Word for Today, Mon, 11 Oct 2004: The Importance of the Bible
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Today's devotional message comes from Crosswalk - Phil Ware's
Weekly Verses. The overall theme of this week's collection is
getting to know God. The proper way to begin to know God is by
reading His Word every day, and the way to continue to know God
and to develop an intimate relationship with Him is the same. I
cannot overemphasize the importance of a consistent discipline of
reading the Bible, thinking about it, and studying it. Attending
a good Bible preaching church is also very important, the truth
is that we need both things.
I hope these passages help you in your personal relationship with
God. Don't rest on these words, though, read the Bible for
yourself - even if it means throwing these messages away. For it
is the Bible that is the conduit directly to what God says, for
the Bible IS the Word of God.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________
Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.27306.1.293748
October 11, 2004
These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.27306.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge
of the Holy One is understanding.
--Proverbs 9:10
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
We pursue so many things, but only one pursuit brings
wisdom. Paul reminded the Athenians that God made us to seek
after him and find him (Acts 17). The wisdom of Proverbs keeps
leading us back to "knowing God" and having a deep and
reverential awe toward him as the source of wisdom.
Understanding of priorities, needs, purposes, goals, problems,
and issues can occur only when we first recognize who the Lord
is and know him in our day-to-day lives.
MY PRAYER...
Holy, Majestic, Righteous, and Eternal God. I confess that
I know you so much less than you know me. But your
faithfulness in my life, your power displayed in history, your
grace shared with so many through the cross of Christ, and your
promise to bring me home to you one day sustain me. I want to
know you so that my life can be lost in your will. Not for my
glory or gain, but for your praise, I ask that you make
yourself known to me in the things I do today. Through Jesus I
ask it. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
TUESDAY
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving
thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
--Ephesians 5:19-20
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Hearts full of thanks -- that's what makes for good singing!
With Jesus as the source of our salvation and center of our
future, how can we not sing! But singing is not just for us
and God. God wants our songs to bless others. It is our
ultimate spiritual talk.
MY PRAYER...
O Lord, my God, you are Awesome and wondrous. Your works
are magnificent and your deeds are beyond comprehension. May
the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart ever declare
your praises. May my heart be filled with thanksgiving for all
that you have done to save us from sin, shame, law, and death.
You alone are worthy of my praise, my songs, and my life.
Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
WEDNESDAY
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that
the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
--2 Timothy 3:16-17
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God wants us to be prepared to do good works. Thankfully he
gave us the Scriptures. Today we have the Bible translated
into many different languages, dialects, and versions. Rather
than a threat, this is a great blessing. But we must remember
that the goal of Scripture is not to be learned but to be
lived. God intended his Word to be practical truth -- a gift
that prepares us to do every good work.
MY PRAYER...
Holy God, it still amazes me that you chose to speak to us,
your finite creatures, in our own words. May I never take for
granted the great gift of being able to read your Word and
learn your Truth. But Father, please give me the character and
the courage to put it into practical use and let it train me to
do your will. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
THURSDAY
The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and
spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes
of the heart.
--Hebrews 4:12
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
How often do you let God do major surgery on your spirit as
his Spirit uses the Word to encourage, judge, motivate,
convict, instruct, and inspire? With such a great tool so
readily at hand for most of us, let's not let a day go by that
we don't let God use his word on hearts.
MY PRAYER...
Almighty God, your will is my heart's desire. But I realize
that I need to be fed more consistently by your Word revealed
in Scripture. Give me strength and consistency in my walk with
you through your Word. Through your Spirit, inspire me to
change what needs to be changed and to be blessed and
encouraged in the areas that I need it most. I turn to you and
trust in your Word to point me in the way of life. Through
Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
FRIDAY
All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers
of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the
word of the Lord stands forever.
--1 Peter 1:24-25
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
As the seasons change, the leaves fall, and the grass dies,
we are reminded once again of how short our lives are. Despite
the rapid advancements of technology, our deepest needs are
addressed only by the eternal and proven will of God in
Scripture. Whether you get your Scripture off the Bible on
disk or from an old family Bible, access it today. Don't you
need a dose of the eternal today?
MY PRAYER...
As I age, I am constantly reminded, O God, of my transitory
stay on earth and your eternal reign in heaven. Give me a
sense of my place before you as I seek your will in your Word.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SATURDAY
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this
is your spiritual act of worship.
--Romans 12:1
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Because God went first and sacrificed what is most precious
to him to save us, he can ask us to surrender ourselves to him.
Only one problem: The sacrifice wants to keep crawling off
the altar. But, since we are that sacrifice, let's offer
ourselves fully to God!
MY PRAYER...
Holy and Righteous Savior, I want to surrender my life, my
body, and will to you. But I confess, there are little things
(and maybe some big things), that I keep from ever placing on
that altar. Things I don't want to give up. To the best of my
ability, I pledge today to live for you in a way that leaves
nothing outside your Lordship and control. I offer you me --
all that I have and am -- to be yours today. Through Jesus.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY
It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so
that no one can boast.
--Ephesians 2:8-9
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Don't you love gifts! When they're truly given, with no
strings attached, all we have to do is receive them. The
greatest gift we've ever received has nothing to do with our
efforts. It is a gift from God. We didn't earn it, deserve
it, or purchase it. God gave it through his sacrificial gift
so our salvation would not be our boast, but his kindness.
MY PRAYER...
Holy God, I can never thank you enough for sending Jesus and
paying the debt for my sin. May I never presume on your grace
or take the cost of your gift lightly. At the same time,
Father, I want to live confidently, knowing that my salvation
is not dependent on my mistakes but upon your grace. Because
of such a lavish gift, I pledge to live for you today in a way
that reflects the joy I have at receiving such an awesome gift.
Through Jesus, my Grace, I pray. Amen.
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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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