Read Psalm 119:33-40
Context:
More from Psalm 119. Today's letter is 'He'
33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.(NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
This stanza could stand alone as a prayer. If you remember from yesterday, the author started with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet and he wrote eight verses for each. While he has been talking to God in each of the stanzas up to this point in the psalm, he shifts and dedicates this one to a prayerful request.
In your prayer time today, try to include these lines. Verses 36 and 37 really seem to hit home in our era. We have so many distractions that, while they may be worthwhile, take us away from God's word. We have to get to work, clean the house, wash the car, fix meals, entertain, shop, watch the our favorite shows, keep up with the news, and prepare to do it all over again next week.
Can you take time today to 'turn your eyes away' and spend time reading your Bible?
Even as I type that, I am coming up with excuses for why I'm too busy. HA! Why procrastinate in my reading when I can put off cleaning the bathroom for one more day?
Showing posts with label The Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Word. Show all posts
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Truth, the Whole Truth...
Today's Verses -- Psalm 119:89-96
Context:
Psalm 119 is a long devotional on the Word of God. Each stanza starts with a different Hebrew letter...sort of an A-Z on the Bible. Today's text is brought to you by the letter Lamedh!
Text:
Do you believe that the Bible is God's word? Why? Could you explain why you believe this to others? Try to explain why you believe this to someone in your family and see if you are convincing. It's harder to do that in sounds.
If you aren't really sure, ask someone else in class to tell you their explanation, and discuss your concerns. It will be helpful to both of you!
Just a thought...if you don't believe something that is true, does it make it any less true?
Context:
Psalm 119 is a long devotional on the Word of God. Each stanza starts with a different Hebrew letter...sort of an A-Z on the Bible. Today's text is brought to you by the letter Lamedh!
Text:
taken by www.biblegateway.com89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. 90 Your
faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and
it endures. 91 Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. 92 If
your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I
will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. 94 Save
me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. 95 The wicked are waiting
to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. 96 To all perfection I see a
limit; but your commands are boundless. (NIV)
Do you believe that the Bible is God's word? Why? Could you explain why you believe this to others? Try to explain why you believe this to someone in your family and see if you are convincing. It's harder to do that in sounds.
If you aren't really sure, ask someone else in class to tell you their explanation, and discuss your concerns. It will be helpful to both of you!
Just a thought...if you don't believe something that is true, does it make it any less true?
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Word
We are taking a break from Acts for a few weeks to improve our Bible study skills!
Today's Verses -- Proverbs 1:1-7
Text:
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
In Bible times and for much of our history it was almost impossible for a normal person to read God's word. Even if he or she was literate, the only Bibles (or Torahs) that existed were carefully guarded in the temples and cathedrals. Each had to be hand-written and was priceless.
In certain historical times, each king and pope had to hand-write his own copy of the Bible as a means of fully understanding it's content. In some countries today that is still the only way a person can obtain a personal copy because it is against the law or impossible to purchase one.
While I am glad it isn't hidden away any longer, we seem to have lost respect for the word. In our home we have at least nine copies in several versions and we can access more on the Internet with the press of a button. When I do my Bible reading (which isn't as daily as I'd like it to be), I often skim it like a novel then put it away until the next day. It is easy to follow Einstein's logic of not using up precious brain cells to memorize anything we can readily find somewhere else (an aside -- so why is my head so full of Disney songs?)!
I know that I fit into the fool category that Solomon mentioned in his introduction to Proverbs. I dislike discipline and often waste the time that I had set aside for prayer and Bible study with other seemingly important things that don't have eternal consequences.
How would our world be different if every Christian used the Word for the purposes outlined in our text today?
Today's Verses -- Proverbs 1:1-7
Text:
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
In Bible times and for much of our history it was almost impossible for a normal person to read God's word. Even if he or she was literate, the only Bibles (or Torahs) that existed were carefully guarded in the temples and cathedrals. Each had to be hand-written and was priceless.
In certain historical times, each king and pope had to hand-write his own copy of the Bible as a means of fully understanding it's content. In some countries today that is still the only way a person can obtain a personal copy because it is against the law or impossible to purchase one.
While I am glad it isn't hidden away any longer, we seem to have lost respect for the word. In our home we have at least nine copies in several versions and we can access more on the Internet with the press of a button. When I do my Bible reading (which isn't as daily as I'd like it to be), I often skim it like a novel then put it away until the next day. It is easy to follow Einstein's logic of not using up precious brain cells to memorize anything we can readily find somewhere else (an aside -- so why is my head so full of Disney songs?)!
I know that I fit into the fool category that Solomon mentioned in his introduction to Proverbs. I dislike discipline and often waste the time that I had set aside for prayer and Bible study with other seemingly important things that don't have eternal consequences.
How would our world be different if every Christian used the Word for the purposes outlined in our text today?
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Mar 8 - God's Word Works!
Read Isaiah 55:10-11
Context: Isaiah is telling the Hebrews in Babylon to return to Israel and be restored.
Text:
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Have you ever read a particular verse during your Bible study and then heard that same verse over and over on radio shows, in sermons, and even in books later that day? Do you get the feeling God is trying to tell you something? He is! Even if you don't hear references to the text you read today, God promises that his words will do the work he intended in your life.
The example given in verse 10 helps me to see different ways that God's word might work. Sometimes it will plant a seed in my heart that will grow over time to be ready when needed. Other times it will provide the sustenance I need to get through that particular day. Other times it will add beauty and richness to my life. If I forget to read, I lose a blessing God has for me today.
Context: Isaiah is telling the Hebrews in Babylon to return to Israel and be restored.
Text:
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Have you ever read a particular verse during your Bible study and then heard that same verse over and over on radio shows, in sermons, and even in books later that day? Do you get the feeling God is trying to tell you something? He is! Even if you don't hear references to the text you read today, God promises that his words will do the work he intended in your life.
The example given in verse 10 helps me to see different ways that God's word might work. Sometimes it will plant a seed in my heart that will grow over time to be ready when needed. Other times it will provide the sustenance I need to get through that particular day. Other times it will add beauty and richness to my life. If I forget to read, I lose a blessing God has for me today.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Mar 7 - Delight in God's Word
Read Psalm 119:9-16
Context: This psalm is an acrostic in the original Hebrew language -- every stanza begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is focused on God's word. According to the NIV Study Bible, it is believed that this was written by someone who was exiled to Babylon. He (or she? doubtful) was obviously passionate about God's word.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
I find it hard to imagine that someone would delight in the multitude of laws that are written in the Old Testament. I'm trying to read through the Bible this year, and when I got to Leviticus I stalled for a while. The laws seem so restrictive -- they governed every move an Israelite made.
Praise God that we are not under the law -- His grace has freed us from that. I want to delight in His words about salvation! That seems like a much easier thing to do.
Context: This psalm is an acrostic in the original Hebrew language -- every stanza begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is focused on God's word. According to the NIV Study Bible, it is believed that this was written by someone who was exiled to Babylon. He (or she? doubtful) was obviously passionate about God's word.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
I find it hard to imagine that someone would delight in the multitude of laws that are written in the Old Testament. I'm trying to read through the Bible this year, and when I got to Leviticus I stalled for a while. The laws seem so restrictive -- they governed every move an Israelite made.
Praise God that we are not under the law -- His grace has freed us from that. I want to delight in His words about salvation! That seems like a much easier thing to do.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Mar 6 - Using God's Word
Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Text:
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)
www.biblegateway.com
I know that the Bible is the Word of God, but I don't really revere it as such. If I did, I'm sure I'd be more righteous and obedient! Sometimes we get so close to something, so familiar with it, that it no longer reflects the true authority and glory it deserves. I may read my Bible in the morning, but often by lunch time I would have to think really hard to tell you what I learned. I want to be able to read, understand, and learn from God's word, and to continually be awed by the fact that I can actually hold His word in my hand (and my heart).
This verse tells us that we need to go further than just reading and learning, we should use it to help others grow, too.
Text:
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)
www.biblegateway.com
I know that the Bible is the Word of God, but I don't really revere it as such. If I did, I'm sure I'd be more righteous and obedient! Sometimes we get so close to something, so familiar with it, that it no longer reflects the true authority and glory it deserves. I may read my Bible in the morning, but often by lunch time I would have to think really hard to tell you what I learned. I want to be able to read, understand, and learn from God's word, and to continually be awed by the fact that I can actually hold His word in my hand (and my heart).
This verse tells us that we need to go further than just reading and learning, we should use it to help others grow, too.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Mar 6 - The Word
Read John 1:1-5
Text:
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.
Footnotes:
John 1:5 Or darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
"One small step for man..."
"Let's roll"
"Where's the beef?"
"Heeere's Johnny"
Words have the power to take us back to a particular moment in time. They can cause us to remember events, pictures, smells, and emotions that we felt the first time we heard them.
In this text, John is actually relating well to both Greeks and Hebrews when he wrote "the Word." The Jews used "the Word" to refer to God, and the Greeks knew it as 'logos', meaning a spoken word or a word still in the mind -- a reason. When the Greeks applied it to the universe, they meant the rational principle that governs all things (NIV Study Bible). There was no doubt in anyone's mind that John's terminology was referring to God.
Yet he says "the Word was with God". How can God be with God? This helps define Christ as a separate entity, yet still God. Those who read this text were taken back to the moments they were by Christ's side.
As God spoke, and as Christ spoke, witnesses were moved to write their words. They recorded their actions and the impacts of their actions. While many proclaim that the Bible was written by men, there is evidence that those men were inspired by God to write His words.
Do you believe this?
Text:
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.
Footnotes:
John 1:5 Or darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
"One small step for man..."
"Let's roll"
"Where's the beef?"
"Heeere's Johnny"
Words have the power to take us back to a particular moment in time. They can cause us to remember events, pictures, smells, and emotions that we felt the first time we heard them.
In this text, John is actually relating well to both Greeks and Hebrews when he wrote "the Word." The Jews used "the Word" to refer to God, and the Greeks knew it as 'logos', meaning a spoken word or a word still in the mind -- a reason. When the Greeks applied it to the universe, they meant the rational principle that governs all things (NIV Study Bible). There was no doubt in anyone's mind that John's terminology was referring to God.
Yet he says "the Word was with God". How can God be with God? This helps define Christ as a separate entity, yet still God. Those who read this text were taken back to the moments they were by Christ's side.
As God spoke, and as Christ spoke, witnesses were moved to write their words. They recorded their actions and the impacts of their actions. While many proclaim that the Bible was written by men, there is evidence that those men were inspired by God to write His words.
Do you believe this?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)