datethewordtest

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  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 23 (12/23) is 1 Samuel 12:23

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 23 (12/23) is 1 Samuel 12:23
    1 Samuel 12:23 says, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.” 
     
    The COMMITMENT of COMMITMENTS TO OTHERS

    1 Samuel 12 is best described as Samuel’s “Family Talk” with Israel. As the “family talk” begins to conclude Samuel makes a commitment to the people of God that HE WILL PRAY FOR THEM AND THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO TEACH THEM WHAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT!  

    I, personally, find Samuel’s commitment to be one of the best commitments a servant of the Lord can make to the people God has called them to serve.  It is so good that I want to repeat it here before making a few comments.  Picture Samuel standing before the people and he says, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to PRAY for you; but I will TEACH you the good and the right way.”

    What a tremendous commitment! He tells them he is going to PRAY FOR THEM!  Matter of fact he believes to not pray for God’s people would be a sin. WHOA!!!!  To not pray for others is a SIN!  Do you feel that compulsion to pray for fellow believers?  

    Friends, without doubt or question, one of the greatest things you can do for others is to pray for them.  I highly recommend using one of the Apostle Paul’s prayers as a guide.  I use Colossians 1:9-11.  (Some of you knew that was coming.) It says, For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (pray a person knows God’s Will) 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, (pray they walk worthy/pleasing the Lord) being fruitful in every good work (pray their work for God is productive) and increasing in the knowledge of God; (praying they grow in wisdom/understanding knowledge of God) 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; (pray they withstand trials and temptations by His power!)

    Not only does he tells them he is going to be praying for them but he commits to TEACHING them.  We could use the word DISCIPLE them.  Discipleship is pouring God’s truth into another person so that they can learn and live out the Scriptures.  Discipleship is helping another believer BECOME like Christ.  As one is discipled they start discipling.  Each believer should be found somewhere in 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”  As someone teaches/disciples you, you start teaching/discipling someone, and part of the discipleship is teaching them to pass on what they are learning.  I take the view that you have not fully discipled a person until they start discipling a person. 

    Samuel makes a commitment, a commitment to PRAY FOR and to DISCIPLE God’s people.  I challenge you to look at 1 Samuel 12:23 as a guide for making your 2023 commitments.  Commit to praying for a group of people.  Commit to discipling a group of people.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 23 (12/23) is 1 Samuel 12:23. It says, “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.” 

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

    Continue Strong with a strong COMMITMENT!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 22 (12/2) is Proverbs 12:22

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 22 (12/22) is Proverbs 12:22
    Proverbs 12;22 says,“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.”
    God’s Word is very clear about the absolute necessity of honesty.  The ninth commandment of the Ten Commandments says “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)

    When it comes to His feelings about lying, we find they are expressed without reservation.  We find from the list of things that God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19 that a lying tongue and a false witness arein the list.  Two of the 7 things that are most detestable to God is connected to dishonesty.  Here in Proverbs 12:22, we see God saying “lying is an abomination to Him.”  The sin of lying is one of the most severe offenses a person can.   Lying is exactly the opposite of who God is.  When one lies, they are behaving like Satan who is the father of lies. 

    Before we move forward, I must ask how seriously do you take telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  How serious is it for you to resist the temptation to NOT LIE?  

    While lying and dishonesty are some of the most offensive things to God, we find that those who tell the truth are His delight.  Telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth brings delight to the heart of God.  It is worth noting that Proverbs 11:1 says, “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.”  Cheating and misrepresenting the true value of something is grievous to God.  Honesty, though, brings delight to God.

    As a quick reminder about God’s expectations:
    From the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:11 says, “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.”
    From the New Testament, Colossians 3:9 says, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,”

    Are you an honest person? BE HONEST WITH YOUR ANSWER!! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 22 (12/22) is Proverbs 12:22. Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.”

