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Do Not Complicate Things
November 15, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 28:5-7
 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    When discussing what is right and wrong with people, it never ceases to amaze me how complex people make the simplest of God’s truths.

    Salvation is simply putting your faith in Jesus Christ and the work He accomplished on the cross at Calvary. It’s understanding that your sin must be paid for, and the price for sin is death. Only someone without their own sin debt could pay that price. I could not die for your sins because I have my own sin debt to account for. Even my death would not satisfy the cost of my sins, as I am not without sin and unworthy to pay the price. Therefore, I can’t pay for my own sins, let alone yours. God, in His wisdom, love, and grace, sent His only Son, Jesus, to this earth. Jesus lived among sinful humanity for over 30 years, yet He never committed a single sin. When He died on the cross, He did so not for His own sins, but for the sins of everyone who would place their faith in Him and what He did for them. Then He triumphantly rose over sin and death, granting us eternal life in Him.

    People still want to add good works and religious activities to salvation. Good works and religious activities are the results of salvation, not the means to salvation. After you are saved, the Holy Spirit enters your life and instills in you a desire to live for Christ. This produces good works, not the other way around.

    People don’t go to hell because they didn’t do the right things. They go to hell because they didn’t believe in Christ alone for salvation. “Evil men understand not judgment.”

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    So, what is your desire? Do you desire to walk upright before God and humanity, to comprehend God’s Word and obey it? Or do you desire to live like the world? The Bible says that when you are saved, all things become new. People often ponder if or when they were saved. Here is a great test: Examine your life. Has anything in your life ever changed? If not, invite Christ in.

So, when in your life did all things become new
and your life changed?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays 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: November 15, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Acts 15 – Acts 17
  Proverbs 28:5 – 7

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ezekiel 5-8
  Hebrews 12

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Did You Get Caught?
November 14, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 28:1-4
 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Most of us who are old enough to drive are familiar with the feeling we get when driving down the highway, not paying attention to our speed, and then we see a police car pass us on the other side of the interstate. Immediately, we check our speedometer to see if we are exceeding the speed limit. If we are, our next glance is in the rear-view mirror to see if the police car has turned around and is coming after us. However, you realize that you have gone too far to be able to see. So, for the next 5 miles or so, you keep glancing back, just to check if they are following. After a while, you finally relax, realizing no one has been following you after all.

    This is one example of what it’s like to live a sinful life. Always wondering, “Am I going to be caught?” Looking over your shoulder to see who is watching or who may have heard what you said. Always wondering if the lie you told yesterday is going to catch up with you today. Always running, never able to escape the constant uneasy guilt. Knowing in your heart that one day it will all catch up with you.

    Even if the world never catches you, God is always watching and sees every sin. Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.”

    Death comes to every person eventually. In Heb 9:27 it says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” On that day, it will be one day too late. On that day, the wages of sin are more than just physical death, it will be eternal death. An eternal separation from God.     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Oh, how wonderful and liberating it is to know that when I took my sins to the cross of Calvary, Jesus paid the price for them all. They are all washed away. There is no longer a need to look over my shoulder, no more need to wonder about my life. The life I now live, I live for Him.

Are you as the Wicked who flee when no man pursueth?
Or do you enjoy the Peace of God in
knowing your redeemed by the Blood?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays 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: November 14, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Acts 11 – Acts 14
  Proverbs 28:1 – 4

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ezekiel 1-4
  Hebrews 11

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

Supplier Of Our Needs
November 13, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 27:25-27
 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    God will supply our every need. When reading today’s verses, it’s easy to see how the hand of God provides for His own. In our text, the hay appears, the tender grass sprouts, and the herbs on the mountains are abundant. We see the lambs and goats He has created, from which He gives us milk and enough coats not only for our own needs but also for those for whom we are responsible. Our God truly does supply for our needs.

    However, we often miss something in this picture as well. Although all these things are there for our benefit, we still must be diligent to do our part. The hay, grass, and herbs are there, but someone must harvest them. Someone needs to hike up the mountains to gather the herbs. The lambs and goats are God’s creation for man, but to get the milk, someone needs to be diligent in the daily task of milking. To provide the clothing, a person must take on the responsibility of shearing the sheep or slaughtering the animal for the hide.

    All too often, we think of God supplying for our needs, and we hope that He will provide the product without the process. We sit with our hand out, waiting for God to do what He created us to be able to do. When we pray for more money and God provides overtime, we should not complain about the extra work. When we pray for better health and God gives us a good day to go outside and walk, run, or ride a bike, we need not complain when we are ill. God is a wonderful provider of all that we truly need, and this includes the good sense to do our part.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    As we go through today, let’s take a fresh look at how God may have already answered our prayers. We might be pleasantly surprised by God’s never-ending supply of grace toward us.

What have you noticed today that God has provided for you?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays 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: November 13, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Acts 8 – Acts 10
  Proverbs 27:25 – 27

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Lamentations 3-5
  Hebrews 10

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

Praise Where Praise Is Due
November 12, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 27:21-24
 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    When trouble comes our way, as it sometimes does, as Christians, we almost always run to the One who is our rock of security. We cry out to God and cling to the everlasting promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

    Although troubles may be used by God to bring someone back or draw them closer to God, life during a trial is not what will show the real character of a believer. The true heart of a Christian will be displayed in how they handle praise.

    Solomon says, “As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.” Many have been seen at the altar of grace during adversity, but when put through the test of flattery and applause, they fail to exalt this same God. Instead, they will seat themselves on the throne where only God should be.

    Some churches do not praise anyone for their service to God. They do not clap for singers or show gratitude toward a speaker because they believe they are giving gratitude to a person, which belongs only to God. Although I do understand their belief, truly giving the glory to God is the responsibility of the one being praised.

    The fool, as Solomon calls them, will always come out as a fool. No matter how they try to blend themselves in with believers, when they are given the chance to glorify God or flaunt what they have done, they make the wrong choice.

    Praise, like wealth and fame, is temporary. However, God is eternal. Give whatever fleeting praise you may receive to God, and He will give you eternal blessings in return. After all, He gave you your talents, the breath you breathe, and His flock with which to share your gifts. All praise always belongs to Him.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Don’t be afraid to let someone know you’ve been blessed by what they’ve done, but always remember to praise God first.

How many times in a regular day do you praise God?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays 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: November 12, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Acts 5 – Acts 7
  Proverbs 27:21 – 24

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Lamentations 1-2
  Hebrews 9

BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM

Just Who Are You?
November 11, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 27:18-20
 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Have you ever heard any of these statements before? “What you do while alone is really who you are.” How about, “Actions speak louder than words!” Maybe you have heard, “What you say and what you do are often two different things.” You may or may not have heard them; nevertheless, they are pretty much all saying exactly the same thing, and today’s verses declare it well.

    It is not who we say we are or what we do while we know others are watching that makes us who we are. Our private thoughts, convictions, and beliefs make up who we really are. I have spoken with people before who begin by saying they believe in this or that; however, by the end of our conversation, I knew they really did not believe that at all. What they wanted was for people to believe they believed it. How did I know? Because they had shared their heart long enough to let me know what they truly believed. Their heart gave them away.

    As your reflection in water displays the real you to you, so will your heart display the real you to others by what you genuinely believe. We can only fool people as long as we keep our mouths shut and stay locked away from society.

    Abraham Lincoln, who was a Bible Scholar, once said, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Therefore, before trying to convince others of what you say you believe, you might want to ask yourself, “What Do I Really Believe?” and “What and Who Do I Believe In?”     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Another quote is, “It’s better to keep quiet and let people think you’re a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” We should be sure that when we do open our mouths, people not only hear the real us but also hear Jesus in us.

So today’s question is, just who are you?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays 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: November 11, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Acts 1 – Acts 4
  Proverbs 27:18 – 20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Jeremiah 51-52
  Hebrews 8