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. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Lord, You are my strength, my refuge in times of trouble. Those who trust in You will be like a tree planted by the river. They will bear Your fruit for the whole world to be nourished. Lord, You search our hearts and know our motives.
     Jeremiah condemned the people of Jerusalem for doing business on the Sabbath as if it was just another day. They could not dedicate even one day a week to God. Look around us in our society, we do the same. I am as guilty of it as the next person. I need to learn to dedicate one day a week to God. It does not need to be Sunday, but it needs to be an entire day. Guide me and direct me Lord in the paths to that goal. We are jars of clay being shaped by the Potter, if we do not take the shape which He desires, we will be smashed and formed over. Dear Lord, bring Your Spirit upon me so that I allow you to shape me on the potter’s wheel of life.

     We are to live in a way that pleases God. This means staying away from sexual sins. We must not allow society around us to catch us up in lustful passions that lead to sexual sins. If we truly love those around us, we will not use them to satisfy our lusts for sexually immoral behavior. There is a place for sexual activity and it is within the bonds of marriage, between two people who have committed to caring and meeting each other’s needs. We should live a quiet life, supporting ourselves through our productive work. This will lead those who are not Christian to respect the way we live.
     Paul reminds us yet again that when Jesus returns, those Christians who have died will be resurrected to join Him. Then those of us who remain alive will be caught up to join Him with them. The time of His return will come unexpectedly. We should remain alert so that His return does not catch us unprepared.

     Let us sing praises to God and keep His decrees. If we keep God’s decrees, He will lift the heavy burdens from our shoulders and provide us with all of our needs. If we ignore His commands and follow our own wishes and wisdom, we will struggle as we worship false gods that cannot help us.

     Do not campaign for honors for yourself. Instead wait for others to see your good works and praise you for them. Do not do good works for the honors that others might bestow on you, but for the sake of serving the Lord.