it was a vital detail.  Someone had to take various spices and make an ointment that would be used for the holy anointing oil.  And 1 Chronicles 9:30 tells us this detail was accomplished. 

    Pause to think about behind-the-scenes work that makes your church work.  Maybe you are one of those workers who show up early and/or stay late to make sure a church service runs smoothly.  May I say THANK you for your behind-the-scenes faithfulness?  It takes a team.  And you are vitally important.  Just as the sons of the priest were vital to making ointment from spices for the holy anointing oil.  

    Our verse to DATE the Word on September 30 (9/30) is 1 Chronicles 9:30. 1 Chronicles 9:30 says, “And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.”

    It takes all of us for the work of the ministry to work.

    Continue Strong valuing the entire team,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 29 (9/29) is Mark 9:29

    “So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” – Mark 9:29
    Mark 9:29 is an answer by Jesus to His disciples’ question in verse 28 as they could not understand why they could not help a man who had brought his demon-possessed son to them, yet Jesus had helped him. The background is that a desperate father brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples but they could not cast out the demon.  In Mark 9:18 the father of the son spoke to Jesus and informed Him that he had spoken to His disciples requesting they should cast the demon out, but they could not. Jesus steps in and casts out the demon. 

    Now after Jesus does cast out the demon the disciples ask why could not and Jesus reveals THE SECRET.  He teaches them that “this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”  Prayer and fasting gave Him spiritual strength to handle spiritual warfare.  

    Friends, spiritual warfare is real.  It is difficult and hard! It is why we have to daily put on the ARMOR of God found in Ephesians 6:10-19.

    One must be PREPARED FOR BATTLE, listen, EVERY DAY! Our adversary is described as a roaring lion on the loose seeking to DEVOUR us.  We must be ALERT and PREPARED for battle ALL THE TIME.

    Spending time in PRAYER and having times of FASTING allows God to use one in incredible ways! Prayer and fasting both indicate to God your DEPENDENCE on Him!  It is not about YOU being able to do the spiritually impossible but by prayer and fasting it becomes about HIM working through you to do the spiritually impossible!

    I am reminded of Dr. Jerry Falwell’s words time and time again that NOTHING OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE EVERY HAPPENS APART FROM PRAYER!!! 

    Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t keep secret the secret of doing ministry?  

    Now that you know the secret ingredients to spiritual success what will you do with the secret ingredients?

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 29 (9/29) is Mark 9:29. It says, “So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” 

    Are you trying to do the spiritually impossible in your own strength and wisdom?

    Continue Strong relying on HIM!  
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 28 (9/28) is Hebrews 9:28

    “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for
    Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” – Hebrews 9:28
    JESUS IS COMING AGAIN 

    Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, came from heaven to earth once to die. Yes, He was born to die.  That death was not because of anything He did but rather He died for ALL people, dying for us, dying in our place, and in doing so paid the price for our sins.   He took or as the verse says bore our sins and there is nothing we can do to be saved except accept Him.  As the hymn states JESUS PAID IT ALL.  There is also nothing more He needs to do. His offering was once and for all.

    Now while Hebrews 9:28 tells us about His FIRST COMING, it also tells us about His SECOND COMING.  Yes, friends, let us also be reminded that He is coming again! And the second coming will be different than the first. In His first coming He was the Man of sorrows who made atonement for sin. His second appearance will be as the Lord of His people, and will be the Judge of the quick and the dead.  

    One might say a great way to live is to start every day with PERHAPS TODAY! Perhaps this very day Jesus will call His bride, the church, home.  

    With that thought how might your walk with Jesus, your work for Jesus, your worship of Jesus, and your witness to others about Jesus be different?  What actions need to take place TODAY in light of the fact He may COME TODAY?

    With the thought of PERHAPS TODAY, I also like to give this principle regarding living that has been very helpful to me.  The principle is to live as if this was your last day, with a sense of urgency but also live today as if you have 100 more years here, with a sense of planning and working toward a better future.

    Our verse to DATE the Word on September 28 (9/28) is Hebrews 9:28. It says, “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

    As you re-read Hebrews 9:28 I trust that within your heart swells with gratitude for our wonderful Savior who paid in full our sin debt and there is within your heart a sense of anticipation for perhaps this very day He will return! 

    Continue Strong with anticipation of our SAVIOR’S RETURN
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 27 (9/27) is 1 Corinthians 9:27

    “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have
    preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” – 1 Corinthians 9:27
    THE FIRST PERSON YOU LEAD IS YOU!!  

    We learn a major principle for life from 1 Corinthians 9:27 as it teaches us the FIRST PERSON YOU LEAD IS YOU!  So often we focus so much of our time on what OTHERS need to be doing or not doing when in truth we need to be focused on what we need to be doing or not doing.  The first person you should be concerned about and leading is yourself.

    In this verse, the Apostle Paul said, “I DISCIPLINE MY…!!”  This statement means he was taking personal responsibility for himself!  While having the responsibility of leading others he knew he had to LEAD himself first.  From 1 Corinthians 9:27 one should be learning that taking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for ONESELF is a TOP PRIORITY.

    As we think about this verse, please read carefully and thoughtfully the next statement.  It is a quote I heard in a sermon years ago that has been a little adapted.  It read, “One should never expect their gifts, talents, or even their calling to take them where their character can’t keep them.”   

