A Scripture for Today, March 23rd, 2022

photo by Bro. Hubert Dyess

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;” Psalm 103:1-3

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” Malachi 4:2

“ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:19-21

A Scripture for Today, November 18th, 2021

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:” Exodus 30:17-19

The Lord instructed Moses to make a laver of brass to wash in. Also this week I just happened to be reading how that brass and copper alloys are natural disinfectants. They are actually antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal! I just thought this was some interesting information.

Here is some more information:

According to the Wikipedia article, “Coppertouch Australia commissioned the Doherty Institute at the Melbourne University Australia to test its Antimicrobial Copper adhesive film. Lab tests proved a 96% kill rate of Influenza A virus with the film as compared to non treated surfaces. The surfaces of copper and its alloys, such as brass and bronze, are antimicrobial. They have an inherent ability to kill a wide range of harmful microbes relatively rapidly – often within two hours or less – and with a high degree of efficiency. These antimicrobial properties have been demonstrated by an extensive body of research. The research also suggests that if touch surfaces are made with copper alloys, the reduced transmission of disease-causing organisms can reduce patient infections in hospital intensive care units (ICU) by as much as 58%.[2][3] Several companies have developed methods for utilizing the antimicrobial functionality of copper on existing high-touch surfaces. LuminOre and Aereus Technologies both utilize cold-spray antimicrobial copper coating technology to apply antimicrobial coatings to surfaces.”(Antimicrobial copper-alloy touch surfaces).

Another article states, ” . . Ancient civilizations exploited the antimicrobial properties of copper long before the concept of microbes became understood in the nineteenth century.[1][2][3] In addition to several copper medicinal preparations, it was also observed centuries ago that water contained in copper vessels or transported in copper conveyance systems was of better quality (i.e., no or little visible slime or biofouling formation) than water contained or transported in other materials.[4] (Antimicrobial properties of copper, Wikipedia)

Peace

These past couple weeks have been scary. I just learned that my mother has stage two breast cancer. They found a mass on my father’s kidney. My only brother died from cancer a few short years ago. So you can imagine my emotions and nerves right now. Maybe.

But I wanted to write you and tell you about some things that give me peace. You might think I got a bad lot. But I want to tell you what I do have. I have the most wonderful family. I had a brother. I had him for a very long time, and I think he was just about the best. And I have hope.

Even with all the bad it doesn’t change the good that there is. I can’t explain how I got such a wonderful brother. And I can’t explain all the good things in my life.

Saying all this leads up to the first thing I wanted to tell that gives me peace. That is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the sinless Son of God, and He is God. He became man. He died for the sins of the world. The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus. That whoever believes in him “should not perish but have everlasting life”.

  I have peace because I know that this life isn’t all there is.

The Bible tells us, “[T]o be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” II Corinthians 5:8

The Bible tells us that sin/wickedness/disobedience to God brought death and a curse. But it also tells us there is something better for those that believe in Jesus.

Romans 8:18 tells us, “ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

“ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-2

I have peace because I know that there is a better day coming for my family and those that believe in Jesus.

If we ask Jesus to forgive us from our sins and come into our heart and save us, we can peace with God.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1

“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21

And if we have peace with God we have a home in Heaven (John 14:1-2).

There is a peace that comes from knowing God. But talking to the Lord after we are saved gives us peace.

There is a God in heaven that answers prayer.

“O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.” Psalm 65:2

But praying doesn’t always mean that your problems go away immediately. But when you pray in faith He answers you. He reminds you of the love He has for you and that He is big enough to handle all the problems you face.

I Peter 5:7 tells us, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

“ Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee . . .” Psalm 55:22

The Lord talks to us through His Word. And that gives us peace.

Jesus wrote down for us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

In the Old Testament, Proverbs 3:1-2 also tells us that the Word of God gives us peace.

God tells us that one reason why He gave His word is so that we can have peace. Then if we want peace we need to look into it.

Doing things for the Lord and others helps give us peace.

The Bible tells us there is a rest that comes when we do things for the Lord and doing what He would have us do (Matthew 29:11). I have had a few opportunities to tell other people about Jesus these past few weeks, and as low as I was feeling it gave me joy and helped me.

Being spiritually minded is essential for peace.

Romans 8:6 tells us“[T]o be spiritually minded is life and peace.” We need to think like Jesus would think and not like the rest of the world. We need to remember the words and promises of God if we are to have peace.

Paul talks about the peace of God in Philippians 4:7. He then tells us what to set our minds on in Philippians 4:8.

We can find peace in God’s house.

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.” John 20:26

Doubting Thomas found peace when he went to assemble with the other disciples. When Asaph in Psalm 73 was having a hard time understanding why the wicked prospered, he found peace in God’s house. Jesus promised to be with His Church until the end of the world (Matt. 28.20). Whatever problem we are having, we too like so many in the past may find an answer and peace from the Lord in His presence in His house.

Again I just want to mention one last thing. Remember to pray.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 5:6-7

We don’t have to go through someone else to pray to God (John 16:26-27). We can go to the throne of God for ourselves talk to God any time night or day and find peace.

These have been just a few thoughts. God bless.

Safety is of the Lord

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30

The Bible tells us safety is of the Lord.

Matthew Henry , wrote, “[S]afety and salvation are of the Lord; he can save without armies, but armies cannot save without him;”

God can uses many means to save us, but those means cannot save us alone. The Bible shows over and over, that safety is only to be found in the Lord.

It isn’t found in government.

“The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” Daniel 4:30-32

” As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.” Lamentations 4:17

It isn’t to be found hiding behind walls of your house or your dwelling place. It wasn’t to be found in Jericho.

”So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” Joshua 6:20

It isn’t found staying in the same place.

Sometimes, to get us to the place we need to be, the Lord asks us to walk with Him through places, that are a little uncomfortable, and maybe scary. (Ps. 23:4) But, our safety is in Him, and if He leads us through a certain place it is for good.

If the Lord calls us to a place, there is no safety to be found staying where you are. There was no safe place outside the Ark.

”And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:26-27

It isn’t found heading in the opposite direction.

”Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17

It also isn’t found rushing ahead of the Lord!

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25

It is not necessarily found in medicine. It isn’t to be found in anitbacterial handsoap!

” A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” Psalm 91:7

“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:3-4

God  uses doctors and medicine to save, but our lives are in God’s hands.

It isn’t found in physical strength.

“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”  Psalm 34:10

Psalm 91:7

It isn’t to be found in riches.

“The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.” Psalm 52:6-7

It is found only in Jesus.

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:18

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:1-2

“After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Genesis 15:1

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I wrote this devotional as early as the year 2017. In my rough draft these are the thoughts I had jotted down: “It isn’t to be found behind the walls of your house, or dwelling place. It isn’t found antibacterial hand soap.” Little did I know what the future held! I believe Lord brought these thoughts to my attention and I am sharing them today.

More Thoughts on Health

A couple of weeks ago I  wrote on some things that I learned in school. I mentioned that like a virus, sin doesn’t only harm us. It harms others as well.  I mentioned that Achan’s secret sin caused the deaths of others, even his own family (Josh. 7).

When we think of sins, (or at least I do in this regard) we typically think of sins one commits.

But James 4:17 tells us,“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” When God specifically tells us to do something, and we don’t do it, it is sin!

What are some things God told us to do?

 God told us to pray.

Samuel said that it would be a sin to stop praying for his nation Israel. “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:” I Samuel 12:23

Prayer helps!
Paul said, “Ye also helping together by prayer for us . . .” II Corinthians 1:11

“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. . . .

[P]ray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:15-16

I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to,  “Pray without ceasing.”

I Kings 8:37-39 tells us,“If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;

What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)”

Mark 9:29 shows that prayer and fasting helped when other things failed. Prayer and fasting is a powerful weapon!

I remember coming across a video in school where King George VI  of Britain called on the whole nation to pray during Word War II. This was about a week before the Battle of Dunkirk, a turning point in the war.  Can we learn something from them?

God told us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 ^“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” II Peter 3:18

How do we do this? II Peter 1:3-4 tells us,“ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises . . .” This verse tells us that God’s divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.
Where are these things? II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us,

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Simply put, God told us to study the word of truth. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15

Colossians 3:16 also tells us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

I like to read through the book of Proverbs every month. There are thirty-one chapters, and each can correspond to day. I remember one day that I put off reading the Bible. That same day someone asked me where the Bible said that “Wine is a mocker.” That day was the twentieth of the month. Later I got around to reading the Proverb.  Proverbs twenty verse one reads, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Had I chose to not put off my Bible reading that day, I could have been a better witness!

I Timothy tells us that reading and meditating (thinking) about the Bible makes a difference. “ Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy . . . Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” I Timothy 4:14-16

In the law it was not only up to the religious leaders of the people to keep and read the Bible. In Deuteronomy 17:18-19 the kings also were supposed to make a copy and keep it with them all their days.

Revelation 5:10 reads, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

It was also the job of fathers, mothers, and grandparents to keep and teach the word of the Lord.

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9

It is not just the job of Pastors to read the word of God. The job is also mine and yours!

The Lord wants us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

Hebrews 10:24-25  tells us, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

One thing the verse says is to do it so much more as we see the day that we meet our Saviour approaching. If we think that we are going to be ready to meet the Lord soon, we need to be in the Lord’s house so much the more.

Matthew 18:20 tells us, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

One place the Lord said He would be is in the midst of His Church.

When we don’t go to Church what does it do to our witness?

“. . .In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” II Corinthians 13:1

Ephesians 5:25-26 tells us, “[E]ven as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”

How important was the Church to Jesus? How important should it be to us?

These are just some things to think on. God bless!

Health

It seems lately that the “biggest wrong” in the eyes of the world that you can do is to hurt someone’s feelings. But, even though words sometimes hurt, they can make you better.

Proverbs 12:18  tells us, “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”

Hebrews 12:4 also tells us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

If you are sick, sometimes that which will make you better will hurt. Alcohol will sting in a cut, but it takes away the bad.  Like a surgeon with a scalpel, if you are really sick there can be no healing without wounding.

Like a surgeon with a scalpel, God’s word can make us better.

I remember the year my face swelled up with this huge abscess. It was so painful! I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t function in so much pain. My face was swollen so much my eyes were going blurry and my mouth was drooping. Even though my wound hurt a little,  I was so thankful to have a surgeon relieve the swelling. Even though God’s word may sting to us at first, we will be grateful in the end that we heard and listened to it.

One thing I hate so much is cancer. And what I am about to say is very difficult. I had to study cancer in college biology. I remember the whole week it forced  a lot of painful memories, and I would just cry trying to do my assignment. It is a hateful disease. One thing I learned though is that it happens because a cell goes wrong. It doesn’t do what it’s supposed to. And then it refuses to die. It just refuses the body’s commands to die. And then it spreads.

Another thing that I really hate is death. But, the Lord let me learn that about cancer. There are things that need to die. If they don’t they will spread, and they will take the one’s we love.

The morning that I wrote this, I read Colossians chapter three. In it I read,

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Colossian 3:5-10

Mortify means to kill. We need to kill off those things in us. The Bible tells us that one man’s sin brought death into the world (Rom. 5.12). The thing that we really need to hate is sin.

Another thing that I learned about in school is viruses. I read basically that the only thing that they do is infect and reproduce, and kill. It reminded me of II Peter 2:12, which speaks of brute beasts meant to be destroyed.  Like a virus, sin doesn’t just harm us. It harms others as well. Achan’s secret sin caused the deaths of others, even his own family (Josh. 7).  If not destroyed sin will kill and destroy our families! It will kill and destroy Churches! It is so important to  listen to the word of God and keep it out of our midst.

There can be no healing without wounding.

Isaiah 53:5 tells us, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”

It cost God a great price to cleanse us from sin. Getting sin out of our lives might not come pain free, but it needs to be done.

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Romans 6:11-12

I have one last thought. The verses in Colossians also tell us that for those things the wrath of God came on the children of disobedience. Sometimes God sends swift destruction on people. Many have asked why God does things sometimes. But, God surely knows what He is doing, and He has taken people away to prevent wickedness from spreading. God only does what is right, and what is best for us.  Knowing all these things, we really need to listen to what God thinks of sin.

 

These have been just a few thoughts.

May God bless.