Archive for the ‘Religion’ Category
Friday, May 24th, 2013
God’s Gifts, May 24
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
… Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1-4, 12, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Paul teaches here and elsewhere that the gift of “tongues” is a desirable gift but he also makes it clear that words which are spoken, in Your name, if they are to be useful, must be understood.
Tongues are an example of a gift which can be of no value, in cases where there is not an interpreter present. Paul tells us that we should seek the higher gift of being able to extend intelligible love to all persons and to You.
Father, we know that all gifts of the Spirit are from You and that they differ greatly. Help us become more aware of our personal gifts and to not doubt that we have gifts. A gift which brings honor and glory to You is the most desirable gift.
Here you tell us that “prophesying” (teaching from Your word) is one of the most useful gifts we can share with each other. Give us a means of sharing Your love and Your word with someone, this day. 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: church, gifts, God, Holy, prophecy, Spirit, tongues
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Prayer, Religion | 29 Comments »
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Prayer, May 22
With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
Psalm 119:13-18, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we pray that the words of the Psalmist are our words as well. We pray that we have declared You and rejoiced as we serve You, knowing that Your hope for us is to share in the eternal riches of heaven.
We want to meditate on Your teachings and contemplate Your ways. We know that Your statutes are pure and that in keeping them there is great reward. Father, we are sometimes focused on the benefits of serving You but help us never forget that we serve you with a humble and contrite heart, not focused only on the future reward, but on the peace it brings to us right now.
You have dealt bountifully with us in so many ways. Yet, You tell us to bring all of our hopes and aspirations to You as well as the basic needs of those we love. You bless us in good times and bad but it is the latter in which we humbly seek your help. Teach us to bring every single circumstance of our lives to You, asking for Your Holy hand upon us. 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: Father, Heaven, Holy, Hope, law, peace, Psalms 119:13-18, servant
Posted in Hope, Inspirtation, Prayer, Providence of God, Religion | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
Forgiven, May 21
To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock: do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your Holy sanctuary.
Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.
Psalm 28:1-2, Ecclesiastes 7:21, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we cry out, we make requests of You, we seek You in times of trouble. Help us O’God, to develop a balance between asking and praise. We often ask too often and praise too little. Yet, we know You hear all of our words and know all of our thoughts. Such knowledge is too wonderful for us. Where, O’God, would we be without You?
When Solomon said “don’t take to heart everything people say” he was reminding us that people sometimes say too much, more than they truly feel. Help us to speak less and to mean more when we do speak and to never say harmful things when they are better unsaid. And when people do say things that are critical, help us not take it to heart but to return kindness when it is not expected or deserved. That is what You have done for us Jesus. You have extended kindness that exceeds understanding when we were yet in our sin. Can we do less for others? 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: cursing, Father, Forgiven, God, Jesus, Lord, pit, Psalm 28:1-2, Solomon, supplications
Posted in Christianity, Forgiven, Religion, peace, wisdom | No Comments »
Sunday, May 19th, 2013
Hope, May 19
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Titus 2:11-14, www.solascriptura.com
Father, sometimes we wonder what happens to those who have never heard the Gospel. You provide the answer in the first verse, above. The Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. You have taught us that our intuitive knowledge of salvation, our sense of right and wrong, is a gift from You. You have also taught us that it is Your desire that all men be saved. Since all means all, we take heart in Your stated hope for our souls.
We thank You Father for sending the Holy Spirit to encourage us and strengthen our resolve to do the right thing. That fact, along with the forgiveness of all confessed sin, due to the redemptive power of Jesus, means we will be without excuse if we say “but I did not know”.
Help us, today, to pursue a continual and personal relationship with You, in every circumstance. 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: denying, God, Godly, grace, Hope, lusts, men, purify, redeem, righteously, salvation, Savior, soberly, teaching, ungodliness, worldly, zealous
Posted in God's Gift, Hope, Law of God, Perseverance, Religion, faith, salvation | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
Humility, May 15
”Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
”The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
’I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
”And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
”I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:10-14, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we do “works” in Your name of all kinds and we sometimes we feel proud, when joy would have been a better response. Thank You for teaching us that our heart must be right with You for our works to be blessed. You teach us that humility and contrition must precede our efforts to please You.
Father, we each respond so positively when people praise us that we end up, at times, being tempted to take the credit for that which was intended to glorify You. Teach us today that even good works count for nothing if we act as though they stem from our own resources.
Father, bless our efforts but more importantly help us experience the humility that is indicative of a servant, grateful to be Your friend. Mold us and make us in Your image, afresh, every day. 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: adulterers, breast, exalts, extortioners, fast, God, Heaven, humbled, Humility, merciful, Pharisee, sinner, tax, Temple, tithes, unjust
Posted in Christianity, Humility, Prayer, Religion | 10 Comments »
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 »
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Conscience, May 13
… I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You have taught us that humility and contrition precede repentance and now we see that it is accompanied by sorrow, genuine sorrow for our sins. This sorrow is not the sort of sorrow the world feels about having made mistakes but it is sorrow leading to repentance and to the joy of a changed heart.
You teach us that this sorrow leads to joy, a cleansing of the spirit, a clear conscience, a zeal to serve You and a sense of no longer being guilty, having been vindicated by You Jesus. Father, we are not always successful in forgiving ourselves for our sins. We tend to forget how much You suffered for our sins, taking them upon Yourself at the Cross.
Help us, this day, to know that our sin is as separate from us as the east is from the west, never to be remembered against us again. If You can, after much suffering, push our sins from Your sight, surely we can acknowledge and accept that cleansing.
The Scriptures say “east from west” because once you head east you will never be headed west unless you turn around and return to your sin. Not so, if You had said “north from south”, since if you go north long enough you will eventually be headed south, back to your sin. Thank You for the wisdom of Your Holy word. Keep us in it every day we pray. 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: contrition, Father, fear, Humility, Jesus, joy, repentance, sin, sorrow, zeal
Posted in Christianity, Humility, Inspirtation, Perseverance, Religion, peace, salvation | 1 Comment »
Sunday, May 12th, 2013
Mind of Christ, May 12
… “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah–
”not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.
”For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
”None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
”For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 8:8-13, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we see that the old covenant, based upon the promises to Israel if they obeyed the law (The Ten Commandments), was replaced by the new covenant. Why? You tell us that Israel did not continue in Your covenant. They sinned and You disregarded them. But thank you Father that was not the end, it was the beginning, for Israel and for all Gentiles. You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to live for us and teach us and He died for our sins.
Now every person lives under the new covenant, one in which You have placed Your truth upon our hearts. We no longer need to be taught by man, You are our teacher. We have equal opportunity and status before You. If we but acknowledge our sin to Jesus and ask for His Light to shine upon our hearts, You have promised to remember our sins no more. Thank You Father that the only sacrifice needed forever more, has been made. Atonement, perfect atonement, once and for all.
Help us this day to rejoice over the new covenant, one which permits us to have the mind of Christ, in us. In His precious and Holy name we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Egypt, God, Hebrews 8:8-13, Holy, Israel, Judah, Lord, Mind of Christ, New Covenant, old covenant, sins, The Ten Commandments
Posted in Christianity, Conscience, Mind of Christ, Religion | 1 Comment »
Saturday, May 11th, 2013
Prayer, May 11
God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.
That Your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You.
…pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 67:3, 1Thessalonians 5:17-18, www.solascriptura.com
Father, when You shine Your light upon us You illuminate our hearts and You are truly a light unto our path. Help us never go forward in darkness, without You, Your counsel, and Your love. Father, You give us a clear path of service to you, that Your word might go throughout all the world. We praise You for equipping us to serve You. Help us to move beyond being spectators. Help us move onto the playing field!
We sometimes wonder how You can be so ever present. We know the word, “omnipresence”. Now help us realize how You can have a constant presence in our lives. All nature is a revelation of Your love and we sense Your presence in all that You have created and beyond that, we are accompanied by innumerable angels as we move about. The fact of Your omnipresence, in all things, humbles us and encourages us.
We are asked to pray without ceasing. Teach us this day how to implement that teaching. Help us include You in everything we do and think. It is Your will that we enjoy the fruits of Your Holy presence (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control), constantly. Our fleshly instincts take us in the opposite direction, too often. We seek to be like You, more and more. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, PO Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, counsel, Father, gentleness, God, goodness, Holy, Jesus, joy, kindness, love, patience, peace, pray, Psalms 67:3, self-control, service
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Perseverance, Prayer, Religion | 2 Comments »
Friday, May 10th, 2013
Revenge, May 10
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, we know that You personally taught Paul the wisdom that he brings to us. What a reassuring thing it is to find complete consistency between his words and Yours.
Here we learn that when we are kind and gentle in the face of someone who is angry with us, it confounds them and our kindness, undeserved, actually disarms them. We take no credit for the fruits of the Spirit manifested in our relationships and we do not seek praise from men for being patient and full of self-control.
Teach us today what it means to say, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”. Help us this day to overcome evil with good. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 3395, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: anger, Christ, gentle, Jesus, patient, self-control, Spirit
Posted in Christianity, Religion, Revenge | 18 Comments »