Archive for the ‘Fidelity’ Category
Sunday, March 17th, 2013
Perseverance, March 17
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
Hebrews 6:4-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we confess our dependence on You. You have taught us that to know You and then abandon You is a grave error. Those who do so are like the thorns and briars that will be destroyed in the end. But we who love You and all the works we do in Your name will not be forgotten. We know that our works, in and of themselves, merit us nothing. Our works only count if they are truly a labor of love to You and to those created in Your image.
Help us to “finish well”, to show the same diligence towards You, every day until the end. Help us O’God to be as the cultivated herb, bearing fruit worthy of our calling. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: crucify, diligence, enlightened, gift, God, heavenly, Holy Spirit, partakers, powers, renew, repentance, saints, shame, Son of God, tasted
Posted in Christianity, End Times, Fidelity, Forgiven, Heaven, Law of God, Perseverance, faith | 15 Comments »
Saturday, March 2nd, 2013
Fidelity, March 2
I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus who dwells in us.
That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
2 Timothy 1:12-14, www.solascriptura.com
Father, not only is this verse from a wonderful old song, but it is a statement of truth. You will help us keep the faith to which we have committed. You will help us see that our commitment is a response to Your commitment. We never walk alone.
Father, You ask us to hold fast to the sound words You have taught us. This day, we pray that You will help us commit to a pattern of reading Your word that matches your expectations. It is so hard, given the everyday pressures of family life, to make “listening to You” a priority.
Father, we know that each day that passes is either an opportunity realized or an opportunity we passed up. Help us to be diligent in our response to Your love. We know that good works should spring from our faith and that our faith should produce good works. Teach us and guide us and comfort us with the indwelling Holy Spirit, Your Light within us.
In thy Son’s Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: ashamed, believed, Christ, committed, faith, fidelity, Holy Spirit, Jesus, love, persuaded
Posted in Courage, Fidelity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith | 23 Comments »
Tuesday, February 19th, 2013
Courage, February 19
… God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Let all that you do be done with love.
2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we seldom experience the kind of fear that is being felt by those who are in war zones and those who are being discriminated against, every day. We pray for them, we pray that You will give them peace and comfort. Where death prevails, life eternal is promised for all those that love You Jesus.
We know from Your word that perfect love casts out fear. That is why, Father, we can approach You and the challenges of life with confidence. Help us remember that neither man nor evil circumstance can do anything that would destroy Your love for us or our love for You.
Help us to be helpful, kind, considerate and loving so that Your love for us shines through. We pray in Jesus’ Holy name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: brave, Courage, fear, God, love, mind, power, Spirit, strong
Posted in Courage, Fidelity, Industriousness, Perseverance, faith | 128 Comments »
Monday, February 4th, 2013
Fidelity, February 4 …if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. … we know that … there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:2-6, www.solascriptura.com Father, We know nothing of what we will yet know. We see things dimly now that You will yet fully reveal. Help us O’God to gain better and better insight from Your Holy word. You have just told us that if we love You, we are known by You. It is You alone we worship. Keep us from valuing anything or anyone more than our relationship with You. We pray for time alone with You this day. Help us focus on Your presence in all that was created. The water, birds, flowers, trees and rocks testify of Your love. You are the constant, unchanging Presence. Jesus, You alone are our Judge and our Redeemer. Strengthen our fidelity to You. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: earth, fidelity, God, Heaven, Jesus, know, loves
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, Religion, faith | 46 Comments »
Wednesday, January 30th, 2013
Revenge, January 30 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ”Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:20-24,www.solascriptura.com Jesus, our objective is to be like You. We will need a lot of help not to return evil for evil. If people are critical of us, to take such criticism without angrily giving it back to them, doubly for some of us, requires Your Spirit in us. We read that when You suffered, You did not threaten those who were punishing You, unto death. Jesus, we can not relate, easily, to that circumstance. Your patient endurance of undeserved punishment resulted in each of us now being able to not receive the punishment for our transgressions that we truly deserve. Your suffering set the stage for eternal life for all those You have cleansed. You suffered for our sins that we might live righteously. Our flesh wants to retaliate; our spirit wants to be like You. Help us reflect Your countenance and heart as we experience persecution. In the Holy name of Jesus we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, deceit, example, faults, God, patiently, Revenge, sin, suffered
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Perseverance, Revenge, faith | 39 Comments »
Sunday, January 27th, 2013
Prayer, January 27 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; You have tested my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Psalm 15:1-2; 17:3, www.solascriptura.com Father, here we learn from David that works of righteousness matter. What we say and do is noticed by You. But, You have taught us elsewhere that Your grace, in calling us to Your side, and that Your mercy and our faith in Jesus, makes our works become a reflection of our faith. We know that without works our faith seems powerless and that works alone hardly distinguish us from being like any other good citizen. Help us today to be free of self-imposed guilt. We know that You have lifted our guilt from us and that if we try to continue to bear it, we miss the point of Your sacrifice. You have taught us that it is Satan who is the “accuser”. We also know it is You who stand as our advocate. We are no longer guilty! We, like David, have been tried and we stand before You, forgiven and cleansed. Lead us as we seek to be obedient and righteous, empowered by You. Help us, especially, not to transgress with our mouth. You have taught us that an olive tree should not bear figs and vice versa. Let our words be consistent with our faith. May we glorify You and be an encouragement to others. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: heart, Holy, Lord, Prayer, Psalm 15:1-2; 17:3, righteousness, tabernacle, tested, transgress, truth
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, Prayer, Providence of God, faith | 105 Comments »
Friday, January 18th, 2013
Temple of God, January 18
…gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16, www.solascriptura.com
Father, what did Peter imply when he said, “be sober”? Does that mean do not be drunk? We know you would never have us out of control intoxicated. You leave the “to eat or not to eat (meat, for instance) or to drink or to not drink (wine for instance)” up to us. You make it clear that if we do anything that seems wrong to us, it is wrong. You teach us that we must have a clear conscience before You.
