November 6 – Being Made Complete

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

We have a wonderful resource in our Bible which our God has provided for us.  God has given us His Word, and His people have recognized its value from the earliest days.  So, when the Apostle Paul wrote His second letter to Timothy, he stressed this fact in the verse we have today.  God has a purpose in inspiring the writers of Scripture to write what they wrote.  And He has followed through by preserving these writings so that we have them available to us today, many centuries later.  God has helped His people to maintain the scriptures as He intended so that we may know His plan and purpose for our lives.  And what has been God's purpose?  It has been to equip each of us to carry on His work in this world of reaching others with His message and offer of salvation.  So, as we read God's Word, as we study the Bible, as we listen to others teach us from it, God is making us complete by equipping for every good work.

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January 8 – Taught by God

“He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” John 16:14 (NIV)

During the last hours that Jesus was with His disciples before His death on the cross, He told them what the Holy Spirit would do for them. The disciples had walked and lived with Jesus for about three years. Yet, there was much they needed to understand about Him. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and live within them and teach them more to help them understand their Lord Jesus more fully. That promise is also our promise and that is what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives too. He helps us understand how wonderful our Lord is. Actually how else would we really know Him since we've never seen Him with our eyes or heard him with our ears. When the Holy Spirit teaches us about Jesus, He become glorious to us. Is Jesus a person of glory to you? If He is becoming more and more glorious it's because the Holy Spirit is teaching you. 

What is the glory of God?

July 3 - Freedom Through Truth

“Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” John 8:31b-32 (NIV)

The idea of freedom is in the air. With the approach of the Fourth of July, for those who live in the United States, it is a time of celebration. Independence Day in the USA is tomorrow. Other countries around the world have different days to celebrate their special day of independence. Whenever that is, it is a good time to think of the liberty that we have as Christians. The freedom that Jesus talked about in today's verse is not the same as independence. No, He meant freedom from sin and from its penalty. This freedom comes from knowing and obeying the truth that Jesus came to demonstrate on the Cross of Calvary. It is the real truth that God created us to be His own and sent His Son to save us. That is the truth that sets us free. Even in countries where believers in Jesus do not have political or civil or religious freedoms, they have been set free by knowing and putting their faith in this truth.

April 11 – Many Seeds

“Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:23-24 (NIV)

What do you think about being a seed?  In our Bibles we have many things recorded regarding the activities of Jesus Christ and regarding His teachings. We remember that we have four gospels records which we call Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They tell about the life and the work of Jesus from the beginning to the end giving many details of his 3 years of ministry. It is so helpful to read these detailed records now during this week. Today’s verses record a very important and powerful prediction and you and I prove how true it is. Yes, we are a small part of the “many seeds” that the death of Jesus provided. Let’s be sure to thank Him and to love Him for our eternal life comes from Him.

October 25

“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”  John 14:23 (NIV)

There are many wonderful promises in the Bible about the presence of the Lord with His own. This one was spoken by Jesus during the last evening before His crucifixion. We know that sometimes we must live alone, but the promise of Jesus is that no one needs to live alone. He said that He and His Father want to make their home with those who love Him. That, of course, means that our Lord is living with you – in your home, your apartment, your room – wherever it might be. If you love Him and are trying to live as He wants you to live.

May 21

“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29 (NIV)

This is the testimony of the apostle Paul. Was he doing his work as a teacher of the gospel in his own strength? No, of course not, that is the point of this verse. It was a struggle to encourage people to grow in their faith but Paul struggled with energy from God. And did you notice what he felt about the help God was giving him? He said God’s energy was working in him powerfully. What has God given to you today to do that you are struggling with? God’s energy is available to you and me too, and it will work powerfully in us as we yield to Him and trust Him.

April 21

“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.”  Isaiah 50:4 (NIV)

It sounds like the prophet is speaking from his own experience. We recognize, however, that some of the verses that follow seem to refer to the experiences of Jesus who suffered for us. So why do we read this verse? It is because God does sometimes deal with us as he did with prophets and even with His own Son while He was here. Is it not true that we awaken sometimes with thoughts of the Lord, and we realize He is teaching us? He knows what we need to learn. Let’s listen to Him – in the morning and through the day. 

April 4

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17 (NIV)

Sometimes we think we know what is best for us be we really don’t. We can be glad for a promise like this one when we remember that our God knows everything. He is the One who knows what is best for us. Our God tells us that He is teaching us what is best for us.  If His teaching is to benefit us we need to be always in the attitude of the learner. Are we learning every day what God is trying to teach us? When we have a choice to make, let’s look to Him to guide us in making our decision. Then we can be assured that it will be the very best decision.

February 26

“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statues.” Psalm 119:59 (NIV)

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. All the way through the emphasis is on the importance of following the teachings God has given us. He has given us so much instruction as to how to live. As we think of what God teaches us we often realize that we are not following it as we should. What shall we do? Do as the psalmist said he did – turn our steps so as to follow more closely what God has told us in His Word. It is our guide to living. Let’s follow it and maintain the attitude of the writer of the verse.