WHEREVER WHENEVER

WHEREVER WHENEVER

Friday, November 09, 2018

   Mark [GW] 16:15 Then Jesus said to them, "So wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News.

   Acts 1:7-8 Jesus told them, "You don't need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

  Leslie Nivens is 90 years of age but vibrantly young at heart. A widow of 28 years. A nurse that in her lifetime served in various fields, including where the guns of war were heard and the effect on persons and properties was seen. Leslie lives in a Super 8 Motel in Carthage, Missouri. I met her there at breakfast. Correction: By habitually obedient Mark 16:15 intent she met me there. Sharing a bit of her testimony she then gifted me with 2 books she has written. Why Whine? and From My Heart, Daily Devotions, both telling of her life walking with our Lord.

  Arriving home in Nebraska several thousand miles later I emailed Leslie requesting permission to air her writings as DAILY THOUGHTS (DTs). As expected, Leslie agreed.

  Look forward to being edified by Leslie’s insightful words honoring and glorifying the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

EBB4

ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION?

ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION?

Thursday, November 08, 2018

   Psalm GW 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Good sense is shown by everyone who follows God's guiding principles. His praise continues forever.

   Luke 19:10-13 [Jesus said] For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to [later] return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

  1John 4:13-18 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

  One day I received the question “Did Jesus name the anti-Christ?” accompanied by information ostensibly identifying the present president of the USA as that person.

  For centuries people and groups have supposedly figured out who the anti-Christ is or will be, and deciding and stating exactly when Jesus is returning. (Was any USA president not purported as being the anti-Christ by one or more contemporary prophets?),

  And to what end? Did all those past calculations honor and glorify the kingdom of God? (Mt.6:33-34)

  Would such precisely knowing add one iota to my or your Christian being? (Mt.6:27) Would such information increase faith (Lk.17:5-10) or exemplify 2Timothy 2:15 education, edification, attribution, or approval?

  Or, could such efforts subtract from Christian function through distraction from existing known Biblical exhortation toward personal responsibility? Would seeing our president as being the anti-Christ contribute to a renewed beginners fear (Pr.9:10) contrary to God’s instruction (1Cor.13) and provision for banishing anxiety (1Pet.5:7-8; 1Jn.4:18).

  Doesn’t our King equip us? Hasn’t He instructed simply “Occupy until I come.”?

  Dear brothers and sisters, pursue such questions His return, the rapture, if you will, I condemn you not, but I do urge you to be aware that the important question is not knowing who the anti-Christ is or will be. The important question is what adds to or subtracts from our Christian function?

 EBB4

PS. For further study type “day” and “hour” into your concordance search and read in the Gospels what Jesus says about His return.

CORRECTIVE APPLICATION

CORRECTIVE APPLICATION

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

   Romans [ESV] 12:1-3 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

   2Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

  Scriptural correction personally accepted results in our beneficial redirection that pleases God as an act of worship.

  Scriptural correction of others should only be presented to others when the aforementioned personal application is practiced (Lk.6:39-42), always doing so respectfully with gentleness sans judgmentalism. (1Cor.4:14-21)

  Being an Acts 17:10-11 studious Berean will sharpen our eyes and ears to recognizing false teachings that misguide others. Recently while traveling I heard an eloquent well delivered sermon that included non-Scriptural teaching. The preacher stated that our ideas will often be in conflict with God’s ideas. God does not have or get ideas. The Bible is not a book of concepts. God’s Word is absolute truth! (Ps.19:7-14; Jn.17:17)

  I wonder how many of that congregation is adversely effected by that pastor’s idea that God has ideas?

EBB4

UNTHWARTED

UNTHWARTED

Tuesday, November 06, 2018

   Joshua [ESV] 24:15  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

   Job 42:1-2 Then Job answered the LORD and said: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

   Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

   Psalm 103:1 … O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

   2Peter 3:8-9 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. [Mt.18:14]

  Lord God Almighty, the Sovereign Master has a master plan. His master plan has not, will not be altered by anything we or Satan as individual or group do. This includes action or non-action, rebellion or disregard. Our blessed compliance is a matter of choice; a theme throughout Scripture. Queen Esther is an example of opportunity to serve or not. (Est.4:14) Have you not neglected or rejected opportunity and later discovered the blessing you didn’t give or receive? Or even sadly discovered your missed opportunity was a “coulda, woulda, shoulda” event?  I have.

