datethewordtest

Category: Verse to DATE

  • Great Is Thy Faithfulness

    1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

    Let the words “God is faithful” settle in your heart and mind for a moment. I am confident that we could come up with hundreds of descriptive words for our God, yet of all the words used to describe Him, I am not sure if there is one more meaningful than God is faithful.  In a world filled with broken promises. God is faithful.  Along with I Corinthians 1:9 notice Psalm 145:13 as it says, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all He has made.”

    I don’t know about you but that last statement is so encouraging.  It is worth reading again; “The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving towards all He has made.”

    Notice a few more verses that I have to believe will bless and encourage your heart.
    From Deuteronomy 7:9 we read. “Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

    In Hebrews 11:11, we read how Sarah by faith received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”
    Knowing God is faithful to fulfill His promises should motivate us to take the steps of faith he is asking us to do.  

    1 Peter 4:19 speaks to us who are suffering for Christ saying, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
    God is faithful to not waste your suffering.  And when you are suffering, remember the words from Charles Spurgeon where he said God is too loving to be unkind and too wise to make a mistake.  When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.  

    1 John 1:9 (another great verse for 1/9) tells us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    While Revelation 1:5 is part of the introduction of the book of Revelation it gives a tremendous description of Jesus saying He is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

    When we get to Revelation 19:11 we learn of two names for our great Savior.  “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. And He who sat on Him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war.”

    Having read these verses it is no wonder we love the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness!

    Continue strong knowing God is Faithful
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Temptations Must Be Met With Convictions

    Daniel 1:8 “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.  Many of you reading this heard as a teenager the challenge of dare to be a Daniel. Without question, he is one of the Bible’s best role models.  He had a long life that was 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 his “secret” was living such a life of integrity.  I think the secret is found in our verse, Daniel 1:8. In Daniel 1:8, we have Daniel making a decision based on Biblical conviction. Daniel had purposed (KJV, NKJV), determined (HCSB, NLT), made up his mind (NASB), and resolved in his heart (ESV, NIV) to not do anything that would defile himself before God.  

    The character we see throughout his life was chiseled by his convictions!

    It is from this verse that we get one of the most important spiritual principles for being a person of integrity.  The principle is temptations must be met with convictions! 

    What exactly does that mean?  It means our decisions that must be made in a moment are made based on the decisions we have made before the decision has to be made!  

    An example of this is Joseph.  Joseph had decided that he would not participate in immorality long before he faced a sexual temptation and when tempted by Potiphar’s wife he said, “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 was made a long time before he faced the decision of doing something that would defile him and that led to him not participating in doing something that would defile himself.  

    What are your convictions for doing what is right and avoiding doing what is wrong?  What has been decided that when you need to decide you can say that decision has already been made?  

    Are there some convictions that you need to decide?

    I have found Psalm 15 and Psalm 101 helpful for establishing convictions.  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.

    From Psalm 101, we see David making decisions that when it comes time to make the decision, the decision has already been made.  

    As a discipler, I have had students write out their own Daniel 1:8 and Psalm 101.  it might be something you want to do.

    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!

    Continue Strong with established convictions so temptations will be met with convictions!
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • The Choice

    Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

    Proverbs 1:7 is regarded as the key to the entire book of wisdom.  From Proverbs 1:7 we are going to be introduced to two ways to view and respond to God.  How we view and respond to God is going to make all the difference in this world and in the world to come.  We do have a choice but we need to remember that as we make our choice our choice makes us. 

    Here in Proverbs 1:7 we are introduced to the fear of the LORD, and we are introduced to fools.  The one who fears the Lord has decided to acknowledge there is God and God is the sole authority of their life.  As one fears the Lord they will be in awe of God and offer adoration to God.  There will be reverence for God and respect shown to God.  The one fearing the Lord will obey God’s Word and follow closely His will for their lives.  Having this attitude toward God makes them teachable and they will then learn to live life the way God intended it to be lived.  As they live life the way God intended it to be lived, they will experience satisfaction as Proverbs 19:23 says the fear of the LORD leads to life, and those who have this attitude toward God will abide in satisfaction!

