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  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 8 (6/8) is Isaiah 6:8

    “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
    Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8
    HERE AM I! SEND ME!

    As one reads Isaiah 6 one can conclude that the prophet Isaiah had one of the greatest moments any human being could ever experience.  The chapter opens with the difficult detail that King Uzziah has died. He had been the king of Judah for 52 years. He was very popular as he made numerous improvements for Judah.  With his death would come many unknowns.  It is in this challenging moment that Isaiah SEES THE LORD and we are enriched to read of what he sees as he sees Him high and lifted up and the train of His robe filled the temple.  Isaiah then tells of what he HEARS as seraphims are crying HOLY HOLY HOLY.  This brings about brokenness over his sin that brings about confession to the Lord and then cleansing from the Lord!  What a moment!  What a beautiful moment!!! And it is not over.

    From SEEING the Lord, and HEARING about the Lord, humbly confessing his sins, Isaiah now HEARS the Lord speaking. He is able to hear the Lord’s heart.  He is able to hear what the Lord needs.  He is able to hear the Lord’s inner circle conversation, hearing the request of WHOM SHALL I SEND and WHO WILL GO FOR US?  What a moment this was!

    As Isaiah hears the voice of God, he responds with one of the greatest responses one can make to God as he says, “HERE AM I! SEND ME!”  

    “HERE I AM! SEND ME!”   Isaiah

    May I ask you a very personal question?  Have those 5 words ever crossed your lips to the ears of God? Have you made yourself available to God for God to be used by God?  Have you said to God that you are available for whatever He wants, for Him to use you however He wants, wherever He wants, and whenever He wants?  Has there been a time of total surrender of your life and you said, “HERE I AM! SEND ME.  

    To be a little more personal with my questioning are you LISTENING to hear what God is saying?  Are you so busy with your life that you have no time to hear the requests of God?  It is, after all, hard to hear when we are not listening.  I trust you are not missing what God is saying, but in this world, with so much noise it may be you are not being still to hear the small still voice of God.  

    BTW – While we would say dependability is the greatest ability, availability is the first ability!

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 8 (6/8) is Isaiah 6:8. It says, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

    Today may the words “Here I am! Send me!” come from your heart across your lips to the heart of God!

    Continue Strong being available to the Lord,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Other verses to consider for June 8 (6/8) are
    Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
    Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
    Romans 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
    1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 7 (6/7) is Galatians 6:7

    “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
    that he will also reap.” – Galatians 6:7
    There is the LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING! 

    I am not sure how you just read Galatians 6:7 but I would hope that the opening words GRABBED YOUR ATTENTION. I see Galatian 6:7 as one of those IN YOUR FACE verses and the opening words of “Do not be deceived” are written to get your full attention as something life-changing is getting ready to be revealed.   Are you AWAKE?  Are you paying attention?  The fact that you are being challenged to NOT BE DECEIVED should be telling you that you are entering a battle for your mind as Satan is ready to whisper that you are not going to be hearing the truth.  

    Does God have your attention?  Just in case He does not Paul gives ANOTHER in your face statement with GOD IS NOT MOCKED.  Now with two in your face statements “Do not be deceived,” and “God is not mocked,” to grab your attention the Apostle Paul gives what I consider to be one of the most important life principles a person can learn as he states, “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

    “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap!!!”

    Friends, you better learn the laws of sowing and reaping. ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!  Don’t be deceived! Choices have consequences. God is not mocked!  Just as one would plant seeds and after a time receive a harvest the actions you take bring forth a harvest.  If you sow good actions, there will be good and positive consequences but if you sow bad actions tough and hard consequences will soon come your way. 

    You are what you sow!  Not sure who wrote this but you should learn it:
    Sow a thought – reap an action;
    Sow an action – reap a habit:
    Sow a habit – reap a character
    Sow a character – reap a destiny.
    A mark of maturity is when a person realizes the truth of Galatians 6:7 that whatsoever you sow you also will reap!

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 7 (6/7) is Galatians 6:7. It says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

    Continue Strong sowing carefully,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus – laws of sowing and reaping include: 
    You reap ONLY after you sow; 
    WHATEVER you sow that will you also REAP;
    AND you will also reap MORE than you sow! 

    Other verses to consider on June 7 (6/7) are 
    Deuteronomy 6:7 “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
    1 Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 6 (6/6) is Proverbs 6:6

    “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,” – Proverbs 6:6
    Learning DILIGENCE, (to be hard at work) from an ANT!

    One cannot read through the book of Proverbs without noticing that King Solomon has a major problem with those who are LAZY.  There are close to 20 verses to address the lazy, the sluggard, the idle, and the slothful. To the ones who are lazy and sluggards, he will be very direct and challenge them to change their behavior!  There will be no compliments for being lazy!   On the other hand, there are those who work hard and are diligent.  They are responsible with responsibilities and as he writes of them, he commends and compliments them.  He will commend them as being wise!  He will commend them by saying diligence is a man’s precious possession.  

    While Solomon conveys his displeasure with the lazy and the sluggard, he also looks for ways to teach a strong work ethic to those who are lazy and slothful, to the one who is a SLUGGARD.  And of all the places and of all the animals to use to teach the sluggard, he sees the work ethic of the ANTS.  Picture him seeing ants in his yard or in a field.  He sees those ANTS working!  They do not have an overseer, yet they are diligently working to gather into their storehouse food for future use.  As he is watching them work, he calls on the sluggard, the lazy, to look at them and learn!  

    Have you considered ants?   Just as Jesus told us to consider the birds so we might not worry, Solomon tells us to consider the ANTS so that we might learn to WORK!   The ANT understands the necessity of preparing for the future.  The ANT understands that there are seasons of opportunities and that those opportunities are to be seized in a timely matter.  The sluggard (what an awful description) will miss opportunities and fail to be ready for the future.   So even while it may be embarrassing Solomon says CONSIDER the little ant so one can WISE UP, GET UP, and GET TO WORKING!!  

    As you dive into your responsibilities today what is the ANT teaching you?  

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 6 (6/6) is Proverbs 6:6. It says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,”

    Continue Strong with a strong work ethic,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    BTW – Solomon gained much wisdom from taking the time to observe a variety of animals.   When looking to convey life lessons of the highest order he went to four animals that most likely would not make our top list when thinking about lessons to learn from animals.  However, he saw four small, little animals and called them exceedingly wise.  Do you recall?  Proverbs 30:24 There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: 25  The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;  
    26 The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags; 27  The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks; 28  The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces.”

    Why are these four animals so wise, so exceedingly wise?  The ants value preparation.  The rock badgers value protection.  The locusts value cooperation.  The spider values imagination.  
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 5 (6/5) is Isaiah 6:5

    “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.” – Isaiah 6:5
    Isaiah 6 is one of the great chapters of the Bible.  In this chapter, Isaiah sees the Lord who is high a lifted up and he hears that He is HOLY.  As a matter of fact, the angels cry out HOLY! HOLY! HOLY!  As Isaiah sees God and understands who God is, Isaiah now SEES himself and hears what has been proceeding out of his mouth.  Seeing and understanding God for who He is causes Isaiah to see and understand who he is. What he sees is not pretty.  The holiness of God has revealed just how unholy and unclean he is.  

    Principle: the closer you get to God the more evident your sins will become!  

    As Isaiah is overcome with how unclean he is he confesses to God that he is condemned and completely undone!  He knows his lips are unclean and that he is around people who have unclean lips and there is nothing he himself can do.  Seeing God for who He is has brought Isaiah to confess just how unclean he is!  

    With Isaiah’s realization of sin and confession of sin, God will now forgive and cleanse Isaiah. Verses 6 and 7 says, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7  And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”

    When we read Isaiah 6:6-7 we can’t help but think of 1 John 1:9. It says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

    At this point, a few questions need to be asked.  Are you putting yourself in places where you can see the Lord for who He is so that you might truly understand who you are?   Are you in His Word so that the Word can be like a mirror to you and reveal things that need to be confessed?  Are you hearing the Word of God proclaimed so that you might know what God’s standards are?

    The big question: are you acknowledging that you are undone and unclean and confessing your sins to God so that you might be clean? 

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 5 (6/5) is Isaiah 6:5. It says, “So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”

    Earlier I stated a principle that “the closer you get to God the more evident your sins will become!”   Have you found this to be true?  

