gotandem "The Advent: Day 5" for Thursday, 1 December 2016
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.[Luke 2:6-7]
Today's Homework: Take a moment today and realize how precious this moment truly was for all of mankind.
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gotandem "To the Pure..."
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.[Titus 1:15]
What does it mean "everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure?"
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gotandem "How We Were"
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.[Titus 3:3]
Can you remember a time when this was true of you?
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gotandem "The Advent: Day 4"
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.[Luke 2:1-5.]
It's amazing how perfect God's plans are. If you remember from a couple days ago, it was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. But that's not where Joseph and Mary lived. So they had to travel to Bethlehem, which even if you're not pregnant, isn't a short trip, and if you are, well…
So here they are ready to have a baby and this census comes along and they find themselves traveling to Bethlehem to be counted while Mary is very, very pregnant. Seems like the worst possible timing, right?
Except that it's not. This road trip is literally setting up the fulfillment of prophecy. Which allows us to draw a really neat parallel. Following God's plans are not always very comfortable. There are times that we'll experience hardships for Jesus. And there are times that he'll ask us to.
As we explored yesterday, God expects a lot from us because His plans are not small. They're huge. And to carry off huge plans, it takes hard work. Sometimes dangerous work. But when the plan is finally carried out, it's 100% worth it. So next time you feel tired and worn out, because let's face it, this life can do that to us, remember this: You are working on plans conceived by the Creator of the universe.
Today's Homework: Write down what God's three biggest expectations for you are.
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gotandem "The Lord is the Spirit"
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.[2 Corinthians 3:17]
What does it mean to have freedom in the Spirit?
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gotandem "Hitting, Wounding or Shooting"
Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.[Proverbs 25:18]
How truthful are you?
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gotandem "The Advent: Day 3"
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”[Luke 1:26-33.]
Hard expectations aren't always bad, but imagine someone came up to you and said, "Hey, your job is to raise the Savior of the world. Oh, also, He's gonna be God, too. Don't mess it up." It seems a little absurd until you realize that is exactly what was being asked of Mary. God literally called her to be the caretaker of the most important person ever born. And she did it. She heard what God said and then obeyed.
So let's think for a moment, because it's really easy to get wrapped up in the idea that the Christian life is just too hard to live, right? Some days, what we're asked to do seems impossible. But God is in the habit of asking the impossible. Because what is impossible to us has always been possible for him. The one who spoke the stars into existence is the same one who tells you "you must be holy because I am holy."
Here's the good news, though. God didn't leave Mary alone. He doesn't give us jobs without giving us the means to complete them. So if life is feeling a little overwhelming, take comfort. God will equip and sustain you for any job he's given you.
Today's Homework: Think about a time that God equipped you to do a job that was too hard for you to do alone.
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gotandem "Detestable Sacrifices"The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.[Proverbs 21:27]
Do you ever try to manipulate God?
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gotandem "Renewing Your Thoughts and Attitudes"
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God--truly righteous and holy.[Ephesians 4:23-24]
Do this today.
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gotandem "Praying for Your Peace"
May God our Father give you grace and peace.[Colossians 1:2]
Pray this for someone today.
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gotandem "The Advent: Day 2"
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.[Matthew 1:18-24.]
Joseph was trying to do the right thing here. He wanted to quietly and respectfully end things with Mary. It's what was done. He had every right to do it, too. His prospective wife had somehow been unfaithful. It's common sense. And then, the angel shows up and turns Joseph's world upside down. He was pulled into a life bigger than his own. And he said yes. (In all fairness, it's kind of hard to say no to an angel standing at the end of your bed, but still.)
This should spark something inside of us. Joseph's call is not unlike ours. Most of us would consider ourselves fairly moral people. We do the things we think are right at the time, but when we come to Christ, we realize what we think is right does not matter. Our lives are part of a bigger plan. We are no longer our own. In 1 Corinthians 6:20 it says that "God bought you with a high price." And from the moment he bought you, he pulled you into a bigger story. Which is a pretty great thing.
