Monthly Archives: October 2013

Daily Bible Study

November 1, 2013 Bible Study — Listen Carefully to the Words of God

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Ezekiel 1-3:15

     Ezekiel was with the Judean exiles in Babylon when he received a vision from God. There are times when there is much to be made of the symbolism of Ezekiel’s vision. However, today what I saw was that when God speaks to us, He makes Himself clear. If we are not sure what God is saying to us, it is usually because we do not want to hear what He has to say.
     I saw something in this passage that I have never seen before. Something that is vitally important to us as Christians today and is a word for me (and perhaps for me to share with another). God tells Ezekiel to first listen to His words and apply them in his own heart. It is only after the words which God is giving to Ezekiel have sunk into his own heart and wrought their changes there that Ezekiel is to speak them to his fellow exiles. The same applies to us. When God gives us a prophetic word or vision, first we need to let it sink deep into our own heart. Before we speak to others about the visions, prophecies, or messages that God gives us we need to think about how they apply to us, because, in one way or another, they do apply to us.

…

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Hebrews 3:1-19
    
     Today’s passage is a reminder to listen when God speaks to us. We must be careful not to harden out hearts when His Spirit convicts us of sin. It is all too easy to try to justify our sins and refuse to acknowledge that they are sin. Every time we do that we make it harder to hear and respond to God’s voice.
     We must spend time with our fellow believers who can warn us when we start to justify our wrongdoing as the right thing to do…and we must call out our fellow believers when they start to justify their sin as God’s will. There is a give and take in this. We must be willing to listen when others point out that we have sinned and turn back to following God’s ways, but we must, also, be willing to point out to our brothers and sisters in the Lord when they are sinning and call them back to following God’s ways. Both of these must be done with love and humility.

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Psalm 104:1-23

     Today’s psalm continues the theme of praising the Lord. It lists the ways in which God has displayed His power and His glory. It reminds me how much spending time in natural surroundings brings me close to God.

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Proverbs 26:24-26
    

     Today’s proverbs continue the theme of how evil people disguise their wickedness by deceitful words and actions. We are warned not to be deceived by their charm. We are also told that despite their deceitfulness and prevarication, their evil will be revealed to all.

Fiction

Magrat, a Fantastical Tale (Part I)

Photo copyright Lynn Bass
Photo copyright Lynn Bass

All of what follows is true, except for the bits that aren’t.

Magrat was not always called “Magrat”. The reason, which must be pointed out, is that many cats begin and end their lives in this universe without a name. Only cats who have owners bear names, and it is typically the owners’ responsibility to dub their feline companions with some sort of moniker.

Now Magrat, as is the wont of most cats, is very cute. But what sets her apart, as far as we are concerned, is her sweet disposition. She never hisses, never lets out a low guttural yowl, and never claws a human (unless during play, which is always an accident). This display of good behavior, having had some experience with Magrat’s feral counterparts, led us to conclude that Magrat had been under someone else’s care for a time. And that someone else had probably given Magrat a name. By what means Magrat’s previous owner and she came to be separated is unknown to us and left to speculation.

It was on a Friday afternoon during the Summer, a couple of years ago, that an adorable, scrawny, yet PREGNANT grey tabby came up to our back porch.

It was quite fortuitous then, that himself arrived home early that day, for I’m not sure what would have occurred had he come home at his usual time. He keenly observed (as was his wont, for he expresses wisdom with frequency), that despite the tabby’s scrawniness, this visitor looked ready to give birth soon.

The tabby, like most cats who want something from strangers, started dialogue.

“Hello,” she began. (For she is an intelligent creature, and intelligent creatures should always begin conversations with some sort of greeting.) “Have you need of a cat?”

“Well, I don’t know. You see, my wife has a problem with allerg…”

“Splendid! As you can see, I’m due to have my litter soon. I can use your backyard here. I won’t leave a mess, and you won’t even know I’m here!”

“Well, I…”

“Thank you so much!” She turned to leave, “This is much more convenient than the alternative! I’ll come back later when,” she winked, “you know.”

“Wait! What’s the alternative?!”

But the tabby had already sauntered off.

Some hours later, when I arrived home, with a sourpuss expression (as was my wont whilst employed with a particularly disagreeable company), himself relayed his afternoon to me.

“Pregnant, you say?!”

“With kittens!”

“Are you sure?!”

“I could tell she had a belly. But she was all skin and bones! I would not be shocked if she miscarried.”

“Oh, the poor thing.”

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully.

