datethewordtest

Blog

  • God To You:  “I Am With You!”

    Haggai 1:13 “Then Haggai, the LORD’S messenger, spoke the LORD’S message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the LORD.”

    God’s greatest promise to His people is His presence is always present! Let these 7 English words “I am with you, says the Lord” encourage you.  Let them comfort you. Let them strengthen you!  Let them empower you!!  And let the fact that HE IS WITH YOU bring peace to your heart and praise from your lips to Him!!!

    Continue Strong knowing the peaceful presence of God,
    And Remember to Date the Word  

  • Believing in Christ Changes Everything

    John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

    What happens when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?  What happens when you get saved?  What happens when you are born again?  John 1:12 tells us we become children of God.  As believers, we now call God our FATHER.  Recall Romans 8:15 as it says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  And recall Galatians 4:6 as it says, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”   Ephesians 2:19 tells us we “are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” 

    Ponder on this beautiful thought: as sinners we are aliens but as believers, we are adopted, and we are now family members in the household of faith!  What a salvation

    Continue Strong knowing who you are in Christ, 
    And Remember to Date the Word  

  • Be a Blessing to Others by Asking God to Bring Blessings to Others

    Deuteronomy 1:11 “May the LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you!”

    Reading Deuteronomy 1:11 I am challenged to consider if I am asking God to bless others the way Moses wanted to see God’s people blessed.  Having read the verse, I believe wanting God to bless others should be one of our highest desires.  Asking God to bless others should be one of our greatest activities.

    You can bless others by asking God to bless others!

    To further reinforce this idea of asking God to bless others notice a few other verses.
    There is the priestly blessing that Aaron and his son were to pray for God’s people found in Numbers 6:24-26. Starting with verse 23 it says,  “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,  This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

    Have you prayed this prayer for family and friends, lately?

    One might think sometimes that saying “the Lord bless you” is just a cliche but it is very Biblical.  In the story of Ruth and Boaz, we read about how “Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!”  And they answered him, “The LORD bless you!”  (Ruth 2:4) 

    In one of the most moving moments in the Bible, we read of Jacob blessing his grandsons in Genesis 48:9 and 16.  In verse 9 Joseph said to his father, “These are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.  And JACOB said,  Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.  Then in verse 16 Jacob prayed saying  “The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

    What a prayer for parents and grandparents to pray over their children and grandchildren. 

    Take a moment and pray the blessing on family and friends!

    Continue Strong being a blessing by asking God to bless others,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Ask For Wisdom

    2 Chronicles 1:10 “Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

    As Solomon becomes King he has a dream in which God tells him that he can ask for anything.  (2 Chronicles 1:7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” WOW!! God tells Solomon to ask Him for ANYTHING.  Think about that.  What would you ask?  

    I don’t know how long Solomon thought about what to ask but what he did ask is found in our verse.  He asked God for “wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” 

    Solomon was not wise enough to do what he was supposed to do but was wise enough to recognize that he was not wise enough and he was wise enough to ask for wisdom.  

    Are you feeling overwhelmed with life’s responsibilities?  Maybe you are overwhelmed with your family responsibilities.  You are finding you just don’t know how to be a husband or a father, a wife or a mother.  Maybe it is with a job responsibility.  Maybe it is with a leadership role at church.  Whatever you are facing that is bringing forth feelings of insecurity and fear I encourage you to follow the example of Solomon and ask God for wisdom.  Humbly acknowledge your weakness and ASK for WISDOM.

    If you are wondering if the invitation Solomon received is extended to you the answer is YES.  James 1:5 says, “If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” 

    So, what are you waiting for?

    As you ask God for wisdom many times His answers are found in the Bible.  Thus reading the wisdom books is a wise thing to do.  I recommend one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs, reading the chapter that matches the date of the month.

    Continue Strong asking God for WISDOM, 
    And Remember to Date the Word  

  • How Can The Stains Of Your Sin Be Cleansed?

    1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

    As believers, we still stain our lives with sin. Do not say that since you have been saved you don’t sin anymore. 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Saying you have no sin means you have sin because you just lied about yourself.  Thus having sinned as a believer you need to be restored to fellowship as sinning brings about broken fellowship.  The Apostle John tells us that when we HAVE sinned we are to CONFESS our sins.   The word “confess” means to SAY THE SAME THING.  It means to agree with God that we have sinned.  It is saying He is right and we are wrong.  To confess is to acknowledge that we have indeed sinned.  There is no denial and there is no cover-up.  In understanding confessing sin we notice David’s words in Psalm 32:5. It says, “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

    What happens when we are honest and confess by acknowledging the sin we have committed?  1 John 1:9 says that in response to our confession, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  And you can count on this because He is faithful and just.  His character is on the line when we agree that our character has been stained by sinful decisions and actions. 