Today's Homework: Write a paragraph of how you see yourself fitting into God's bigger story.
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gotandem "Crazy Bowmen"
Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”[Proverbs 26:18-19]
Do you have friends like this? Are you a friend like this?
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gotandem "The Advent: Day 1"
The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us').[Isaiah 7:14]
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.[Micah 5:2]
It's amazing to think that Jesus' coming was anticipated so far in advance. The specific details of where He was going to be born, the life He was going to live, the death He was going to die. All of those things were spoken years before His ancestors were even born. And every day, people were waiting for Him to show up. In fact, there are people who are still waiting for the Messiah, not realizing that He's already been here.
And sometimes, that's what we're like. We don't realize that Christ has come. Or at least, we live like He hasn't come yet. So while you go through this Track, try to keep this in mind. Christ has indeed come, just like He said He would. And that, by itself, is reason to celebrate.
Today's Homework: Take some time to think about how significant God's plans are.
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gotandem "Detesting Double Standards"
The LORD detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.[Proverbs 20:23]
Always be honest.
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gotandem "All the Advice"
Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.[Proverbs 19:20]
Where do you go for advice and instruction?
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gotandem "Avoid Fools"
Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.[Proverbs 14:7]
Have you ever caught yourself in the company of "fools?"
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gotandem "Generously Poured"
He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.[Titus 3:6]
Why was this generous?
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gotandem "The Lady in Red"
While I was at the window of my house,
looking through the curtain,
I saw some naive young men,
and one in particular who lacked common sense.
He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,
strolling down the path by her house.
It was at twilight, in the evening,
as deep darkness fell.
The woman approached him,
seductively dressed and sly of heart.
She was the brash, rebellious type,
never content to stay at home.
She is often in the streets and markets,
soliciting at every corner.
She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
and with a brazen look she said,
"I've just made my peace offerings
and fulfilled my vows.
You're the one I was looking for!
I came out to find you, and here you are!
My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
I've perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning.
Let's enjoy each other's caresses,
for my husband is not home.
He's away on a long trip.
He has taken a wallet full of money with him
and won't return until later this month."
So she seduced him with her pretty speech
and enticed him with her flattery.
He followed her at once,
like an ox going to the slaughter.
He was like a stag caught in a trap,
awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare,
little knowing it would cost him his life.
So listen to me, my sons,
and pay attention to my words.
Don't let your hearts stray away toward her.
Don't wander down her wayward path.
For she has been the ruin of many;
many men have been her victims.
Her house is the road to the grave.
Her bedroom is the den of death.[Proverbs 7: 6-27]
Why is so much time taken to tell this story?
What has your past experience with sexual sin been? How have you overcome it?
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 7"
Being thankful is not really an "if you feel like it" type of deal. It's a command.[1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
So, now that you've spent a week reading about thankfulness, what are you going to do? Are you going to follow the command to be thankful? Or are you going to just let it pass you by? We hope you won't. We pray that you start working on making your life a life of thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to stay subscribed to this track. The next piece of content will show up the week before Christmas.
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gotandem "Water from Your Well"
Drink water from your own well--
share your love only with your wife.
Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
having sex with just anyone?
You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.
Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love.
Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? [Proverbs 5:15-20]
Why is sex outside of marriage so frowned upon?
List the benefits of sex within marriage?
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gotandem "Listen to Your Parents"
My child, listen when your father corrects you.
Don't neglect your mother's instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck. [Proverbs 1:8-9]
Why is God concerned with how we treat our parents?
How difficult is it for you to respect and honor both of your parents? How could you do better?
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gotandem "Suffering for Christ"
We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.[2 Corinthians 6:5]
Have you suffered for Christ? How?
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 6]
To what degree should we be thankful to God? How enthusiastic should we be? Well, as it often does, the Bible has a perfect metaphor for that.
[Jeremiah 33:11]The sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing,
‘Give thanks to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
for the LORD is good.
His faithful love endures forever!’
For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD.