To be continued…

Daily Bible Study

October 31, 2013 Bible Study — Let All That I Am Praise the Lord

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Lamentations 4-5:22

     The prophet laments the terrible times which have befallen the people of Jerusalem, but he points out that there troubles have come upon them because they had chosen to follow sinful leaders. It was not just their political leaders who were sinful, but even worse, they had chosen to follow sinful religious leaders. Those who were supposed to guide them towards righteousness instead committed heinous crimes and shed innocent blood. Time and again, a people become prosperous through following God’s commands then turn from God to follow those who tell them they can remain prosperous while indulging their sinful desires. Every time this happens, tragedy strikes these once prosperous nations.
     Once trouble begins, the only hope for that people is to turn to God. God does not change and when people turn back to Him, He will restore them. As bad as things may look, God will restore us if we turn to Him and follow His commands.

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Hebrews 2:1-18

     We must pay careful attention to the Gospel message which brought our salvation. It is all too easy to drift away from God if we stop listening to His word. In the first chapter the writer made the point that Jesus was God’s Son and on an equal footing with God, an actual part of God. Today the writer makes the point that Jesus was a man, that He was fully human. It was as a human that He was able to experience the suffering, trials, and temptation that are common to all humans. It is because of this experience that He is able to test us as we go through those same things. More than that, it is because of our experiences dealing with suffering, trials, and temptation that we are able to help our brothers and sisters who are dealing with those things now.
     Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters. He suffered and died to free us from death and fear of death. We need to be willing to suffer and die to show to those around us that they too need not fear suffering and death.

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Psalm 103:1-22

     This psalm reaches out to me. It calls on me to praise God with all my ability and with every aspect of my being.

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.

It goes on from there to itemize some of the good God has done for all who trust in Him, but that sums up what the psalm is about. Yes, I will praise the Lord with all that I am.

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Proverbs 26:23

     Fiery speeches are often made to cover up the evil intentions of the speaker. We should give extra scrutiny to the motives and actions of those whose speech rouses us to anger against others.

Daily Bible Study

October 30, 2013 Bible Study — The Lord Is Good to the One Who Seeks Him

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Lamentations 3:1-66

     When we reach a point in our life where we experience disappointment and loss, we must remember that God’s love never fails. He will be good to those who seek Him and desire to do His will. I will accept the trials and troubles which God sends my way. Troubles which come because I have failed to live as He has instructed. Trials which come to test me and help me grow in my faith in Him. I know that the difficult times will not last, if only I turn to God and seek His will.

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Hebrews 1:1-14

     Jesus is God’s Son. He radiates God’s glory and shows us God’s very character. We can know what God is like by looking at Jesus. In the same way, we are called to allow Jesus to live within us so that we also might radiate God’s glory and show others what God is like.
     This passage also contains the message that we are not to worship angels. They are servants sent to serve and care for those whom God has called to be His children.

…

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Psalm 102:1-28

     The psalmist cries out to God from despair. He is deeply troubled and facing trials that are more than he can bear. Yet he has faith that God will answer his prayer. When this life is more than we can bear, let us, also, cry out to God. I will remember that God has rescued others in the past from troubles greater than those I face. He will hear my prayer and act. His actions today will lead future generations to praise His name.

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Proverbs 26:21-22

     We have a tendency to want to hear all of the latest gossip, but it colors our judgment. We often forget that the information is unconfirmed and make judgments based on it that have results we regret when the gossip turns out to be false.

Daily Bible Study

October 29, 2013 Bible Study — To Live a Godly Life, Spend Time With Godly People

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Lamentations 1-2:22

     The writer mourns the fall of Jerusalem. He writes of how far Jerusalem has fallen because of the sins of her people. He points out that her enemies take credit for her fall, but that it is the result of God’s judgment. Jerusalem’s enemies did not defeat her because of their righteousness or greatness. Rather Jerusalem fell because of her sins.
     This is an important point to remember. Jerusalem did not fall because of the strength of her enemies. She fell because of the sins of her people. This is always the case. Nations fall because of the failure of their people to follow the laws by which God created mankind to live. Those nations which are currently victorious will soon fall as well if they also break the laws which God has laid down. Civilization breaks down when people choose to live by their own desires rather than according to God’s law.

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Philemon 1:1-25

     This is a difficult passage for me to write about because there is so much back story we need to read between the lines. Onesimus was a run away slave who found the Lord after running away. He came to realize that he should return to his master, perhaps because Paul encouraged him to do so, although we do not know that. However, Onesimus is afraid of what Philemon, his owner, will do to him. Paul knows Philemon, having preached the Gospel to him. Paul writes to Philemon telling him to accept Onesimus back and to treat him well. Paul promises that he will repay Philemon for any loss which Onesimus may have caused him in the past.

