BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2019

  • Seasoned with salt!

    Scripture reading for September 11th:  Colossians 4, Psalm 32, Proverbs 28

    Key Scriptures: Colossians 4:2-6 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it, with thanksgiving.  At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the Word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison–that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, making the best use of the time.  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

    Paul’s final instructions contained a call to prayer for the church and for him and his ministry as a prisoner in a Roman jail.  He never asked to get out, but for open doors for God’s Word and boldness to declare the mystery of Christ Jesus the Lord.  He wanted to make it clear and know when to speak and what to say to each person, not wasting any precious time.  Watchful prayers and faithful witnessing will bring God-directed results!

    Faith Confession:  Lord, help me to watch and pray for missionaries and evangelists who are preaching the Word.  Give me open doors and boldness as I preach Your unchanging Word.  Season my speech with the saltiness of the Gospel.

    Proverbs 28:20 “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”  

     

  • The Word Dwells Richly in Me!

    Scripture reading for September 10th:  Colossians 3, Psalm 31, Proverbs 27

    Key Scriptures:  Colossians 3:14-17 “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”  

    God is Love.  Love is a basic covering for those in Christ Jesus.  When we live in love, there is harmony and peace in our hearts and between other believers.  Thankfulness and faith go hand in hand and pleases God.  We can easily be thankful when we let Christ’s unchanging Word dwell in our hearts and flow through us to inform our actions and to share with others.  God’s Word is wisdom, melody of song, and rich instruction for hungry hearts.

    Faith Confession:  I am clothed with love as I am filled with the Holy Spirit.  God’s peace fills my heart and I seek to allow the Word of God to dwell within me and come out of my life and mouth in thanksgiving, praise, and godly instruction in wisdom.

    Psalm 31:19 “Oh, how abundant is Your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!” 

  • Rooted in Christ

    Scripture reading for September 9th:  Colossians 2, Psalm 30, Proverbs 26

    Key Scriptures:  Colossians 2:6-10  ‘Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”  

    The true Gospel message teaches Jesus Christ as Lord of all and as having the fullness of God in human flesh.  There are lots of other philosophies and human traditions that teach something different.  Paul warned the Colossians not to be taken in by anything that did not exalt Jesus Christ as coming as God in human flesh and Lord of all heaven and earth.  We must go deeper in knowing Christ Jesus and overflow with thanksgiving that we have a God who understands human weakness.

    Faith Confession:  I am thankful that Jesus Christ our Lord came as a human man and showed me the fullness of God.  I desire to be deeply rooted in Christ and built up in my faith concerning His wisdom, divine power, holiness, righteousness, and preeminence over all authority.

    Proverbs 26:12  “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

     

  • Ascribe to the Lord Glory Due Him!

    Scripture reading for September 6th: Colossians 1, Psalm 29, Proverbs 25

    Key Scriptures:  Colossians 1:15-19 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through Him and in Him all things hold together.  And He is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might  be preeminent.  For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell . . .”

    Jesus Christ was and is the image of God in human form.  He was before all things and by Him all things were created.  He is the head of all authority and the head of the Church, His body.  He is the first to rise from the dead and takes the first place over all in the created world  by God the Fathers design.  He is worthy of our worship, praise, adoration and obedience.

    Faith Confession:  I worship and honor Jesus Christ as the One preeminent over the whole of creation and as the Head of the Church, His Body.  Jesus Christ reflects God’s fullness to me and the world.

    Psalm 29:1-2  “Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” 

  • Give and God will supply!

    Scripture reading for September 5th:  Philippians 4, Psalm 28, Proverbs 24

    Key Scriptures:  Philippians 4:17-20 “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.  I have received full payment, and more.  I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.  And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

    Paul closed his letter to the Philippians thanking them for sharing and sending offerings to help him.   They were one of the only churches to do so at this time.  He had received their gift and expressed his thanks, stating that they were “a fragrant offering” and they pleased God as well.  He also shared that their gifts would increase the fruit of souls won and reached and that would also credit to their account.  In turn, they could count on God meeting all their needs through Christ’s unfathomable riches!  Amen!

    Faith Confession:  I choose to be generous and give to the work of our Lord, tithes and offerings.  I am thankful for fruit that will bring glory to our Lord Jesus.  My God will supply all my needs if I am generous towards His kingdom.

