datethewordtest

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  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 10 (1/10) is Colossians 1:10

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 10 (1/10) is Colossians 1:10
    Colossians 1:10 says, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
    A PRAYER for yourself and for others

    The Apostle Paul is a prayer warrior and we are so grateful the Holy Spirit had him put into writing what he prayed.  His prayer for the Colossians is, without a doubt, one of the best prayers to pray. 

    As we come into Colossians 1:10 we find that Paul is asking for believers to walk worthy of the Lord, FULLY PLEASING Him.  In other words, each believer needs to be FOUND FAITHFUL.  Each decision of life is to go through the filter of does this PLEASE GOD!  The prayer is to be FULLY PLEASING!

    Paul’s prayer continues with a prayer that we would be fruitful in every good work.  In other words, the believer is to be FOUND FRUITFUL!  Jesus has ordained that His disciples bring forth fruit. Each believer should be praying that their work for the Lord is productive.  Fruitfulness is achieved as we serve others on behalf of Christ and share Christ. 

    Paul’s prayer continues with a prayer that we would increase in the knowledge of God.  In other words, we will be FOUND FINDING out more about God.  There should be a hunger to know more about God.  The more we know the more we will love Him and desire to serve Him.  The more we know about God the more we will want to make Him known,

    As you ponder and think on the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, I encourage you to pray for yourself that your walk will be fully pleasing to the Lord; that your work will be productive for the Lord, and that you will pursue knowing more and more about the Lord. 

    I also encourage you to pray this for family members and friends.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 10 (1/10) is Colossians 1:10. It says, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

    Continue Strong living, serving, and knowing Him more!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 9 (1/9) is Joshua 1:9

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 9 (1/9) is Joshua 1:9
    Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
    You Don’t Have to be AFRAID to DO What God has called you to do!

    Doing what God is calling of us can be scary, yes, daunting to the point of being overwhelming and frightening.  We are prone to becoming FEARFUL. Fear freezes our attempts to act as God would want us.  Because we can become fearful God provided encouragement to have resolve and move forward and DO WHAT HAS BEEN COMMANDED!  His encouragement to Joshua here in Joshua 1:9 is a tremendous encouragement to us and worth noting.
    His encouragement included:
    Be STRONG!  Be strong is the encouragement to the believer because with Christ one can do all things because He STRENGTHENS US!   (Recall Philippians 4:13 and Nehemiah 6:9)
    Be COURAGEOUS! Be courageous is the encouragement to the believer because with Christ and His WORD abiding in us, we will OVERCOME the evil one!  (Recall Joshua 1:8 and 1 John 2:14)
    Be SETTLED!  Do not be AFRAID or DISMAYED because God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (Recall 2 Timothy 1:7)

    As God told Joshua to obey His commands, He also gave Him the promise of promises as He promised His PRESENCE. The most precious promise of God to His people is His presence! The one serving the Lord will always have the Lord at His side!!!  And He keeps His PROMISES! 1 Corinthians 1:9 reminds us that “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

    We, as believers, have been given the command to GO INTO ALL THE WORLD and MAKE DISCIPLES. We are to do so FEARLESSLY with the same promise that Joshua had as Jesus said. “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

    SO STOP BEING AFRAID and GO – DO what God has commanded you to do!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 9 (1/9) is Joshua 1:9.  It says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

    Continue Strong knowing God’s promise of His presence,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

    Bonus: As you fulfill your calling know that GOD IS WITH YOU AND HE HAS YOU SURROUNDED – SURROUNDED BY HIM!!! HE HAS YOU SURROUNDED, SURROUNDED BY HIM!!!
    Consider the following words to keep close to your heart:
    1 word:   GOD
    2 words:  I AM (told to Moses in Exodus 3)
    3 words:  I LOVE YOU (told to us throughout His Word)
    4 words:  I AM WITH YOU (Haggai 1:13 “Then Haggai, the LORD’S messenger, spoke the LORD’S message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the LORD.”)
    5 words: I WILL BE WITH YOU (Deuteronomy 31:23 Then He inaugurated Joshua ,and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”)
    6 words: I WILL CERTAINLY BE WITH YOU (Exodus 3:12 So God said to Moses, “I will certainly be with you)
    7 words: AND BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS (Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

    Bonus 2:  And in case you needed more encouragement to do what God is calling you to do notice the following statements God made to His servants. 
    To Gideon – Judges 6:16 And the LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”
    To Joshua – Joshua 1:5 “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
    To Israel – Isaiah 43:2 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.
    To Isaac – Genesis 26:3 “Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
    To Jacob – Genesis 31:3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
    To Jeremiah – Jeremiah 1:8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.
    To Jeremiah – Jeremiah 1:19 They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the LORD, “to deliver you.”
    To Israel – 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.’

