2018-01-05
Psalm 119:18 NLT
Here are a few more things you can try to help you get more out of your Bible study time: 1) Ask questions and research them. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of it. You could ask things like: who was this written to, and why? What situation the writer facing at the time? What’s the main message that they’re trying to get across? Ask you ask more questions and spend time researching and praying for the answers, you’ll discover all kinds of things you’ve never noticed before. 2) Write down the answers you get. Keep a notebook nearby and write down any new discoveries you make, either through researching the context, or new ideas that come into your mind, or from what God’s telling you. Writing it down means you won’t forget anything, and lets you go back and make new connections or even spark off more questions. 3) Put what you’ve learned into action. Evangelist D. L. Moody said, ‘The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.’ And James wrote, ‘Do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says’ (James 1:22 NIV). Ask God what He’s teaching you and showing you through the new things you’ve discovered. Is He showing you where you need to make changes in your life or your attitude? Is He telling you something you need to stop doing, or start doing? Is He revealing your calling to you through His Word? Find out what God’s saying to you. The psalmist prayed, ‘Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions’ (Psalm 119:18 NLT). Let’s make that our prayer too.
Lev 1-4; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 10:1-11; Prov 1:10-16
Psalm 119:18 NIV
Here are some helpful keys to getting more out of your Bible study time: (1) Ask questions. The more questions you ask, the more you’ll get out of it. Who was this written to? What was the situation the writer was facing? What was the main message the author was trying to get through to them? As you ask such questions you begin to discover things you’ve overlooked or never seen before. The Psalmist was a meditator and an in-depth studier of God’s Word. That’s why he prayed, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (2) Write down the answers. The purpose of asking questions is to get answers. Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, used to say, “Thoughts disentangle themselves as they pass through the lips and fingertips.” So have your notebook handy and write down the nuggets of truth God gives you. If you don’t, you’ll lose them. (3) Don’t just discover it, do it! Evangelist D. L. Moody said, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change your lives.” James wrote, “Do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says” (James 1:22 NIV). Ask yourself, “What attitudes do I need to change? What do I need to stop doing, or start doing? What do I need to believe, or stop believing? What relationships do I need to work on? What ministry should I be having to others?” Don’t go to your Bible with the attitude of finding some truth nobody’s ever seen before, or something to impress others with. Find out what God is saying to you.
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 10:1-11; Prov 1:10-16
2018-01-04
Psalm 119:96 NIV
The Psalmist wrote, “To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.” What does that mean? It means each time you read a Scripture you’ll see something different in it. It’s like shining light on a diamond. Each time you turn it slightly, you see another facet of its beauty. That’s why the Bible is different from any other book you’ll ever read. You’ll learn things about God from personal experience and from listening to the thoughts and experiences of others, but you’ll get to know Him better through the reading of His Word than any other way. You can study the same Scripture over and over again, dig into it, leave it for three or four months, and when you come back to it there is much more to find. The key is this: Stick with it! There’s no limit to the number of questions you can ask, no limit to the observations you can make, and no limit to the applications you can make. So don’t give up! The best attitude to have in Bible study is the one Jacob had when he wrestled with the angel of the Lord: “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Genesis 32:26 NKJV). As a result God gave him a new name, a new nature, a new walk, and a new future. Bible study has no shortcuts; it takes effort. But if you’re diligent and patient you’ll reap great rewards. Once you’ve felt the joy and satisfaction that comes from finding a great spiritual truth on your own, and applying it to your life, you’ll never approach Bible study the same way again.
Soul food: 2 Thes 1-3; Matt 4:1-11; Ps 90:7-17; Prov 1:5-9
2018-01-03
Romans 14:10 TLV
Judgment day will be characterized by two things: rewards and regrets! Jesus highlights this in the story of three servants who were given talents to invest on behalf of their master. The first two invested well and were rewarded, while the third one buried his talent and was judged accordingly. The first two considered their options, crunched the numbers, took the plunge, and were willing to risk failure. As a result their boss said, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). Now, God doesn’t reward foolishness. So before you make a move, talk it over with Him (See Proverbs 3:5-6). The third servant, however, said, “I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:25 NKJV). He made the most common and tragic mistake when it comes to giftedness: He failed to benefit his Master with his talent. Some invest their talents and give God credit, while others misuse theirs and give Him grief. Some honor Him with “fruit,” while others insult Him with excuses. And how does God feel about the latter? “Get rid of this ‘play-it-safe’ who won’t go out on a limb” (Matthew 25:29 MSG). Fear is the opposite of faith, and “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6). So this year step out in faith; God won’t let you down. Take a risk; He won’t fail you. Even if you stumble on your way to success, He encourages you to envision the day when you’ll feel His hand on your shoulder and hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Soul food: 1 Thes 4-5; Matt 3:11-17; Ps 90:1-6; Prov 1:1-4
2018-01-02
Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
Incredible though it may seem, when Israel encountered difficulties in the wilderness, they wanted to return to their old life of slavery in Egypt. The security of the known was less threatening to them than the challenges of the unknown. So the Lord said to them, not once, but twice, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid…[of] them…the Lord your God will…go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor [forsake] you.” Why did He say that? Because it’s in taking action that you overcome your fear! When you challenge your fears, you master them. When you wrestle with your problems, they lose their grip on you. When you dare to confront the things that scare you, you open the door to the future. A wise man once said, “Take the bull by the horns until you have him screaming for mercy.” Almost without exception every man and woman in the Bible whom God called to do great things felt inadequate, and told Him so. And how did God respond to them? “I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NLT). Author John Mason writes: “The desire for safety stands against every great and virtuous dream. Security, many times, is the first step toward stagnation. Boldness in vision is the first, second, and third most important thing. If you dare nothing, you should expect nothing.” So whatever opportunity or obstacle you’re facing today, factor God in. With Him on your side, what you have is always greater than whatever you lack.
Soul food: 1 Thes 1-3; Matt 3:1-10; Ps 116; Ecc 12:13-14
2018-01-01
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Two of our biggest fears are – failure and criticism. And they never completely go away. You can overcome them, but they’ll show up when you face your next challenge. It’s in accepting fear as part of life’s journey instead of running from it, that you learn to conquer it. Indeed, as you look back at what you’ve already overcome, you realize that most times failure doesn’t do permanent damage – you actually grow stronger through it. If you’re anxious today, God is saying to you, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.” So trust Him, and get out of your comfort zone! An unknown poet wrote: “I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I couldn’t fail; the same four walls of busywork were really more like jail. I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before, but stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor. I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much; I said I didn’t care for things like dreams and goals and such. I claimed to be so busy with the things inside my zone, but deep inside I longed for something special of my own. I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win; I held my breath and stepped outside and let the change begin. I took a step, and with new strength I’d never felt before, I kissed my comfort zone goodbye, then closed and locked the door. If you are in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out, remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.” The word for you today is: This year, get out of your comfort zone.
Soul food: Rom 13:12-14:19; John 1:1-14