    Continue Strong seeing the Lord for Who He is so you can see who you are,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 4 (6/4) is Acts 6:4

    “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.” – Acts 6:4
    ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES

    Acts 6:4 offers several vital lessons regarding the best use of our TIME.  The context of Acts 6:4 finds the disciples being drawn into disputes that, well, distracted them from their main purpose.  While the concerns expressed by the Hellenistic widows were valid (Acts 6:1) the disciples had to decide whether they should handle getting food to them or could this be something delegated.  They had to consider what was their top priority.  They had to determine what they were going to be giving their time to.  In doing so they realized that they needed to give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word. 

    What are you giving yourself to?  I will tell you that this question is not a one-time question.  It is a question that needs to be asked occasionally.  My management of time calls for me to schedule a time to schedule my time.  In earlier days I attended several seminars on time management and read several books and listened to several lessons from Dr. John C. Maxwell.   One of the earliest lessons stressed the importance of Beginning with the End in Mind.  This helped me to think about WHAT I WAS GIVING MYSELF TO base not on a day or a week or a month or a year or even 5 years but rather on ETERNITY. Because I wanted to be found faithful and hear Jesus say well done my good and faithful servant, I had a filter for how I would use my time.  The usage of my time needed to be for eternal purposes, not temporal purposes.   

    Knowing what my top priority was helped me to decide what to do with the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.  I determined that to be found faithful I would need to be growing in my relationship with God.  I was to be seeking Him first!  In order to make Him known I needed to know Him.   For me this meant that first thing in the morning I would find “my chair” and there give worship to Him, get wisdom from Him, and then and only then go to work for Him.   

    In determining my priorities, I understood clearly from Scripture that after the Lord came my relationship with my wife.  Once I said, “I do” and heard the pronouncement “you are husband” I knew I had a new role filled with new responsibilities.  To be found faithful meant being a responsible husband.  A little over two years of marriage brought the blessings of being a father. Having read the roles and responsibilities of a father in the Bible I determined to be found faithful meant fulfilling those responsibilities and decisions were made for both quality and quantity time to be spent with each of our four children.  

    Then came my work.  And work is essential as it helps to fulfill the responsibility of taking care of one’s family and hopefully, the work you are doing is a work for the Lord, that is your work is according to the will of God.  What must be prioritized with work though is how much it demand of us to neglect our relationship with God and our responsibilities with family.  This then is where evaluating our priorities occasionally becomes a necessity.  I can’t tell you how often you do this, but it has to be done more than once a year.   

    So, what are you giving yourself to?   What ADJUSTMENTS need to be made so that first things will be first and the main thing stays the main thing?  I can tell you that you can’t do everything, and God has not called you to do everything.  Like the disciples in Acts 6, you must decide what is the best use of your time!

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 4 (6/4) is Acts 6:4. It says, “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.”

    Continue Strong with Established Priorities,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 3 (6/3) is Daniel 6:3

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 3 (6/3) is Daniel 6:3

    “Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials
    and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king
    planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” – Daniel 6:3
    Dare to Distinguish yourself like Daniel 

    The life of Daniel is definitely one to learn from and yes, emulate. As a teenager, he purposed in his heart to live according to the commands of God.  We all should have Daniel 1:8 memorized and be applying the principle of establishing convictions. (In case you need a refresher, Daniel 1:8 says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”)  Not only was he guided by principles, but as challenges came, he prayed, praying fervently for God to give discernment and understanding.  He handled himself with great calmness in the face of crisis.  Another of my favorite verses about Daniel is Daniel 2:14.  With the executioner coming to kill him and the wise men of Babylon we read, “Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.”  One version says he spoke with “prudence and tact.”  In other words, he kept his head so he could keep his head!

    When we get to chapter 6 Daniel faces the challenge of a new administration.  Daniel 6 tells of the reign of Darius and how his administration would work.  As they looked for candidates to serve in the new administration Daniel “distinguished” himself above others BECAUSE there was an “EXCELLENT SPIRIT” within him.   This excellent spirit can be translated “that he had exceptional qualities” (NIV) or that he had an “extraordinary spirit.” (NASB)  The idea is that he did things REALLY WELL.   His work was thorough and it was covered with integrity.   The king and others could see decisions were being made with great discernment.  Daniel brought a lot to the room when he walked in and the king realized he needed a man like Daniel in a high position.  

