Archive for the ‘Industriousness’ Category
Friday, June 7th, 2013
Providence of God, June 7
… the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
”Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
”And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
”and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
”Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’
”They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
”So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
”And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.
”But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.
”And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner,
”saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
”But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
’Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.
’Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
”So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Matthew 20:1-16, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we know, from Your word, that our good works and the length of time we serve You, are not, by themselves, the determining factors. We do not “earn” salvation, it is a gift, by Your grace God.
We can infer from this parable, Father, that whether we serve You for many years or for a short time, the reward is equal…eternity with You. We all need forgiveness for our sins, large and small, and here we learn that the atoning act of Jesus and Your grace and mercy far exceeds anything we should reasonably expect.
Jesus, thank you for teaching us that it is critical that we “finish well”. Whether we serve You briefly or for many years, help us, we pray, not to think of ourselves as more deserving than others. Take the pride we sometimes feel as we perform good works far from us and replace it with joy as we experience Your will for our life. 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: chosen, denarius, evil, Heaven, idle, kingdom, laborers, marketplace, Matthew 20:1-16, Providence, vineyard, wages
Posted in End Times, God's Gift, Industriousness, Law of God, Perseverance, Providence of God | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Industriousness, May 14
”I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
”Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
”You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
”Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
”I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
”If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
”If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 15:1-7, www.solascriptura.com
Thank You Jesus for speaking directly to us. Divine instruction, not from the mouths of men, is indeed a treasure. Here You tell us that it is not just You speaking to us but You and the Father are one.
Father, Your word says, “bear fruit” or perish. That sounds harsh but it is only harsh to those who do not seek to bear fruit. We know that You give us different gifts by which to serve You but none of is without a gift. Help us seek to serve You this day, knowing that the tests and challenges of life serve to bring understanding and growth. You “prune” us, as painful as it may be at times, that we might bear more fruit.
Teach us to see the value of difficult times that we might grow and bear more and better fruit. Jesus, without You we can do nothing that glorifies You and without You we can do nothing that endures. In service to You, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: bear fruit, branch, gifts, Jesus, John 15:1-7, perish
Posted in Christianity, Industriousness, Perseverance, Religion | No Comments »
Sunday, April 21st, 2013
Industriousness, April 21
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
”Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
”You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
”No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
”You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
John 15:12-16, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You have taught us that the two greatest commandments are to love You with all our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It seems Father, that all Christians find the first commandment completely clear and that the command to love our neighbors, though clear, is much more challenging. Help us understand that the kind of love we should have for each other is as the love You have for us.
Father, not many of us have the depth of love for others that we have for You. Help us see that our own imperfections make it difficult at times for others to love us. Then help us see that the imperfections in our acquaintances and friends are not only to be expected (and they are not very different from our own) but they are to be forgiven as You have forgiven us.
Father, You say… bear fruit! We thank you for defining the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize our lives; love, joy, peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Goodness and Self control (Use the acronym PKG FGS, Patience, Kindness and so on as a mnemonic device, preceded by love, joy, and peace, so we can memorize the fruits of the Spirit). Then, help us manifest our love for You by loving our neighbors in a way that is impossible without Your Spirit in us. 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: choose, commandment, Father, fruit, Industriousness, John 15:12-16, love, master, servants
Posted in God's Children, God's Gift, Industriousness | 9 Comments »
Friday, March 29th, 2013
Industriousness, March 29
… He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Your word has made it clear. Every Christian must do their share if the body of believers is to grow. You have taught us that we are to seek to be mature in our relationship with You, no longer being as children who are deceived by the cunning of evil.
Father, we see that there are different ways to serve You and that You want to equip us to be as Jesus among men. Teach each of us what Your expectations are this day and every day and then enlighten us and lead us as we seek to serve You.
The presence of our fleshly, sinful instincts must decrease and Your perfect presence must increase. 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: Apostles, Christ, deceitful, doctrine, edifying, equipping, evangelists, faith, Industriousness, ministry, pastors, prophets, saints, Son of God, teachers, unity
Posted in Christianity, Industriousness, Law of God, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion | 29 Comments »
Sunday, March 10th, 2013
Joy, March 10
Wait on the Lord;be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land…
… the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 37:34;39, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we are very impatient, by nature. Not only do we fail to wait upon Your leading but we naturally want to know what tomorrow will bring. You teach us to say “Lord willing” when we announce a goal or a plan of action. That helps remind us that we may make plans but we need to pause and to ask ourselves if we are truly consulting with You, praying for Your will to be done.
We see that in learning to wait upon You, our strength is renewed. Does that also mean that when we plunge ahead without You, we do so in weakness? Father, if You are to be our strength in times of trouble, surely we must take steps to make that be true.
