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  • Acquire Wisdom

    Proverbs 3:21 “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, keep sound wisdom and discretion;”

    Proverbs appeals to the reader to acquire wisdom. The appeal in verse 21 is to not let it out of your sight. Deuteronomy 6 teaches us to have the Word of God in our hearts and in plain view for our eyes to see. (Dt. 6:6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. Verse 8 says, “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.) 

    While Proverbs is also big on appealing to acquire it also stresses applying the wisdom that has been acquired. In verse 21 the word keep, or observe, has the idea of obeying!

    What is to be applied?  Sound wisdom and discretion are to be applied.  

    Sound wisdom brings to your life clear thinking as wisdom allows one to see life from God’s perspective.

    Discretion is compared to having common sense and we need some common sense!! Discretion is the ability to choose what is correct.  It has the idea of tasting as a great chef would taste the food in order to know what needs to be added to make it taste great. With life being full of decisions and decisions determining destinations it is crucial to have wisdom as it shows you the right way. Discernment then keeps one on the right road as there will be options!! 

    Are you acquiring wisdom and putting it in your heart and before your sight? 

    Are you applying wisdom?  Are you a discerning person?

    Ponder – how has wisdom helped you lately?

    A March to Remember

    For March 21, let us remember 2 Corinthians 5:21. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

    Our verse tells of the greatest of exchanges as Christ takes your sins and gives to you His righteousness.  The one who did not sin – was perfect – completely righteous – becomes what we are as God lays on Him our sins, and then when we who are sinful and unrighteous accept Him He gives us His righteous and now we are as righteous as Christ and can stand before the Father.   What a Savior

    On March 21 we encourage you to read Matthew 21 to recall our Lord’s triumphal entry  
    You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Expecting Great Things from God

    Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

    As one prays there should be within our souls an expectation – yes, an anticipation of what God will do. When we pray, we are asking God to handle a circumstance and/or to work in a difficulty, to provide where something is lacking (like wisdom), to protect, to give guidance, and the list goes on.  When we pray, we are asking the God of the universe, the Creator, and our now our Father to do something that we cannot do, and we should anticipate His answers! 

    We should expect that it will exceed our expectations.  

    The One being asked can do far exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!

    Are you praying with anticipation of God exceeding your expectations? 

    A March to Remember

    For March 20, let us remember Mark 15:20.  Mark 15:20 says, “And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

    As we remember the events of Easter we must remember the ugliness – They mocked Him – ridiculed – made fun of Him– They spit of Him – punched Him – treated  Him with contempt and then they crucified Him.   Let us remember the ugliness of Easter.

    On March 20 we encourage you to read Matthew 20 and John 20 to recall our Lord’s teaching on being servants and to be reminded of resurrection.  

    You can find the March to Remember Bible Reading Plan on the Date the Word App.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word 

  • Don’t Stop Climbing

    Habakkuk 3:19  “The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”

    The short minor prophet book of Habakkuk is a dialog between the prophet Habakkuk and God regarding the wicked Babylonians and their role in bringing judgment on Judah.  Habakkuk has lots of questions.  He is so transparent and makes it clear he does not understand God’s ways.  In his transparency, he reveals how difficult it is to trust God. 

    Maybe you have been there and maybe you are there right now.  

    Even as Habakkuk hears God’s answers, he will still have questions.  Yet as the book concludes, he states unequivocally that he will trust the Lord God.  The conclusion starts at Habakkuk 3:16 and is worth reading. “When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he (the Babylonians) comes up to the people, he (the Babylonians) will invade them with his troops. 17  Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls — 18  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

    How could Habakkuk rejoice in the Lord even in the worst of times?  He could do so because He knew what God could do and would do.  

    I don’t know what is making your knees shake and knock.  Habakkuk 3:19 helps as it reminds us that while we feel we can’t He can!  Habakkuk reminds us that God is our strength.   As Paul stated in Philippians 4:13, “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” 

    Not only does God strengthen you, but He also provides stability.  Habakkuk says that God will take the one who has shaky and unsteady legs and make their feet like a deer’s feet.  As a deer can stand securely on unsteady ground we can stand securely in unsteady times. These words from Habakkuk convey his confidence in God.  

    Are you full of confidence in God that He will work the difficult things out and use you even in the midst of difficulties? 

    A March to Remember

    For March 19, let us remember 1 Peter 1:19 starting with verse 18 which says, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

    What can make me white as snow – nothing but the blood of Jesus -Robert Lowry wrote “O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.”  Ponder on the precious blood of Christ as you remember our Savior this Easter

    On March 19 we encourage you to read Matthew 19 and John 19 to recall our Lord’s teaching and to be reminded of Pilate’s plea to behold the Man.  You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • He Gave His Life To Save Your Life

    1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,”

    As we move toward Easter one of the most enlightening and illuminating verses for the Easter season is 1 Peter 3:18.  I will seek to unpack this verse so that we might know and remember what Christ did for each of us and for the entire world with the hope you will come away have read this crying worthy is the Lamb!

    As Peter writes he makes it abundantly clear who will be doing all that follows in the verse.  It is Christ who is our Messiah, our Savior, and our Passover lamb.  

    The next word is suffered.  The church I attended growing up would have us recite the Apostle’s Creed, and in it were the words, “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.”  He suffered are painful words to read, are they not?  To think of Christ dying is difficult enough to comprehend but to wrap one’s thoughts around His suffering is so much more painful, especially in light of the next words in which He suffered for sins that He did not commit. 

    I would ask that you pause and consider just some of His sufferings (yes, plural).  

    He was alone and in agony in the garden. He was arrested after being betrayed. He was beaten and bruised.  He was crucified. (Think excruciating pain).  He was despised.  He was embarrassed as He hung naked on the cross.  He was called an evildoer.  He was falsely accused. He was forsaken by His Father.  He watched as they gambled for His clothing.  They hung Him on a cross beam.  He was insulted as they jeered at Him.  His betrayer kissed Him. They laughed at Him.  Our sins were laid on Him.  They mocked Him.  They nailed Him to the cross.  He was oppressed.  They punched Him in His face and they pierced His side.  He was questioned relentlessly and taunted to prove He was the Son of God, to self-incriminate Himself.  He was ridiculed.  They spit on Him.  He was smitten. He was scourged. (As with the word “crucified” let the word “scourged” grip your soul.) They placed a crown of thorns on His head. They tempted Him to come down from the cross.  He would speak of His agonizing pain with the words “I Thirst.”   Everything done was unjust, but nothing more so than the irreligious unjust trial by the ungodly religious leaders.  He was treated with such contempt, even being offered vinegar to His cry of “I thirst.”   They wagged their heads at Him in rejection of Him.  

    He suffered.  He suffered the shame and indignancy and the pain of a cruel crucifixion.  

    Why? Our verse tells us why He suffered as it was for sins, the just for the just.   In theology, we learn that His death was a vicarious substitutionary death.  He who had done no sin nor had done no wrong will take the place of all the unjust, wicked, sinful, ungodly, etc.  He will die in my place and He would die in your place.  He would die for everyone!  

    Why? We again will ask why and the answer is so that He might bring us to God. Because of His death on our behalf, we can be reconciled to God!  We can have access to God.  Our acceptance of His gift of salvation will cause us to be adopted into the family of God.  Our status goes from a child of the devil to a child of God.  

    Peter concludes this verse with His death and then His resurrection.  He gave His life to save our life.  He was raised again so we could be born again.

    Worthy is the Lamb!

    A March to Remember

    For March 18, let us remember 1 Peter 3:18. 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,” 

    On March 18 we encourage you to read Matthew 18 and John 18 to recall our Lord’s teaching and of His arrest, unjust religious trial. and Peter’s Denial. 

    You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • The Golden Rule for a Believer’s Actions

    Colossians 3:17  “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

    Like 1 Corinthians 10:31 where we are taught “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, (we are to) do all to the glory of God” Colossians 3:17 teaches whatever we do we do for the Lord! Some have called this the Golden Rule for the Believer’s Behavior.

    Do you have the mindset? Do you have the mindset that no matter what you are involved in it is to be being done for God and for His glory? Whether it is work or play, activities with family, friends, neighbors, or strangers, whatever it is that you are doing is to be done for God and His glory.

    It may be possible you need a little help here to get to this place so I would encourage you to pray a prayer from Psalms – Psalm 19:14.  It says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”

    May we today do all – everything – doing whatever we do and say be for God and for His glory!!

    A March to Remember

    For March 17, let us remember Hebrews 2:17. Hebrews 2:17 says, “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.”

    To represent man the Messiah had to become a man.  In becoming a man and then taking our sins upon Him (as He did no sin) He took all the wrath of God that God had for our sins.  Jesus is the wrath absorber. 

    On March 17 we encourage you to read Matthew 17 and John 17 to recall our Lord’s transfiguration and to read His prayer in John 17. 
    You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • The Greatest Verse with the Greatest Message from God to Man

    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.”

    No verse in the Bible speaks more to what God has done for mankind than John 3:16.  As the apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians he asked that they would comprehend the love of God. (Ephesians 3:18-19)  He wanted them to comprehend what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ.  If we look closer at John 3:16 we can better comprehend just how much God does love us. 

    “For God so loved the world” is the width of His love.  His love is for everyone everywhere.

    “That He gave His Only Begotten Son” is the length of His love.  Great love has no man than He lay down His life for another.  Christ gave His life so we could have life.

    “That whoever believes in Him should not perish” is the depth of His love.  Romans 5:6 “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly”

    Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  The words ungodly and sinners represent all the wickedness and unrighteousness and filthiness of mankind.  No sinner has gone too far from His reach to keep them from perishing!

    “But have everlasting life” is the height of His love.  He takes the one doomed, destined and deserving of hell who believes in His Son and gives them a home with Him in heaven for all eternity! 

    On this March 16 (3/16) share John 3:16 with someone and also use your social media platforms to share this great love message from God!

    A March to Remember

    For March 16, let us remember Psalm 22:16.  Psalm 22:16 says, “For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;”

    Let us remember the gruesome details of the horrible death of the Savior told hundreds of years before it happened as it told very piercing of His hands and His feet.

    On March 16 we encourage you to read Matthew 16 and Psalm 16 to remember that He will build His church and that He predicted His death and resurrection, a resurrection predicted in Psalm 16. 

    You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Be Ready To Tell His Story

    1 Peter 3:15  “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

    Peter follows up his teaching on how our response to suffering and persecution is different by telling us to now be ready to give the reason for such a response.  As unbelievers see a response of hope amid hopelessness they will want to know why and how you could respond as you have responded.  Your response of trusting God in the trial and/or the suffering is opening a door to show and share your Savior!  Your trust in God as you face the test creates an opportunity to tell your testimony!  Thus, you need to be ready!

    Our tests and trials allow the development of our testimony!

    It is worth noting that the Greek word for “a defense” gives us our English word apology. While an apology is immediately thought of as an acknowledgment of having done something wrong it is also an explanation or a justification.  From this Greek word, we get what is called apologetics.  A person involved in apologetics explains Christian beliefs.  They help us to know what we believe and why we believe it.

    While it is worth knowing about apologetics and that its origin is here in 1 Peter 3:15 what we need to know is each of us should be ready to share with simplicity how God is impacting our lives.   

    How has He impacted your life in the past?  What is your story of being saved?  

    How is He impacting your life in the present?  What is your story of God’s present provisions?   

    How is He impacting your life for the future?   What is your story of trusting God with all your tomorrows?  

    Are you ready to share your story of how God’s story has impacted your life?  I would like to offer a challenge for tomorrow, March 16 (3/16), for you to share John 3:16 with someone and on your social media platforms.  Let “your” world know that God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

    A March to Remember

    For March 15, let us remember Hebrews 9:15.  Hebrews 9:15 says, “And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

    To accomplish the provision of salvation Christ had to die.  What a Savior.

    On March 15 we encourage you to read Matthew 15 and 1 Corinthian 15 to recall our Lord’s work and to be reminded of just how important the resurrection is.  You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Good Works Don’t Work To Save But The Saved Will Do Good Works!

    Titus 3:14 “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

    Without question, the Apostle Paul was passionate that a person is justified by faith and faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ and that he was passionate that a believer, after getting saved, will be fully engaged in doing good works.   Three times in the book of Titus alone he stressed the necessity of believers doing good works.  Notice these verses:

    Titus 2:14 says “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
    Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
    And our verse: Titus 3:14  “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

    You might recall Paul’s teaching on good works followed after being saved from Ephesians 2:8-10.  He wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

    Are you learning to maintain good works?  Are you watching for opportunities to do good, to do good, especially to members of the household of faith?  (Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.)  Are you ready to act quickly as needs arise?  

    I read that Benjamin Franklin liked to ask two questions each day with one question in the morning and the other one in the evening.  The morning question was what good shall I do today? The one in the evening was what good have I done today?  I recommend his approach to each day as a way to apply Titus 3:14

    I can’t think of a much worse commentary of a believer’s life than to hear one is unfruitful!   Be good and do good!

    A March to Remember

    For March 14, let us remember Titus 2:14.  Titus 2:14 says, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

    As we get closer to Easter (March 31) let us remember that He gave His life that we might have life.  What a Savior!

    On March 14 we encourage you to read Matthew 14 and Mark 14 to remember our Lord’s abilities to feed the 5000 and to walk on water and to read of the love of Mary and the Passover meal with His disciples, His prayer in the garden, His arrest and unjust religious trial along with unspeakable horrible treatment. 

    You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • A Timely Reminder

    2 Thessalonians 3:13  “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”

    We occasionally need to be reminded of a very important truth as we carry out our assignments from the Lord and that truth is we can grow weary in doing good! Please let that truth sink in.  You can become tired, exhausted, worn down, and worn out doing good.  While we think the way of the wicked is hard (and it is according to Proverbs 13:15) doing good can be hard on you. 

    As we work we must also have intentional periods of rest.  Jesus told His disciples after they returned from their assignment to come apart and rest.  

    Being a candle or being an oil lamp, that is the question.

    As I considered taking care of myself physically, emotionally, and yes, spiritually so that I can be my best at doing good when my best is needed, I changed an analogy for living life to being an oil lamp as opposed to being a candle.  Maybe you have heard that we can look at our lives like a candle.  Early in my ministry, I would hear speakers talking about the dangers of burning the candle on both ends yet I also heard speakers say they would rather burn out than rust out.   It was a great sound bite, but I did not want to burn out.  For me, it made more sense to be an oil lamp rather than a candle. 

    What does this look like? Let me quickly tell you about the oil lamp. I grew up with several oil lamps in our home as we are prone to losing our electricity.  Early on I was taught how to refuel an oil lamp.  Did you know that the refueling of an oil lamp meant the oil lamp was not burning?  To refill meant blowing out the light and then unscrewing the top so you could pour more lamp oil in.  The light had to stop burning for a period of time.   By stopping the use of the oil lamp, we were able to continue using the oil lamp.  

    On the other hand, you have a candle, and it just keeps burning until there is nothing left.  

    So, picture the battle of the oil lamp versus the candle. The oil lamp will have periods of “rest” and be refueled and then it goes back to burning.  The candle burns out.  Which do you want to be?  

    Be proactive to rest so that you might stay strong in the race God has for you. Rest! Refuel!

    A March to Remember

    For March 13, let us remember Galatians 3:13.  Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

    In our sin, we are cursed.  As Christ hangs on the cross, He takes on our sins, and He then takes on our curse.  The curse of God fell on Him instead of us.  What a Savior!

    On March 13, we encourage you to read Matthew 13 and John 13 to recall our Lord’s teaching using parables and from John 13 how He washed His disciples’ feet, reminding us that it is not about titles, it is about towels.  You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Dogged Determination to Become More for Jesus

    Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

    As the Apostle Paul defines his present reality of not being at the level he desires, he gives a very powerful resolve that starts with a word we associate with contrast, saying, “but…”  This word but is more than a contrast here as Paul is using this word to convey commitment.  

    While he defines what he is NOT, he makes it clear what he is.  

    And what he is pressing forward.  He is pursuing.   His dissatisfaction with the present level has brought about a determination, a dogged determination, to be more like Christ and do more for Christ. 

    His determination will be followed up with discipline as he writes in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  

    Did you catch the discipline?  He said one thing I do!  He is fully devoted to being all he can be and do for Christ.  

    Are you in pursuit of becoming all you can be for Jesus?  If your answer is yes then you are going to have moments of dissatisfaction that turn into new determination followed by a new discipline to press on!

    Define your spiritual life reality and determine to improve.  Never ever be satisfied.  

    A March to Remember

    For March 12, let us remember Hebrews 9:12.  Hebrews 9:12 says, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

    The sacrifice of Christ was once and for all.  When He said it was finished it was finished.  In an out-of-this-world scene, Christ entered the Most Holy Place of heaven and presented His blood that was accepted by the Father and now an eternal redemption is offered to us.  What a Savior! 

    On March 12 we encourage you to read Matthew 12 and John 12 to recall our Lord’s teaching and to read of the extravagant love of Mary of Bethany.  You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word