Luke 22:41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
At times it is necessary to get alone with God. If Jesus the Son of God did this how much more shall we need to do the same.
APPLICATION
Today I will set aside some time to be with the Lord apart from my studies and other devotionals.
Welcome
One of the most effective ways to allow the Word of God to affect your life is to study it inductively. That is what this blog is all about. Typically one verse per day will be mined for insight and then followed up with how I plan to implement that insight practically. My prayer is that in some way you find this useful in your journey and that it may impact you positively. -G
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Proverbs 3:15 - Seek Wisdom
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
This is a principle that does not come naturally.
nothing you desire can compare with her.
This is a principle that does not come naturally.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. Pr. 22:15
We all start out as fools, and only discipline will purge fooishness out of the heart of mankind. As we transform our minds to conform to the truths of God's Word we discipline our hearts to learn, to grow and to become mature by applying what we learn.
There have been many things that have taken the seat in my heart that belongs to that of wisdom, and seeking after it. As I have disciplined myself over the years I have learned that
the Word of God is true and every man a liar. Ro. 3:4
Therefore today I will commit to memory this verse:
Proverbs 24:3-4
3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Proverbs 3:13-14 True Richness
13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
the one who gains understanding.14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Proverbs 3:13-14
Here the Lord is giving us the key to happiness, He says that we will be joyful when we find wisdom. He then adds value to it by comparing it to silver and gold, which represents money. Many of us chase after riches thinking that it will bring us joy or happiness but we know that to not be true as there are many miserable rich people. What are they rich in is the real question. When we project our lives out to the old swing on the porch and we are 90+ years old what will we survey as we ponder our lives and how we lived it. There are few guarantees in life but this one thing I can surely expect, it will not be how many dollars I have in the bank that will bring me joy in the end, but the richness of the relationships I have created and nurtured and even persevered and fought for. The enemy is forever trying to divide and bring dis unity to the family of God. Our richness will hinge on how well we care for nurture and develop of our relationships.
APPLICATION
Therefore today I will make a list of the currently most important people in my life. I will then pray over that list, then by weeks end I will contact them and encourage them, and tell them they are appreciated.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Philippians 1:12 -A Matter of Perspective
Phil 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,t that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
Going back to the great affection that Paul has for the brothers and sisters in Philippi, he imagines that it pains them to know that he is in prison and being an elderly man at this time having to deal with the harsh conditions there he tries to comfort them by shifting their attention from his personal peril and discomfort to the glory of his mission, the furtherance of the Gospel.
We can do likewise if we apprehend the viewpoint and attitude of eternity, and see our circumstances as the value they have on our mission and not focused on how they affect details of our discomfort.
APPLICATION
Therefore I will memorize this verse today:
2Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Going back to the great affection that Paul has for the brothers and sisters in Philippi, he imagines that it pains them to know that he is in prison and being an elderly man at this time having to deal with the harsh conditions there he tries to comfort them by shifting their attention from his personal peril and discomfort to the glory of his mission, the furtherance of the Gospel.
We can do likewise if we apprehend the viewpoint and attitude of eternity, and see our circumstances as the value they have on our mission and not focused on how they affect details of our discomfort.
APPLICATION
Therefore I will memorize this verse today:
2Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Philippians 1:11 -Random Acts of Kindness
Phil. 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
What is the fruit of righteousness? It is the fullness of both grace and truth. The exemplifying of the simplicity of love for one another without compromise of personal integrity toward God and His statutes. The ability to walk out the holy life yet being attractive to those who are indeed unholy. To be unwavering in our convictions yet to wear those convictions not condemningly but humbly and in such a way as to lead people to see God as irresistible.
Our good deeds or behavior is not the bulls eye but doing good in such a way that the Father in heaven is credited is the goal.
APPLICATION
I will seek the Lord to lead me to perpetrate a secret act of random kindness today. I will be on guard and ready to serve Him in this way.
What is the fruit of righteousness? It is the fullness of both grace and truth. The exemplifying of the simplicity of love for one another without compromise of personal integrity toward God and His statutes. The ability to walk out the holy life yet being attractive to those who are indeed unholy. To be unwavering in our convictions yet to wear those convictions not condemningly but humbly and in such a way as to lead people to see God as irresistible.
Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Our good deeds or behavior is not the bulls eye but doing good in such a way that the Father in heaven is credited is the goal.
APPLICATION
I will seek the Lord to lead me to perpetrate a secret act of random kindness today. I will be on guard and ready to serve Him in this way.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Philippians 1:10 -BEST
Phil. 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
The corollary verse to this is found in the infamous Romans 12...
Rom. 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
These verses correspond with each other because they go to the principle of discerning what is God's best plan for us. However the verse in Phillippians goes even further and holds out that if we choose what is best we may be pure and blameless.
All of this is hanging not on our performance of adhering to the law per se but in increasing our knowledge of Him in Spirit and in truth and governing ourselves according to the better and best ways to love one another. As we learned in the previous verse:
Phil. 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Again focusing on not the balance of truth and grace, but embodying the fulness of both. When we mistakenly try to balance them we dilute one or the other or worse, both. Like Jesus was the fullness of both we need to strive toward that as well.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
There is good, there is better and then there is best. To love one another with the mind of Christ in Spirit and truth is... Best.
APPLICATION
Today, I will intentionally put my mind on guard and be generous in my thoughts toward others, believing the best, and not assuming the worst. I will make note of the instances of this today and consider how they unfolded as I ponder my day as I prepare for sleep tonight.
The corollary verse to this is found in the infamous Romans 12...
Rom. 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
These verses correspond with each other because they go to the principle of discerning what is God's best plan for us. However the verse in Phillippians goes even further and holds out that if we choose what is best we may be pure and blameless.
All of this is hanging not on our performance of adhering to the law per se but in increasing our knowledge of Him in Spirit and in truth and governing ourselves according to the better and best ways to love one another. As we learned in the previous verse:
Phil. 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Again focusing on not the balance of truth and grace, but embodying the fulness of both. When we mistakenly try to balance them we dilute one or the other or worse, both. Like Jesus was the fullness of both we need to strive toward that as well.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
There is good, there is better and then there is best. To love one another with the mind of Christ in Spirit and truth is... Best.
APPLICATION
Today, I will intentionally put my mind on guard and be generous in my thoughts toward others, believing the best, and not assuming the worst. I will make note of the instances of this today and consider how they unfolded as I ponder my day as I prepare for sleep tonight.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Phil. 1:9 - Irresistible Jesus
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight
Here is the crux of the Christian experience. To love others more and more as time goes by all the while also increasing in knowledge and insight into the truths of God. In the moment of Jesus' last opportunity to speak into the lives of his disciples at the end of the passover meal He gave them the ultimate summation of the three years He had been with them in this one statement:
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Somehow the world will know that we are His disciples not by how well we are committed to go to church or by how well we understand the Scriptures but by how obviously we love one another.
It is also interesting that in the beginning of the Gospel of John as John is introducing Jesus to his readers he states the following:
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Full of grace and truth, isn't it interesting how Paul in this verse in the book of Phillippians also echoes this same principle, to love more and more but to also increase in understanding of the truth. One without the other becomes unbalanced and harsh or useless. It is the light of truth to illuminate and the warmth of love to attract those who do not know God toward himself, and when we get this right The Lord Jesus is irresistible.
APPLICATION
Today I will commit to memory these verses in John 13:34-35
Here is the crux of the Christian experience. To love others more and more as time goes by all the while also increasing in knowledge and insight into the truths of God. In the moment of Jesus' last opportunity to speak into the lives of his disciples at the end of the passover meal He gave them the ultimate summation of the three years He had been with them in this one statement:
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Somehow the world will know that we are His disciples not by how well we are committed to go to church or by how well we understand the Scriptures but by how obviously we love one another.
It is also interesting that in the beginning of the Gospel of John as John is introducing Jesus to his readers he states the following:
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Full of grace and truth, isn't it interesting how Paul in this verse in the book of Phillippians also echoes this same principle, to love more and more but to also increase in understanding of the truth. One without the other becomes unbalanced and harsh or useless. It is the light of truth to illuminate and the warmth of love to attract those who do not know God toward himself, and when we get this right The Lord Jesus is irresistible.
APPLICATION
Today I will commit to memory these verses in John 13:34-35
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