Saturday, December 31, 2016

Scripture and its help for the believer

1 Peter 1:8 NASB
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
How does one truly know God, except by reading the Scriptures that talk about him.
Luke 24:25-27 NASB
And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
There are those who try to invalidate what God speaks about his word. As Christians who know the sufficiency of Scripture we should have the word as our foundation. There are a number of places that speak on how profitable the scriptures are both I will only put down four sections.
Psalm 19:7-11 NASB
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. 
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 119:1-8 NASB
How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the LORD.
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.
You have ordained Your precepts,
That we should keep them diligently.
Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!
Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look upon all Your commandments.
I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not forsake me utterly!
2 Timothy 3:15-17 NASB
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12-13 NASB
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Hopefully what the Bible says will encourage someone to read it every day for the rest of their life. How else will I know about God the Father and Jesus the Son unless they read it in the Bible.
2 Peter 1:20-21 NASB
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Friday, December 30, 2016

Death the beginning of life

A gasping breath
Weary sigh
Dimming of the eyes
The draining of blood

Can mark the beginning
When they leave
Shattered clay
That had been holding eternity at bay

Their eyes behold
What in the words cannot be told

A judge on a throne
Everlasting majestic God
With none like Him

His eyes behold all
Stripping all pretension
And we from dawn of Adam
To the Final man, bare

There are those
All unworthy
He will clothe
With his own robes

Yet those
Stony hearts to the end
Have their own
Comeuppance

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Lead me

Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

As I am sitting here thinking on one hand, the grace of God is so rich, why would He save any lawbreakers, his mercy is great, then the other thought I need to decisively seek to live to glorify God.

I was given the book Passion and Purity and see already that as usual as in Elisabeth Elliot's book Quest for Love she puts her finger in the heart of the matter our feelings and dreams must be placed before God. Our heartfelt devotion must rest on God first and foremost. I am reading both this book and one by James White that shows more clearly the distinctions between Catholicism and Biblical Christianity. I am excited to read.