gotandem "Their Redeemer is Strong" for Thursday, 10 November 2016

gotandem "Their Redeemer is Strong" for Thursday, 10 November 2016
Don't cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don't take the land of defenseless orphans. For their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.[Proverbs 23:10-11]
Have you ever taken advantage of someone who could be considered defenseless?
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"Vanishing Mist"
Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.[Proverbs 21:6]
Have you ever lied to get what you want?
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"A King's Protection"


Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love. [Proverbs 20:28]
What do you think this means?
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"What is Sin?"
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.[Ephesians 2:1-3]
Sin means, "to miss the mark." You have had thoughts that were embarrassingly sinful. You have said things that hurt others. You have done things you knew were wrong. Maybe you were caught and punished. Maybe no one saw your misdeed. It doesn't matter. You know and God knows that you sinned.
Sin is more than making mistakes or disobeying some rules. Sin means that you miss the mark of God's perfect standard. Sin takes many forms including rebellion, disobedience, selfishness, corrupt and immoral behavior, and indifference toward God. When Adam and Eve sinned, the human race was infected (Romans 5:12).

Like poison at the beginning of a stream contaminates the entire stream, so sin from Adam and Eve flows through the stream of humanity. We don't become sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. Every person is born with a sin nature that leads to sin and the judgment of God (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-18)
Sin can be placed into two broad categories: omission and commission. Sins of omission are the things we know we should do but refuse to do them. Sins of commission are the things we know to be wrong but do anyway. The Bible says, "If anyone, then knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is a sin for them" (James 4:17). At the end of the day whether your sins are of commission or omission, you miss the mark of the glory of God.
How does the image of “missing the mark” help you recognize sin?
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"You are a Sinner"
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.[Romans 3:23]
You are a sinner. That statement may seem uncaring, even offensive. Think of it this way: What would you think of a doctor who said that you were fine when he knew you were very sick? Holding the reports of a growing cancer, he said "That pain and fatigue you are experiencing, are nothing. Don't worry about it." Certainly, you would be angered that the doctor lied to you; that he refused to tell you the truth and offer a treatment for your illness.
In the same way, each person is sick with sin. The Bible says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The Father loves you too much to say, "It's nothing, don't worry about it." He wants you to know the problem and the remedy.
How is sin like sickness?
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"In the Beginning the Word…"
Read
"In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. . . . So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father" (John 1:1-3, 14).
Reflect
It’s easy for me to forget that Jesus is God. I mean, I always know somewhere in a deep hidden part of my brain that obviously Jesus is God, but I don’t think of Him that way all the time. Savior? Yep. Man? Sure. But God? Yeah, not normally.
I think it’s because I have nothing to compare it to. God becoming man didn't happen before Jesus and it hasn't happened since. That being said, I still don't give it the significance that it's due. The fact that God himselfcame to earth in the form of a man and lived among us…it's appropriately mind boggling. And I can't help but think that if I thought of Christ this way more often, my life would start looking different.
Respond
Take this week to see how the fact that Jesus was both 100% God and 100% human affects your life.
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"Snow in Summer"
Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.[Proverbs 25:13]
Are you trustworthy?
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"No Matter Who You Are"

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.[Colossians 3:11]
Do you struggle with discrimination?
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"While there is Hope"
Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.[Proverbs 19:18]
How can you ruin your children's lives by not disciplining them?
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"Proud of Paul"
Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.[2 Corinthians 1:14]
Are you living a life that's worthy of being proud of?
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"Just Because You Can"
Don't rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.[Proverbs 22:22-23]
Be a champion of those who need help.
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"Don't Despise Commandments"
Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.[Proverbs 19:16]
Don't despise God's word.
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"Wisdom and Righteousness"

Click here to listen
What goes together like milk and cookies? How about wisdom and righteousness? Here's today's Bible Minute.
What we want to do is increase our understanding of God and our fear of God by increasing our knowledge of God. We do that in the Word of God. Wisdom comes from God. It says in Proverbs 2:6-7, "The LORD gives wisdom. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright." You know what I learn from this? I expect wisdom and righteous living to go hand in hand. Wisdom is always transferable to the way you live. It always shows that you understand you're living in a way that pleases God and benefits you. Wisdom is hands-on. It is practical. God dispenses wisdom to the righteous.
So, does your life reflect real wisdom?
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"Keeping His Eye On Both"
The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.[Proverbs 15:3]
Does this make you nervous?
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