datethewordtest

Category: Verse to DATE

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9
    2 Corinthians 12:9  says, And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
    A THEREFORE MOMENT

    Being very honest and transparent I will tell you that seeing life from God’s perspective is difficult. Oh, I know Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  I know that Joseph was able to tell his brothers in Genesis 50:20  “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”  What a divine perspective.  

    Yet when I am going THROUGH IT and by “through it” I mean THROUGH IT, it is hard to understand what God is doing and it is hard to TRUST Him.  And I don’t think I am alone in saying there are times it is just hard to have God’s perspective on the circumstances and situations we find ourselves “GOING THROUGH IT.”

    The apostle Paul reveals in 2 Corinthians 12 that he is GOING THROUGH IT as he tells that starting in verse 7 “lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”

    While we don’t know exactly what the thorn in the flesh was (and will not take time to speculate here) we do know it brought much pain and discomfort to Paul and it was to a level that he v. 8  “pleaded with the Lord THREE times concerning this thing THAT IT might depart from him.”

    Now it is very possible for us to think that when the Apostle Paul prayed he most certainly received what he requested.  After all, this is the Apostle Paul!  However, the Apostle Paul tells us that God did not grant his request but rather informed him about the perspective he should have as HE IS GOING THROUGH IT.  And what is that perspective?

    2 Corinthians 12:9a “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

    We are going to get the Apostle Paul’s response to this as the verse immediately continues with “therefore…”  I do have to wonder though how QUICK it took Paul to truly respond. Was his response immediate?  Did he need to go for a long walk?  Did he need a couple of days?  This was not the answer Paul was looking for as he had requested THREE times for this THORN IN THE FLESH to be removed.  I just wonder how quick he was to EMBRACE the GREAT ANSWER GOD GAVE.

    And God did give a great answer, was it not?  He told Paul that He had enough GRACE to help him THROUGH IT and that with the thorn in his flesh that made him WEAKER God’s strength would come out and be used and ultimately Paul is going to be STRONGER because of God’s strength. 

    Whether immediately or after a week the Apostle Paul writes “THEREFORE.”  He has what I like to call a THEREFORE MOMENT. The “THEREFORE MOMENT” is a decisive moment.  Peter had one when Jesus told him to fish when fishermen knew it was the wrong time to fish.  Peter said nevertheless (THEREFORE) at Your Word I will do what You said. (Luke 5:7)

    What does follow the “therefore” is massive!  It is a Mount Rushmore type statement.  Paul embraces what God has him going THROUGH with a new perspective, with God’s perspective.  He writes “most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Continuing in verse 10 he writes another THEREFORE saying, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  

    I can’t answer with certainty WHY you are “GOING THROUGH IT” but I have come to understand that some of the “I am GOING THROUGH IT” moments are so God can humble me and bring me to a new place of DEPENDENCE on Him which then allows God to do more in me and through me and He gets all the GLORY!  

    Are you “GOING THROUGH IT” right now?  Hear your heavenly Father say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”   

    Now comes the challenging part as you are now at your THEREFORE MOMENT.  In your “THEREFORE MOMENT” what will your THEREFORE statement be?

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

    Continue Strong trusting His perspective,
    And remember to DATE the Word.
    www.datetheword.com

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 8 (12/8) is Proverbs 12:8

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 8 (12/8) is Proverbs 12:8
    Proverbs 12:8 says, “A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
    But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised. 
    Decisions can bring PROMOTION or DEMOTION

    Proverbs 12:8 tells of how a person’s decision to acquire and apply wisdom can bring praise and commendation, yes, PROMOTION. In contrast, the decisions of another person to practice perversity can bring disgust and be literally despised, yes, face demotion.  Proverbs is so good at reminding us that our choices have consequences, both for good and for bad. 

    We must know that we make our choices and then our choices make us.  

    Acquiring and applying wisdom brings many advantages.  Throughout Proverbs, you will find “THE WISE” being described by actions along with at times the advantages.  For instance, the WISE will receive (accept as opposed to rejecting) what God commands.
    Proverbs 10:8  “The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.”
    The WISE will store up wisdom today for tomorrow
    Proverbs 10:14  “Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.”
    The WISE know how to keep their tongue from getting them into trouble.
    Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
    The WISE will choose carefully their friends and associates and companions!
    Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise [men] will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
    The WISE will respond to a rebuke by listening and learning from it:
    Proverbs 9:8  Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
    Proverbs 9:9  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
    These are but a few examples of what the WISE DO.  Just these few actions show how they will be commended and promoted. 

