It’s A Matter Of Time

May 9, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 9:8-9
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     We only get so many hours each day. Just a few opportunities to use the minutes God has given to us. The Bible says we are to be good stewards of all God gives us. We will often relate stewarding to money. However, it also refers to our time and talents.

     Being a good steward of time is the topic of our verses today. Rebuking a sinner of sin before they are saved is like beating your head against a brick wall. They do not care and are not convicted of their sinfulness; therefore, neither of you gets anything good out of it. They need salvation first.

     If you use your time to try to help someone who is teachable, you both come out ahead. A Christ-like Spirit is one that is teachable. The rebuke given to born-again Christians is an opportunity for them to examine themselves, to see where they stand with God. If the rebuke is correct, they will see an area they need to correct and become stronger in the Lord. If the rebuke is incorrect, they can come back and lovingly discuss the circumstances around it with you. When this happens, you both walk away stronger in the Lord, and in better fellowship with one another. Either way, a wise person comes out ahead. They have either gained wisdom in their walk with the Lord or a better understanding of a fellow Christian. In this, God wins.

     Is it ever easy to point out perceived sin, or the shortcomings in a friend’s life? NO! There is a slogan, which says, “Friends do not let friends drive drunk.” The same should be true for believers. Christian friends do not let Christian friends live in harmful unrighteousness.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     In the New Testament, Jesus called it casting your pearls before swine. It is not referring to withholding the gospel from anyone as everyone needs to hear the gospel. However, it does mean using your time wisely. Not everyone is ready to listen.

How are you using your time for the work of the Lord?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 9, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
1 Samuel 10-11 – Psalm 107
Proverbs 9 – Romans 2, 3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Samuel 11-13  /  Luke 24:1-35

Our Safety Net Is God
May 8, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 106:43-44
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     Our security in the United States is often a subject of debate. How should the government go about making sure we are secure? Just how many of what we have for centuries consider to be our God-given freedoms and liberties are we willing to give up or compromise to have a feeling that we and our families are safe? However, our outlook on the subject might be a little bit different if we only knew how many times, unaware to us, we have been protected from danger. It might change our opinions if we knew how many terrorist organizations could not reach us because of the security net our nation developed which these terrorists could not penetrate. We often base our view of life here in this country on incomplete information. Many terrorists break through these networks, not because of the government’s negligence, but because a citizen will let them in.

     The same is also true with Christians. How many times has God protected you, and you were not even aware of it? Then when things do go wrong, people tend to blame God. Asking God why He let this or that happen. When, if we could step back and see it from God’s perspective, we would see that our lifestyles and the things that we do bring about many of our problems. We, like those who have gone before us, are often brought low or troubled in life as today’s verse says, because of our own sinful habits and desires.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     Nevertheless, we can see that there is a rainbow of hope in these verses. When we have finally had enough of ourselves and our sinful ways and we cry out in true repentance to God, He will regard our afflictions. Even though our problems are of our own design, He is waiting for you to call on Him. He wants to help.

When looking at our problems in life, do see ourselves as the problem?
Or do we blame others or even God?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 8, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
1 Samuel 8, 9 – Psalm 106:34-48
Proverbs 8 – Romans 1

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Samuel 7-10  /  Luke 23:27-56

Your Friends Are Your Mirrors

May 5, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 5:8-9
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     When I was a young boy, my parents would tell me, “Son you’ll be judged by the people you hang around with.” In the courts, it is called guilt by association. As much as we may not like this, it is true. People form an opinion about you by the people with whom you spend the most time. Is that really fair? Can someone know you by other people’s character? Well, let’s take a closer look.

     List all the things you like. Music, sports, movies, places to go, things you like to do, the clothes you wear, anything you can think of. Now take a look at the people you spend the majority of your time with outside of work or school. Most of the things you like, they like. Why is that? Because you will hang out with people who are most like yourself. It just makes sense. Why would you want to buddy up with someone who always hates what you like or likes what you hate? Therefore, when others look at the people you spend the most time with, people can see what you like, dislike, believe, and even who you are. Even if this is not true 100% of the time for you, it is still true for your friends. If they will hang with you, you must be doing what they like to do or they will soon find someone else to be with.

     So, if you ever want to see a good reflection of your life, how and what others think of you, look at your closest friends. They are a great mirror.

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Today’s verse says to stay away from the worldly crowd. This does not mean we can never talk with them or be friendly toward them. In fact, we need to be out there with the world to win them to Christ. However, the worldly crowd should not be your closest friends. Christians should have Christian friends.

What is your life mirror reflecting about you?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  May 5, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
1 Samuel 1, 2 / Psalm 105:1-45
Proverbs 5 / Romans 20 & Ephesians 1, 2

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Samuel 28-31 Luke 22:1-34