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Psalm 101:1-8

     This psalm calls us to live a blameless life and tells us how to accomplish that. The psalmist tells us to reject perverse ideas and to stay away from every evil. Then he tells us the most important step, seek out faithful people as companions. The way to live a godly life is to hang out with godly people.

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Proverbs 26:20

     The way to stop quarrels is to stop the gossip. Gossip provides the fuel which keeps a quarrel going in the same way which wood provides fuel for a fire.

Daily Bible Study

October 28, 2013 Bible Study –Once, We Were Foolish and Disobedient

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Jeremiah 51:54-52:34

     When Jeremiah finished his prophecies against Babylon, he wrote them on a scroll and sent the scroll to Babylon. He instructed the messenger to read the scroll aloud when he got to Babylon. When he finished reading the scroll, the messenger was to tie a rock to it and throw it into the Euphrates saying that in the same way Babylon would sink, never to rise again. What point does a country and people need to reach to get to the point where God will sink them to never rise again?
     The book of Jeremiah then ends with an account of how the things which Jeremiah prophesied for Jerusalem and its leaders come to pass.

…

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Titus 3:1-15

     Paul tells us to submit to government authorities. This is part of, and qualified by, what he says next. We are to be ready to do whatever is good. When government officials tell us to do what is good, we should jump to it and act immediately. However, when they tell us to do what is not good, or to not do what is good, they are exceeding their God-given authority.
     Then Paul tells us something that is at the heart of the Christian message. We are not in a position to look down on those around us who do not know the Lord, because at one time we too were disobedient and full of evil. If we are not like that any longer, it is not a credit to us. Rather it is because God, through His grace in Christ Jesus, transformed us. Anything in my behavior that others may see as praiseworthy is not a credit to what a wonderful person I am. No, it is a credit to the wonderful love of God. Because of what God has done for me, I want to devote myself to doing good, so that others may experience the joy I have received from Him.
     There is an important lesson next. Paul warns us against getting involved in foolish and useless arguments. If someone is being divisive (some people call it stirring the pot), confront them about their behavior. If they continue, confront them a second time. After that, if they do not stop, do not associate with them any longer.

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Psalm 100:1-5

     What a wonderful psalm of praise. I prefer the alternate reading which is mentioned in the notes:

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and not we ourselves,

This is the key to accepting God and knowing that He is good. He made us, we did not make ourselves. We are His people and He is good. He is faithful and His love for us will never fail. I will worship the Lord with gladness. More than that, worshiping the Lord brings me joy. I will praise God because He has made me glad.

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Proverbs 26:18-19

     Reading today’s proverb reminds me of the stories about people tricking their co-workers into thinking they had won big in the lottery. Most of the stories involved the tricked person taking out all of their frustrations by telling their boss and fellow workers the nasty things they thought about them. There are other similar stories about pranks which people pull on others. They often have a common theme about how the person who is deceived in a “harmless prank” does something that causes themselves irreparable damage.

Daily Bible Study

October 27, 2013 Bible Study — Set an Example By Doing What Is Good

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell’arte

Jeremiah 51:1-53

     Today’s passage is a continuation of Jeremiah’s prophecy of the downfall and destruction of Babylon. The people of Babylon believed that their might, wealth, and power were their just due. Jeremiah reminds us that God is in charge and those who worship other gods, or set themselves up in God’s place, will learn this to their sorrow. There will be a day of reckoning when every idol will be revealed as powerless before God. Let us flee from idols and turn to God.

More commedia dell'arte
More commedia dell’arte

Titus 2:1-15

     Paul instructs Titus to teach what is “appropriate to sound doctrine”(NIV). He then goes on to give examples of what he means. Paul divides it up into things for older and younger, men and women, but for the most part it applies equally to all of us. I will strive to live wisely and with self control. I will not drink heavily and I will teach what is good. I will act in a way that is worthy of respect, exhibiting love and patience every day. I will set an example for others by doing good works. I will make it my goal to live and speak in such a way that those who oppose what I believe will have nothing bad to say about me and will be ashamed to bad mouth Christianity.
     God’s grace has been revealed and offers salvation to all people. I will live a righteous, wise, and godly life so that others may see what God’s grace has done for me and come to desire the same thing for themselves. It is not enough to live like this, beyond living according to God’s word, I will teach and encourage others to do likewise.

