Wisdom from the Word

Ask God for wisdom in applying His Word as you read the Bible. You'll find that God's advice is just as relevant today as it ever was.

We certainly must be reading God's Word on a regular basis, but reading alone is not enough. The Bible is far more than a book.

We need to ask God for wisdom to read with understanding, knowledge and thoughtfulness. Also we must have a heart set to obey and apply the truths we read. We want to actively incorporate the things God allows us to see.

Then God's Word will surely be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

God Bless You

Dennis

Watermelon Devotion

Believe it or not, the watermelon can cause us to think about our faith! If we find that we are always trying to figure out how God does the things he does, our attitude toward God may be off. While on earth, we will never be able to explain many of the things God does. We must be content to leave His actions with the fact that He is God. Then we must believe His Word and obey it.

So marvel at the watermelon, be amazed at Jericho and let God be God.

http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/devotion.php/lessons/272

Dennis

Thursday email test

As you certainly can tell, I am a newbie with blogging and websites. In reviewing my setup for this
blog, I came across the option of using email to submit a blog entry. This may be helpful next week
since I will be away from my normal computer.

So here it is! Hope it looks OK!

Have a great day,
Dennis

and many believed in Him

John 8:30
As he was saying these things, many believed in him. ESV

On this verse, Matthew Henry says the following:

"Here is the good effect which this discourse of Christ's had upon some of his hearers: As he spoke these words many believed on him.

Note, 1. Though multitudes perish in their unbelief, yet there is a remnant according to the election of grace, who believe to the saving of the soul. If Israel, the whole body of the people, be not gathered, yet there are those of them in whom Christ will be glorious, Isa. 49:5.

This the apostle insists upon, to reconcile the Jews' rejection with the promises made unto their fathers. There is a remnant, Rom. 11:5. 2. The words of Christ, and particularly his threatening words, are made effectual by the grace of God to bring in poor souls to believe in him. When Christ told them that if they believed not they should die in their sins, and never get to heaven, they thought it was time to look about them, Rom. 1:16, Rom. 1:18. 3.

Sometimes there is a wide door opened, and an effectual one, even where there are many adversaries. Christ will carry on his work, though the heathen rage. The gospel sometimes gains great victories where it meets with great opposition. Let this encourage God's ministers to preach the gospel, though it be with much contention, for they shall not labour in vain. Many may be secretly brought home to God by those endeavours which are openly contradicted and cavilled at by men of corrupt minds."

Salvation depends upon the grace of God and the effectual working of the Holy Spirit in accord with the Word of God. Today, as we think of our salvation (are you saved?) let us praise our Great and Sovereign God for His grace that first works in us, for the Holy Spirit that sheds the divine light in our very dark and dead hearts, and for the glorious Word (both living and written) that helps us to see all that God the Father is doing for us.

May God Bless You,
Dennis

Simple Truths

Simple Truths

Speaking of believing in Him, here are some basic verses that all Christians can relate to. Listening to my daughter read these the other night reminded me just how beautiful these Sacred Words are.

Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:10

If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand? Psalm 130:3

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

…. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved …. Acts 16:31

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36

I hope this review of some simple truths was helpful to you.

God Bless You,
Dennis

Many Believed in Him

John 8:30 ESV
"As He was saying these things, many believed in Him."

Not only was Jesus saying those things found in verses 28 and 29, but the context of this verse would include many other things earlier in Chapter 8. Some of these are listed here:

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (8:7)
“Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.” (8:16)
“You know neither me nor my Father.” (8:19)
“I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” (8:21)
“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (8:24)

Jesus spoke the truth very directly to those who were present. Sometimes the truth sounds hard to us. Their responses to Him indicate that many did not understand, but some believed in Him.

God Bless You,
Dennis

Then you will know that I am He...