    The Apostle Paul understood the privilege of serving the Lord. He understood that discipline was needed as disqualification was a reality. To be disqualified means to be cast away like a bad piece of metal.  To be disqualified is to lose the privilege of being used.  

    As Paul looked at the areas that needed to be disciplined, he said he disciplined his body. Making this practical means we must discipline our eyes – ears – mind – mouth/lips/tongue – neck – hands – feet and most of all our heart. To discipline is to have charge of them.  We are to be IN CHARGE of our body!

    Are you living a disciplined life?  Are you in charge of you?  Do you lead yourself well? I do want to say the statement above again as it needs to be embedded in your mind and heart.  Don’t expect your gifts, talents, calling, or even past and present successes to take you where your character can’t keep you! 

    From I Corinthians 9:27 you must know that your lack of integrity will cause you to lose your opportunity to influence.  Lead yourself with discipline so that you may not be disqualified!

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 27 (9/27) is 1 Corinthians 9:27.  It says, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

    Don’t allow your character to count you out but rather have a character that others can count on.

    Continue Strong leading yourself with Discipline!  
    And remember to DATE the WORD.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 26 (9/26) is Acts 9:26

    “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they
    were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.” – Acts 9:26
    CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, NEEDING A SPONSOR

    The story of Saul’s conversion has always fascinated me as he really found himself caught between two worlds.  As a Jewish leader leading the persecution of the church, Saul has this incredible encounter with the Lord that brings about his incredible conversion. He is now a Christian. He is a believer.

    Yet as people hear his story they are baffled.  On one hand, you have fellow Jewish leaders who are thinking that if this is true then HE NEEDS TO BE KILLED.  Notice Acts 9:22-23 as it says, “But Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,” On the other hand, you have the disciples here in Acts 9:26 who are also struggling to believe that Saul is a believer and wanted to keep their distance

    What a dilemma for Saul!  What is he to do? What can he do?  What can someone in the church do?

    As Saul starts his journey with Christ, he will need a sponsor.  Thankfully there is a verse 27 in Acts 9 that tells of BARNABAS.  It says, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” 

    Thank God Saul had Barnabas.  Barnabas stood with Saul before he was THE Apostle Paul. Barnabas believed that Saul’s conversion was real and that he truly was a changed and a changing person!  Barnabas stepped into the gap to be a sponsor of Saul.  

    Maybe God would have you be a Barnabas, a sponsor, to someone today. Being a BARNABAS means stepping up and stepping in to stand with a new believer as they transition from the “lost” world to the “saved” world.  As a sponsor, you can help bridge the gap and make the transition easier.  

    BTW: Personally, Acts 9:26-27 resonates with me.  I am thankful for the Crawford family of Madison Heights, VA who were my Barnabas as lost friends did not want me around anymore and Christians did not know if I was serious.  The Crawfords stepped up and took me in and helped me get started on my new Christian journey.

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 26 (9/26) is Acts 9:26. It says, “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.”

    Acts 9:27  “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”

    Continue Strong by being a BARNABAS, a sponsor, to a SAUL who will become THE apostle Paul
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 25 (9/25) is Luke 9:25

    “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, 
    and is himself destroyed or lost?” – Luke 9:25
    Weigh carefully your priorities!  BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

    As Jesus lived on the earth, He taught numerous ETERNAL truths!   In teaching He many times would present a question that got straight to the point.  Luke 9:25 is one of those penetrating questions that stop us in our tracks.  Read it again.  “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?”   

    How do you answer this question?  Maybe by rephrasing it.  THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PROFIT – NO VALUE – in gaining all that the WORLD HAS TO OFFER – being the richest – wisest – most famous – most powerful – most attractive – by being the greatest of all time (GOAT) in a sport, or in anything, AND LOSE MY SOUL for all eternity.  

    With this short devotional, I remind you that Luke 12:20b is in your future where “your soul will be required of you;”  I remind you that Hebrews 9:27 is in your future.  It says, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”   I remind you that if you are a believer 1 Corinthians 3:13 will be a part of your future and 2 Corinthians 5:10 is in your future as “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

    This earthly life is not all there is!  Please hear what God’s Word says. This earthly life is not all there is! There is eternal life and one’s eternal life will be lived in only one of two places, heaven or hell.

    Begin with the end in mind, my friends.  A personal decision has to be made to spend eternity in heaven.  You must trust Jesus Christ for your salvation.  There is no other name given under heaven whereby you may be saved.  Have you trusted Jesus for salvation?  If not, what are you waiting on?  

    If you are already a believer you need to Begin With the End in Mind regarding standing one day at the Bema seat.  Make decisions today to live completely for Christ.   

    Toby Mac wrote Lose my Soul in 2007/08.  Here are just a few of the powerful words of that song.
    I don’t wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
    Don’t wanna walk away, and all those people say
    I don’t wanna gain the whole world, and lose my soul,
    Don’t wanna lose, I don’t wanna lose my soul.
    Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
    That fight for our love, and our passion,
    As our eyes are open wide and on You.
    Grant us the privilege of Your world view,
    And may Your kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down.
    Don’t wanna lose our soul, No, don’t wanna lose my soul.

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 25 (9/25) is Luke 9:25.  It says, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?”

    “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliott

    Continue Strong with the right priorities!   
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!