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 8 (1/8) is Daniel 1:8

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 8 (1/8) is Daniel 1:8
    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.
    Daniel is one of the most recognized people in the Bible.  The book that bears his name tells of a long life that is marked by him being a man of INTEGRITY!  When you get to chapter 6 and read the familiar story of Daniel in the lion’s den you read of a man of impeccable character.  When enemies sought to find “dirt” on him their conclusion was “they could find no ground for complaint or any fault because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.”  (Daniel 6:4)  He was a man of integrity.  

    When examining his exceptional life, one might and should ask what the “secret” would be to living such a life of integrity.   I think the secret is found in our verse to date, Daniel 1:8.  In Daniel 1:8 we have a decision made based on his Biblical CONVICTION.  Daniel had PURPOSED (NKJV);  DETERMINED (HCSB, NLT); MADE UP HIS MIND (NASB) RESOLVED in his HEART (ESV, NIV); to NOT do anything that would DEFILE himself before God.  

    His CHARACTER was chiseled by his CONVICTIONS!   

    It is from this verse, Daniel 1:8, that we get one of the most important spiritual principles for being men and women of integrity, of high character one will learn. The principle from Daniel is TEMPTATIONS MUST BE MET WITH CONVICTIONS! 

    TEMPTATIONS MUST BE MET WITH CONVICTIONS! 

    Our decisions are made based on the decisions we have made!  Joseph had decided that he would not participate in immorality and when tempted by Potiphar’s wife he says “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”  Jesus made decisions to resist the temptations presented to Him by the devil by quoting back SCRIPTURES as reasons for resisting.  Daniel’s decision to not defile himself led to the decision to NOT participate in doing something that would defile himself.  

    TEMPTATIONS MUST BE MET WITH CONVICTIONS! 

    What are your convictions?  What has been decided that when you need to decide you can say that decision has already been made?   What needs to be DECIDED?

    On a personal note, I have found Psalm 101 to be helpful in establishing convictions.  I have also found Psalm 15 to be helpful.  I will let you read Psalm 15 on your own but notice Psalm 101 and pay close attention to the “I will” statements.
    Psalm 101:1  «A Psalm of David.» I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
    2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.  (ESV – “I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;”)  3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. 5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure. 6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me. 7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. 8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land, That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.

    David has now made decisions that when it comes time to make the decision the decision has already by made.  (BTW – many believe this was written after his sinful behavior with Bathsheba.)

    More than writing out RESOLUTIONS I challenge you to write out CONVICTIONS!  And then when temptation(s) comes you meet that temptation with a BIBLICAL CONVICTION!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 8 (1/8) is Daniel 1:8. It 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.”

    Continue Strong with established convictions,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 7 (1/7) is Proverbs 1:7

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 7 (1/7) is Proverbs 1:7
    Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    After laying out what one will receive from reading the Book of Proverbs in the first few verses of chapter 1, we come to the KEY verse of Proverbs and quite frankly a KEY VERSE FOR OUR LIVES.  The reader is now introduced to the FEAR OF THE LORD and is told that doing this will bring one knowledge/wisdom.  The reader is also confronted with a challenge as this verse introduces a person known as a FOOL, who does not want to have wisdom and understanding. Thus, as one reads this KEY verse one must decide whether they will FEAR THE LORD or be a FOOL.  One will FEAR GOD and will RECEIVE knowledge/wisdom, which is heavenly insights for earthly living.  The other is going to REJECT God and RESIST RECEIVING the wisdom and understanding He provides for how to live life.  

    To help you make a wise choice let us look at what the FEAR OF THE LORD is and WHAT A FOOL is.  