When was the last time you were able to compare the enthusiasm of your gratitude with the pure, breathless joy of someone on their wedding day? And, granted, it is not an easy thing to maintain. But what if, for at least a moment, each week we were able to go back and find this kind of joy again. What if we were able to push the reset button and we were truly able to enjoy who God is and what has done for us just like it was the first time. How would that change us. And how do we get back to it?
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gotandem "For your Benefit"
All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.[2 Corinthians 4:15]
How do you help God's grace reach more and more people?
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gotandem "Unanswered questions"
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Regardless of how we feel, the character of God never changes.
There are things that happen in our lives and all around us that, from our standpoint, just don't make sense. Unanswered questions that leave a hole in our perspective of who God is. We view Him from our experience, which changes from one day to the next.
But unshakable faith does not mean we stop asking questions. Unshakable faith means that in the midst of our emotion we hold on to the immutable character of God. We hold on to truths like this found in Romans 5:8.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
It is that amazing love that transforms the believer's heart and anchors it in the midst of every storm.
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 5"
How excited are we to give thanks to God? On a day to day basis, I mean. Probably not that often, right? Well, then maybe this verse is for you today.
[Psalm 95:2]Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
So go to God with thanksgiving. Bring him all of your praise. And get excited about it. We’re talking about the God of the Universe, Almighty Creator here.
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gotandem "Every Spiritual Blessing"
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.[Ephesians 1:3]
What are some of the spiritual blessings you've received from God?
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gotandem "Only from God"
Read
For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.[(Proverbs 2:6).]
He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.(Daniel 2:21).
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.(James 1:5-8)
Reflect
When I ask God for wisdom, what I'm really asking for is answers. I try to pretend I'm asking for wisdom, but really what I’m doing is asking God to show me the exact right thing to do. Preferably with a visible sign from heaven. But that’s not what God gives. What God gives is wisdom.
Take Solomon for example. God gave him wisdom, but the example we’re given of him using that wisdom isn’t an easy answer (see 1 Kings 3:16-28). He’s given the tools to discover the answer.
And that’s what wisdom is, it’s not an end, but a means to an end. And the more I understand that, the better my understanding of God is.
Respond Take this week and see how you ask for wisdom.
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gotandem "Delighted Eyes"
O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.[Proverbs 23:26]
Are you delighted in doing what's right?
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 4"
Have you ever been around an ungrateful child? It’s not pleasant, is it? But the funny thing is, when someone is grateful for something we’ve done, and they express that gratitude without us even asking, well, that’s something special.
[Psalm 50:23]But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.
God wants us to be proactive about being thankful. It requires a change of our mindset. We need to be aware of our thankfulness.
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gotandem "The Righteous Judge"
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The best judge is a righteous judge. Take a look with the Bible Minute.
There are a good number of verses in the Bible that talk about judgment and talk about Jesus. Jesus Himself said, in Matthew 28:18, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." That means all the authority to judge right from wrong.
Jesus is righteous. He is going to be fair in His judgments. You know there's a great verse in the Old Testament, Genesis 18:25 in fact, that asks the question, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
The answer is, of course He will. If He is judge of all the earth, He has to do right. And if Jesus is God and is the Judge of the Judgment Seat of Christ, we can expect Him to give us a righteous judgment.
You can trust Jesus because He always makes the right call.
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 3"
When was the last time you went to church full of gratitude to God? It’s not easy, is it? We wake up in the morning and have to prepare for worship physically but how often do we take the time to spiritually prepare ourselves before we even walk through the doors?
[Psalm 26:6-7]I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to your altar, O LORD, singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders.
It’s a simple thing to forget in the bustle of getting ready on a Sunday morning, but we need to be thankful coming to church. There is a right way to show up on Sunday, but it can only happen if we start preparing our hearts before we even leave our homes. So let’s start getting grateful early. And not just on Sunday.
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gotandem "The Perfect Judge - 1"
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What qualities make up the perfect judge? Find out today in today's Bible Minute.
