Be Not Afraid! 

JULY 29, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Mark 6:50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

  Troubles seem to come at terrible times. But then, when is a good time to have troubles? However, problems still always seem to take us by surprise. Sometimes starting out small with a minor situation, and then the problem gets bigger and bigger. Or it may be that instead of that particular problem getting bigger, more and more problems add up on top of the problem you already have. The pressure often seems too much to bear. We try, scheme and work at fixing them, but many times the harder we try, the worse the situation gets. Then old Satan causes us to start believing we must have done something terrible for all this to be happening to us. Because why else would God allow all this to happen? In addition, we often become afraid to go to Jesus with problem.

     Well, it is possible that there is an area of your life that you may still need to yield to Him. However, it could just as well be that He wants you to learn to rely on Him more. It could be that you have not spoken with Him in a while, and He simply longs to hear your voice! Possibly, He is trying to tell you something, but you have not opened the pages of your Bible in so long you do not hear Him speak. It may be He wants to deliver into your life the peace that only He can bring. In any case, the last three words of today’s verse ought to bring us comfort. Whatever the reason for our situation, God is still in control. He says to you Christian, “Be not afraid!”

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

      To be afraid of Jesus make no sense at all. He loves you more than you can ever know. He wants only what is best for you. To be so ashamed of what we may have done that we will not reach out to God is the Devils way of keeping you from real joy. Remember, all sin has been taken care of in His love for you on the cross. Confess it and He will restore the fellowship you had before. What He wants most with you and what you should want with Him is an everyday, personal, one-on-one relationship. “Be Not Afraid.”

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 29, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Kings 11, 12v     /     Psalm 26     /     Proverbs 29     /     Mark 6

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Job 21-25           /  Acts 21:18-40

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 Keep Looking Over Your Shoulder 

JULY 28, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

     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 going over the speed limit. If so, our next glance is in the rear-view mirror to see if the police car has turned around and is now coming to get 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 see if they were coming. After a while, you finally relax realizing there has been no one following you after all.

     That is one example of what it is 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, and never being able to get away from the constant uneasy guilt. Knowing in your heart, 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.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

  Oh, how wonderful and freeing it is to know, that when I took my sin to the cross of Calvary, Jesus paid the price for them all. They are all washed away. No more looking over my shoulder, no more wondering about my life. The life I live, I now live for Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 28, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Kings 9, 10     /     Psalm 25     /     Proverbs 28     /     Mark 5

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Job 17-20           /      Acts 21:1-17

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

They Are Not Chew Toys You Know!  

JULY 27, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

  “Mine, mine it is all mine.” Children, at an early age often get this attitude with their toys. This often applies to first-born children especially. However, put yourself in the firstborn’s shoes for just a moment. Imagine what they might be thinking. Something like, “I have grown up with all the toys being mine. I could play with them when I want and then just leave them and not worry about anybody touching them. (That is unless mom puts them away.) Then it happens. Mom and dad were so happy as they announce, “You are going to have a baby brother or sister.” At first, the idea seems great. Then what they have called the big day arrives. This bundle of noises and smells has now joined our family. So far, not too bad, but he is stealing away some of the attention I use to have. Oh well, at least I still have all my toys.” Then a few months later, this little addition to the family has violated everything that is sacred. “He is chewing on my toy! It is my toy. I had it first and it is not a chew toy. It is mine, mine, in fact their all mine. You gave them to me! MOM….” Does this scene sound too familiar? The problem is some people have never grown out of this “mine, mine” attitude. So, what might be one of the causes?

     For the baby it was the idea of, “you gave them to me first.” That is probably the problem with adults too. We forget someone had it before us. In the case of the baby, the toy was bought by the parents and was theirs to give to whom they choose. In addition, children should learn to share and enjoy what is given by their parents. For adults it is the same thing. Today’s verse says the earth and everything on it belongs to the Lord. Our heavenly Father has given things to us. We need to remember everything is God’s, and always has been. Not just everything, but everyone also!
   

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

  Everything and everyone belong to God. We should be gentle with His things. They are not chew toys you know!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 271, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Kings 7, 8     /     Psalm 24     /     Proverbs 27     /     Mark 4

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Job 13-16           /  Acts 20

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

I’ll Believe It When I See It. Really?  

JULY 26, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

2 Kings 6:17,18 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

      I know people who have the attitude “I will believe it when I see it.” Many people are like that. In fact, if we will be honest, most of us feel this way. We want to see evidence to believe something. Visible evidence seems best. However, sometimes, visible evidence can get us into trouble. What we see is not always real. While in Wisconsin Dells one year I saw a magician, who had some of the best illusions I have ever seen. Nevertheless, they were just that, illusions, or sleight of hand. My eyes were deceiving me. Today, just like in Bible times, there are people preying on true seeking believers. Showing them tricks, illusions, and calling them miracles from God. They will gain a following and then empty the pocketbooks of these people, but it is all deception.

     In today’s verses, God opened the eyes of one seeking the truth, but blinded the eyes of those following a man. The servant of Elisha’s eyes was opened to what God was doing around him. However, the men following the orders of the King of Syria, God blinded. Jesus warned the disciples of deceptive sight in Mark 13:22. He said, “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” You see it is not about what we see; it is about who we are focused on. Are your eyes focused on God or man?
   

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

  In Hebrews 11:1, it says; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Our faith needs to be in Jesus, not in miracle workers. Faith is God’s miracle in your heart.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 26, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Kings 4-6     /     Psalm 23     /     Proverbs 25-26     /     Mark 2-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Job 9-12           /  Acts 19:23-41

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 The Horse Pushing Or Pulling? 

JULY 24 & 25, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 24:27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    My dad had another way of saying what verse 27 says. He would say, “Don’t get your cart before your horse.” In other words, do things in order. I guess a horse could push a cart, but not too fast, not too far, and not very often. In life, we often want to get ahead of ourselves. Before we have taken the time to get ourselves well equipped for something, grounded with knowledge and truth, we run off half-prepared. We at times can still do it, just as a horse can push a cart, but it is harder than it was meant to be.

     This happens at times in churches with new Christians who want to help. Because churches need helpers, these young believers are often allowed to fill positions they are not prepared for. This also occurs in business, when people dream today, but do not envision the hurdles of tomorrow. It happens in marriages as well. A man who is unstable in his morals, manners, money, and with his Maker wants to lead a home. However, he has not prepared himself to stand on his own two feet before he takes on the responsibility of building a home.

     I am not trying to say we need to have all the answers to all of life’s questions before we do anything. If that were true, no one would be doing anything. However, we need to have the important issues of life covered. Such as…
• Who is the real leader in your life?
• Where do you go for direction, especially when things seem to get out of whack?
• How are decisions made?
• What or who is the final authority?
• Or, when I make a mistake, where do I need to go to fix it?
• Then finally, if someone asked me these questions, can I show them where to find the answers in writing?

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    The answers to all the questions above are, “God and His Word.” God is the final authority in everything. He has written the answers to life in the Bible. Now it is up to us to study to show ourselves approved unto Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 24, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
2 Kings 1–3     /     Psalm 22     /     Proverbs 24     /     Mark 1 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Job 5-8           /  Acts 19:1-22

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