    Continue Strong by bringing delight to God by being an honest person 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 21 (12/21) is Romans 12:21

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 21 (12/21) is Romans 12:21
    Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
    TWO POWERFUL RESPONSES TO EVIL

    I want to make an appeal as we start to DATE Romans 12:21 and that appeal is that you MEMORIZE this verse as I am convinced you will need to apply it.  While I would hope you memorize a lot of the DATE THE WORD Scriptures this is one that needs to be HID in your heart!

    As we consider Romans 12:21 we need to know it has TWO commands.  First is the command to NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL.  The second is to OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.  Let’s look closely at both because both are going to be needed. 

    The verse begins with the strongest of admonishments to not allow EVIL to get the best of us.  No matter what evil is done to us we do not let it DEFEAT US. Proverbs 24:10 “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”  Romans 8:37 tells us, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” 

    A quick personal note: one of the most moving places I have ever visited is the Martyrs Memorial in Oxford, England.  It was built to commemorate the martyrdom of 3 Protestant leaders in 1555, Hugh Latimer,  Nicholas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer.  They were burned at the stake with Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley side by side and Thomas Cranmer not long afterward.  As an illustration of not being overcome by evil, it is reported that Latimer said, “Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”  And the light of their “candle” has never been put out!  They did not allow evil to defeat them!

    And we do not let evil DRAW US DOWN to its level.  We look back at Romans 12:17 to be reminded that we are not, ABSOLUTELY NOT, not to repay evil with evil.  As the old saying goes two WRONGS do not make a right.  While wrong is being done we must continue to do RIGHT.  For the believer to do evil betrays our testimony and gives evil a win.  

    So, number 1, we are not going to be overcome by evil.  We will not be defeated nor drawn down to its level. 

    The second command of the verse is to TAKE POSITIVE ACTION and do good to those who are doing evil TO YOU and to others.  One OVERCOMES (defeats, wins) against evil by DOING GOOD.  It is helping the very person who is hurting you.  It is praying for the very one that is persecuting you.  It is blessing the very one that is cursing you.  It is giving a cup of cold water and a hot meal to the one who would like to starve you to death.  It is being nice to the one who is mean.  

    Are you getting the picture?  You overcome evil by DOING GOOD!!  

    And yes, I know what has been written is HARD.  It is easy to give up when evil is done to you.  It is easy to give in to doing evil when evil has been done to you.  And it surely is hard to be nice to a mean person.   Yet this is what we are called to do.  We are called to be OVERCOMERS OF EVIL, not overcome by evil!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 21 (12/21) is Romans 12:21. It says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

    Continue Strong as an OVERCOMER of EVIL! 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 20 (12/20) is Luke 12:20

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 20 (12/20) is Luke 12:20
    Luke 12:20 says, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
    Don’t be a FOOL with your SOUL!

    Life comes with an unexpected deadline and when it ends it really is just beginning as we have a soul that will continue to live for all eternity.  The location of our soul is determined by a decision we make here on earth while living.  Hebrews 9:27 says, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”  This judgment is not the final judgment but is the first judgment that has you either in heaven or hell at the very moment of your death.  If you have made the decision to accept Christ, to believe in Christ, to confess Christ, to receive Christ, to be born again you immediately go into heaven.  2 Corinthians 5:8b says, “to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”  But if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, not believed and confessed that He died and rose again, have not trusted in Him by faith and faith alone for salvation you will perish and be in hell.  

    With the uncertainty of a certain ending of life here on earth Scripture appeals over and over to accept Jesus now. For instance,  2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”   While there is uncertainty about when your life will end, let there be no uncertainty about your eternal future being in heaven.

    Even knowing how certain death is we still find so many putting off this decision as they have different priorities for their lives. Here is Luke 12 Jesus addresses having the wrong priorities.  Having been asked to be a judge in an inheritance battle between two brothers, He gives one of the greatest life lessons we can learn as He says in Luke 12:15 to “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”  This incredible life lesson is then followed with a parable about a rich man who as he enjoyed financial success found himself wanting more and more, becoming so busy he had no time to think about his soul.  Instead of me telling the parable let’s read what Jesus said.
    Luke 12:16  Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17  “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18  “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19  ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’

    This parable could be spoken of so many people here in the 21st century, especially here in America where we have the American Dream, a dream of working to be wealthy so we can play! 
    And maybe as you read this you are seeing yourself or seeing a family member or a friend who has made their life’s priority of getting rich in order to live a life of ease, eating and drinking, and partying all the time.  

    It is to this wrong priority Jesus gives the SOBERING statement about there being more to this life! Jesus speaks into this man’s life and into our lives with three words BUT GOD SAID.  And what did God say to this man and to us?   “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?“

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

    And then Jesus adds a statement of reality with the question, “then whose will those things be which you have provided.”  (I can’t help but think that Jesus is taking a little jab at two brothers who are fighting over the inheritance.)  While the issue of the moment is a person’s soul there comes this reality that a person made it a priority to get and get more and get even more yet when that person dies who is going to get it?   There will be no u-hauls hooked up to their (your) hearse.

    Are you being a fool with your soul?  Matthew 16:26 says, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

    What are your priorities?  Is FAITH #1?  

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

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 20 (12/20) is Luke 12:20. It says, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

    Don’t be a fool with your soul!

    Continue Strong by having prepared your soul for eternity!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 19 (12/19) is 2 Corinthians 12:19

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 19 (12/19) is 2 Corinthians 12:19
    2 Corinthians 12:19 says, “Have you (Corinthians) been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.”
    For your EDIFICATION

    2 Corinthians 12:19 concludes with “for we do all things, beloved, for your edification.”  What a great challenge to us as we consider our motives for ministry.  As a matter of fact, this concluding statement was made by the Apostle Paul to explain his motives for writing to the Corinthians AGAIN. As Paul wrote AGAIN to the Corinthians, he had to answer the age-old question of WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TELLING US WHAT TO DO question. With that question hanging heavy, the Apostle Paul defends his apostleship in the letter we call 2 Corinthians. He, also, though does not back off calling for the Corinthians to live differently and to do what is right! His ultimate purpose in writing was not to DEFEND himself but for their EDIFICATION – for their UPBUILDING. His motive for ministry was building up the body!  

    As we minister in a variety of ways, we will encounter people who may need an exhortation to stop sinning. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 says, “brethren, warn the unruly…..; James 5:19 says, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20  let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.)  So as “brethren” let us check ourselves to make sure our exhortation is for edification! When we take this approach Proverbs 25:12 is more possible!! Proverbs 25:12 says, “Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”

    Our reason for rebuking (reproving) is to bring a person to repentance and then restoration!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 19 (12/19) is 2 Corinthians 12:19. It says, “Have you (Corinthians) been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, for we do all things, beloved, for your edification.”  

    How might you apply “for we do all things, beloved, for your edification” to your life today?  

    Continue Strong ministering to one another with the pure motive of edifying one another!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 18 (12/18) is Romans 12:18

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 18 (12/18) is Romans 12:18
    Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” 
    Let there be PEACE!

    Romans 12 is considered one of the greatest chapters in the Bible.  The Apostle Paul has transitioned from explaining the great doctrines of our Christian faith to teaching the duties of the Christian.  His teachings will cover the duties of a believer to God who has graciously and mercifully saved the believer.  His teaching will cover the implementation of ministering our spiritual gifts for the building up of one another.  His teaching will cover how we relate to other believers, to the lost, and to those who mistreat and persecute us.  As he teaches how to respond to those who disagree with us he appeals that we do our best to KEEP THE PEACE.  He appeals that WE make every effort possible to live peaceably with ALL men.  

    Are you a peacemaker or a peace breaker?  As Jesus listed what we call the beatitudes He said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  Matthew 5:9  

    Our verse to DATE, to consider, to ponder calls for us to be actively involved in peacemaking with other people, others who just may not have any interest in a peaceful relationship.  How, if we are to be working to KEEP THE PEACE, do we accomplish this?   Let me give a few thoughts. 

    First, know that you can disagree agreeably.  You can debate over what is best without blowing the proverbial gasket.  I have always believed a person has the right to be wrong.  
    Second, not every argument has to be won.  You don’t have to agree to argue every argument presented to you.  It has been said that we need to decide what hill we want to die on and in the big picture of life, there really are not that many.  Now there are some but in reality, there aren’t that many.  
    Third, with relationships resolve to solve, not dissolve.  
    Fourth, (from John Maxwell) practice the 101% rule.  Find the 1% you do agree on and give that 100%.  
    Fifth, (from Steven Covey) Seek first to understand before seeking to be understood and go for the WIN WIN!  
    Sixth, (from Jesus) turn the other cheek and go the extra mile.

    These are but a few suggestions on how you can work to live peaceably.  I am sure you can add to the list and I hope you do.  The bottom line is we have from Romans 12:18 the instructions to do as much as possible to live peaceably.

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 18 (12/18) is Romans 12:18. It says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

    Continue Strong as a PEACEMAKER.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 17 (12/17) is Mark 12:17

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 17 (12/17) is Mark 12:17
    Mark 12:17 says, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.”
    A Good Citizen of TWO Worlds

    With Mark 12:17 beginning with AND JESUS ANSWERED we should quickly look back at the question.  Notice Mark 12:13 – 16 for the background. 
    13 Then they (Religious leaders who want to kill Jesus) sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14  When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?  15  “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”  (THE QUESTION IS PROPOSED and now the answer begins)
    But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16  So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

    In seeking to trick Jesus into a response that would land Him in hot water with the Romans Jesus is asked about paying TAXES.  With much wisdom, He answers with an answer that leaves the listeners astonished.  He looks at a coin with Caesar’s image on it and says GIVE to Caesar the things that are his.  In other words, He said YES PAY YOUR TAXES.   What makes this verse so astonishing is the next part as He tells them to GIVE to GOD the things that are HIS.  

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

    To the question of paying taxes, the response from Jesus is that we have responsibilities to our government and added that we have responsibilities to God.  A citizen of heaven should be a good citizen on earth AND a citizen on earth should be a faithful citizen of heaven. 

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

    So, are you paying your taxes?
    So, are you PRESENTING yourself to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him?

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 17 (12/17) is Mark 12:17. It says, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.”

    Continue Strong as good citizens of earth and Heaven,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 16 (12/16) is Proverbs 12:16

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 16 (12/16) is Proverbs 12:16
    Proverbs 12:16 says, “The anger of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”
    The Wise Carefully CHOOSE their Responses to the Critic

    In the multitude of contrast found in Proverbs comes the contrasting response to the critic.  The fool responds with indignation to the insult while the prudent (the wise) ignores the insult.  What a totally different response.  The fool is ready to beat the person up while the prudent brushes it off.  The fool has no patience and explodes in retaliation.  The fool has no filter!  Their action only makes the matter worse.  The prudent will carefully choose their response with patience and will refuse to engage in senseless name-calling so as to defuse the matter.  

    Having read the above where are you in your response to the critic? 
    Are you more like the FOOL who is quick-tempered, with a short fuse, and responds with equal or MORE force?
    Are you more like the prudent?   BTW – I like to define the prudent as one who carefully considers the consequences of their choices.  Do you carefully consider your responses to the critic?  

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

    Working with Dr. Jerry Falwell, who had many insults hurled at him, I heard him many times say never defend yourself as your friends don’t need and your enemies will not believe you anyway.  

    As you live and breathe living and serving the Lord you will be attacked and criticized.  I had only been a Christian a short time when I encountered vicious name-calling.  My past life without Christ was demanding a response of both verbal and physical, but the new life in Christ was calling for self-control.  I ignored the insults that day.  It was not easy! 