If we are to be judged, I would want this Judge to be God, you know? Because God is just. God is holy. God is fair. God is righteous. He's going to do the right thing. I need the kind of judge who has the kind of character and the kind of quality that only God has.
On the other hand, I suppose I'd want this judge to be sympathetic with me. I would want this judge to know what I had gone through. It would be good for this judge to be a human, because if he were a human, he at least would know how tough it was to live the Christian life in the kind of environment that you and I live.
Ideally then I guess this person should be God and man. But where can you find a judge like that, you know? Oh wait, there is one! The God-Man, Jesus Christ!
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gotandem "Fools"
Read
"But sometimes I think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world--to people and angels alike.
"Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you are so wise! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are well thought of, but we are laughed at. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, without enough clothes to keep us warm. We have endured many beatings, and we have no homes of our own. We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We respond gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash--right up to the present moment"(1 Corinthians 4:9-13).
ReflectHere’s the thing. Most of the time, when bad stuff happens to me, it’s my fault. Maybe not directly, but somewhere down the line, I probably did something that caused the circumstances I’m wallowing in. I rarely (super emphasis on the 'rare') suffer for Jesus.
Maybe it’s because I’m not dedicated enough, but whatever the reason, I complain too much about circumstances I've caused as opposed to focusing on the things in life that are actually important. And that needs to stop.
Respond Take this week to see what you complain about. Is it justified?
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gotandem "Salvation Depends on Christ"
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Your salvation doesn't depend on you -- and that's a good thing. Here's today's Bible Minute.
God knows all the things I've done that have displeased Him. He has a category for all the things that you've done that have displeased Him. Let me read Acts 13:37-39, "But he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses" (ESV). Through Jesus, we're all freed from the things the law could never free us from. My background of sin and your background of sin may have been very different. But it really doesn't matter because a new creation is a new creation. So, salvation is the same for every person.
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 2"
Not all of the things we should thank God for are easy. For example, you see a beautiful sunset, easy. Who doesn’t enjoy a good sunset. Every night it’s a different work of art. But being on the receiving end of God’s justice? Well, that’s another thing entirely.
[Psalm 7:17]I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Being thankful for God’s justice is dangerous. It’s easy to be thankful for it when we see someone who has wronged us receive the justice they so well deserve. But we also have to be thankful that God brings his justice to bear on us when we deserve it. Which is a lot harder to do.
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gotandem "Broad Love"
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How far does God's love reach? Here's today's Bible Minute.
In John 3:16 it says, "God so loved the world..." God, here, is talking about the love He has for the 500 major language groups in India. He's talking about loving the 2.5 million Jamaicans on the western end of the Caribbean, and another 1,300,000 people on the eastern end of the Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago. He's talking about every people group of every period of history.
It is so wide that it extends to every person in the world--not just those who look like me, or speak my language, or think like me, or follow the same religion that I follow. That's the breadth of God's love.
Take a fresh look at John 3:16-17.
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 1"
Thankfulness is a funny thing. It seems so easy on the surface. It’s something we teach children to do. And yet, we still struggle with the concept living a life of gratitude. And not just to each other. The person who we struggle being grateful to the most is easily the person we should be the most grateful to, God.
[1 Chronicles 16:34-35]Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.”
Living a life of gratitude has to start with God. He’s the one who created us. Gave us breath. Sustains us now. How can we not be grateful?
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gotandem "Love Holiness"
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If you love holiness, then you're on your way to wisdom! Here's today's Bible Minute.
Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." You can't claim to be wise, without reverence for God.
That's why Proverbs 9:10 is so important, because it adds the element of the holiness of God. Remember, one of the ways that you show the fear of the Lord is you hate evil. The flip side of that is, you love holiness. Anyone that lives a life that is holy is a life you love. Anyone who lives a life that is unholy is a life you hate. That's the way God defines the world, and it's the way we need to define the world as well.
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gotandem "For the Despondent…"
For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.[Proverbs 15:15]
What are some steps you can take to get a happy heart?