Being “sober-minded” is another admonition and we know that is different than intoxication from drink. You teach us that we should be orderly in our conduct, to not speak coarsely and to therefore have Your Spirit in us. You also tell us to be full of joy, so to be sober minded must not mean to be long faced and stern in our demeanor.
Father, what a wonderful verse it is when you tell us “rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”; Your grace is brought to us, it is made active, by the revelation of Jesus. In effect, grace lies dormant within us until Jesus sanctifies us through His cleansing of our souls.
How else, O’God, could we be holy? In our natural, unregenerate state we are not holy and absent the redemptive power of Jesus, our sins, which separate us from You, are still with us. We yearn to be released from the power of sin forever but when we stumble, thank You Jesus for lifting us up. We pray, on every occasion, in Your Holy name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: children, Christ, grace, Holy, ignorance, loins, lusts, mind, obedient, rest, sober
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, Law of God, Providence of God, Religion | 98 Comments »
Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
Salvation, January 15
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20, www.solascriptura.com
Father, as you know, this verse has been my personal prayer and a reality that I have hoped to experience in abundance for many years. I know that when “I live” and not you in me, that I am drawing upon my own resources, my own human nature. Father, my personal righteousness is truly as rags and serves as a burden. I want to cast if off but it will not go away as long as I am in this human body.
Father, we all have the same problem. We dwell in the flesh; we are subjected to temptation on all sides, every day. We know as we seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, afresh, constantly, that we draw nearer and nearer to You. Yet, perfection awaits; sanctification is a process, not a done deal but a process, one that we seek but do not fully apprehend this side of heaven.
We seek to be like You Jesus and we search the Scriptures to learn more about what that is like. This verse, written by the Apostle Paul, says his lower nature has been crucified, it is hung on a cross, and the battle for his soul is over. O’Father we each seek such certainty and we see that Paul says his certainty comes from his faith in You Jesus. Increase our faith this day, we pray.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, crucified, faith, flesh, live, salvation, Son of God
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, God's Gift, Religion, faith, salvation | 88 Comments »
Saturday, January 12th, 2013
Marriage, January 12
And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Genesis 2:18, Genesis 21-25, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we live now in a time that largely ignores what You have just taught us. We seem to fail to recognize the essence of marriage and your intended purpose. Forgive us Father for our past mistakes when we failed to grasp Your will for us. You have taught us in many places that you hate divorce, You desire children to be blessed by marriages of like minded persons who worship You and love You and to produce children that are sanctified by a marriage in which we are committed, for a lifetime, to serve You.
In these times, we largely fail to follow Your guidance regarding marriage and the sanctification of our children. We know, Father, that you forgave some of Your saints, including David, for indiscretions. Therefore we do not wonder whether You will forgive us.
It is not simply forgiveness that we desire, but we want to set out on a path of love and obedience that conforms to Your expectations. Many of us have failed to meet Your expectations but since we understand that You delight in forgiving us, we now declare that is our will to do Your will.
We want, Father, to fully understand and commit ourselves to the view that two persons, fully committed to serving You, and each other, become as one flesh. That bond, we declare faithfully, will help us be more forgiving and more tolerant of each other’s mistakes and weaknesses than is typical in our times. We see that is Your perfect will for us.
Our mistakes are forever with us, and they seem insurmountable at times, but we thank You God that our sins, once expressed, are not only forgiven, but they are separated from us as far as the east is from the west, never to remembered against us again. Such mercy exceeds our experience among men. We thank You Jesus for your unselfish sacrifice, covering our sins, forever. Amen
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Adam, alone, ashamed, flesh, helper, Lord, man, marriage, naked, ribs, woman
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, Perseverance | 66 Comments »
Tuesday, January 8th, 2013
Fidelity, January 8
…reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
These things command and teach.
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 4:7-16, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You tell us to reject tales and fables and to exercise our mind in a way that brings us into Your presence. Your word says that exercise of the body profits a little and that exercise of our mind toward godliness profits us in a most complete way. Father, we want to “stay in shape” and You proclaim that as good, but You warn us that if that is our physical goal, absent a more encompassing spiritual goal, then we have a priority problem.
You also tell us to enjoy our youth, being vital, while being full of the Holy Spirit seeking to serve You. Father, let our joy and enthusiasm for life bring us to the center of Your will for our life. Bless us as we seek to draw nearer to You. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: despise, faithful, fidelity, labor, living God, love, reproach, Savior, Spirit, trust, youth
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Hope, Perseverance, faith, salvation | 2 Comments »