EBB4

SOVEREIGN REDIRECTION

SOVEREIGN REDIRECTION

Monday, November 05, 2018

Job [ESV] 42:1-2  Then Job answered the LORD and said: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

  God the Father, Holy Spirit, and Son are All-wise. This is forever true and was so during Jesus brief time physically upon this earth. Being a fact about the Trinity our ideas and questions will often be redirected by the Father, His indwelling Holy Spirit, or, as recorded, by the Father’s “only begotten Son”, Lord Jesus Christ.

  In John chapter 3 Nicodemus credited Jesus in a limited way as he inquired about our Lord’s identity. Jesus redirected the conversation to all men’s need to trust in Him as Savior . . . and in doing so also answered Nicodemus’s identity question, additionally making the point that though a wise teacher, Nicodemus lacked critical knowledge and wisdom.

  In Mark chapter 10 is recorded the incident of the ruler that asked Jesus the direct question “… what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Here again Jesus redirected the conversation to laying up treasures in heaven, and offered him a followship apprenticeship while explaining that wealth is a major hindrance for many rich people.

  Now, have you personally ever prayerfully asked God a question with the result being His All-wise redirection? If so please contribute your story for Daily Thoughts publication so as to honor and glorify God and edify me and others.

To serve Him all our days,

EBB4

THOUGH NOT A HEBREW

THOUGH NOT A HEBREW

Friday, November 02, 2018

   Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

   2Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

  More than once I’ve heard some variation of the following, “I’m not a Hebrew so that book is not written to me. Either way it’s confusing anyhow!”

  All of God’s Word is edifying and applicable to one and all whatever we think we are.

  Hebrews is very much about Jesus as High Priest. (2:17; 3;1; 4:14-15; 5:1, 5, 10; 6:20; 7:1, 26; 8:1, 3; 9:7, 11, 25; 10:21; 13:11) The book tells much about God’s provision and as is themed throughout Scripture that we are responsible to personally acquire knowledge of and exercise any and all wisdom gained. God does not spoon or force feed. Even manna and quail as the result of grumbling must be gathered and eaten fresh.

  One of my wise mentors once again encouraged me to use Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to find all of the “rest” verses in Hebrews. Doing so and reading in immediate context and then the entire book and then considering in the truth of the greater text (All Scripture) was enlightening.

  Knowing that godliness includes not being a spoon feeder  but as Paul did with Timothy, equip and urge to responsibly study, here I provide from KJV the “rest” verses. Prayerfully … In your personal Bible read them, read them in immediate context, read them in the context of Hebrews, consider the message in light of all Scripture (making use of topical and chain reference if your Bible has these helps). Go beyond intellect and quietly allow God’s Holy Spirit to speak to you. (2Tim.3:7)

  Hebrews 3:11, 18  So I [God] sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) … And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

  4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

  4:3-5  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

  4:8-11  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

  Finally, as a mentor said, “A hammock will never come to us. We must go to it and it does take our effort to get there and rest thereupon”

EBB4

OVERRULING GOD

OVERRULING GOD

Thursday, November 01, 2018

Philemon 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [“Lord Jesus Christ” is 85 times in 82 verses in Scripture (KJV).]

  The word I used yesterday, “prohibition”, is confusing to some so today I’m using “overruling”.

  Is it possible for us to overrule God’s sovereign will? Exercising the free will He endowed us with, yes we can. We do. Adam and Eve did so. We’ve been doing so ever since.

  Understanding why the Father gave us free will may only begin to be understood as a parent; a matter of love it is.

  Only one person never ever overruled God the Father’s will. Lord Jesus Christ. Though Lord Jesus Christ, man who hungered and thirsted in all ways as we do, He by no means or on any account did so. Jesus explained “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (ESV Jn. 5:30) From the Epistle to the Hebrews we learn “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (ESV Heb.4:11-16)

  Knowing the truth about our inclination to overrule God and accepting it unto maturation will please God as an act of reasonable service in worshipping Him. (Rom.12:1-30

EBB4

From Strong’s for the diggers:

“Lord” G2962 κύριος; kurios; koo'-ree-os From κῦρος kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title): - God, Lord, master, Sir.