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Today's Homework: Take a moment today and realize how precious this moment truly was for all of mankind.
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gotandem "To the Pure..."
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.[Titus 1:15]
What does it mean "everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure?"
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gotandem "How We Were"
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.[Titus 3:3]
Can you remember a time when this was true of you?
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gotandem "The Advent: Day 4"
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.[Luke 2:1-5.]
It's amazing how perfect God's plans are. If you remember from a couple days ago, it was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. But that's not where Joseph and Mary lived. So they had to travel to Bethlehem, which even if you're not pregnant, isn't a short trip, and if you are, well…
So here they are ready to have a baby and this census comes along and they find themselves traveling to Bethlehem to be counted while Mary is very, very pregnant. Seems like the worst possible timing, right?
Except that it's not. This road trip is literally setting up the fulfillment of prophecy. Which allows us to draw a really neat parallel. Following God's plans are not always very comfortable. There are times that we'll experience hardships for Jesus. And there are times that he'll ask us to.
As we explored yesterday, God expects a lot from us because His plans are not small. They're huge. And to carry off huge plans, it takes hard work. Sometimes dangerous work. But when the plan is finally carried out, it's 100% worth it. So next time you feel tired and worn out, because let's face it, this life can do that to us, remember this: You are working on plans conceived by the Creator of the universe.
Today's Homework: Write down what God's three biggest expectations for you are.
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gotandem "The Lord is the Spirit"
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.[2 Corinthians 3:17]
What does it mean to have freedom in the Spirit?
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gotandem "Hitting, Wounding or Shooting"
Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.[Proverbs 25:18]
How truthful are you?
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gotandem "The Advent: Day 3"
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”[Luke 1:26-33.]
Hard expectations aren't always bad, but imagine someone came up to you and said, "Hey, your job is to raise the Savior of the world. Oh, also, He's gonna be God, too. Don't mess it up." It seems a little absurd until you realize that is exactly what was being asked of Mary. God literally called her to be the caretaker of the most important person ever born. And she did it. She heard what God said and then obeyed.
So let's think for a moment, because it's really easy to get wrapped up in the idea that the Christian life is just too hard to live, right? Some days, what we're asked to do seems impossible. But God is in the habit of asking the impossible. Because what is impossible to us has always been possible for him. The one who spoke the stars into existence is the same one who tells you "you must be holy because I am holy."
Here's the good news, though. God didn't leave Mary alone. He doesn't give us jobs without giving us the means to complete them. So if life is feeling a little overwhelming, take comfort. God will equip and sustain you for any job he's given you.
Today's Homework: Think about a time that God equipped you to do a job that was too hard for you to do alone.
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gotandem "Detestable Sacrifices"The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.[Proverbs 21:27]
Do you ever try to manipulate God?
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gotandem "Renewing Your Thoughts and Attitudes"
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God--truly righteous and holy.[Ephesians 4:23-24]
Do this today.
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gotandem "Praying for Your Peace"
May God our Father give you grace and peace.[Colossians 1:2]
Pray this for someone today.
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gotandem "The Advent: Day 2"
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.[Matthew 1:18-24.]
Joseph was trying to do the right thing here. He wanted to quietly and respectfully end things with Mary. It's what was done. He had every right to do it, too. His prospective wife had somehow been unfaithful. It's common sense. And then, the angel shows up and turns Joseph's world upside down. He was pulled into a life bigger than his own. And he said yes. (In all fairness, it's kind of hard to say no to an angel standing at the end of your bed, but still.)
This should spark something inside of us. Joseph's call is not unlike ours. Most of us would consider ourselves fairly moral people. We do the things we think are right at the time, but when we come to Christ, we realize what we think is right does not matter. Our lives are part of a bigger plan. We are no longer our own. In 1 Corinthians 6:20 it says that "God bought you with a high price." And from the moment he bought you, he pulled you into a bigger story. Which is a pretty great thing.
Today's Homework: Write a paragraph of how you see yourself fitting into God's bigger story.