John 8:28 ESV
So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

Returning now to John 8, and having looked at Jesus being lifted up, let's focus on Jesus statement in the second part of the verse. The events before, during and after the crucifixion did cause many Jews to see that Jesus is the true Messiah. Most of them would not admit that, but in their consciences they knew. Jesus specified two things they would know:

1. He did nothing of himself, which is another way of saying He is not a false prophet (those who prophesy out of their own hearts, as opposed to those who speak forth God's truth).

2. He spoke the things the Father taught Him. Not only was He not acting on His own, but He was committed to the truth received from the Father. The doctrine preached by Jesus was the counterpart (not the replacement for) the counsels of God. Jesus spoke truth from the Father that complemented and completed the truth spoken by the Father prior to coming of the Messiah. Because of this, Jesus taught with divine power and authority.

When Jesus spoke the truths of His Father, He did not need to qualify or justify those words. Neither was the validity of those words dependent upon Him (although they could have been since He is the perfect one). Those words were fully saturated with divine power and authority because they were God's words. Words backed up by the all the attributes of God.

God Bless You,

Dennis

The Bronze Serpent

Numbers 21:4-9 ESV

4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." 9 So Moses made a bronze F37 serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Yesterday I referenced the account of Moses and the bronze serpent from the Book of Numbers. I thought I better put the actual text up here to make sure my postings are accurate.

It is good to take note of the behavior that brought about this situation: impatience, speaking against God and Moses, complaining and grumbling about the food.

Today, let us not complain against God and the provision He has made for us. Also let us not ignore Him and His commands.

God Bless You
Dennis

Lifted Up

"So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me." John 8:28 (ESV)

Referring to John 8:28, Jesus told the Jews that they would better understand once Jesus was lifted up. What does it mean that Jesus will be lifted up? In John 3:14 Jesus is talking with Nicodemus and states that He will be lifted up and He uses the picture of Moses raising the serpent on the pole. (If you remember back in Numbers 21, the people of Israel are being attacked by poisonous snakes. People continue to fall until Moses, in obedience to God, places a larger serpent on a pole and raises it up. When the people obey and look upon the serpent being lifted up, they are saved.) In John 12:32, Jesus references Himself being lifted up and saving men. Finally, in John 19 Jesus is actually lifted up on the cross.

Just like the sacrifices under the law were referred to as being lifted up or elevated, so is Christ the great sacrifice lifted up.

In another sense the lifting up of Christ can be seen as exaltation. The culmination of His perfect obedience to the Father was completed on the cross. His work was finished and He was ready to return to His heavenly home.

When you think about Christ today, remember that he not only was lifted up, as a victorious sacrifice, but He forever remains lifted up as He sits at the right hand of God the Father.
Our Saviour is truly Victor. May we have faith to believe it. Lift your eyes to the cross!

God bless you,
Dennis

John 8:28-30 ESV

So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."
As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

Comment: Jesus lived His life in subjection to the authority of His Father, He enjoyed sweet fellowship with His Father and He lived to please His Father.

Today: Let us be subject to God's authority, reminding ourselves of the relationship purchased by the blood of Christ and being ready to live for His pleasure.

Update

Welcome back to my blog. The blogging universe is very wide and varied. There are so many types of blogs, so many different approaches, so many purposes and the depth of content goes from light and trivial to very deep.

I intend to put up a profile. I think if folks have some idea about who I am they will be more comfortable to post on the site.

Eventually this blog will have worthwhile content, it will have visitors and it will have purpose. In the meantime I will take advantage of this strange phenomena of writing off into space. As far as I know there is no one reading this, so I cannot write to my audience. It's just me and the computer - so watch out.

In addition to this blogging effort (which is still a newborn), I am spending some time over at BlogFeast. My username there is djbtol and this link will take you there.

If you want to try your hand at blogging, and maybe make some money, go ahead and sign up. I'll be glad to show you the ropes as you get to know the system.

Dennis

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The Beginning

You have to start somewhere, and that somewhere is the very beginning. There is going to be a learning curve here, and I need to make some decisions about what I want to accomplish with this blog.

Just the same - glad to be here and looking forward to it.