We also see that in waiting upon You, we are strenghened, able to soar, as it were, as an eagle. Father, we want to access Your strength to run and not be weary, when all the evidence points towards our collapse. It is in Your strength and wisdom that we move forward, against all odds. How else could it be? What we begin in our own strength is a weak starting point. Help us today to make ambitious plans to serve You and our fellow man, relying upon You as our companion and tutor.
Father, may we exhort one another to love and obey Your Holy word and to keep Your way. Teach us new truths, afresh every day, so that the life You have given us might bring glory to you.
Help us Father not to be overwhelmed with the cares of this world, so preoccupied that we leave You out of the issues we face and the decisions we must make. Joy does not come easy to a burdened heart. Help us look past the moment and to focus on the perfection that awaits us. Our faith in Your love can and will sustain us.
We pray this day for your Spirit and our spirit to be as one. That is a huge hope, Father, but we know it is Your will for each of us. 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: exalt, inherit, joy, Lord, Psalm 37:34;39, righteous, salvation, strength, trouble
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Industriousness, Perseverance, faith | 8 Comments »
Friday, March 1st, 2013
Industriousness, March 1
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
… we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:23-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we know that your desire is that we are fruitful. You have taught us that one of the reasons to accumulate assets is to share them with those in need. Help us know that assets, granted to us by You, make us a custodian, one who administers benefits to others.
Working with enthusiasm and joy is your hope for us. Again Father, help us know that what we do, for and unto men, should be as if we were doing it for You personally. We work and serve, not to our glory, but to Yours. How tempting it is Father to take credit for dispensing Your gifts. Even the gift of love and caring, though free to us, came at a great cost to You. Help us this day to freely give that which we have been given.
In the material sense, most of us lack nothing that we truly need. Help us be spiritually satisfied by Your word and presence and to generously share Your love. 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: aspire, brethern, Christ, Industriousness, inheritance, labor, Lord, partiality, quiet, repaid, steal, working, wrong
Posted in Conscience, Industriousness, Law of God, Perseverance | 22 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 »
Sunday, February 3rd, 2013
Industriousness, February 3
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; … he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. … a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
1 Peter 1:17, James 1:25;27; 2:24-26 , www.solascriptura.com
Father, we do fear not being in the center of Your will for our lives and we seek diligently to please you. Help us O’God to know that we never stand before You in our perfection, since we are indeed imperfect. We come to you in all humility and contrition, cloaked in the righteousness of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer with thankful hearts. Father, Your law reveals Your will for us. When we stand within Your law we stand in liberty. Forgive us O’God when we sin. Deliver us from temptation, constantly, because it is ever upon us. As we proclaim our faith, help us to do good works that verify our words. In the name and power of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Bruce Caldwell The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: blessed, body, conduct, faith, Father, fear, God, harlot, Industriousness, James 1:25;27; 2:24-26, judges, law, liberty, orphans, partiality, perfect, pure, Spirit, undefiled, widows, work
Posted in Christianity, God's Children, Holy Spirit, Industriousness, Law of God, Religion, faith | 53 Comments »
Monday, January 7th, 2013
Industriousness, January 7
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
”… My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
”For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
”For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
”For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
James 5:19-20, Isaiah 55:8-12, www.solascriptura.com
Father, witnessing of Your love for us is our privilege but let us not take lightly the possibility that our witness may cause a sinner to return to You for an eternal reward. We have seen the joy of redemption; we have seen lives changed. A changed heart is a miracle to behold.
Your thoughts are higher than ours, Your ways beyond our complete understanding. You are indeed omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.
You have told us that Your word does not return void. No one, having heard it or read it, can cancel it. It is indelible! Your word is truth. Thank You for the following words of wisdom from Hebrews 4:12:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: brethern, death, earth, error, heavens, Industriousness, Isaiah 55:8-12, sinner, sins, soul, thoughts, truth, wanders
Posted in Christianity, Conscience, Fidelity, Industriousness, Law of God, Religion | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 5th, 2012
Angels, December 5
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Psalm 103:19-21, www.solascriptura.com
Father, here we learn that Your angels excel in strength. We sometimes feel the obstacles of life are insurmountable, but we forget that we do not have to accomplish everything in our own strength. It has been said that what we begin in our own strength, we must finish in our own strength. Leaving God out of our plans is a formula for failure, in the long run.
We do not fully understand what kind of power the angels have but since they do Your good pleasure it seems safe to assume they can do anything You want them to do. We often limit our hopes by placing our own earthly perspective on things that simply exceed our understanding and sometimes exceed our faith.
Help us know afresh that Your love for us is greater than our understanding and that as we look to You, constantly, that You take joy in our having done so. We truly never walk alone. Bless us this day, in Jesus name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Angels, bless, Heaven, kingdom, Lord, mnisters, rules, strength, word
Posted in Angels, Christianity, Industriousness, Providence of God, joy | 5 Comments »