    Proverbs 24:3-4 “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”    

     

  • Straining for the Prize!

    Scripture reading for September 4th:  Philippians 3, Psalm 27, Proverbs 23

    Key Scriptures: Philippians 3:12-16 “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.  But one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and straining  to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”

    Paul was in the later years of his life and ministry.  He had walked with Jesus through many trials and tribulations and seen many miracles and spiritual victories.  But he knew that he was not perfect and had not arrived.  He kept his focus forward, not backward.  He knew that the best was yet to come and to focus on knowing and seeing Jesus when He returned would keep him and those he oversaw moving in the right direction.

    Faith Confession:  I choose daily to focus on Jesus Christ, placing Him first in all things.  I purpose to leave the past behind me and set an example for others by pressing on to know Jesus Christ, Who saved me by His atoning sacrifice.

    Psalm 27:4  “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.”

     

  • The mind of Christ is mine!

    Scripture reading for September 3rd:  Philippians 2, Psalm 26, Proverbs 22

    Key Scriptures: Philippians 2:3-8 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

    Our thinking and values determine how we behave.  When we are born again through faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit brings the mind of Christ into us and makes it available.  The Holy Spirit takes God’s Word and reveals it to us and it is up to us to meditate on it, obey it and make it our own.  Our actions will follow the example of Christ Jesus Himself–a servant, even unto death for the needs of others.

    Faith Confession:  I believe I have the mind of Christ Jesus available to me through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  My thinking is now in line with God’s Word and I find delight in obeying and applying it to my life in order to reflect Christ to others and delight my Savior!

    Proverbs 22:17-18  “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to My knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.”    

     

  • Blameless on the Day of Christ!

    Scripture reading for September 2nd: Philippians 1, Psalm 25, Proverbs 21

    Key Scriptures:  Philippians 1:9-11  “And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

    Paul was always praying for those who had come to Christ Jesus through the Gospel message.  The Gospel message was a doorway that opened up to new birth and growth in Christ-likeness.  Paul prayed that their love would grow incrementally along with their understanding of God’s Word and holy character.  The goal was seeing all the believers declared blameless on the day of Christ’s judgment.  He wanted all believers to have rewards that brought praise to God.

    Faith Confession:  Lord, thank You for praying for me and writing down this prayer for Your Church.  Help me to become a man of prayer for other believers with the goal that all would stand blameless through Jesus Christ at His judgment seat.

    Psalm 25:4 “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.”    

    Psalm 25:21 “May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”  

  • Enjoy the promised blessings!

    Scripture reading for August 30th:  Ephesians 6, Psalm 24, Proverbs 20

    Key Scriptures: Ephesians 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

    Faithfulness to Christ involves all ages and begins in the family.  The family is ordained by God to train and discipline children.  To please God, children must honor their parents and obey them.  This foundation will lead to a life of God’s blessing and a long life.  Fathers are to take care not to treat children harshly and provoke anger, but to instruct them in the things of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

    Faith Confession:  Father, thank You for Your patient instruction and discipline of all Your children and the promise of eternal life!  Help me to continue to instruct my children and grandchildren in the fear and love of our heavenly Father, that they might be blessed and have eternal life.

    Proverbs 20:7  “The righteous who walks in his integrity–blessed are his children after him.”  

    Proverbs 20:11 “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.”  

     

     

  • Paths of Righteousness!

    Scripture reading for August 29th:  Ephesians 5, Psalm 23, Proverbs 19

    Key Scriptures:  Ephesians 5:8-11 ” . . for at one time you were darkness, but now your are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”  

    All believers were once sinners, walking in darkness and doing deeds of those who live in darkness and ignorance of God’s will.  But now believers have been made “children of light” and are called to walk in the light of God’s Word and life.  We are to study God’s Word to find out what pleases Him and do that.  We are to expose the darkness by letting our light shine brighter each day as we follow our Good Shepherd in His paths of righteousness.

    Faith Confession:  I am light in the world because Christ lives in me.  As I walk in the light of Christ’s love and Word, I please God and expose the fruitless deeds of darkness that I once lived in.

    Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.”