…

     This passage makes me realize that there are two important aspects about my faith. First, if I truly believe, if I truly have faith in God, my life will show that in what I do each and every day. However, there is a second part. If I truly believe, if I truly have faith in the message about God contained in the Bible, I will tell others. I will strive to convince others that they too should allow the Holy Spirit to transform them. I have always loved the Francis of Assisi quote, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” It reflects the fact that the first step in preaching the Gospel is living it. However, it is wrong in implying that if you truly live the Gospel words are rarely necessary.
     If we do not live the Gospel, speaking the words is worse than useless. However, if we live the Gospel but do not explain why we are doing so, people will not come to the Lord either.

Still more commedia dell'arte
Still more commedia dell’arte

Psalm 99:1-9

     God is the ultimate ruler of all the earth and He is a lover of justice. He has established equity (the word in question means everyone being judged equally). I will praise the Lord and call on others to do the same.

And yet more commedia dell'arte
And yet more commedia dell’arte

Proverbs 26:17

     Getting involved in someone else’s argument can be dangerous. You never know what emotions and thoughts lie behind the argument that is currently in progress.

Daily Bible Study

October 26, 2013 Bible Study — To the Pure, All Things Are Pure

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Jeremiah 49:23-50:46

     Jeremiah continues prophesying against those who profited from the fall of Jerusalem. He writes that, yes, God brought judgment against His people. God raised up Babylon in order to destroy Jerusalem and punish His people for their sins. However, the Babylonians became arrogant and sinned as well.

…

     Reading this made me realize that while the sinful actions we take may serve God’s purpose, we will still pay the price for our sins. As I read this, it struck me that this works well with my understanding of the Christian’s relationship to government. God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish the people of Judah for their sins, but this did not make Nebuchadnezzar’s actions righteous. In the same way, God will use government officials to accomplish his purposes, but that does not mean that the actions those officials take are righteous actions.

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Titus 1:1-16

     Once again Paul writes a list of requirements for someone to be appointed as an elder/authority in the Church. Once more I am struck that we so often overlook that all Christians are called to live according to most of these criteria. I will strive to live up to these criteria. As I look at the list, some of them are easy for me. Others are more of a challenge. I am not quick-tempered or violent, but I struggle with arrogance. I enjoy entertaining guests, but I struggle with leading a disciplined life. I will pray for the Spirit to change me to be more like this model for all Christians, to make me someone who others may imitate in an attempt to follow Christ.
     Paul warns Titus that there are, and will always be, people who engage in useless talk and deception in order to seem godly without actually being godly. Their error must be shown because some will be deceived into turning away from true godliness to follow their false teachings. Then Paul tells us a key to recognizing those who are teaching these false teachings.

Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.

Years ago I was told that people who are untrustworthy do not trust anybody. I have learned through experience that this is true. In my experience, people who are constantly afraid that they are being cheated are constantly looking for ways to cheat others. That is the sort of thing which Paul is talking about here. I have tried to flesh out the meaning of what Paul meant with the passage I quoted above, but the more I think about it the more it seems that that passage says all that needs to be said. Those who are pure do not need to be told what is impure, while those who are busy making lists of impure things and acts are spending too much time thinking about impurity and not enough time seeking to do God’s will.

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Psalm 97-98:9

     The Lord rules, and this is a cause to rejoice. Those who worship other things will be put to shame. God is supreme over all of the earth. He is greater than anything else we could worship. I will call on all the earth to shout for joy and praise the Lord. As I read this psalm, I am filled with joy thinking of the great things which God has done.

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Proverbs 26:13-16

     Those who are lazy will imagine danger to avoid work. The lazy person always has an excuse as to why they cannot work. They will suffer rather than put forth the effort to care for themselves. Yet despite all of this, they are convinced that they are wiser and smarter than those who offer wise counsel.

Daily Bible Study

October 25, 2013 Bible Study — Do I Seek Out Only Those Teachers Who Tell Me What I Want To Hear?

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Jeremiah 48-49:22

     After the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah had prophecies for the countries and peoples who had been rooting for its destruction. He told them that now destruction would be coming for them. Their celebration of the fall of Jerusalem was short-sighted because their own destruction would surely follow.

…

     As I read this passage it struck me that these prophecies apply today. First, they apply to modern Israel’s neighbors who are rooting for her destruction. They fail to see that whatever power succeeds in destroying Israel will roll over them and bring destruction and tragedy to their own lands. Second, it applies to those people and nations who are rooting for the United States to lose its preeminent status in the world. Most of them fail to see that the suffering and hardship that follows will not be confined to the United States, but will indeed effect the entire world. Finally, it applies to those who wish to see the Christian Church lose its standing as a moral authority and to see Christians forced to suffer for taking a stand for morality. In all of these cases, if the people rooting for suffering to come upon others get their way, the suffering will not be limited to those whom they wish to see suffer.

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2 Timothy 4:1-22

     Paul told Timothy that the day would come when people would not be willing to listen to sound teaching. They will seek out teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, rather than teach them the truth. We are living in that day. All too many people do not want to hear the truth, whether it be about sexual morality, or greed, or selfishness, or some other sin. They explain that if the Church wants to grow it must make its teachings “relevant”. I will tell you that the word of God is always relevant. While the Church may need to change how it teaches God’s word so that people will hear it, it cannot change the message which it has been given.

…

     It is important to seek out those who will tell us the things which we do not want to hear. We all have a tendency to try to limit our exposure to those who tell us things we do not want to hear. However, we are all human and need to remember that sometimes (in my case, often) God has a message for us that we do not want to hear. We do not want to change, but we need to change those places where we fall short of living according to the glory of God.

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Psalm 95-96:13

     What a great psalm (actually, two great psalms). The first calls on us to bow down and worship God because He is our creator and He watches over us. It contains a plea for us to listen to His voice today. I will listen to His voice and plead with those I know to do the same. Oh how much better your life will be if only you will listen to what God has to say to You!
     If you listen to what God has to say to you, you will do as Psalm 96 advises. Those who listen to God will sing to the Lord because they will be full of joy. I cannot help myself. I have no choice but sing His praises. Following His instructions make me want everyone to know the joy which I experience. The Lord reigns! He will judge everyone with justice.

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Proverbs 26:9-12

     A fool who knows a wise saying, a proverb, is as likely to apply it inappropriately as a drunk is to hit unintended targets when he swings a branch at his opponents. A fool will make the same mistakes over and over. However, as bad as being a fool is, there is more hope for someone who recognizes their foolishness than for someone who thinks they are wise.

Daily Bible Study

October 24, 2013 Bible Study — Pursue Righteousness, Faith, Love, and Peace

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Jeremiah 44:24-47:7

     When Jeremiah confronted the people of Judah who had fled to Egypt over their idolatry, they responded that they had done such things when times were prosperous for them and would continue doing them until they brought about prosperity once more. Jeremiah now tells them that such behavior will merely bring more destruction and misery down on their heads. Their refusal to give up the sins for which God had judged them would lead to hardship and death. However, Jeremiah also had a word for those who remained faithful. He told them that God would protect them from the coming troubles.

…

     This reminds me of so many people who I know. The people to whom Jeremiah was speaking refused to recognize that the behaviors they were continuing were the ones which brought the times of prosperity to an end. They were convinced that by practicing the sins and idolatry which had brought God’s judgment against them when they had been prosperous they could return to that time of prosperity. We will not gain prosperity by continuing the mistakes that brought our prosperity to an end.

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2 Timothy 2:22-3:17

     Paul tells us the key to pleasing God. I will follow his advice and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. The key to reaching those goals is spending time in fellowship with those who call on the Lord. The next thing Paul writes challenges me. All too often, I see people say foolish things and I seek to correct them. Then I allow myself to be drawn into foolish arguments. Rather than argue with those who believe things contrary to God’s truth (the only truth that there is, all truth is God’s truth), I will strive to gently point out the truth to them and allow God’s Spirit to change their hearts.
     The next part sounds so descriptive of our society today. All too many people today love only themselves and their money. People hold nothing sacred and have no self-control. Some put on a show of godliness, but do not allow God’s Spirit to govern their actions. They worm their ways into homes and take control of the gullible. The gullible ones are those who are always seeking the truth, but never willing to accept it when they find it.
     However, Paul tells us how we can both strengthen our faith and avoid being deceived by those who oppose the truth.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.(NIV)

So, I will study the Scripture so that I may avoid deceit and be equipped to accomplish whatever good work God provides for me to do.

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Psalm 94:1-23

     The wicked convince themselves that God will not hold them accountable. They either think that He is not there, or that He does not care. However, the sins of the wicked will turn back on them and lead to their destruction. Those who oppress and murder the powerless will discover that their sins bring about their own destruction. God will see that justice is served.

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Proverbs 26:6-8

     If you ask a fool to deliver a message for you, the message is likely to get garbled and you will be worse off than if the recipient had never received the message. A fool who knows a proverb will misuse it.