    The FEAR OF THE LORD is an ATTITUDE toward God.  The idea of FEAR is not that one is AFRAID but rather one is in AWE.  To live in the FEAR OF THE LORD one begins with the acknowledgment that there is GOD.  The fool, on the other hand, will say in his heart there is NO GOD.  The one who FEARS GOD knows there is GOD and that he is not a god!  The acknowledgment of there is GOD is followed up with AWE and ADORATION with also a recognition of His AUTHORITY.   The fear of the Lord brings about a REVERENCE for God and a RESPECT of God.  As one fears the Lord, they recognize that the CREATOR knows what is best for the created.   The one fearing God wants to know what God has to say about living life and they want to know so they can DO IT to get the most out of life on earth.  

    Before talking about the fool, it is worth noting that the fear of the Lord is mentioned in 4 of the 5 books of wisdom.  
    Job 28:28 And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
    Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
    Ecclesiastes 12:13 will tell us that life takes on meaning when one fears God and keep His commandments.
    In Proverbs, the treasure chest of wisdom, the fear of the Lord is mentioned 14 times. When seeking to understand life and find satisfaction with life Proverbs 19:23 tells us the key is the FEAR OF THE LORD as it LEADS TO LIFE and those who have this attitude toward God will abide in SATISFACTION!
    The fear of the Lord is also mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in 2 Corinthians 7:1 where the believer takes action to cleanse themselves from sinful living in response to the FEAR OF THE LORD. 

    Our verse though tells that there is another type of person who DESPISES wisdom and understanding.  They despise what God has to say about how to live.  They want no part of learning from God’s perspective how to live because in their minds they know what is right and best.  This person is called a FOOL.  The fool can be defined as one who is DULL and/or hardheaded, and stubborn.  Some might think of a fool as dumb or naïve but in reality, it is far more as a fool is RESISTANT to learning.  They believe they know, yes, IT ALL and you can’t teach or tell a know-it-all anything.  It is one thing to not know something and make bad choices.  It is another thing completely to have the information available and resist the information, resisting to a level of despising, despising to a level of SUPPRESSING THE TRUTH. (Romans 1:18)

    Friends, there is God, and you are not Him.  You must decide if you believe this truth.  The fool is going to say in his heart NO GOD.  If you decide you believe there is God, then you have to follow that decision up with how you respond to Him.  The Wisdom books say FEAR THE LORD.  As you recognize there is God (and you are not god) and you have a reverence and respect for God that leads to submitting to His authority all kinds of blessings come your way.

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 7 (1/7) is Proverbs 1:7. It says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

    So, what camp are you in? Are you the FOOL who says there is no God or are you a GOD-FEARING person?

    Continue Strong with REVERENCE for and RESPECT of ALMIGHTY GOD
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 6 (1/6) is Luke 1:6

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 6 (1/6) is Luke 1:6
    Luke 1:6 says. And they (Zacharias and Elizabeth) were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
    A Tremendous EXAMPLE

    Luke has begun to unpack the story of Jesus and starts with the introduction of the parents of John the Baptist, Zacharias and Elizabeth.  Verse 5 tells us the time period and the occupation of Zacharias and the lineage of Elizabeth.  Luke 1:5 says, “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.”  Verse 6 now tells of their CHARACTER with verse 7 telling of their CHALLENGE.  Verse 7 says, “But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.”  That would change as God would answer their prayers and to them would be born the forerunner to the Messiah, John the Baptist.

    Our verse to DATE challenges us and hopefully inspires us in the area of CHARACTER.  Notice first that both Zacharias and Elizabeth are described as RIGHTEOUS before God.  This speaks of both internal and external.  Inwardly they could only be righteous because like Abraham they had to believe God for salvation.  Their own righteousness was as filthy rags but for this to be said of them they would have had to place their FAITH in God.  Externally they lived doing what was RIGHT in God’s sight.  Proverbs 20:7 says the righteous walk/live with integrity.  

    Not only was this godly couple righteous before God they walked in all of God’s commandments and ordinances.  In other words, they lived OBEDIENT LIVES.   They OBEYED God.  While involved in the work of a priest offering sacrifices, I surmise that they both understood what Samuel said to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:12 saying, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”  Zacharias and Elizabeth were far more than “religious people.”  Their love and devotion to God brought about a heart of obedience to God.   The apostle John would write later in 2 John 1:6 “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”   

    Because of living righteous and obedient lives, Luke described them as BLAMELESS.  Not perfect, but BLAMELESS.  To be BLAMELESS is to be above reproach or questioning.  Noah,  who may have been an example for Zacharias and Elizabeth, was known as blameless.  From Genesis 6:9 we read “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.  Job was known for being blameless.  Notice Job 1:1 and his character description; Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”  Daniel was known for being blameless and from the lion’s den he told the king that God had protected him because he was blameless.  See Daniel 6:22. One who serves as a deacon in a church is to be examined to see if they are BLAMELESS.  “And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.” (1 Timothy 3:10) Psalms119:1 tells us that “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!”

    So, a person, who could be a friend or family member, a co-worker, or maybe a pastor, picks up a pen to write some words about you as Luke did about Zacharias and Elizabeth.  What do they write?  How do they describe your CHARACTER?

    As a reminder from this godly couple, your character is constantly under construction and constantly on display.  Remember that daily you sow a thought and reap an act.  You sow an act, and you reap a habit. You sow a habit and you reap a CHARACTER.  You sow a CHARACTER, and you reap a destiny.   

    What are you sowing – doing today to develop a godly CHARACTER?  Would your character be an example to others?

    verse to DATE the Word on January 6 (1/6) is Luke 1:6. It says. And they (Zacharias and Elizabeth) were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

    Continue Strong living right before God, obeying God and walking blamelessly before God and man!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 5 (1/5) is James 1:5

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 5 (1/5) is James 1:5
    James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
    GREAT NEWS! There is heavenly help for earthly living.

    Pastor James tells us that as we are facing the challenges of life our heavenly Father makes His insights for living available.  His WISDOM is available at the ASKING!  His wisdom allows us to see and understand life from His perspective.  His wisdom provides the skills for living life. 

    Do you need help with living life? Of course, you do.  Now a fool might answer differently because they are a know it all.  Don’t be a fool.  Recognize and acknowledge that you know that you don’t know it all.  A man by the name of Solomon becomes king.  In a dream he is told that he could ask God for ANYTHING.  As he looked at all the responsibilities that had been entrusted to him he ASKED FOR WISDOM.  In 2 Chronicles 1:10 he asked, “grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people.”  Why did he ask for wisdom?  The answer is found in the last statement of verse 10.  Solomon says, “For who can judge this great people of Yours?”  Solomon recognized and acknowledged that he knew he did not know what he needed to know. 

    Instead of being a know it all, go to the One who knows it all!

    I surely do not know what trial you are facing but I do know there is heavenly help available at the asking.  Heed the advice of Pastor James that screams ASK OF GOD! Please DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK!! And if there is a hesitation to Pastor James’ advice, I remind you that Hebrews 4:16 extends an invitation stating, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

    Day by day and moment by moment hear God’s voice saying to you DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK ME FOR HELP.  DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK ME FOR WISDOM!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 5 (1/5) is James 1:5. It says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

    GREAT NEWS! There is heavenly help for earthly living.  There is God’s wisdom available at the asking.

    Continue Strong with heaven’s help,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 4 (1/4)
    is Nehemiah 1:4

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 4 (1/4) is Nehemiah 1:4
    Nehemiah 1:4 says, “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” 
    Heartbroken to Action

    The book of Nehemiah begins with a delegation of Jews from Jerusalem visiting Nehemiah at Shushan where Nehemiah was serving as the king’s cupbearer.  In verse two we read that Nehemiah ASK a question.  This question may have been just a courtesy question or even a curious question or it may have been a very intentional fact-finding question in which Nehemiah wants to know HOW ARE THINGS IN JERUSALEM.  He specifically asked about the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.  He wanted to know about the people and the place.  

    Verse 3 reports the answer to his question with the delegation saying, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

    We may read this quickly, but I beg you to pause and ponder.  This is more than a status report.  It is a critical analysis of a group of people and a very special city.  The people are in GREAT DISTRESS and REPROACH.  There is tremendous fear as their enemies ridicule them.  The walls that provide security, as well as significance, are broken down and the gates that would serve as checkpoints are nonexistent.  GREAT DISTRESS WITH GREAT DESTRUCTION.    

    How will Nehemiah react and yes, RESPOND to such dismal, dreadful, shall we say agonizing news? After all, he is MILES away and he himself is not really impacted by the misery and pain.  He is the king’s cupbearer that has him in very high places around very important people.   Life is not too bad personally for Nehemiah.  Will he feel bad?  Will he shrug his shoulders?  Will he take this to heart and decide something must be done?  

    Verse 4 now tells us of his reaction and his response:  “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days;”  That is his reaction.  He is heartbroken.  What he has heard with his ears has gripped his heart.  He will not dismiss the news.  

    Verse 4 continues, “I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”  This is his response. He goes to work.  No, not work with his hands but with his knees.  He knows the work that must be done to bring about change NEEDS GOD.  In these moments a DREAM of born that immediately DEMANDED DEPENDENCE on GOD!  He begins to FAST AND PRAY!!   Nehemiah’s heart is broken and burdened and now he GOES to …… not the king (yet)….not Jerusalem (yet)…not even his friends (yet). HE GOES TO GOD.   

    May I ask you if there is anything that is breaking your heart? 
    Maybe I should be a little more direct.  Are you asking about the conditions of people and places so that your heart might be broke?  It is easy. is it not, to live in our own little bubble and forget there is a world (a neighborhood, a neighbor) in GREAT DISTRESS?

    I think based on Nehemiah’s reaction and response to the painful report we should ask what is your usual reaction and response to bad news.  Is it easily dismissed?  Or does a dream start forming of how you can make a difference? 

    I think an action that should come from reading about Nehemiah is that we pray a prayer that says, “God break my heart with the things that break Your heart!”

    As you think on Nehemiah 1:4 I am praying that you will see yourself as a NEHEMIAH who will live to make a difference for the Lord.  AND Nehemiah was a difference-maker.  Here in Nehemiah 1 the people are in great distress.  When you get to the end of Nehemiah 8 they are in great gladness.   He made a DIFFERENCE! 

    I pray you will a dream that drives you to your knees in total dependence on God and you will make a difference!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 4 (1/4) is Nehemiah 1:4. It says, “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” 

    How will life be different for others because you became a NEHEMIAH?

    Continue Strong with a broken heart!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 3 (1/3) is Jude 1:3

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 3 (1/3) is Jude 1:3
    Jude 1:3 says, Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
    DEFEND WHAT WAS DELIVERED

    It has been said that Christianity is one generation from extinction.  The faith that we have received is to be SHARED from one generation to the next generation.  As well Christianity has to be DEFENDED as it is under constant attack.  The reason for the strong EXHORTATION to contend  earnestly for the faith is found in verse 4 as it says, “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    As a believer who is to contend earnestly for the faith, one will need to not just know WHAT one believes but WHY one believes what one believes.   As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15 we are to GIVE A REASON for the hope that is in you.  

    When we think about what we are to earnestly contend for regarding our faith what are the crucial doctrines we are to earnestly contend and defend?  With this devotion notice 5 essential doctrines traditionally called the FIVE FUNDAMENTALS.

    We believe in the INSPIRATION of SCRIPTURE.  
    We believe in the VIRGIN BIRTH AND DEITY OF CHRIST.
    We believe in the SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH OF CHRIST.
    We believe in the BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
    We believe in the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

    These five fundamentals are non-negotiable.  My discipler, Bill Crawford, told me there could be no compromise of these five doctrines.  He told me that I was to stand for the faith!  

    In a world that hates Christianity and demands tolerance and acceptance of all beliefs and behaviors you, as a believer, must be firm on your beliefs.  Without being arrogant or contentious you give solid reasons, defending, yes, contending for the faith that has been delivered to you!

    Do you know what you believe about your Christian beliefs?  Do you know why you believe what you believe?  What are some areas that need to be strengthened so that you might give solid reasons and as needed defend what you believe?   

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 3 (1/3) is Jude 1:3. It says, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”


    Continue Strong defending the faith delivered to you,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 2 (1/2) is Psalm 1:2

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 2 (1/2) is Psalm 1:2
    Psalm 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”
    Psalm 1 is one of the FOUNDATIONAL chapters of the Bible for how to live life!  It is one of the first chapters I recommend being memorized. One of the main reasons for learning this Psalm is that verse 1 starts with the word BLESSED as this Psalm tells what one is to be doing to be blessed by God.  After the word BLESSED, we find there are two actions that a person needs to do in order to be BLESSED.  There will be a NOT action and a DO ACTION.  

    With the NOT ACTION we do NOT associate with people who will influence us AWAY from God and INTO sinful living.  Verse 1 says, “Blessed is the person who walks NOT in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scorner.”  I draw the principle from verse 1 that one TAKES PRECAUTION in ASSOCIATING WITH THE WICKED! 

    To be blessed you need to TAKE PRECAUTION IN ASSOCIATING WITH THE WICKED!

    While we have a NOT action in verse 1 we have a DO action in verse 2 as it tells us the blessed man’s delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”  The principle I draw here is one TAKES PLEASURE in MEDITATING ON THE WORD! 

    To be blessed you need to TAKE PLEASURE IN MEDITATING ON THE WORD!

    One way of looking at Psalm 1:1-2 is:
    in v 1 the WORLD influences the person. 
    in v 2 the WORD influences the person.

    To be BLESSED, a person will NOT just REJECT what the world says but will REMOVE the WORLD’S influencers from their lives.  You should be asking WHO and WHAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED from your life as we begin a New Year.

    To be BLESSED means that you BRING the influence of the WORD into your life by DELIGHTING in DISCOVERING what God’s Word says and DOING what it says.  It will be in the DOING that God’s blessing begins to FLOW and one will begin to be fruitful and flourish!

    BTW – to BRING the influence of God’s Word into your life means you will be READING IT, HEARING IT, MEMORIZING IT, STUDYING IT, and MEDITATING on it. (Meditation means to chew the cud as a cow does with her food.)  

    I so want you to know the blessings of God.  Make the decision to daily be INFLUENCED by the WORD.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 2 (1/2) is Psalm 1:2.  It says, “But the blessed person’s delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”

    Continue Strong filling your heart and mind with the WORD OF GOD
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 1 (1/1) is Genesis 1:1

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 1 (1/1) is Genesis 1:1
    Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
    IT ALL BEGINS WITH GOD!

    Genesis 1:1 is the beginning verse of our Bible, and it clearly tells us first and foremost there is GOD. Only a fool can say in their heart that there is no God.  From Genesis 1:1 there is GOD.  And everything there exist begins with GOD.  He is working.  He is CREATING the heavens and the earth. 

    Pause and ponder that. God created the HEAVENS and the EARTH. 

    I am not sure what you have seen that is man-made that you would label IMPRESSIVE, maybe a building or bridges, paintings, etc. but no one has done anything as IMPRESSIVE as the creation of the heavens and the earth.  He created the oceans, rivers, seas, and mountains.  He created the sun, the stars, and the planets.  He created animals and flowers and trees.  He created it ALL!  INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE!  INCREDIBLY POWERFUL!  As the psalmist wanted to give a solid reason for looking to God when needing help he said “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

    In Genesis 1 the story of creation will continue until there is the creation of man and then woman. As God evaluated the sixth day. in which He created man and woman, He said it was VERY GOOD.  I encourage you on this first day of the New Year to not only consider Gen. 1:1 but read the entire chapter of Genesis 1.  

    How might we respond to Genesis 1:1?  While it surely is a fact that answers the huge question of where this world and we humans come from, Revelation 4:11 gives us the answer for how to respond to God, the creator.  Revelation 4:11 says, “You are WORTHY, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”  

    The answer to how to respond to Genesis 1:1 is to worship the CREATOR!  Revelation 4:11 is a doxology, a doxology of PRAISE to GOD. YOU were created to WORSHIP GOD!  

     As we begin a new year let us remember how it all began with GOD, and let us worship our CREATOR and, yes our REDEEMER!  A phrase I like to say is “Worthy is the Lamb!” 

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 1 (1/1) is Genesis 1:1. It says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

    Happy NEW YEAR!  May you enjoy a blessed new year being a BLESSING!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD