Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven 

APRIL 3 & 4, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 3:1-2My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” That was to be a line written in a chorus sung years ago. However, the sentiment seems to be the truth for most people today. There is a story of a Sunday School teacher who asked a student, “Do you want to go to heaven?” The student said, “Yes.” She said, “Go stand over there.” Then she asked another, “Do you want to go to heaven?” They also said, “Yes.” She instructed them also to stand over by the other class member. Then she asked a third student the same question, but the student said, “NO.” The teacher, amazed said, “You mean to tell me that when you die you don’t want to go to heaven?” The young lad replied, “oh yes, when I die I do, I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.”

    Everybody wants to go to heaven. I have never ever spoken to anybody about someone who just passed away and heard him or her say, “I sure hope they went to Hell.” Why? Because nobody, I do not care what they say when they are alive, nobody really ever wants to go to hell. Everybody wants to go to heaven. At the same time, we all want to find the fountain of youth. This way we can live here forever.

    Well, I personally cannot promise you length of days and quality of life. However, in today’s verse, I believe the Word of God gives us an example of how God does exactly that. It says we need to stay in His Word, and obey the precepts in it, and then God says he will lengthen our days and make them as enjoyable as earthly possible.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    How can this be? Well, can you imagine any better way to spend your life, than in obedience to the one who holds the days of your life in the palm of His hand? What a peace of mind. What a joy filled life in communion with the creator and sustainer of life. If anyone can promise you more days, it is He who holds our days in His hands.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  APRIL 3, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Deuteronomy 20-22     /     Psalm 79-80     /    Proverbs 3-4     /     Acts 14

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 32–34          /    Luke 5:27-39

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Just Like Dirty Children

APRIL 02, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 78:72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    It is a beautiful day out, the birds are singing, the sun is shining, and what a great time to take the children to the park. When arriving you tell them all the rules like, do not talk to strangers, do not run off where I cannot see you, try not to get too dirty, etc. After a moment, you find yourself sort of lost in the freshness of spring and the beauty of it all. When it dawns on you, where are the children? You get up; look around, but you cannot see them. You walk around a bit and, oh thank heavens there they are. To whom are they talking? As you get closer, you can see that they are all filthy dirty, and carrying on a conversation with a kindly older gentleman. When you excuse yourself and walk away with the children, you realize, they have broken every single rule you gave them on that day.

  What should you do? I know, just leave them there to starve and never teach them another thing. They have disobeyed and so you no longer want them around ever. Right? Of course not. Why, because you had a part in bringing them into this world and you love them. Even when they have not obeyed exactly what you asked, you still love them. Therefore, you take them home, clean them up, make them dinner, and try to explain one more time why it is important to obey the things you have told them. There may be a punishment; however, you real goal in life is to try to guide them skillfully away from dangers and into a life of peace and safety.

    You have just read a story that explains the heart of God toward us. We do not always obey, even though we know we should. We do not always stay clean, although we know He has asked us too. We cannot get out of His sight, but we can get out of His will. Nevertheless, if you are His child, He loves you. He will guide and help you and do it by His integrity and skillfulness.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    In Hebrews 13:5, it is said of God; “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” What a great promise to his wayward children. He says to you and to me today, come home. Let’s get cleaned up. I love you.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  APRIL 02, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Deuteronomy 17-19     /     Psalm 78:56-72     /     Proverbs 2     /     Acts 13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 29-31           /    Luke 5:1-26

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Is This An April Fool’s Joke?

APRIL 01, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    Wait a minute. Is this an April Fool’s Joke? What I mean by that is this. Today’s verse must have been written backwards. Read it with me again. “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Did you see it? It must be backwards. If not, then we must have it all backwards.

    What do I mean? Look at the last line of the verse which says, “And the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” They were disciples first and then called Christians. Today we want people to first become Christians and then become disciples. The danger is you then have people who think they are Christians yet have no earthly desire to be disciples. They do not want to learn about and fall in love with God and His Son Jesus Christ. All they really want is to be able to say a prayer that will keep them out of hell.

    In the Bible, they were disciples first. This means they had a desire to follow and be like Jesus. They not only wanted to know Him, but they wanted to be just like Him. Is this what you want? Is that what you had in mind? Are you a disciple of Christ? Are you trying to learn more about how you might be more like Him? If we are not a disciple, can we really call ourselves a biblical CHRISTIAN?

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Giving our heart to Christ is the first step in walking the Christian life. There are many believers in this world, who believe in Jesus for Salvation. However, how many real disciples are there? People who desire to be more like Christ. My prayer today is, “Lord I want to be a genuine Christian.” AMEN.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  APRIL 01, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Deuteronomy 15, 16     /     Psalm 78:34-55     /     Proverbs 1     /     Acts 11, 12 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 28         /    Luke 4:14-44

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

A Man Is A Man

MARCH 31, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Acts 10:25-26 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    One category in the popular self-help books for several years has been that of self-esteem. These books are written to help you avoid the pitfalls of thinking you may have no value in life and to encourage you to think more highly of yourself. This subject has been one that many people have almost become consumed with at times.

    Now I am not discounting the fact that there are those who need a boost now and again. Christians also need to remember that they are a child of the Most High God. Being born again, they are part of a Royal Family, Heir to the Kingdom of God, and have been adopted into the Family of God. However, some people have almost taken this issue of self-esteem too far. They have gone far past elevating their discouraged hearts and into believing that people are some sort of god themselves. When this occurs, you find people worshiping people and holding others up almost in the place of God.

  In our verse today, Peter understood he was just a man. We know Peter was a great man no doubt. Nevertheless, he was only great because of God’s power in and through him, and not because of his own doing. Should we respect people in authority over us? Yes! However, we should never elevate them to the point of worshiping them. We must remember we are a CHILD of God, an HEIR and ADOPTED into the Family of God. We are not little gods, but rather we are made in the likeness of God. Worship should be reserved for one God and Him alone.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Oh Lord, as I look at those who have meant a lot to me in my life, allow me Father to respect them, appreciate them, and even admire them. However, God let me hold back the worship of any and all things only for you. AMEN

GOD TALKING TO ME:  MARCH 31, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Deuteronomy 13, 14     /     Psalm 78:21-33     /     Proverbs 31     /     Acts 10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 25-27            /    Luke 3:23-4:13

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Pick It Up And Read It 

MARCH 30, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 30:5-6  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

  There are thousands of books in publication today trying to explain, rearrange, re-write, define, deliberate, illiterate, commentate, make easy reading of, justify, rationalize, demonstrate, reconstruct, redo, present, reword, clarify, disambiguate, illuminate, alter, illustrate, spell out, organize, fix up, paraphrase, amend, modify, revamp, boil down, render, revise, restate, translate, summarize, and condense the Bible.

  Some have even written other works that are separate from the Bible and tried to lead people to believe that they just as important as the Bible. A few brazen individuals have gone so far as to call their writings another gospel or another Bible. Some have re-written what they think is the Bible so many times that they do not even know from what they are re-writing.

  Does God really need all that help? What if we used all the time we spent reading all these other books and just read the good old fashion King James Bible? With time and study, it does become clear. If we really want to understand it, why not ask the author? Can’t we just call upon the Holy Spirit, who resides in every believer, and ask Him to illuminate its meaning in our hearts. Even better than trying to change God’s Word to fit our lifestyle, why not just do what it says?

  All we really need to hear from God is just a plain copy of the truth. I imagine that would take about one lifetime to read, study, and do. I am not anti-books, but we must not lose sight of the Word of God in our lives first. Remember, every Word of the Bible is breathed from the very mouth of God.
   

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

  We must all get back to the one true book, the Holy Word of God. We need to simply pick up and read our Bible. As our passage today says, “Every word of God is pure.”

GOD TALKING TO ME:  MARCH 30, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Deuteronomy 10 – 12     /     Psalm 78:1-20     /     Proverbs 30     /     Acts 9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 22-24           /  Luke 3:1-22

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12