    The perverse heart is totally different. 
    First off we learn from Proverbs 3:32 that “The perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,”
    Proverbs 6:12 reveals that “A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;”
    From Proverbs 16:28 we see that “A perverse man sows strife,”
    Proverbs 28:18 compares the advantages of the blameless with the perverse telling us. “Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.”
    One of the most important revelations of how this perverse person acts comes from Proverbs 14:2.  Proverbs 14:2 says, “He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.”  

    “But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him” tells us so very much about this man,  The perverse are crooked and wicked.  They do not want God to tell them anything.  So if they are not willing to listen to God why would you ever think they would listen to a boss or to any other authority?   No wonder they are despised.

    Are you a wise person?  If you are you know that you don’t know all you need to know and you, therefore, seek to acquire more wisdom so that you might apply it to your life.  When this is happening, you will be commended!  

    Are you a perverse person whose heart is filled with filth and crooked actions?  Do you find that you despise what God has to say?  If you live this way expect to be despised.

    Friends, your choices have consequences!

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 8 (12/8) is Proverbs 12:8. It says, “A man will be commended according to his wisdom, But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

    The wise bring delight and are promoted while the perverse are despised and demoted.

    Continue Strong by acquiring and applying WISDOM,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 7 (12/7) is 1 Samuel 12:7

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 7 (12/7) is I Samuel 12:7
    I Samuel 12:7 says “Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors.” 
    A DAY TO REMEMBER

    On a historical note, I would think that most of us know that December 7th is a very important date in history going back to December 7, 1941.  President Franklin Roosevelt said that December 7, 1941, would be a day that would live “in infamy as the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”   81 years later there are still very special moments of remembrance.  As President Roosevelt predicted Dec. 7, 1941, continues to live on. 

    Considering our verse to DATE on December 7 (12/7) we have in 1 Samuel 12:7 a day in which God’s people were to PAUSE and be reminded of all the GREAT things the LORD had done.  In I Samuel 12 the Prophet Samuel called God’s people together for a “family talk.”  As part of the family talk, he took them down memory lane by REMINDING them of all the GREAT THINGS God had done.  He wanted them to CONSIDER God’s great and miraculous actions that had been done on their behalf!  

    Taking them down memory lane he reminded them of what God had done in the PAST. Wouldn’t it have been awesome to stand there and hear this prophet, this man of God retell the stories of how God worked in individual lives and in the life of the nation of Israel?   Makes your wonder what stories he told!

    He reminded them of what God was doing in the PRESENT! It is important to tell of God’s working in the past but it is VERY important to be telling what God is doing in the present, the here and now!  God is the God of the past but we need to know that He is WORKING right now! 

    Every now and then it is good to sit quietly and reflect on the GREAT THINGS the LORD has done for you and others!!  It is good to review the past, bringing up precious memories and it is good to reflect on the present, staying aware of what God is doing today!

    BTW – Our calendar here in America provides this by offering us at the end of November a day to reflect and give thanks.  Then we have Christmas and New Year’s Day.   I have found that the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a great time to sit quietly and reflect and give thanks for all that God has done over the past year.  Of course, it is a great time to write out resolutions and dreams for the coming year but it should be a time to look back over the past year before looking forward to a new year.  I recommend that this is both personal and with family. 

    Maybe it is possible that today you look ahead and schedule some time for a “family talk” before the end of the year!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 7 (12/7) is I Samuel 12:7. It says “Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors.”

    Continue Strong by remembering the GREAT things God has done and is doing!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 6 (12/6) is Psalm 12:6

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 6 (12/6) is Psalms 12:6
    Psalms 12:6 says, “The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.” 
    Trustworthy WORDS

    We live in a day of “FAKE NEWS.” Who do we trust? What do we trust?  What can we believe?  What can we rely on?  And let us be really honest here that there is some information that we need absolute truth such as is there God, and has He said anything, and can I know Him personally.  We need the truth about our condition before God and the truth of what it takes to have a relationship with God.  We need truth concerning eternity and how one can spend eternity with God in His heaven.  We need the truth regarding how God would want us to live. We need the truth regarding what is right and what is wrong.  

    One of the greatest gifts to the WORLD is the WORD of God which is called the Bible or as I grew up was called the Holy Bible.  Written over 1600 years with 40 different writers, it gives the ANSWERS to life’s most difficult questions.  It was said by Dr. Harold Wilmington, Dean of the Liberty Home Bible Institute and author of Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible that the Bible can be summed up with two words.  Those two words are CREATION and REDEMPTION.  After the story of CREATION comes the story of REDEMPTION.  From the pages of the Bible, Dr. W. A. Criswell said there is a scarlet thread through the Bible telling of the REDEEMER who will come and the REDEEMER who came and the REDEEMER who will come again!  

    But is the Bible true?  Is the message it gives trustworthy?  Interestingly there will be times when the Bible will itself answer these questions.  Our verse to DATE is one of those times. Psalm 12:6 says “The words of the LORD are pure words.”  They are FLAWLESS.  

    To convey the pureness of God’s Word a human, earthly illustration is given as the psalmist writes LIKE silver that will be purified so it is pure so is God’s Word pure.  The silver goes through the fire over and over to burn away every impurity that is there.  God’s Word is LIKE that. LIKE THAT!!  When God speaks it is pure.  It is truth.  It does not need to be purified.  But so we understand how pure it is God’s Word is like silver put through the fire seven times.  

    What is God’s Word conveying?  You can TRUST His Words.  There is nothing FAKE about it. There is God, God who created the world and created man and woman. Man has a sinful condition that needs redemption.  God sent His only Son to REDEEM us.  He died on a cruel cross, dying for every human being, His precious blood poured out.  He then rose again on the third day and today offers the gift of eternal life to whoever will call upon Him for salvation.  Only those who call on Him will have eternal life in heaven as there is NO other name under heaven whereby men may be saved.  

    We have TRUTHFUL news!  Truthful news that you can trust your entire eternity on.  Proverbs 8:8 says, “All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.”

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 6 (12/6) is Psalms 12:6. It says, “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” 

    Make sure you know the TRUTH and make sure to read some TRUTHFUL NEWS today!

    Continue Strong with full confidence in the purity of God’s Word
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 5 (12/5) is Acts 12:5

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 5 (12/5) is Acts 12:5
    Acts 12:5 says “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”
     
    The POWER OF PRAYER

    Acts 12 tells of the RISE of persecution by King Herod.  For the context of our verse to DATE notice Acts 12:1-4. Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2  Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3  And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4  So when King Herod had arrested Peter, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.”

    The scene is FRIGHTENING.  James is dead, the first disciple to be a martyr. Peter has been arrested and is in prison so that soon he can be executed.  Church leaders and members have to be asking what should and can we do.  There are numerous answers that we might consider.  For the early church, the answer was PRAYER!  The answer to the problem was PRAYER! And Acts 12:5 tells us that as Peter is kept in prison the church is in constant prayer!

    I have to tell you that Acts 12:5 is one of my favorite verses on the subject of prayer.  As a college student, I read The Power of Prayer by R. A. Torrey and he had a whole chapter on Acts 12:5.  In Acts 12:5 you find 12 powerful words about prayer.  BUT  CONSTANT  PRAYER  WAS  OFFERED  TO  GOD  FOR  HIM  BY  THE  CHURCH.  

    Now R. A. Torrey wrote a full chapter in a book on those 12 words.  I will not attempt to do so here. I do however want you to consider WHAT was done here.  There was PRAYER.  Someone said PRAYER is POWER RELEASE AT YOUR EARNEST REQUEST.  

    Not only notice the WHAT was done here but WHO DID THE WHAT.  The CHURCH prayed.  The PEOPLE of God took the problem of Peter in prison to God in prayer!   

    May I ask you if you are part of a PRAYING church?  I am in agreement with a quote from Dr. Jerry Falwell in which he said, “NOTHING OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE EVER HAPPENS APART FROM PRAYER.”  Are you a part of a church that when there is a problem the first thought is let’s take this to God in prayer?  I hope so but if not then you should lead the charge to prayer!

    Notice also who the prayer was OFFERED TO.  It was offered to GOD!  It was offered to the One and only who could do the miraculous!  

    Where do you go for help?  My go-to is the LORD based on Psalm 121:1-2 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? 2  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”  Don’t you love how David added the part about the Lord making heaven and earth?  What a reminder that there is NOT ONE THING you will bring to God that He will be unable of handling!  Friend, your help is the LORD!

    12 words tell the response to a crisis.  God’s power was released, and Peter was miraculously delivered out of prison.  The answer was so powerful that it was shocking to the level of unbelief for when he showed up at the prayer meeting Rhoda could not believe it out of excitement and when she told the prayer warriors he was at the door they could not believe it.  Now don’t get upset with this group because I am sure you have had prayers answered that you responded with “I just can’t believe it.”  The bottom line is the church prayed to God and God answered in a mighty way!

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 5 (12/5) is Acts 12:5.  It says “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

    With Peter in danger, the church believed in the POWER OF PRAYER!

    Continue Strong by taking EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 4 (12/4) is Isaiah 12:4

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 4 (12/4) is Isaiah 12:4
    Isaiah 12:4 says, “And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, and I will call upon His name;  I will make known His deeds among the peoples, declaring that His name is exalted.
    Worshipping the Lord and Witnessing about the Lord

    In considering Isaiah 12:4 we find actions that are celebratory!  This verse can speak of Judah’s victory over the invading Assyria army, and it can speak of the victory at the end of the tribulation and God’s people will then be celebrating in the Millennial kingdom.  Whether it refers to a celebration of the past or a celebration of the future we see two actions for us as believers. 

    First, there is the WORSHIP of the Lord seen in PRAISE THE LORD.  Praising the Lord is an adoration of WHO GOD IS!!! Whether He ever does anything for us He is WORTHY of praise just because of WHO HE IS!  The worship continues by calling on His name.  This phrase takes us back to Abraham in Genesis 12:8b “there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.”  The idea of calling on the Lord is the acknowledgment that there is only one God and that one has no other gods!  

    Secondly, there is WITNESSING ABOUT THE LORD!  As one experiencing the WORKING of God, they cannot help but WITNESS or testify about WHAT GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.  This, if you will, bragging about the Lord is to point others to the Lord with the heartfelt desire that they EXALT God’s name!  

    Not long ago a friend of mine had the opportunity to share Christ at an event that his brother attended.  As his brother drove home he came under tremendous conviction of his need to be saved.  So he pulled his car onto the side of the road and asked the Lord to save him.  He then called my friend and told him that he had gotten saved.  My friend was filled with joy.  Over the next few weeks, he told any and everyone how God had SAVED his brother!!  My friend was witnessing how the LORD WORKS!!

    Day after day our lives should be filled with giving WORSHIP to the Lord and WITNESSING for and about the Lord! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 4 (12/4) is Isaiah 12:4. It says, “And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, and I will call upon His name; I will make known His deeds among the peoples, declaring that His name is exalted.”

    Today tell the Lord that you love Him!  And today tell someone that the Lord loves them.  Worship Him and witness for Him!

    Continue strong,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 3 (12/3) is Hebrews 12:3

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 3 (12/3) is Hebrews 12:3
    Hebrews 12:3 says, For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
    EQUIPPED TO ENDURE

    As one moves from Hebrews 11 and the inspirational HALL OF FAITH the writer of Hebrews gets personal about believers RUNNING THEIR RACE.  If you did not know it God has a RACE He wants you to RUN!  As a reminder let’s read Hebrews 12:1-2.  It says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

    Having read about others who RAN THEIR RACE (HEBREWS 11) we are now called to RUN the RACE set before us.  The writer knows that he must be more than a motivational speaker here. The writer is now a COACH who is going to EQUIP the runner on HOW to RUN THEIR RACE.  He tells the runner to PREPARE to run by getting rid of the things that would HINDER them.  To run God’s race the runner is going to have to CONCENTRATE.  They cannot have the cares of this world weighing them down. To run God’s race the runner is going to have to be CONSECRATED.  The runner cannot be practicing sin for sin ENSNARES or TRAPS and TRIPS up the runner.  Practicing sin may bring about a DISQUALIFICATION.  (See 1 Cor. 9:27 and 2 Timothy 2:5) Then to run God’s race the RUNNER must have ENDURANCE.  The runner of God’s race is running to win, and winners never quit.  They have STAYABILITY!  They have tenacity and fortitude!  They are PERSISTENT and they PRESERVE.   Having ENDURANCE means there is within them a COMMITMENT to finishing!  

    One might look at the phrase “RUN WITH ENDURANCE” as more motivational than equipping. I will say that I don’t discount the need for motivational words, and I definitely do not discount encouraging words to the runner.  However, for us to run the difficult race before us in this world with all its hatred, hostility and persecution we need to be EQUIPPED to run.  So while being instructed (and maybe inspired) to run WITH ENDURANCE the verses that follow EQUIPS the runner with HOW TO RUN WITH ENDURANCE.   To run with endurance there must be the CONSIDERATION of CHRIST! Verse 2 says to endure one must “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Then our verse to DATE, verse 3, adds for being equipped to endure to “CONSIDER Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”

    It is one thing to tell a person to not quit or to not give up, it is another thing to equip a person so they will not quit or give up.  More than giving inspiration to run is the writer gives instruction on how to run.  The instructions are to LOOK AT JESUS.  SEE HIS EXAMPLE.  See how HE ENDURED in the face of hostility.  The instructions are to CONSIDER what JESUS did as He faced hostility.  We know that He did not quit but we must also know WHY He did not quit. 

    And why did He not quit? HE KNEW HIS PURPOSE!!  HE KNEW GOD’S PLAN!  He had PURPOSED from the very beginning to be about His Father’s business.  When push came to shove, He SURRENDERED completely in the garden of Gethsemane, saying NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE! He decided to be OBEDIENT to the Father’s purpose and plan for His life.  
    In being EQUIPPED TO ENDURE you look to Jesus and CONSIDER CHRIST and how He endure.  Draw more than inspiration from His enduring hostility.  Draw insights on why He NEVER QUIT.  If you don’t do so you are going to become weary and discouraged running your race.  This world is no friend of the committed Christian.  It will be hostile to you.  Jesus said if they hated Him, they are going to hate us.  Thus, get equipped to endure and then run with endurance!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 3 (12/3) is Hebrews 12:3. It says, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”

    With consideration of Christ, you KEEP ON RUNNING the RACE He has set before you!  

    Continue Strong looking to Jesus!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

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

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 2 (12/2) is Romans 12:2
    Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 
    Getting the WORLD out by GETTING THE WORD IN!

    As the Apostle Paul moves from doctrinal teaching to practical teaching he calls for in Romans 12:1 a PRESENTATION of one life to Lord. With the presentation, there will be DEDICATION of oneself to Lord as the believer is a living sacrifice and will live holy and acceptable to the Lord.

    In order to live holy and acceptable there will need to be a major change, a TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE whereby the mind thinks differently.  Our minds are a battlefield with the WORLD seeking to influence how it thinks in order to influence how one believes and behaves.  The “world” is a system that does not regard God’s authority.  It has no desire in doing the will of God.  The world wants a person to have it their way, doing whatever feels good and brings immediate gratification.  The world system seeks to conform us to its image. The Apostle Paul says that is not to happen writing DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.  

    Choosing to not be conformed to this world is not easy UNLESS one understands the positive that the Apostle Paul gives by teaching that one can BE TRANSFORMED by renewing the mind.  Instead of letting the world’s ideas in our minds, we RENEW our minds by PUTTING in the WORD’s instructions in our minds.   We are able to GET THE WORLD OUT by PUTTING THE WORD IN. 

    WORD IN! WORLD OUT!!!

    Notice I used the word “PUTTING in the Word“ to renew one’s mind as one must be intentional!  It takes discipline.  Recall from Psalms 119:9 that asked, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”  To help heed God’s Word one then needs to HIDE God’s Word so one can draw on it when facing temptations!  Psalm 119:11 says, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!”  This is the PUTTING in the WORD.  

    When the world is going in you are going to have sin.
    When the Word is going in (and you heed/obey it) you are going to have sanctification.

    When a person moves from sinning to living sanctified you have TRANSFORMATION! And with transformation one now WANTS TO KNOW and DO what God’s will is for their life.  

    As you consider Romans 12:2 may I ask the question of how have you CHANGED, CHANGED LATELY?  The transformed life will have you BECOMING more like CHRIST and less like the world and, listen, less like you.  Remember the word for transformed is “metamorphosis” and is used for the change of, the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly.  Thus you should be continually CHANGING.  

    Let me lastly ask are you allowing the world to get into your mind?  Or are you intentionally PUTTING, HIDING God’s Word in your heart?   

    Getting the WORLD out means PUTTING God’s WORD IN!!  WORD IN!  WORLD OUT!!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 2 (12/2) is Romans 12:2.  It says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

    Continue Strong intentionally putting God’s WORD in which brings about a transformed life!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • 25 Verses to DATE the Word for Christmas

    25 verses to DATE the Word for Christmas
    Luke 2:19  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
    As Mary found herself participating in the birth of the Messiah she saw and heard, yes, experienced so many incredible things that Luke writes she TREASURED UP these moments and PONDERED ON THEM, I would like to put before you 25 verses to TREASURE UP and PONDER ON this Christmas season.  The verses will go from 1 to 25 (not in chronological order) and every now and then there will be two for a number.  You can read this in one sitting and/or you can read them as 25 verses till Christmas, one a day.  Feel free to use this resource as you see fit! 

    Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

    Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

    Micah 5:2  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

    Luke 2:3  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  

    In Galatians 4:4-5 Paul tells us that at just the right time God sent the Messiah to redeem us.

    Galatians 4:4  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5  to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

    I John 3:5  you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
    Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

    Luke 2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

    Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

    I John 3:8  He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

    Matthew 2:9  When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

    Matthew 2:10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  
    Luke 2:11  “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  
    Matthew 2:11  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
    Luke 2:12  “And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  

    Luke 2:13 -14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
    Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

    John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
    Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
    (The protoevangelium – first gospel)

    John 3:16  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17  “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

    Hebrews 2:17  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

    Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  

    Luke 2:19  But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.  

    Luke 2:20  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

    Matthew 1:21  “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

    Luke 2:22  Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord  

    Matthew 1:23  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

    Matthew 1:24  Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,  

    Matthew 1:25  and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

    Merry Christmas!
    Dwayne and Donita
    Date the Word

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

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 1 (12/1) is Romans 12:1
    Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” 
    A PRESENTATION that will lead to TRANSFORMATION

    Romans is the first book that is called the Epistles of Paul.  Following the 4 Gospels that tell the stories of Jesus Christ, we have the book of Acts which tells the birth of the Church.   Now that the world has the church and has Christians both the church and Christians need to know WHAT THEY BELIEVE and HOW TO BEHAVE.   The book of Romans is known primarily as a book where we learn what we believe or a DOCTRINAL book.  However, it does gives a significant amount of teaching for how to behave as a believer.   The transitional verse for moving from the great doctrines to practical living is Romans 12:1.  The word that sets the transition up is “THEREFORE.”  I was taught, and maybe you as well, that when you read the word “therefore” you ask what is before the therefore?”  

    As a quick reminder, what is before the “therefore” of Romans 12:1 is the teaching that the just lives by faith. (Rom. 1:17).  One then learns of CONDEMNATION and of JUSTIFICATION and of SANCTIFICATION.   

    With a quick review of what has happened to us as believers, the Apostle Paul APPEALS to us to now live ACCEPTABLE lives to God.  To live acceptably to God is to make a PRESENTATION of oneself as a living sacrifice.   A sacrifice in the Old Testament was something that was dedicated to the Lord.  The believer is now presenting themselves as a dedicated vessel to the Lord. A believer GIVES themselves totally to the Lord.  This dedication of oneself impacts future behavior as now the believer is going to live a holy life.  Whereas the unbeliever lived in and for sin, the believer is now living for holiness and righteousness.  The presentation brings about a huge transformation.   From sinful living, the believer is now living a sanctified, holy life.  

    How have you responded to the appeal of Romans 12:1?  Have you PRESENTED yourself to God as a vessel, a dedicated vessel to live a holy life, to live for Him?  

    On a personal note I wrote a mission statement for my life by Romans 12:1 that goes, “Lord, I want to be a clean, holy, vessel in Your hand to be used to impact the world for Your glory.”

    Maybe today you need to interact with Romans 12:1 and write out a personal commitment to the Lord.  Based on all that God has done for you, showing you His mercies, respond to the appeal to make a PRESENTATION of yourself to the Lord!

    The verse to DATE the Word on December 1 (12/1) is Romans 12:1. It says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

    Continue Strong as HIS HOLY VESSEL,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD