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  • Don’t Forget To Obey God’s Word

    Proverbs 3:1 “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;”

    I have lost count of the times my parents, grandparents, and now my wife, as well as administrative assistants, and even my children, have told me the words “Don’t forget.”  It is embarrassing but it has been and continues to be a phrase I need to hear because I am forgetful.   As I come to God’s Word I find He knows that we need to be reminded to remember and to be told not to forget.   Solomon writes here in Proverbs 3:1 not to forget God’s law.  We are to remember God’s Word so we can have recall of God’s Word when we need it.  We are to hide it in our hearts.  We are to have it with us!

    Not only are we to remember God’s Word we are to keep the commands. The word “keep” can be viewed in two ways. On one hand, we hold the commands like one would hold a piece of treasure. The idea is to hold tightly, On the other hand, keep carries the idea of obeying.  We are to be doing what the commands say.

    As we apply Proverbs 3:1 let us acquire wisdom and store it in our hearts and let us then apply wisdom.  When we acquire the information and take the action of application we will have active transformation!

    A March to Remember

    With our Date the Word daily devotion for March we are including a verse for each day that will help us remember our Savior as we make our way to Easter on March 31.  

    For March 1, please ponder Psalm 22:1. Psalm 22:1 says, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?”

    From Psalm 22:1, let us remember that on the cross, Jesus was forsaken by the Father so that we could know acceptance by the Father.  
    Psalm 22:1 also reminds us of His groaning. Let us remember the agony endured as He died for our sin – as He took our sin – As He became sin for us.   
    May our hearts proclaim what a Savior on March 1 as we Remember our Savior from Psalm 22:1

    On March 1 we would encourage you to read Matthew 1.  You might go to the new DATE the Word App and join the Bible Reading plan where you can read or listen to Matthew 1 and in doing so you will be reminded that Jesus was born to die.  

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

  • Epaphroditus: A True Hero of the Faith

    Philippians 2:29 “Receive him (Epaphroditus) therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;“

    The context for the verse we have before us is the Apostle Paul has sent Epaphroditus back to Philippi. The Philippians had sent Epaphroditus to Rome with a love offering for the beloved apostle Paul.  With Paul in jail, the Philippians were looking for Epaphroditus to not only deliver the package but they were expecting him to be a personal blessing to Paul.  Epaphroditus, however, got sick and was not able to continue. Paul knew that with him returning earlier than expected there was a very real possibility he could be viewed to have failed at his mission.  So Paul writes a glowing report of how Epaphroditus ministered to him. He then concludes with this admonition that Epaphroditus is to be received back with gladness as well as to be regarded with honor – with esteem.

    Why would Paul want Epaphroditus to be held with such high regard?  In a previous verse, Paul wrote that as Epaphroditus was serving him he was risking his life to do ministry.  The term Paul used speaks of one who is gambling.  Epaphroditus was gambling with his life to carry out his assignment of ministering to the needs of Paul.  For Paul, Epaphroditus is an example of someone doing all one can do for the Lord.  For Paul, a man who does that is to be regarded with the highest of reverence.  

    Question – who do you hold in the highest esteem? Who do you have as heroes? Philippians 2:25-29 tells the story – the ministry – of Epaphroditus. His actions should guide us on who we hold in honor!!! The highest honor goes to those who sacrifice – who go the extra mile!

    Continue Strong by having role models like Epaphroditus in your life
    And Remember to DATE The Word

    Tomorrow begins March and this year March 31 is Easter so we have put together what we are calling A March to Remember.  We have put together a Bible Reading plan that has a verse for each day and two chapters for reading.  You can join the Bible Reading plan by downloading the Date the Word App and clicking on A March to Remember.   

  • Abide to Abound!

    1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

    The apostle John is teaching here in 1 John what Jesus had taught in John 15.  Notice what He said in John 15:1-8 about abiding.  
     “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 
    4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
    6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

    The absolute essential for living the Christian life and doing any ministry for Him is to abide in Him. The image Jesus gives is that He is the vine, and we are the branches. Visualize this! For a branch to produce fruit it must be connected to the vine! Visualize this! Just as the branch is connected, we are to abibe, we are to be connected to Christ.  He is the life giver!  

    For us, as believers, to abound in fruitfulness, we must abide! 

    A phrase I like to use is abide to abound! Abide to abound!

    Having taught how to abound by abiding in Him, Jesus makes a very blunt statement as He taught that apart from Him, we could do nothing.  Nothing!!!  John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  Nothing!  Let that settle into your heart and mind.  Visualize the branch unattached to the vine.  There is never going to be fruit!  I trust that you don’t want to be found empty-handed when He comes!!  

    In 1 John 2:28 John calls on his readers to apply what Jesus taught him.  When we abide in Him, we will be fruitful and we will not be ashamed when He returns.   When we are fruitful, we bring glory to God!

    Are you abiding in Christ?  Do you have the mindset of just how essential this is?  Do you start each day with the understanding that you need Jesus for everything you are going to be doing?  Do you see yourself as a branch to bear fruit for Him and that as a branch you must be firmly connected to the vine – to Him?  

    I ask the Lord to help me to be found faithful and fruitful!  As I abide in Him I pray I may abound in fruitfulness for Him.

    Continue Strong abiding to abound
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • God Has an Objective of Wanting His People to Know Him

    Joel 2:27 “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.”

    Throughout the Word of God, we find that God wants His people to know Him!  He wants us to know Him personally and relationally.   In a recap of what God did in Egypt for the Israelites, Moses says in Deuteronomy 4:35, “To you, it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.”  Here in Joel, we read the word “then.”  What happened in the days of Joel had a purpose.  With what was happening God’s people would “then” know that He is in the midst of Israel.”  Then they would know I am the LORD your God and there is no other.

    We need to know that God is at work making Himself known. He wants the knowledge to be more than knowledge about Him but knowledge that is personal. In other words, you might say the Lord is a shepherd. You know this about God. God, however, wants you to be able to say the Lord is my shepherd.  

    I think we should be aware that there are several very important areas He wants us to know about Him.  We should know that He will bring about things sometimes in ways to make Himself known that we might wish He did not but remember His objective is so you will know Him personally.  Notice a few things God wants you to personally know about Him.

    We can rest assured that He wants us to know His presence.  He wants us to learn that He is our God and then know that He will never leave you or forsake you.   Psalm 34:18  says, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart.”  

    He wants us to know His power.  God used the pharaoh to show His power to both the Egyptians and the Israelites.  Exodus 9:16 “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power to you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.

    He wants us to know His protection!  An example comes from Psalm 68:5. Psalm 68:5 says,  “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.”

    He wants us to know His peace.  Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.

    He wants us to know His provision!  Psalm 23 starts out with “The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.  2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”

    How might God be working in your life today to make Himself more known to you? 

    Continue Strong growing in the knowledge and grace of the Lord!
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • A Balanced Growth Plan

    1 Samuel 2:26 “And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men.”

    From the moment a child is born there is the expectation that the child will grow.  Growing physically is natural and necessary.  When we come to 1 Samuel 2:26 we read that the child Samuel was growing physically and that he was also growing spiritually and relationally. He was becoming a well-balanced child! 

    Reading about Samuel’s growth reminds us that the growth of a child is more than just physical.  Just as there must be attention to a child’s physical development, there must be attention given to the child’s spiritual development and relationship development.  Growing in all three of these areas does not come accidentally. There must be intentional work done by parents.  There must be intentional training and teaching.  Deuteronomy 6 teaches that parents are to teach their children the commandments of God.  In teaching the Ten Commandments you teach them first about a relationship with God and then a relationship with others.  The first four commandments are vertical.  A child learns to respect God. The last 6 commandments are horizontal.  A child learns to respect others.  And the first place they learn to respect others is in the home where they learn to respect their parents. When this training is done you should see along with physical growth that there will be spiritual growth and relational growth.   

    It is worth noting that Jesus grew as Samuel grew.  We find in Luke 2:52 Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.  

    For me, as a parent, a Christian educator, and as a pastor I use I Samuel 2:26 and more so Luke 2:52 to determine the crucial areas that I am to be focused on to bring about the total development of a child. In looking at Luke 2:52 we see there is the intellectual growth of Jesus as He grew in wisdom. There is physical growth as He grew in stature. There is relational growth as He grows in favor with people and there is spiritual growth as He grew in favor with God.  

    While I look at these key areas for developing a well-balanced child, I also look at these 4 areas for personal development.  I encourage you to do the same.  We should always be learning, growing in wisdom, and growing intellectually.  We should always be taking care of our bodies.  We should always be increasing our love for God and people.  

    Are you growing the way Samuel and Jesus grew?

    Are you growing others, especially your children the way Samuel and Jesus grew?

    Continue Strong and growing yourself so that you might grow others!
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Watchful While Working!

    Luke 2:25 “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”

    Simeon, while very much unknown, is a major player in the Christmas story!  Our verse brings a great example into focus!  While waiting for the coming of the Messiah he was working and living for the Lord.

    The verse starts out by telling of a man with character as he was righteous in how he lived, and he was devout.  We don’t seem to use the word devout too much these days. It is a really good word that we should want others to say about us.  It means to handle something entrusted to you with great care. The devout person is very cautious and conscientious with the assignments given to them. They handle things with reverence, with what is called a godly fear. They are very trustworthy.  The devout ones are very often highly respected because of their diligence in handling things entrusted to them with such care.    

    Simeon was doing what was right, reverent, and careful with his assignments.  

    Luke then describes him as waiting.  He was waiting for the Consolation Of Israel. He was waiting for the coming of the Messiah.   

    The waiting of Simeon is another great example from his life that we need to be following.  While he was waiting for the first coming, we are to be waiting for the second coming.   

    Whenever I am speaking about waiting for the Second Coming, I am reminded that I should remind myself and others what waiting means.  waiting does not mean one goes to a high mountain and sits down, waiting until He comes.   I learned what waiting meant before I was a teenager.  One day my mom told me I needed to wait until my dad got home to help him unload a load of fertilizer at the shed.  With her words, I stopped what I was doing and started going to the shed to wait. (I was going to go to the shed and sit down and wait.)   Mom saw this and said, “Keep working on what you are working on with a watchful eye, and when you see him coming up the driveway, then you make your way to the shed.”   

    Hmmmm.  Waiting did not mean sitting down and doing nothing.  It meant being watchful while working! 

    Knowing the Lord is coming again we do need to be watching.  A principle I learned from Dr. Billy Graham is to start every day with the thought of perhaps today.  I challenge you to be living with the mindset of perhaps today!  

    Knowing the Lord is coming again means we do need to be working. I also learned a principle from Dr. Jerry Falwell to go with Dr. Graham’s principle.  He taught us to live like this might be our last day, our last hour, our last minute but work as though we were going to live another 100 years.   Both principles should guide our waiting.

    Simeon. a man of great character, was waiting, but while waiting, he was working!  Let the Lord’s return find us at work for Him, watching for Him, waiting with anticipation.

    Continue Strong working for the Savior while watching for the Savior.
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • God’s Marriage Math Is One Plus One Equals One! 

    Genesis 2:24  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

    The institution of the family has existed from the very beginning of time. Within the story of creation, God gives HIs instructions for the institution of the family.. Before there was any government and before the church, we had the family. Our verse, Genesis 2:24 makes clear what God’s design is for the family as it will give you the key people of a family. There are two genders and only two. There is a man and a woman. When the man marries the woman, the man will gain the title of being a husband, and the woman will be a wife. As husband and wife, they may have a child and maybe even children, so now the man is not just a husband but a father, and the woman is not just a wife but a mother. If the child is a male, he will have the title of son, and if the child is a female, she will have the title of daughter. If they have more than one child and it is a male, the males have the title of brother, and if it is a female, the females have the title of sister. 