    Question: Will He forgive and cleanse all sins that a person commits?   
    Answer: Yes, because it says ALL unrighteousness and ALL MEANS ALL AND THAT IS ALL THAT ALL MEANS!

    Spiritual tip: Keep short sin accounts with God.  In other words, DAILY examine yourself and ask Him to examine yourself (Psalm 139:23-24 Search/examine me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.) And please hear me.  Do not seek to cover up your sins.  Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

    Continue Strong by confessing your sins, 
    And Remember to Date the Word

  • How Far Does Your Witness Reach?

    Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

    In describing the new life of a believer, we can and should talk about their new worship of the Lord, their new walk with the Lord, their new work for the Lord and we should talk about their new WITNESS about the Lord.  Upon becoming believers, we have a new assignment of being a witness for the Lord.  This new assignment can be conveyed several ways as in Matthew 28:18-20 we are now part of the GREAT COMMISSION.  Matt. 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we are described as a new creation and then in 2 Corinthians 5:20 we learn “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 

    We are to GO and TELL others as we have been SENT to SHARE our SAVIOR with other SINNERS so He can become their SAVIOR!

    So here we are today reading some of the last comments of Jesus before He ascended to heaven.  The commission has been given and now the game plan is laid out.  The gospel is to go to Jerusalem, (your home town – those closest to you); to Judea (your state and/or nation – those that are somewhat distant but still in your sphere of influence); to Samaria (neighboring nations – those who are different from you) and to the ends of the earth (KJV said uttermost parts of the world) which means we are to get the gospel to every village in every nation so every individual can know they don’t have to perish but can have everlasting life (John 3:16).  

    So how far is your witness reaching?   Has your friends and relatives, neighbors and associates heard about your conversion to Jesus Christ?  Have you shared your testimony with those you interact with like delivery personnel?  Are you involved in helping ministries share the gospel with your state, nation, and world?  

    How far is your witness reaching?
    An action item – join me and others at 3:16pm each day to pray for the March316 initiative as we encourage pastors around the world to preach John 3:16 on Sunday March 16 (3/16)!

    Continue Strong witnessing for and about the Lord, 
    And Remember to Date the Word 

  • Faith Vanquishes Fear

    2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

    As believers, we experience a changed life.  One of the greatest benefits of life with Christ in us is we don’t live in fear.  Fear is almost as natural as breathing. There is a healthy fear that we are to have as it is right to have the fear of the Lord.  The fear of the Lord is not being afraid of God but being in awe of God.  There is the normal and natural fear that warns us of something that could harm us.  However, there is a fear that paralyzes us and that is the fear God wants out of our hearts.  We are to live by faith and fear is an enemy of faith.  Fear tells a person everything that can go wrong will go wrong so don’t trust God to take steps of faith.  It is very possible that as you read this there is a battle going on in your heart to do something God is leading you to do and yet FEAR has a grip on your mind and you are not moving forward.  

    If you are in a battle of taking a step of faith and fear is swirling around it would be easy for me to just say stop being afraid.  But I know personally that just being told not to fear, not to be afraid, is not enough.  This is where 2 Timothy 1:7 comes in.  We have a salvation in which our God is working in our lives.  He does not give us a spirit of fear but gives us something in place of the fear.  BUT!  In contrast to the fear, He gives us power. Another way to look at that word is He gives us strength. Phil 4:13 tells us we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. There is no need to fear as Christ strengthens us.  He also gives us love and that is needed for relationships as it is hard to love some people.  Paul tells us that a work of God is to teach us to love one another.  1 Thess. 4:9 says, “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.” We can love others by loving them like Jesus loved us.  And remember the time a person needs love the most is when they deserve it the least.  

    And then He gives us a sound mind.  Here we have discernment.  The person of faith will move forward with discernment.  Listen, God gives wisdom for the assignments He has for us.  We may not always know what to do but God has said ASK HIM for WISDOM.  

    So today WALK by FAITH, not fear!

    Continue Strong by faith, 
    And Remember to Date the Word  

  • It Will Be Good For The Righteous; Bad For The Unrighteous

    Psalm 1:6 “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

    Psalm 1 concludes with verse 6 telling the opposite final destinations of the two life travelers of Psalm 1. This beginning Psalm is not just first in position but is the foundational Psalm for the entire book and a person’s life.  We are introduced to two opposites in who or what influences them in verses 1 and 2.  The first person is influenced by the wicked to live a wicked, ungodly, unrighteous life. Verse 1 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. This person is on a downward path where they move from being prompted to sin to practicing sin to promoting sin.  He will be known throughout the Psalm as the ungodly.

    On the hand is a man who is going to be influenced by the Word of God. Verse 2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”  This decision allows this man to learn what is right and what is wrong.  Because he is making decisions according to the Word of God verse 3 tells he shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”   He not only is fruitful, but he is also flourishing.  

    Having told of the bountiful blessings that come to the righteous man we read in verse 4 of the utter useless life of the ungodly as he is described a chaff.  Chaff is the covering for a grain as it develops but when the grain is harvested it is blown away. Verse 4 says, “The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”

    Coming to verse 6 the Psalm tells that God knows the way of the righteous which means he knows his life decisions and final destination. The righteous man is on the narrow path that leads to life.  On the other hand, the ungodly will perish.  

    Perish.  Let that word sting. Perish. It is the horrible conclusion to a terrible life. Perish.  To be sent to outer darkness. To be in hell.  Perish.

    But it does not have to end this way.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish (SHOULD NOT PERISH) but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16).  Make no mistake there is good news for bad people!

    Continue Strong living the righteous life, 
    And Remember to Date the Word  

  • Never Stop Learning

    Proverbs 1:5 “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,”

    A WISE person will NEVER STOP LEARNING.  PERIOD.  The book of Proverbs is a dispensary of wisdom and from the start it appeals to the reader to GET WISDOM and to keep on GETTING WISDOM.   The wise person is always LISTENING for LIFE LESSONS from wisdom.  Wisdom, by the way, is heavenly insights for earthly living and the wise person wants to know as much as possible about living life the way God would want it lived.

    In getting wisdom a wise person is going to ask others for wisdom.  The man of understanding (understanding conveys the ability to apply the wisdom learned) wants to know how to use the wisdom thus they are SEEKING out teachers, coaches, and/or mentors.  The word “counsel” conveys a rope handler on a boat dock that helps guide the boat into the dock safely.  Only a fool believes they know everything and that they don’t need any help with decisions.  The wise person knows they don’t know and knows they need to ask for help!  Don’t miss what was just said.  They know they don’t know, and they know to ask for help.  They are not afraid to ask!  

    Another great verse for January 5 (1/5) is James 1:5 says. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

    So – what is the last thing you learned – what is the last thing you learned from the Word of God? 

    Personal story: My father-in-law liked to ask me the question “Have you learned anything today.”  It was a question I did not mind getting because from a young age, I have always liked learning something new.  As a believer, I set a goal of learning something new every day about God and/or His Word.  So, when he asked, I had an answer.  What about you?  When was the last time you learned something for the first time?  More importantly, when was the last time you learned something about God and/or His Word?  

    Be a wise person by getting more wisdom!  Never stop learning!

    Continue Strong learning something new every day, 
    And Remember to Date the Word  

  • He Gave His Life So He Could Give Us Life

    Galatians 1:4 “Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,”

    Opening with “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ” the Apostle starts his letter to the Galatians with a pretty normal greeting.  However, upon writing the precious name of Jesus Christ, he, like the apostle John in his greeting in the book of Revelation, breaks out into a doxology of praise to Jesus. It is as if he could not continue writing until he expressed glory to Him and in verse 5 he says, “To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

    Why this outburst of giving glory?  The answer is found in verse 4 as Paul describes what Jesus did for every person in the world in that He GAVE Himself for our sins. He came to save and to save He GAVE, giving the most precious thing He had and that was His life.  He was our substitute.  He took our place on the cross and received the punishment for our sins so we could be reconciled back to the Father. He GAVE His life so He could GIVE us life. His act of sacrificial love delivered us from this present evil age.  In delivering us we are no longer in bondage to sin and the devil.  We are part of a new family, and we have a new citizenship.  We have new lives and one day we will have a home in heaven.

    Occasionally it is good to be reminded of what Jesus did for us.  And why He did it. Our verse tells us that it was according to the will of our God and Father.  Jesus was about His Father’s business, and He surrendered in the garden to be obedient to His Father.  

    I do believe there come moments with various Scriptures that we want to say WHAT A SAVIOR.  There are times I want to join the choir in heaven and cry WORTHY IS THE LAMB!   Having read in Galatians 1:4 what Jesus GAVE and why He GAVE is one of those times for me, and I hope for you.  With the Apostle Paul, it is time to say, “To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Gal. 1:5)

    Just in case you are wondering what the Apostle John said in his doxology it starts in Revelation 1:4. “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

    To Him who loved us and He washed us from our sins in His own blood (that is the GAVE part) and has made us participants in a new kingdom to Him be GLORY AND DOMINION forever!  Worthy is the Lamb!

    Continue Strong giving glory to the one who GAVE His life to give you life, 
    And Remember to Date the Word