A Scripture for Today, November 13th, 2023

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:16-18

Jesus Christ is the one and true God! He is not an angel.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” I Timothy 2:5

A Scripture for Today, November 13th, 2022

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” I Thessalonians 1:10

A Scripture for Today, November 13th, 2021

” My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3

Labourers Together With God

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:9

Many times in the Bible, the Lord compares us to a garden, or plants.
As, my family and I have been working out in the yard this year, I’ve been meditating on this.

Every year at our house, we need to clean out the dead from our flower bed, so that the new flowers have room to grow.

We need to get the deadness of sin out of our lives, so we have new growth to serve the Lord.

There is also this.  If we know that there are more flowers coming, what should we do? We ask ourselves do they have room to grow?

Will they be in an environment that will promote growth?

Proverbs 13:22 says,

” A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children…”

God’s word commands us to prepare for future generations.

” 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.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

”…that ye may tell it to the generation following.” Psalm 48:13

It’s not a suggestion, it is a command.

We do know that there is nothing wrong with the seed.

Matthew 13:24

And we do know at least until Jesus actually comes, there will be a generation after us. In fact it is a promise.

“One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh…” Ecclesiastes 1:4

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”  Genesis 8:22

And in gardening at least, if you don’t actually prepare, you can’t expect to get much. And if something did come up, it probably won’t reach its full potential, by the environment it grew in.

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” II Corinthians 9:6

 

Jesus said,

”…  Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:13

Have you ever worked hard on something, for a very long time, and even after putting in an extraordinary effort, what you were working on didn’t appear that much noticeably different than when you started?

”I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” Proverbs 24:30-34

Sometimes the disrepair that sin has caused in one’s life, cannot be undone in one day. One’s heart may be right, and he may have grown in the Lord. But it will take much effort before a person’s life may bring glory and honor to the Lord like it ought.

I remember those flowers, buried beneath the dead leaves and grass of last year. The Lord certainly saw them, but others didn’t. Once all the dead was cleared away, they came into view.

Something may not get done in a day, but it is certainly worth it to give the Lord the glory and honor in our lives that He deserves.

Also, not all work for the Lord gets done in a day. Great works for the Lord  may take some time to prepare. It took Noah, a while to prepare the ark. It may take a while to prepare a field, break up the ground, and get it ready for service.  We should not be discouraged, because we do not see results today.
”There is work on earth for me and you

According to God’s word

and whatsoever work we do

Should be done as to the Lord

We’ll work till Jesus comes

We’ll work till Jesus comes

We’ll work till Jesus comes

and we’ll be gathered home.” (Hymn by Elizabeth K. Mills, pub. 1837)

Knowing Who We Are

“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” John 13:3-5

This Scripture says that Jesus knew that God was  His Father, and that He had given all things into his hands. Jesus owns this world and all that’s in it. 

Jesus also knew where He came from: Heaven.  Jesus also knew where He was going: back to God.

  The Scripture says that Jesus, having all this on His mind, laid aside his garments,  took a towel, girded himself, and washed His disciples’ feet.

 

When we have it in our own minds that we are something great, what we ought to do is lay any  hindrance aside, and  serve.  Lay any hindrance aside, and serve  the Lord, and His people.