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gotandem "Crazy Bowmen"
Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”[Proverbs 26:18-19]
Do you have friends like this? Are you a friend like this?
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gotandem "The Advent: Day 1"
The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us').[Isaiah 7:14]
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.[Micah 5:2]
It's amazing to think that Jesus' coming was anticipated so far in advance. The specific details of where He was going to be born, the life He was going to live, the death He was going to die. All of those things were spoken years before His ancestors were even born. And every day, people were waiting for Him to show up. In fact, there are people who are still waiting for the Messiah, not realizing that He's already been here.
And sometimes, that's what we're like. We don't realize that Christ has come. Or at least, we live like He hasn't come yet. So while you go through this Track, try to keep this in mind. Christ has indeed come, just like He said He would. And that, by itself, is reason to celebrate.
Today's Homework: Take some time to think about how significant God's plans are.
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gotandem "Detesting Double Standards"
The LORD detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.[Proverbs 20:23]
Always be honest.
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gotandem "All the Advice"
Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.[Proverbs 19:20]
Where do you go for advice and instruction?
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gotandem "Avoid Fools"
Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.[Proverbs 14:7]
Have you ever caught yourself in the company of "fools?"
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gotandem "Generously Poured"
He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.[Titus 3:6]
Why was this generous?
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gotandem "The Lady in Red"
While I was at the window of my house,
looking through the curtain,
I saw some naive young men,
and one in particular who lacked common sense.
He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,
strolling down the path by her house.
It was at twilight, in the evening,
as deep darkness fell.
The woman approached him,
seductively dressed and sly of heart.
She was the brash, rebellious type,
never content to stay at home.
She is often in the streets and markets,
soliciting at every corner.
She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
and with a brazen look she said,
"I've just made my peace offerings
and fulfilled my vows.
You're the one I was looking for!
I came out to find you, and here you are!
My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
I've perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning.
Let's enjoy each other's caresses,
for my husband is not home.
He's away on a long trip.
He has taken a wallet full of money with him
and won't return until later this month."
So she seduced him with her pretty speech
and enticed him with her flattery.
He followed her at once,
like an ox going to the slaughter.
He was like a stag caught in a trap,
awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare,
little knowing it would cost him his life.
So listen to me, my sons,
and pay attention to my words.
Don't let your hearts stray away toward her.
Don't wander down her wayward path.
For she has been the ruin of many;
many men have been her victims.
Her house is the road to the grave.
Her bedroom is the den of death.[Proverbs 7: 6-27]
Why is so much time taken to tell this story?
What has your past experience with sexual sin been? How have you overcome it?
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 7"
Being thankful is not really an "if you feel like it" type of deal. It's a command.[1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
So, now that you've spent a week reading about thankfulness, what are you going to do? Are you going to follow the command to be thankful? Or are you going to just let it pass you by? We hope you won't. We pray that you start working on making your life a life of thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to stay subscribed to this track. The next piece of content will show up the week before Christmas.
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gotandem "Water from Your Well"
Drink water from your own well--
share your love only with your wife.
Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,
having sex with just anyone?
You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.
Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always.
May you always be captivated by her love.
Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? [Proverbs 5:15-20]
Why is sex outside of marriage so frowned upon?
List the benefits of sex within marriage?
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gotandem "Listen to Your Parents"
My child, listen when your father corrects you.
Don't neglect your mother's instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck. [Proverbs 1:8-9]
Why is God concerned with how we treat our parents?
How difficult is it for you to respect and honor both of your parents? How could you do better?
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gotandem "Suffering for Christ"
We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.[2 Corinthians 6:5]
Have you suffered for Christ? How?
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 6]
To what degree should we be thankful to God? How enthusiastic should we be? Well, as it often does, the Bible has a perfect metaphor for that.
[Jeremiah 33:11]The sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing,
‘Give thanks to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
for the LORD is good.
His faithful love endures forever!’
For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD.
