BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2023

  • Judgment begins in God’s house!

    Scripture reading for October 12th: 1st Peter 4, Psalm 54, Proverbs 18

    1st Peter 4: 12-17 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the Name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that Name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?”

    Peter went through some fiery trials himself that tested his faith and he failed on several occasions. Peter wrote to followers of Jesus who were also experiencing trial with words of encouragement and comfort. Peter had learned how to rejoice in the trials and recognize the blessing of God’s grace and glory in his life that sustained him. He had also watched Jesus suffer unjustly and came to understand how God sustained Him. Suffering is part of the trials of walking through this world as a follower of the Lord, Who suffered unjustly because of our sins. We must take time to examine our lives and judge our own hearts, attitudes, and actions in the face of suffering. It is only by God’s grace we overcome.

    Psalm 54:1-3 “O God, save me by Your Name, and vindicate me by Your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves.”

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for the instruction on trials that come to test us as we live for You here on earth. Help me to humbly evaluate each trial and respond through the Spirit of Grace and Glory that You have blessed me with. Help me to judge myself, my attitudes and and actions instead of judging others. I desire to honor You and glorify God as I live under Your authority and Holy Name.

    Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”

  • Laying hold of God’s blessings!

    Scripture reading for October 11th: 1st Peter 3, Psalm 53, Proverbs 17

    1st Peter 3: 8-14 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed.”

    The psalmist stated plainly that we are all ‘fools’ in that we have not understood God’s love or His righteousness and His provision to make us right with Him and a good servant of others. However, in Christ Jesus, we can now know the Father’s love and His mercy in forgiveness of our sins. Because of this, we can now begin to love others. Peter called the brothers to unity of mind, sympathy for those lost and hurting, a tender heart and a gracious attitude towards all. For reviling, believers are called to bless! We use our tongues and breath to bring God’s grace to all. In doing so, we reap what we sow! Blessings come back to us in waves of God’s love and approval. Even if we suffer for doing good, God blesses all the more! God is watching His children, and in Christ, they are made righteous and are channels of His blessing to the world! Stay cool, bless and do not curse!

    Psalm 53:1-3 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”

    Prayer: Father God, You alone watch each person’s heart. Thank You for knowing all about us and still loving us enough to show mercy through Your Son. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and empower me today afresh to bless others You bring into my life. Help me to stay in unity with Your family and be gentle and tenderhearted towards those hurting or suffering. Give me a cool spirit and understanding of Your ways.

    Proverbs 17:27 “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”

  • Humbly honor all authority!

    Scripture reading for October 10th: 1st Peter 2, Psalm 52, Proverbs 16

    1st Peter 2: 13-19 “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using you freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.”

    Peter, the apostle of suffering, calls Christ’s followers to humility and respect for all authority. He looks at the pagan Roman government as part of God’s protective covering, sent by God Himself to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good. God’s people are called to good works as they have been freed from their sin-nature by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. They are now to voluntarily become servants of God and live lives of love and respect towards all men. They are to reflect the grace that they themselves received from God. God’s steadfast love through Jesus Christ enables them to even love those who may enslave them and mistreat them. When enduring suffering, we reflect Jesus’ enduring suffering because of our sins. This is a gracious act that can open the hearts of our persecutors.

    Psalm 52:1 “Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.”

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for this instruction from Peter, Your called Apostle. I sometimes struggle to honor those in authority who are wicked and mistreat those under their authority. Help me to love them and serve as a godly example to my own children and church family. Use me to demonstrate Your grace to me, a sinner, who has been forgiven and now serves You with joy and in faith in Your gracious love.

    Proverbs 16:17-19 “The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

  • Faith and hope in God Alone!

    Scripture reading for October 9th: 1st Peter 1, Psalm 51, Proverbs 15l

    1st Peter 1: 17-21 “And if you call on Him as Father Who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

    God is the judge of all the earth and He has committed all judgment to His Son, Jesus Christ. Judgment will be impartial, with no respect for persons, positions, wealth or fame. All will be judged according to their deeds personally. The only ones able to pass through this judgment will be those who have asked God for mercy for their misdeeds or sins. He alone is able to pay the penalty for those sins and pardon us on the basis that we have by faith received His offer of mercy through the ransom paid–His sin-free blood! This is the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, made known to all in these last times. God raised His Son from the dead and seated Him on the throne. He knows His own and has blotted out the record of their sins, never to be remembered again! Amen!

    Psalm 51:1-2 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!”

    Prayer: Father God, have mercy on me, according to Your steadfast covenant of love and mercy through the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Only You can forgive sin and wash me clean and purge the record of my sins. I receive Your gift of righteousness and the Holy Spirit to form me in new creation in the image of Your Son. My faith and hope are in Jesus Christ, Alone! Open my lips in Gospel praise!

    Proverbs 15:9-10 “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness. There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.”

  • A good testimony!

    Scripture reading for October 6th: 3rd John, Psalm 50, Proverbs 14

    3rd John: 9-14 “I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.”

    John calls out two people in this short letter by name. One he warns for evil in speaking lies against John and hindering the support of godly ministers. Diotrephes was self-centered and rebellious towards God’s established authority. John warned that he would confront him openly when he arrived. The other person, Demetrius, had received a good testimony from the believers and church leaders. Demetrius was following the Truth, as taught in Jesus Christ. John also testified that this was truth. John asked the believers not to imitate evil, but imitate good. This imitation was not to be a show, but come from a true relationship with Jesus Christ and obedience to Truth. John desired to come and be with them face to face to fully work through these matters with love and grace. He greeted them and asked the church leaders to greet each person by name, speaking God’s peace over them.

