datethewordtest

Category: Verse to DATE

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 16 (1/16) is Romans 1:16

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 16 (1/16) is Romans 1:16

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 16 (1/16) is Romans 1:16
    Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
    A Powerful verse about the POWER of the Gospel

    In describing the apostle Paul, one has to use the phrase “UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL.” For a person who attacked the gospel as a believer, he became one of the greatest ANNOUNCERS and DEFENDERS of the gospel. While there were those who were OFFENDED by the gospel and others who considered the gospel a FOOLISH fable Paul never backed down from proclaiming the life-saving message.  While there are many verses that the Apostle Paul could have for his own life verse I tend to lean toward Acts 20:24 as it conveys his full dedication to sharing the gospel.  Acts 20:24 has the Apostle Paul saying, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”  He was just never going to be ASHAMED of the gospel! 

    We might ask why? What could cause a person to be so dedicated and passionate to the level of being willing to die for this message?  I think the rest of the verse gives some good answers.

    The Apostle Paul said that he was not ashamed of the gospel because it was the POWER OF GOD to bring salvation to everyone who believes.   The word POWER comes from a Greek word that we get DYNAMITE.  The gospel, (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,) is powerful to CHANGE a person’s life on earth and change their eternal destination.   It has the power to CLEANSE a filthy sinner of any and all sins, to cancel the penalty of sin, and the power to BREAK the BONDS of sin.   

    Furthermore, the Apostle Paul was unashamed of the gospel because of the PEOPLE it was available to as he wrote it was the power of God unto salvation to EVERYONE who believes.   EVERYONE! While the message of the gospel is exclusive, it is also inclusive, as it is for anyone and everyone.  It is exclusive in that it is the only message that when believed gets a person into heaven.  As Acts 4:12 says, “There is no other name given under heaven whereby men may be saved.”  Jesus made it abundantly clear that He was the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except by Him. (John 14:6)  But it is also inclusive as it is a message for anyone and everyone anywhere.  As John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 16 (1/16) is Romans 1:16.  It says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

    As you consider the priority of proclaiming the gospel is there anything that you are ashamed of regarding the gospel?  

    Continue Strong sharing the gospel,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 15 (1/15) is Proverbs 1:15

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 15 (1/15) is Proverbs 1:15

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 15 (1/15) is Proverbs 1:15
    Proverbs 1:15 says, “My son, do not walk in the way with sinners, keep your foot from their path;”
    I have heard some refer to God’s Word as a treasure chest, a treasure chest that is loaded with INFORMATION far greater than silver and gold, rubies and diamonds.  If we look at the Bible as a treasure chest, then the BOOK of Proverbs is the treasure chest of WISDOM within the treasure chest.  In the Book of Proverbs, WISDOM can be defined as having SKILLS for LIVING.  Whereas one might have skills to cook or build or to farm or to fish as well as one might have skills to operate as a doctor or as a teacher God’s wisdom gives us the SKILLS for living life.  Wisdom can be described as heavenly insights for earthly living.  Having God’s wisdom gives to you God’s perspective on how life is to be lived.

    In the Book of Proverbs, you will find a teaching method of referring to the reader as MY SON.   This phrase is used numerous times.  One is barely into Proverbs 1 when you read “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;” Proverbs 1:8. In verse 10 “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.” And now in verse 15, “My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path.”

    These three verses offer tremendous insights on how to AVOID wrong practices as well as how to DO what is right. For instance, think about how one usually gets in trouble.   How have you gotten into trouble?  Usually, someone gets in trouble by being with the wrong people in the wrong place.   
    As Solomon starts his book of wisdom, he wants to HELP his son not get in trouble.  If we back up to verse 8 we find he makes three appeals to his son.  
    1. First, from verse 8 is to have the right PRINCIPLES.  We could say avoid the wrong principles.
    2. Second, from verse 10, is to be with the right PEOPLE.  We could say avoid the wrong people.
    3. Third, from verse 15, is to be at the right PLACES.  We could say avoid the wrong places.

    There is a “formula” for doing wrong and getting into trouble. It looks like this:
    wrong principles + wrong people + wrong places = wrong practices 

    Now have a “formula” for RIGHT LIVING. It looks like this:
    right Principles + 
    right People + 
    right Places =
    right Practices (living)!

    As I read Proverbs 1 I have added verse 7 of Proverbs 1 to this formula.  Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”    I see Proverbs 1:7 giving me my PURPOSE.  With God as my Creator, I see my purpose is to obey Him.   He is my authority.  Thus, my “formula” for right living is:
    Right Purpose + right Principles + right People + right Places = right Practices

    And when you think about wrong practices it really does start with our view of God. Thus,
    Wrong purpose + wrong principles + wrong people + wrong places = wrong practices.

    January 15 (1/15) brings us to the halfway point of the first month of this new year.  Maybe you made New Year’s resolutions but you are finding them hard to keep. Maybe you need to review the “formula” and take positive action steps of having the right purpose in life (Living in the fear of the Lord); being guided by the right principles; spending time with the right people and being in the right places.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 15 (1/15) is Proverbs 1:15. It says, “My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path;”

    Continue Strong acquiring and applying God’s wisdom to your life,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 14 (1/14) is Acts 1:14

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 14 (1/14) is Acts 1:14

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 14 (1/14) is Acts 1:14
    Acts 1:14 says, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
    The Priority of PRAYER

    The book of Acts begins with the conclusion of the visible ministry of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ.  Luke will introduce his 2nd letter by letting his friend Theophilus know he will be telling what happens after Jesus Christ ascended.  He then writes about the ascension and how Jesus tells His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, and that they were to be witnesses first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, then in Samaria, and then to the utmost parts of the world.  (Acts 1:8) 

    With the assignment of taking the gospel to the world Jesus ASCENDS to heaven and his disciples return, as instructed, to Jerusalem to wait.   Acts 1:13 tells that they went back to the UPPER ROOM.  Many believe this to be the same UPPER ROOM where Jesus had observed the Passover and instituted the Lord’s Supper and washed the disciples’ feet as well as shared what we read in John 14, 15, 16, and 17.  One can imagine if it is the same place how special it must have been for the disciples to return there.  Acts 1:14 reveals that not only were the disciples there but also some women, especially Mary, the mother of Jesus. And His brothers were there. 

    As we look closer at Acts 1:14 Luke tells us more than the place and the people in the Upper Room, he tells us how in unity (one accord) they PRAYED.  Don’t read this too quickly.  Let this settle in your heart.  The first action we read of the disciples after Jesus ASCENDS to heaven is to PRAY.   Assuming they were in the same UPPER ROOM the last night Jesus had with the disciples they may have been flooded with memories of Jesus telling them to pray.  For instance, in John 14:12 Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  13 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”  Now, whether or not they were in the same room or not, they are PRAYING.  Prayer was the top priority.

    Let us consider our priority of prayer.  I repeat that the first action of the disciples after the ascension was to gather together to pray.  It would not be the last.  A reading of the Book of Acts finds one prayer meeting after another.  Here are a few examples to prove my point.
    Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
    Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
    Acts 6:4 “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
    Acts 6:6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
    Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
    Acts 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
    Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

    Jesus told His disciples, and I believe He told us, that we would do greater works than He did because He went to His Father.  He then said ASK.  My take is He said ASK WHAT YOU NEED TO DO THE GREATER WORKS!   

    The question then is ARE WE ASKING?  Are we PRAYING?  What is the priority of prayer for your life and ministry and work and service for the Lord?  Is your life being marked with “AND WHEN YOU/THEY PRAYED”….?  

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 14 (1/14) is Acts 1:14.  It says, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

    Prayer is not a waste of time.  It is the first work that allows for your work for God to work!

    Continue Strong with prayer as a priority.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 13 (1/13) is 1 Peter 1:13

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 13 (1/13) is 1 Peter 1:13

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 13 (1/13) is 1 Peter 1:13
    1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 
    READY for Action!!

    Now that we have been blessed to have this new life in Christ provided by CHRIST (1 {Peter 1:2-12) Peter challenges the Christian to LIVE.  We are to GIRD UP THE LOINS like a runner getting ready to run a race. Think of Hebrews 12:2 which tells us, “to run the race that is set before us.” The ESV uses the word PREPARE instead of GRID.  We are to PREPARE our minds with the added idea of BEING READY TO BE INVOLVED.  Reading and studying God’s Word and praying and worshiping PREPARES our minds so that we can then LIVE OUT the wonderful Christian life we have received.  

    We are to be living like Christ and living for Christ! We live differently and we live to make a difference!! 

    To live our lives to the fullest we will need to make good decisions regarding what we personally do.  We will need to be sober-minded.  This speaks of being clear-minded as well as ALERT. Peter uses this word later in his letter as he reminds us about our adversary the Devil.  1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; (think clearly and be alert); be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.   As believers, we must be diligent to guard our hearts and minds.  We can never lower our defenses as our adversary is constantly looking for ways to sneak in false teaching and present very appealing dressed-up temptations to devour us.  Hear and heed the call to BE SOBER MINDED, TO BE ALERT!

    And then Peter says as we are LIVING an ACTION-oriented life serving the Lord with our ALERT system fully on we look AHEAD to our glorious future.  Dr. W. A. Criswell liked to say, “LOOK UP BROTHER – LOOK UP!”  Look AHEAD brother, look AHEAD.  When we consider what is to come – that glorious day when we shall see our Savior face to face – what a day that will be!!  The best is yet to come for the believer!  Oh, what hope we have!!  LOOK AHEAD!  The apostle Paul says in Colossians 3:2 ‘When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory.” The Apostle John says in I John 3:2 ‘We know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.’  And Peter writes, “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  LOOK AHEAD!
      
    Verse to DATE the Word on January 13 (1/13) is 1 Peter 1:13. 1 It says, “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, (preparing your minds for action, ESV) and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

    Ready! Set! GO! AND KEEP GOING UNTIL YOU ARE GONE!

    Continue Strong running the race that is set before you!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 12 (1/12) is Philippians 1:12

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 12 (1/12) is Philippians 1:12.
    Philippians 1:12 says, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,“
    Seeing Difficult Interruptions as Divine Appointments 

    The question of WHY do bad things happen to good people is a question that has been asked for centuries. The Philippian church members wanted to know WHY a good man like the Apostle Paul who was faithfully serving the Lord would find himself arrested and in a Roman jail. Knowing his friends at Philippi were concerned about him and that his present situation or circumstances did not seem to have a purpose, Paul addresses their concerns in Philippians 1:12.   

    Looking again at our verse Paul says that the THINGS that have happened, the difficult, rough unsettling, unpleasant, hard things that have happened to him, happened so that there would be the opportunity to share Christ.  He saw his present situation OPENING CLOSED DOORS for an opportunity to SHARE THE GOSPEL.  Being in chains offered him the opportunity to proclaim the claims of Christ!  Roman soldiers of the highest order got saved. In Philippians 1:13 he writes that it has become evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest, that his chains are in Christ. As well, he would end his letter by sending greetings from members of Caesar’s household.
    Philippians 4:22 says, “All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.”  

    To the question of WHAT IS HAPPENING, PAUL WOULD SAY SHARING JESUS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING!

    Now for an answer to the question, WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE Paul tells us that the bad, horrible circumstances just might be happening for the FURTHERANCE of the GOSPEL.   The idea of “furtherance” is CLEARING or OPENING UP A PATH.  

    We need to see our CIRCUMSTANCES as a way God CLEARS a path to COMMUNICATE CHRIST!

    Are you staying alert with your TRIALS that they may be divine appointments to share your TESTIMONY? Are you staying alert with what might be unfavorable circumstances in that you are being placed by God at that moment to have a conversation about Christ? Are you staying alert to see your various situations as opportunities to share the gospel? 

    I am praying you will have a Philippians 1:12 testimony where the things (PLURAL) which happen to you (the good, the bad, the awful things) will turn out for the furtherance of the gospel!  So be watching and be alert to God clearing paths for you to communicate the gospel.  

    New contacts through new circumstances can become new converts!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 12 (1/12) is Philippians 1:12. It says, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,”

    Turn trials into a testimony and your rough circumstances will become rejoicing celebrations!

    Continue Strong alert to divine appointments for sharing the gospel,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on January 11 (1/11) is 3 John 1:11

    Our verse to DATE the Word on January 11 (1/11) is 3 John 1:11
    3 John 1:11 says, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”
    Choose carefully who you MIMIC

    Who are your role models? Who do you look up to?  Who do you want to be like?  No matter our age we have our heroes and those we would like to be like.  As we come to our verse for discovering how God would want us to live, we find a WARNING and an EXHORTATION regarding who we MIMIC.   MIMIC is one of those words in the Greek language that we translate straight into the English language.  It means to imitate.  It means to do the very same thing.  

    Knowing that we are very prone to wanting to act like someone else John issues a warning to not MIMIC what is evil.  As he writes his letter, he is dealing with a man named Diotrephes and he is doing evil things.  John does not want people to MIMIC him.  

    On the other hand, he does exhort us to MIMIC what is good.  In his letter, John commended a man by the name of Demetrius for doing good and Demetrius is someone to look up to and to be like.  

    With this challenge to NOT mimic evil but to mimic what is good how do you see yourself applying this? Will it start to matter who you have as a role model?  Will you need to filter more carefully what you listen to or read or watch?  

    Back in our verse, we find John tells just how important it is to do good as opposed to doing evil.  He tells us that a mark of salvation is that we now do what is good.  A person who is doing evil is not someone who has come to know God.  Since we are believers, we will want to do good and in learning to do good we look to see others who are doing good and mimic them.  

    As someone who is maturing in your faith, I do remind you that you are to be an EXAMPLE to other believers so that they may MIMIC you in doing good.  1 Timothy 4:12 still rings true to all of us.  It says, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”  

    Not only do you want to MIMIC someone who is doing good you want others to MIMIC you as you do good!

    Verse to DATE the Word on January 11 (1/11) is 3 John 1:11. It says, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”

    Choose carefully!! MIMIC those who are doing good!! 

    Continue Strong being a role model for others,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • 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