When was the last time you were able to compare the enthusiasm of your gratitude with the pure, breathless joy of someone on their wedding day? And, granted, it is not an easy thing to maintain. But what if, for at least a moment, each week we were able to go back and find this kind of joy again. What if we were able to push the reset button and we were truly able to enjoy who God is and what has done for us just like it was the first time. How would that change us. And how do we get back to it?
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gotandem "For your Benefit"
All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.[2 Corinthians 4:15]
How do you help God's grace reach more and more people?
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gotandem "Unanswered questions"
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Regardless of how we feel, the character of God never changes.
There are things that happen in our lives and all around us that, from our standpoint, just don't make sense. Unanswered questions that leave a hole in our perspective of who God is. We view Him from our experience, which changes from one day to the next.
But unshakable faith does not mean we stop asking questions. Unshakable faith means that in the midst of our emotion we hold on to the immutable character of God. We hold on to truths like this found in Romans 5:8.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
It is that amazing love that transforms the believer's heart and anchors it in the midst of every storm.
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 5"
How excited are we to give thanks to God? On a day to day basis, I mean. Probably not that often, right? Well, then maybe this verse is for you today.
[Psalm 95:2]Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
So go to God with thanksgiving. Bring him all of your praise. And get excited about it. We’re talking about the God of the Universe, Almighty Creator here.
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gotandem "Every Spiritual Blessing"
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.[Ephesians 1:3]
What are some of the spiritual blessings you've received from God?
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gotandem "Only from God"
Read
For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.[(Proverbs 2:6).]
He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.(Daniel 2:21).
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.(James 1:5-8)
Reflect
When I ask God for wisdom, what I'm really asking for is answers. I try to pretend I'm asking for wisdom, but really what I’m doing is asking God to show me the exact right thing to do. Preferably with a visible sign from heaven. But that’s not what God gives. What God gives is wisdom.
Take Solomon for example. God gave him wisdom, but the example we’re given of him using that wisdom isn’t an easy answer (see 1 Kings 3:16-28). He’s given the tools to discover the answer.
And that’s what wisdom is, it’s not an end, but a means to an end. And the more I understand that, the better my understanding of God is.
Respond Take this week and see how you ask for wisdom.
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gotandem "Delighted Eyes"
O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.[Proverbs 23:26]
Are you delighted in doing what's right?
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 4"
Have you ever been around an ungrateful child? It’s not pleasant, is it? But the funny thing is, when someone is grateful for something we’ve done, and they express that gratitude without us even asking, well, that’s something special.
[Psalm 50:23]But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.
God wants us to be proactive about being thankful. It requires a change of our mindset. We need to be aware of our thankfulness.
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gotandem "The Righteous Judge"
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The best judge is a righteous judge. Take a look with the Bible Minute.
There are a good number of verses in the Bible that talk about judgment and talk about Jesus. Jesus Himself said, in Matthew 28:18, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." That means all the authority to judge right from wrong.
Jesus is righteous. He is going to be fair in His judgments. You know there's a great verse in the Old Testament, Genesis 18:25 in fact, that asks the question, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
The answer is, of course He will. If He is judge of all the earth, He has to do right. And if Jesus is God and is the Judge of the Judgment Seat of Christ, we can expect Him to give us a righteous judgment.
You can trust Jesus because He always makes the right call.
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 3"
When was the last time you went to church full of gratitude to God? It’s not easy, is it? We wake up in the morning and have to prepare for worship physically but how often do we take the time to spiritually prepare ourselves before we even walk through the doors?
[Psalm 26:6-7]I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to your altar, O LORD, singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders.
It’s a simple thing to forget in the bustle of getting ready on a Sunday morning, but we need to be thankful coming to church. There is a right way to show up on Sunday, but it can only happen if we start preparing our hearts before we even leave our homes. So let’s start getting grateful early. And not just on Sunday.
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gotandem "The Perfect Judge - 1"
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What qualities make up the perfect judge? Find out today in today's Bible Minute.