    As we think about this description of Daniel I would like to point you to a verse in Proverbs.   It is Proverbs 22:29.  It says, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.”

    Does your work STAND OUT?  Do you strive for EXCELLENCE?  I trust you are not like the lazy in whom you find their hardest work is coming up with excuses.  I believe we, as believers, should be known for excellence, not excuses. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 3 (6/3) is Daniel 6:3. It says, “Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”

    How are you as a believer distinguishing yourself?  Is it with EXCELLENCE?  Or is it with excuses?  Be known for excellence, not excuses.   Dare to be a DANIEL!

    Continue Strong with an excellent spirit,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 2 (6/2) is Ephesians 6:2

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 2 (6/2) is Ephesians 6:2

    ““Honor your father and mother,” which is the first
    commandment with promise.” – Ephesians 6:2
    Respect for others starts with RESPECT for Parents

    The Apostle Paul is giving God’s instructions for the family in the Book of Ephesians.  He has given instructions to the husband and the wife in chapter 5 and now he is giving instructions to children. Children are to OBEY their parents. (Eph. 6:1) With that said the apostle Paul places the FIFTH commandment of the Ten Commandments before his readers reminding them to ““Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise.”   

    For just a moment let us consider the fifth commandment.  The fifth commandment begins the section of the commandments that speak to our relationships with others and the first relationship we have is with our parents.

    With the 5th commandment, we see a SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP of children with their father and their mother.  We then read of a SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT in which children are to HONOR their father and their mother.  To HONOR is to first and foremost show RESPECT.  It is holding the parents in the highest esteem.  It is placing on them great VALUE, leading the child to LISTEN to the parent’s instructions and insights on living life!  It brings about a desire not to disappoint. 

    A disobedient child brings disappointment.

    The verse then reminds us that the commandment comes with a SURE REWARD as God blesses the child that obeys and honors their parent. It is worth noting that Proverbs tells of what may happen to the child that disobeys and dishonors their parent.  From Proverbs 30:17 we read (warning – it is not pretty), “The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.”  Needless to say, God is serious about children honoring their parents! 

    One final thought – if children are NOT being taught to be respectful at home, and respectful to parents how can we expect children to be respectful in public, with teachers and others in authority?  While the verse is addressed to children, it is incumbent that PARENTS TEACH CHILDREN TO OBEY, TO RESPECT, and TO HONOR their PARENTS.  

    QUESTION: If you are a parent receiving this devotional let me ask WHEN is the last time you taught Eph. 6:1 and 2 to your children? 

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 2 (6/2) is Ephesians 6:2. It says, ““Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise.”

    God honors and blesses the home that honors and obeys Him!

    Continue Strong implementing His instructions for the family,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 1 (6/1) is Galatians 6:1

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 1 (6/1) is Galatians 6:1

    “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” – Galatians 6:1
    Restoration is part of God’s Plan with a Sinning Saint

    How do we minister to the sinning saint? The verse implies that the person who has been overtaken is a fellow believer. The call to action is clearly directed to a believer as Paul speaks to brethren.  Please note he did not say Pastor or Elder here as this call is for each and every believer.  Now he does give a qualifying statement in saying, “those who are spiritual” for it will take spiritual maturity to do the ministry that is needed with the sinning saint.

    Back to the question of how do we minister to the sinning saint.   The sinning saint is to be, first, REBUKED.  I Thessalonians 5:14 speaks of warning the unruly.  1 Timothy 5:20 says, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”

    Then what?  Hopefully and prayerfully the sinning saint REPENTS.   There is a change of heart that is going to lead to a change in action.  

    What happens when the sinning saint repents? May I preach for a moment?  Are we to now REJECT the repentant sinning saint?  Are we to shoot our wounded?  The Apostle Paul would shout NO! 

    The Apostle Paul wants to see the repentant person RESTORED. The Greek means to “MEND for future use.” Like a fisherman would MEND a net or a doctor mend a broken bone. The mindset is to handle the fallen with care (gentleness), and with humility.  

    Now Paul issues a major WARNING to those who are helping in the restoration and that warning needs to be heard and heeded.  The warning is that as one helps another who has fallen you must never think you would never do the same thing.   

    With this humble mindset the spiritually mature steps into the life of a sinning saint and begins to mend. The mending calls for establishing accountability. It calls for memorization of Scriptures connected to temptation. It calls for writing out resolutions (Daniel 1:8) It calls for praying that one would be submissive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He will not lead one into temptation. In other words, restoration is going to take WORK and discipline!!! 

    Just as one may fall and break a bone the broken bone with the right help can be mended and brought back to usefulness so too can one who has fallen spiritually be mended and be brought back to usefulness. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 1 (6/1) is Galatians 6:1. It says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

    Restoration is part of God’s plan and it will take work by both the one being restored and the one(s) restoring!

    Continue Strong Restoring the repentant saint,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 31 (5/31) is Acts 5:31

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 31 (5/31) is Acts 5:31

    “Him (Jesus Christ) God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior,
    to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” – Acts 5:31
    EXALTED in Heaven and in our HEARTS!

    As you read through the book of Acts you will find the apostles preaching four key things about Jesus Christ.  They preached about His CRUCIFIXION; His RESURRECTION; His ASCENSION and His EXALTATION. For instance, as Peter preached on the day of Pentecost you will find in Acts 2:22, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, .. you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, (CRUCIFIXION) and put to death; 24 “whom God raised up, (RESURRECTION) 33 Being therefore exalted (EXALTATION) at the right hand of God (ASCENSION),…34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “’The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.“

    As you can see, one of the key points of the Apostle Peter’s Pentecost message was the EXALTATION of Christ.  In our verse to DATE, Acts 5:31, he again includes with the crucifixion and resurrection the EXALTATION of Christ.  Notice starting at Acts 5:30, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

    The Apostle Paul would later write not only about His crucifixion but also His EXALTATION as he wrote to the Philippians in Philippians 2:6-11:
    6 Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
    9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

    What does the knowledge of Jesus Christ loving you so much that He becomes obedient unto death, dying for you and then conquering the grave by rising from the dead and then offering to you – you – a filthy, ungodly, unrighteous, wicked, evil person the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of eternal life do for you?  I trust that there is within your heart a desire to EXALT Him!!  To cry out worthy is the Lamb!!! 

    Let us put into action Psalm 34:3 “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 31 (5/31) is Acts 5:31. It says, “Him (Jesus Christ) God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

    If heaven has EXALTED Him then we should surely EXALT Him in our hearts!

    Continue Strong EXALTING our SAVIOR!
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 30 (5/30) is Acts 5:30

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 30 (5/30) is Acts 5:30

    “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you
    murdered by hanging on a tree.” – Acts 5:30
    Jesus is ALIVE!  

    The Apostle Peter as well as other apostles are being questioned about preaching Christ and filling the city of Jerusalem with this NEW teaching.  Peter responds to the council that is headed by the Chief Priest that even though the Chief Priest and the Jewish leaders had murdered Jesus by calling for Him to be crucified GOD – their GOD – had RAISED JESUS UP – raising Him up from the dead!! 

    Pause to consider this scene.  Picture it.  Peter and the Apostles are being questioned about preaching the gospel.  Can you see Peter?  He does not back up or back down but proclaims clearly that JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE!   Peter proclaimed the RESURRECTION of Jesus!  

    From Acts 5:30 let us be reminded that the message of the GOSPEL is the DEATH (CRUCIFIXION) in which Christ died for our sins as our substitute. He tasted what every person must taste in tasting death. He was BURIED (BURIAL). And He was RESURRECTED as God raised Him up (RESURRECTION).  The gospel is the DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 15:1,3-4 “I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,)

    Now CHRIST is EXALTED to the right hand of God and He offers salvation to anyone who believes the gospel and will call upon Him.   (Romans 10:9-10, 13 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”). 

    I trust you have called on Jesus Christ for salvation!  

    I trust if you have called on Jesus Christ for salvation you are telling others! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 30 (5/30) is Acts 5:30. It says, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.” 

    Without the resurrection, we do not have a gospel message!

    Continue Strong proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus,
    And remember to DATE the Word