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

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 16 (12/16) is Proverbs 12:16. It says, “The anger of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”

    Continue Strong with self-control of temper and tongue!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 15 (12/15) is Luke 12:15

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 15 (12/15) is Luke 12:15
    Luke 12:15 says, “And Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things one possesses.” 
    THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS!!

    A double warning of “take heed and beware” begins this verse.  While we should be listening to everything Jesus says, a double warning should have our full UNDIVIDED attention.  ARE YOU LISTENING?  ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?

    Luke 12:15 tells us to WATCH OUT for our hearts COVETING or being GREEDY.  The Tenth Commandment of the Ten Commandments instructs us “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”  Exodus 20:17  Of all the commandments this one is the most personal and secretive as it is broken with an attitude, an attitude that then will lead to actions.  If I am coveting, you do not see it.  If you are coveting, I do not see.  It is an inside sin as one is never satisfied with what one presently has, and they have a driving desire to get more and more.  There is never ENOUGH for them.  There is no CONTENTMENT with the COVETOUS person. The coveting person makes gold their god!  

    The admonition to be on guard, to be watching out for coveting comes in response to an unnamed man in the crowd who has asked Jesus to resolve a family dispute over an inheritance.  While the request was out of line it presented Jesus with a tremendous opportunity to teach one of the GREATEST lessons we will ever learn.  And what is that lesson?

    With the double WARNING of guarding against coveting, Jesus now teaches a lesson that flies in the face of what we have been taught and conditioned to think about money, things, and possessions.  The WHY of why we should not covet (ARE YOU LISTENING) IS your life does not consist in the abundance of things you possess.  YOUR LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS YOU POSSESS! 

    As I write this and I read this statement from Jesus it comes across like a punch in the gut.  We use to say the preacher was stepping on toes with that message.  Well, I have to believe Jesus is stepping on a lot of toes with this teaching.  We have been programmed to believe that money, things, and possessions determine our lives’ VALUE.  The biggest house, best car, nicest clothes, most extensive bank account, 2nd, and 3rd home, etc. determine our SELF-WORTH.  And with one sentence Jesus CONFRONTS and DEBUNKS that thinking.  

    Your self-worth is not tied to your worth!  Your worth does not determine your self-worth!

    Maybe you need to read WHAT JESUS SAID again: “For one’s life (your life) DOES NOT consist in the abundance of the things one possesses.”  

    How do you now apply JESUS’ TEACHING to your THINKING?

    For me, it was a quote that helped me go against the world’s thinking.  It goes, “THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS.”  

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 15 (12/15) is Luke 12:15. It says, “And Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things one possesses.”

    Are you GUARDING your heart against being GREEDY? Are you CONTENT or does your heart COVET for more and MORE? 
    Are you able to embrace THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS?  

    Continue Strong content, satisfied with Jesus!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 14 (12/14) is Romans 12:14

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 14 (12/14) is Romans 12:14
    Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
    RESPONDING DIFFERENTLY to MISTREATMENT

    Our Christianity affects all of our relationships. It affects our relationship with God.  It affects our relationship with other believers.  It affects our relationship with the people who are lost. And it affects our relationship with those who viciously attack us, persecuting us.  The Apostle Paul teaches here in Romans 12:14 what Jesus had earlier taught when it came to responding to those who were mean and hating and persecuting. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” 

    Jesus’ teaching and now Paul’s teaching is in stark contrast to the world around them and what the world says today.  

    As we consider those who oppose and yes persecute, we are to pray for them and desire God’s greatest blessings on them.  And you know what the greatest blessing would be?  The greatest blessing would be that they would be saved. Consider that your opponent today may be “SAUL” and tomorrow could be “PAUL.”

    So, BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE!! And definitely do not stoop to their level of cursing them!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 14 (12/14) is Romans 12:14. It says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

    Continue Strong responding differently,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!