If we are to be judged, I would want this Judge to be God, you know? Because God is just. God is holy. God is fair. God is righteous. He's going to do the right thing. I need the kind of judge who has the kind of character and the kind of quality that only God has.
On the other hand, I suppose I'd want this judge to be sympathetic with me. I would want this judge to know what I had gone through. It would be good for this judge to be a human, because if he were a human, he at least would know how tough it was to live the Christian life in the kind of environment that you and I live.
Ideally then I guess this person should be God and man. But where can you find a judge like that, you know? Oh wait, there is one! The God-Man, Jesus Christ!
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gotandem "Fools"
Read
"But sometimes I think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world--to people and angels alike.
"Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you are so wise! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are well thought of, but we are laughed at. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, without enough clothes to keep us warm. We have endured many beatings, and we have no homes of our own. We have worked wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We respond gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash--right up to the present moment"(1 Corinthians 4:9-13).
ReflectHere’s the thing. Most of the time, when bad stuff happens to me, it’s my fault. Maybe not directly, but somewhere down the line, I probably did something that caused the circumstances I’m wallowing in. I rarely (super emphasis on the 'rare') suffer for Jesus.
Maybe it’s because I’m not dedicated enough, but whatever the reason, I complain too much about circumstances I've caused as opposed to focusing on the things in life that are actually important. And that needs to stop.
Respond Take this week to see what you complain about. Is it justified?
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gotandem "Salvation Depends on Christ"
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Your salvation doesn't depend on you -- and that's a good thing. Here's today's Bible Minute.
God knows all the things I've done that have displeased Him. He has a category for all the things that you've done that have displeased Him. Let me read Acts 13:37-39, "But he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses" (ESV). Through Jesus, we're all freed from the things the law could never free us from. My background of sin and your background of sin may have been very different. But it really doesn't matter because a new creation is a new creation. So, salvation is the same for every person.
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 2"
Not all of the things we should thank God for are easy. For example, you see a beautiful sunset, easy. Who doesn’t enjoy a good sunset. Every night it’s a different work of art. But being on the receiving end of God’s justice? Well, that’s another thing entirely.
[Psalm 7:17]I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Being thankful for God’s justice is dangerous. It’s easy to be thankful for it when we see someone who has wronged us receive the justice they so well deserve. But we also have to be thankful that God brings his justice to bear on us when we deserve it. Which is a lot harder to do.
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gotandem "Broad Love"
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How far does God's love reach? Here's today's Bible Minute.
In John 3:16 it says, "God so loved the world..." God, here, is talking about the love He has for the 500 major language groups in India. He's talking about loving the 2.5 million Jamaicans on the western end of the Caribbean, and another 1,300,000 people on the eastern end of the Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago. He's talking about every people group of every period of history.
It is so wide that it extends to every person in the world--not just those who look like me, or speak my language, or think like me, or follow the same religion that I follow. That's the breadth of God's love.
Take a fresh look at John 3:16-17.
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gotandem "Thanksgiving: Day 1"
Thankfulness is a funny thing. It seems so easy on the surface. It’s something we teach children to do. And yet, we still struggle with the concept living a life of gratitude. And not just to each other. The person who we struggle being grateful to the most is easily the person we should be the most grateful to, God.
[1 Chronicles 16:34-35]Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.”
Living a life of gratitude has to start with God. He’s the one who created us. Gave us breath. Sustains us now. How can we not be grateful?
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gotandem "Love Holiness"
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If you love holiness, then you're on your way to wisdom! Here's today's Bible Minute.
Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." You can't claim to be wise, without reverence for God.
That's why Proverbs 9:10 is so important, because it adds the element of the holiness of God. Remember, one of the ways that you show the fear of the Lord is you hate evil. The flip side of that is, you love holiness. Anyone that lives a life that is holy is a life you love. Anyone who lives a life that is unholy is a life you hate. That's the way God defines the world, and it's the way we need to define the world as well.
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gotandem "For the Despondent…"
For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.[Proverbs 15:15]
What are some steps you can take to get a happy heart?
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