    Psalm 50:5-6 “”Gather to Me My faithful ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is judge!” Selah

    Prayer: Father God, Your testimony about me is the most important. But I know that my life impacts my spouse, my family, other believers, and those in the world I live in. May I not just imitate what is good, but do good from a healthy relationship with You and those I live with. I have made a covenant with You through the sacrifice of Your Son, Who is my righteousness. May He testify for me at the Judgment!

    Proverbs 14:11-12 “The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

  • Tough love!

    Scripture reading for October 5th: 2nd John, Psalm 49, Proverbs 13

    2nd John:6-11 “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”

    John’s short letter continues his emphasis on walking in the love of God through obedience, the highest form of worship. The believers must guard against deception and continue to walk in the truth of the Gospel of grace through faith. The deceivers that attacked the church John wrote to were denying that Jesus was truly human and came to earth in the flesh. This teaching undermines the Gospel and leads people away from truth. Those who come to believe this heresy do not know God and are in danger of eternal damnation. It is a serious issue. John warned these believers not to receive these false workers into their homes or even to greet them. To do so was to share in their deception. This is tough love designed to protect believers from deception. Prayer for those caught up in this is still our privilege.

    Psalm 49:15 “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me.”

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for these clear instructions and warning against those who falsely teach against the virgin birth and Jesus, Son of Man and Son of God. Have mercy on those in this darkness and turn them again to the light of truth. May Your pastors and church elders and deacons teach the uncompromised Word of Truth and bring protection to the flock of Jesus Christ.

    Proverbs 13:17-18 “A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.”

  • Victory in Jesus!

    Scripture reading for October 4th: 1st John 5, Psalm 48, Proverbs 12

    1st John 5:1-5 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world–our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one that believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?”

    John has a way of making salvation and new birth very simple and easy to understand. He states simply that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. To believe means to have faith. Faith is the confident trust that Jesus Christ is God’s Son Who came to earth to save us from our sins as the ‘Messiah’–‘Anointed One’. If we believe that Jesus is the Christ, we love other children of God and we love God. We demonstrate our faith by acting on what God has said, pleasing Him, and turning away from all that God hates. Through faith, by grace, we overcome the world and the god of this world. By faith we love God and obey His commandments with joy because they are not burdensome, but a delight!

    Psalm 48:12-14 “Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.”

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us in obeying Your Word and loving You and others each day. Thank You for Your righteousness, that I might be a guide to my neighbor in love of his soul. Use me to tell the next generation that God is my God forever and ever! I claim victory over the world, flesh, and devil through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, my Savior and King!

    Proverbs 12:26 “One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

  • King of love

    Scripture reading for October 3rd: 1st John 4, Psalm 47, Proverbs 11

    1st John 4: 7-12 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.”

    John, the ‘beloved’ disciple, calls Christ’s followers “beloved!” He proclaims that God is love and that all who love are born of God and know God. Those without love do not know God. God made His love known to us through His Son. Jesus Christ came into the world that we might have life through His sacrificial death! We would not even know love if God had not made it visible to us in Christ. Since God loved us through giving Himself for us, we have an obligation to love one another. When we love one another, God abides in us and makes Himself visible to others and perfects His love in us. Hail King Jesus, King of Love!

    Psalm 47:4-7 “He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom He loves. God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!”

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for showing us what love looks like through Your Son! Thank You that we have a King Who loves us and abides with us through His Holy Spirit. Thank You for the privilege of knowing Your love and sharing that love with my family and brothers and sisters. I long for Your love to be perfected in me when the trumpet sounds and You return and take me to dwell in Your presence!

    Proverbs 11:10-11 “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.”

  • Loving in deed and truth

    Scripture reading for October 2nd: 1st John 3, Psalm 46, Proverbs 10

    1st John 3: 16-18 “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

    Jesus revealed to us God’s amazing love in His total obedience to His Father in laying down His life for us, even when we were yet sinners like Jacob of old. John encouraged Christ’s followers to not just say that they love the brethren, but to show that love in practical means. If your brother or sister is hungry and you have food, share with them. True love is demonstrated by loving acts of service, not by judging and closing of the heart towards the needy, regardless of their spiritual state. God is now living in us by the Holy Spirit and will lead us to deeds of love done in truth. God is working now to make wars and strife between brothers and sisters to cease. If we heed His instruction, we are truly on the path of life.

    Psalm 46:7-9 “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire.”

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for showing us what love looks like in the sacrifice of Your Son on our behalf. Help me to apply this love I have received through the Holy Spirit living in me. Direct me in acts of love towards the hurting, poor, orphans, and widows. Soften my heart as I open it to You to make me more like Your Son in laying down my life for others.

    Proverbs 10:17-18 “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.”

  • Choosing a firm foundation!

    Scripture reading for September 29th: 1st John 2, Psalm 45, Proverbs 9

    1st John 2: 15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

    There is a war going on for the affections of mankind. We are born centered on ourselves. We love ourselves and want anything that pleases us. The world appeals to the desires of our flesh and whatever pleases our eyes or body, just like a seductive woman appealing to a simple man. John, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, warned believers against loving the world. This world is temporary and passing away. We can’t love the world and love God our Father. There is no room for both. Wisely choose to love God, Whose throne is forever and ever! When we love God, we embrace righteousness and choose to love God and do His will! We depart from wickedness and that which is passing away to embrace the eternal!

    Psalm 45:6-7 “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.”

    Prayer: Father God, give me discernment today concerning the seductions of this world and its appeal for my affections. I choose to love God alone and be faithful to do His will and worship Him alone. Anoint me with the oil of gladness today that those in the world might be drawn to ask me the reason for my hope and joy. I will share with them the Good News of a Savior, Christ the Lord, Whose joy is mine!

    Proverbs 9:13-118 “The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, and her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”