    Going back to Genesis 2:24, God tells the man who is marrying a woman to leave his father and mother and be joined to someone else’s daughter, and he will be her husband and she will be his wife.  The instructions are clear that they are to leave. They are to leave so they can be joined together or cleave.  Marriage is about leaving and cleaving. 

    Many Biblical scholars will say from this component of leaving and cleaving marriage is the preeminent relationship! This also is to be a permanent relationship as the husband and wife are to be one flesh. 

    As we consider these instructions we conclude (not unique to me) that God’s math is one plus one equals one. I consider Genesis 2:24 (repeated by Jesus in Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9 and Paul in Ephesians 5:31) and Ephesians 5:33 to be the most important teaching for marriage. Genesis 2:24 teaches leave and cleave while Ephesians 5:33 teaches the husband to pay attention to his wife and the wife to give admiration to her husband. Following God’s instructions for marriage will bring about an enjoyable and enduring marriage!

    Continue Strong learning and living out your role and responsibilities in your family,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Cry Out to the God Who Hears

    Exodus 2:23 “Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.”

    At various times during our life, we are going to have very hard and difficult times. Our hearts will be broken.  We will find ourselves carrying incredibly heavy burdens. When the burdens and the pains of life hit you to whom will you cry out with your groanings?  An answer is found in Exodus 2:23.

    The children of Israel are in bondage. They were slaves in the land of Egypt.  While it was restrictive it was also very repressive. So repressive was the bondage that Exodus 2:23 says, “They groaned because of the bondage.”  Looking for relief, they cried out and their cry came up to God!  Just so know verse 24 says, “So God heard their groaning.”  In verse 25 it says, “So God looked (took notice) on the Israelites and was concerned about them.”

    Friends, when we cry out to God, the God of the universe hears!  He hears our prayers.  He hears our cries of agony and pain. He hears the cries of bondage – yes of physical bondage  – yes of spiritual bondage.  Hear that God hears. Listen. God listens to your cries for help.  Hearing and then helping and healing the brokenhearted is one of His specialties.
    I don’t know if you need more proof but if so, read the few testimonies from David:
    Psalm 3:4 “I cried aloud to the LORD, and He answered me from his holy hill. Selah
    Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God, I cried for help. From His temple, He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.
    Psalm 31:22 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from Your sight.” But You heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to You for help.”
    Psalm 77:1 I cried out to God with my voice — To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me.
    Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me and made me bold with strength in my soul.

    Nehemiah gives a history lesson that includes how God heard His people during the days of the Judges,
    Nehemiah 9:27 Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, Who oppressed them; And in the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You heard from heaven; And according to Your abundant mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them From the hand of their enemies.
    Nehemiah 9:28 “But after they had rest, They again did evil before You. Therefore, You left them in the hand of their enemies, So that they had dominion over them; Yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard from heaven; And many times You delivered them according to Your mercies,

    Friends, God hears you!  To the brokenhearted, He hears you. To you facing an unspeakable difficulty He hears you! He hears you! 

    And make no mistake that from hearing you will find His hands working! (See chapter 3 and forward in the Book of Exodus!)  He hears and He helps!

    Don’t hesitate to Cry out to Him

    Continue Strong knowing He hears and He helps,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Run Away From The Bad And Run After The Godly

    2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

    As the Apostle Paul disciples Timothy, he calls on him to be a clean, sanctified  vessel that is useful to God.  2 Timothy 2:21 says, “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”  To be clean and sanctified Paul now teaches Timothy three actions to take that involve the word “run.”  

    To become a clean, sanctified, useful vessel there will be things that you must run away from.

    To become a clean, sanctified, useful vessel there will be things that you must run after.   

    To become a clean, sanctified, useful vessel there will be people you must run with.

    As we battle temptations, some battles are best won by resisting, while retreating is the best way to win other battles. Yes, we win some battles by retreating.  We win by running away.  Our verse tells us to “flee” youth lust. The Greek word for “flee”
    gives us the English word “fugitive.” We are to be a fugitive with youth lust.  As a fugitive, we are to run away from and hide from temptations! 

    A principle I use here is don’t stay at places where temptations are prone to win.

    Pay close attention; When it comes to one major temptation, that of sexual temptation, I teach that you don’t resist them but rather you run away from them.  The temptation is so strong that you will almost always lose if stay and try to resist. Run.  Run away from it. Run and hide!  Remember the story about Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.  He ran away from the temptation! 

    While running away from temptations Paul teaches Timothy and us that we should be running after those things that strengthen our walk with the Lord. We are to pursue – be running after righteousness (doing what is right); faith (trusting God with every area of our lives), love (the action we take with both saved and lost. **Remember the time a person needs love the most is when they deserve it the least), peace (keeping calm with one another even during storms).

    So we are running away from sinful things, and we are running after sanctified things.
    We are running away from hurtful things and we are running after helpful things.
    There are temptations we are running away from and there are godly actions we are running after! 

    Paul gives one more teaching to Timothy and us, that is very crucial in being successful in becoming a clean, sanctified, useful vessel. His last statement of this verse tells us to consider who we choose to run with as who we run with will influence our lives. You will want to run with those who are saved and who are seeking to be a sanctified vessel. (They call on the Lord with a pure heart.)

    In applying our verse of 2 Timothy 2:22 we suggest asking three questions every day:
    What do you need to be running away from?
    What do you need to be running after?
    Who do you need to be running with?
    The answers to these three questions will greatly determine if you will be a clean, sanctified, useful vessel to the Lord.

    Personal note: 2 Timothy 2:22 is one of the most important verses I have ever learned.  I encourage you to memorize, meditate, and apply.  

    Continue Strong run from the bad and run after the godly,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Who Really Is First?

    Philippians 2:21 “For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.”

    As you read Philippians 2:21, you must know it is definitely not a life verse for a believer. It is not what a Christian is to be about.  Matter of fact, it is the exact opposite of what a Christian is to be.  It speaks of self-centeredness.  It speaks of selfishness.  

    As we look at the verse, we are not sure who the “All” are, but whoever they are, they have the wrong purpose in life. Instead of a Joshua mindset of “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15) these folks have a “for me I will serve myself.” Instead of seeking first the kingdom of God, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, they are seeking their kingdom first.  Instead of a mindset of looking out for the interests of others (Phil. 2:4), they think only of themselves.  

    For the self-centered, it is a “myself,” – “mine,” – “own,” – “me,” – “my,” and “I” focus of life.  

    In comparison to this mindset, Paul tells the Philippians that Timothy will genuinely be concerned for their welfare. (Philippians 2:20) Timothy has embraced the others go first mindset.  Timothy has embraced having the mind of Christ.  (Philippians 2:5)

    As you look into the mirror of the Word I trust Philippians 2:21 is not a statement that would be made about you.   We are challenged in the world we live in to always put ourselves first. This is a mindset to be rejected.  Living like Jesus means others come before us.  We are not selfish and self-centered.  We are selfless and others-centered. 

    By the way, the Apostle Paul had written of himself in Philippians 1:21 that for him to live was Christ.  So I place a challenge to you by asking if you are a Philippians 1:21 person or a Philippians 2:21 person.  Are you living for the Savior or living for self? 

    Philippians 1:21  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
    or
    Philippians 2:21 “For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” 

    Which are you? Philippians 1:21 or Philippians 2:21

    Continue Strong seeking first the kingdom of God and the betterment of others!
    And remember to DATE The Word