    On the other hand, there is the fool.  A fool, we learn from Psalm 14:1, says in their heart there is no God.  They see themselves as the god of their own lives.  Therefore, when it comes to getting wisdom and knowledge, and instruction from God on how to live, they reject God’s Word to the level of despising wisdom and instruction.   

    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 up that decision with how you respond to Him.  The Wisdom books say fear the LORD.  As you recognize there is God you have an awe and a reverence and respect for God that leads to submitting to His authority. This response to God then opens up all kinds of blessings to come your way.

    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

  • Commended for Contributing to God’s Missionaries

    3 John 1:6 “Who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well”

    3 John is a letter from the Apostle John to a man by the name of Gaius.  Gaius has been living out the Christian life by walking in truth and by helping missionaries who are on their way to share the gospel with Gentiles.  John wants Gaius to know how proud he is of him.  In hearing that he walks in truth, he tells him that he has “no greater joy than to hear his children walk in truth.”  (3 John 1:4). In hearing how he faithfully supported missionaries, he lets him know that what he is doing is, in essence, to be commended. Furthermore, John will reinforce with Gaius that he is doing well when he does send them on their journey in a manner that is worthy of God and concludes in verse 8 with “Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”

    With our summary of the first few verses of 3 John, I would like to now ask what would fellow servants of the Lord, missionaries, say of you if they passed through your town and visited your church?  John heard from missionaries about the love shown to them by Gaius.   Do you show love to those who are serving as missionaries?  Would you be commended for contributing to their journey?  

    In considering the subject of missions, I believe every believer is to be involved in missions. I believe you are either sent or you are sending.  For the vast majority of us, we fall into the category of sending.  

    What, then, does sending look like?  May I share a few thoughts that hopefully will stir your heart?

    The long and the short is you should first and foremost know some missionaries.  In knowing them you get on their e-mail list to get their newsletter.  This allows you to know how to pray for them.  It allows you to also know how to give to them.  This giving can be a financial gift that comes to them monthly and/or it could also be providing some type of equipment they need. Knowing missionaries allows you to know how to encourage them.  Sending a card and/or a text message or sending a care package speaks volumes to the missionary on the field.  There may be a need for you to go visit them and by that, I mean just go visit them.  There may be a need where you go to see them and sever with them on a special project.  There may be the need that when they are at “home” you open your home for them to stay in and/or you provide a meal for them.  

    At this point, I pause for the list can go on and on.  There are numerous ways to be a sender and I am sure you are thinking of quite a few I did not mention.   The bottom line is John commended, challenged, and confirmed to Gaius that supporting missionaries is the right thing to do.  

    If you are not sent, then you need to be sending.  How will you be known for sending?  

    Continue Strong as a Sender of the one’s God has Sent,
    And remember to DATE the Word.

  • Consider Your Ways

    Haggai 1:5 says, “Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!”

    The setting of Haggai finds some of God’s people have returned from captivity to Jerusalem with the assignment to REBUILD the temple.  However, after returning, God’s people made His purpose secondary as rebuilding their homes, farms, and businesses became their primary objective.  God speaks through His prophet Haggai to challenge them to consider their ways.   

    As we are still in the first week of a New Year have you truly taken time to consider your ways?   Have you paused going into the New Year to ask yourself if the things that are to be first are first?  Is the main thing the main thing?  

    In considering your ways and ordering your life, ask and answer what should be first.  
    In the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus, He tells us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

    What does “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” look like for you?  I would answer that question by saying I seek to know Him.  Psalm 27:8 says, “When You said,  Seek My face,  My heart said to You,  Your face, LORD, I will seek.”  

    I not only seek to know Him but to serve Him.  Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

    What does serving the Lord look like for you?   I would answer that question by saying I serve Him when I serve others. Drawing from Mathew 25:40, we learn this concept as Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it (see the previous verses about providing food, drink, and clothing) to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”    

    Also, I love how Joshua puts in his commitment statement that not only will he serve the Lord but his family will serve the Lord.  In the list of what matters most, we begin with our faith and then with our family. 

    Speaking for God, Haggai calls on God’s people to consider their ways.  The reason for the challenge was they did not have His purpose as a priority.  Do you have God’s purposes as your top priorities?

    What adjustments need to be made so that God’s top priorities are your top priorities?

    Continue Strong considering your ways,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Vital Help for Life

    Proverbs 1:4 “To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion.”

    The book of Proverbs opens immediately with reasons why one would want to read what it has to offer.  Proverbs 1:2-4 tells the reader the reason for proverbs. I like to read from The Message occasionally and it translates Proverbs 1:2-4 as such: “(2) So we’ll know how to live well and right and to understand what life means and (3) that it is a manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; 4 To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality.”

    In other words, there is help available to those who have no experience in living life.  This is great news for a person regarded as simple or naive.  To be simple or naive is to be open-minded rather than sound-minded.  The open-minded is open to trying anything as they have not realized that not everything is good.  They don’t realize that choices have consequences.  Thus Proverbs will provide and teach the naive person that there are consequences to choices.  In gaining this understanding, the simple becomes prudent.  The reason you read and study Proverbs is to become prudent with your decision.  I like to define prudent or prudence as carefully considering the consequences of a choice.  Instead of being open-minded to every opportunity one carefully thinks about the consequences before making a decision.   The ultimate help of being prudent is one will carefully consider the consequences of any temptations that are presented to them.  

    The opening verses are, secondly, great news for the young person who, just by being young, is inexperienced.  The inexperienced do not know what is harmful.  They have no track record of being there and done that.  The purpose, then, behind proverbs is to provide the inexperienced with knowledge of what will happen as the one teaching proverbs has been there and done it.  More than having a T-shirt they have experience. They have touched the hot stove and they know it burns.  Now the one who has never touched a hot stove does not have to touch the hot stove and get burned but can learn from another who has been there and knows firsthand the consequences.  

    A person can and should learn from their mistakes but a wise person is going to learn from someone else’s mistake!

    The opening verses of Proverbs are like an advertisement and sprinkled throughout the 31 chapters; it will over and over unashamedly advertise its value and help you because God knows you don’t know what you need to know.  God knows that there is a way that seems right to man, but in the end, there is death (Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25).  For a person to have life one needs wisdom.  For one to avoid the horrible traps of the world one needs prudence, knowledge, and discretion.  

    To get what you need for life action needs to be taken.  Wisdom is available. It cries out to you, appealing to you to acquire her.  The suggested action I heard when I was young was to read one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs, reading the chapter that matched the date of the month.  Today is January 4 so you read Proverbs 4.  It is that simple.  

    To avoid the pitfall answer the appeal of wisdom by acquiring wisdom and applying it to your life. Vital help for your life is available in the book of Proverbs.

    Continue Strong being prudent, knowledgeable, and discerning,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Defend What Was Delivered

    Jude 1:3 “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.”

    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 in verse 3 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.”

    To contend earnestly for the faith, you will need to not just know what you believe but why you believe it. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15 we are to give a reason for the hope that is in us.  

    One might ask what are we to “earnestly contend for” regarding our faith.  What are the crucial doctrines to defend?  There are 5 essential doctrines that we must not compromise on.  They are traditionally called the five fundamentals.

    We believe in the Inspiration of Scripture.  
    We believe in the Virgin birth 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 areas need to be strengthened so that you can give solid reasons and defend what you believe?

    Action item: Find your church’s doctrinal statement, then read, and review it.

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

  • Praying Scripture

    1 Thessalonians 1:2 “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers“

    It is easy to read over the first few verses of a letter written by the Apostles as they seem to give the same normal greeting.  I would challenge us to not do so as they convey the heart of these writers, conveying a heart we should have.  Paul in 1 Thessalonians tells his audience who he is praying for and what he is praying for them.

    As we look at 1 Thessalonians 1:2, ponder on these questions: Who are you praying for as you? What are you praying as you pray for them?

    I would hope you pray for family, friends, and your fellow church members. I hope you pray for leaders, both spiritual and political.  I hope you pray for the lost to be saved, for laborers who are on the field, and for laborers to go to the field. These are but a few suggestions of who you should be praying for.

    Then, what are you praying for them?  I exhort you that your prayer time should include praying the prayers of scripture for others.  I am so grateful to God that the Spirit of God led His writers to include what they were praying as it helps me to know what I should be praying.

    For instance, John in 3 John 1:2 wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

    Peter wrote, in 2 Peter 1:2,  “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” (NLT)

    In almost every letter the Apostle Paul wrote, he told them he was praying for them and told them what he prayed.  We do not have time nor space here to highlight each of those prayers but I encourage you to take notice of them when you come across them in your Bible reading.  I will say that Colossians 1:9-11 has had a tremendous impact on me as I have prayed it for years for myself and for others.  

    Colossians 1:9- 11 says, “For this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  (pray for you and others to know the Will of God)
    10  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, (pray that you and others have a walk that is pleasing to the Lord) being fruitful in every good work (pray that you and others have a work that is productive) and increasing in the knowledge of God; (pray that you and others increase in your wisdom about God) 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; (pray that you and others are strengthened to withstand trials and temptations.) 

    As you look to answer what you pray, I encourage you to incorporate Colossians 1:9-11 into your prayer time. 

    Continue Strong with a commitment to pray for others and pray the prayers of scripture
    and remember to Date the Word!

  • The Character of Job

    Job 1:1  “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.”

    As we begin a new year and think of pursuing living better in 2024 than we did in 2023 I encourage you to look to God’s Word for godly role models.  For those who are familiar with God’s Word, Job is not usually one of our first go-to persons as a role model because we, being honest, don’t want to experience what Job experienced. However, when it comes to examining a man’s character to be a role model you really can’t do much better than Job.  Notice the characteristics of his character.

    He was blameless.
    He was upright.
    He feared God
    He shunned evil.  

    These four words describe a man filled with personal integrity.  He did what was right.  Being blameless speaks of his personal life.  He was not perfect, but he did strive to live above reproach.  Like Daniel, you would not be able to find dirt on him because he was not dirty.  Being blameless meant he did what was right even if no one was looking.  

    Being upright meant he was honest with others.  He did not cheat or lie to others.  Being upright meant he was not looking to take advantage of another person.  He was trustworthy.  

    In fearing God he understood that there was God and he was not god.  In fearing God he acknowledged God with holy reverence and respect.   In fearing God Job acknowledged God’s authority in his life. In fearing God Job was in a right relationship with God. 

    In shunning evil Job first knew what was right and what was wrong and then he took steps to avoid temptations.  To shun is to stay away.   Based on teaching from another wisdom book, Proverbs, Job’s actions to stay away from evil would have been fueled by his fer for the Lord.
    For instance:
    Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. 
    Proverbs 16:6  In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. 
    Proverbs 23:17  Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous to be guided by the fear of the LORD all the day;

    Job 1:1 gives us a tremendous example of a person with great character.  I would hope you would want to be known as a person who is blameless, upright, fears God, and shuns evil.  

    Continue Strong in the new year with godly character like Job,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 31 (12/31) is Luke 12:31

    “But seek the kingdom of God, and all
    these things shall be added to you.” – Luke 12:31
    HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE and Happy New Year

    WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY?

    Portions of what we call the Sermon on the Mount that are found in Matthew 5, 6, and 7 are found in Luke 12.  Luke places His teaching on worrying and anxiety after Jesus has addressed people about being covetous.  Being consumed with the cares and concerns of life chokes out our life.  (See Luke 8:14) Our lives are so much more than food and drink and clothing.  And our lives are not about GETTING and HAVING THE MOST and having the BEST of everything.  We draw from Luke 12:15 that the best things in life are not things. 

    If life is not about getting things and not even about making sure we survive by focusing all our attention on getting the basics for living, what then is life about?  Luke 12:31 says, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Matthew 6:33 reads, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

    Luke 12:31 reminds us of what our top priority should be.  I am not sure what you are SEEKING but based on Scripture seeking and doing the will of God should be the preeminent priority of the Christian’s life.   
     
    Consider a couple of other verses to help solidify that seeking and doing God’s will is your top priority;

    Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

    Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

    Psalm 27:8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.“

    Notice a comparison of Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, and Philippians 2:21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
    Will you be a 1:21 person or a 2:21 person in 2024?

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 31 (12/31) is Luke 12:31. It says, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

    Continue Strong with Jesus always being FIRST!!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD