Devotional Christian » Bible Study

Faithful and True

Linda Hull — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:05:13 +0000

After Jesus had risen, He gave the Apostles a mission, commanding them to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19b, KJV). Their mission took them many places. The Book of Acts, written by Luke, tells the story of Peter’s ministry. Peter after having denied Jesus, became a faithful and true servant. What is most interesting is the reaction of the people to that message.

After Pentecost, Peter became the chief spokesman, speaking with authority to the crowds in Jerusalem. Luke tells us many people received his testimony and were baptized. The body of Believers began to grow and grow. Acts 2:41 tells us as many as three thousand people responded positively to Peter’s message all on the same day! Peter not only preached, but he performed miracles of healing. The account of what happened in Jerusalem is found in Acts 3-5.

Peter and John went to the temple, but were delayed in entering by a man lame from birth who was begging at the gate. Peter and John had no money to give him, but Peter commanded the man “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) When Peter helped him up, the man began leaping and walked with them into the temple. People were astonished and rejoiced, praising God. People gathered. Peter had an audience so he began to speak of Jesus and His resurrection, calling on them to repent and believe in Jesus.

While Peter was speaking, the priests and Sadducees gathered too. They were not happy to hear Peter telling the people about Jesus. Peter and John were grabbed, arrested and put in prison. Yet five thousand people believed their message. The next day, they were brought before the high priest, Annas and Caiaphas and others. Peter again spoke the truth, naming their sin of rejecting Jesus. It became clear to the priests and Sadducees they couldn’t deny the miracle for fear of incurring the ire of the people. So they chose to rebuke them, ordering them to stop teaching in the name of Jesus, and sent them on their way.

More and more people sought Peter for healing. The high priest and Sadducees were irate, and again put Peter and John into prison, but an angel let them out in the night. Where did they go? To the temple of course!

Again, the high priests and Sadducees were angry because Peter and the Apostles continued to teach in the name of Jesus. Peter gave a wonderful answer we should also heed. He said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29b)

This time they were beaten and told not to talk about Jesus, but they continued to preach.

We hear of many accounts of Christians being persecuted, tortured, and killed for their faith in Jesus today. The name of Jesus still incurs great wrath. Yet through it all, the message of salvation continues to be spread. Faithful and true are His servants who continue to teach and preach about Jesus, calling all to repent and believe that they might be saved from eternal damnation.

What was the end for the disciples? All but John were martyred in horrible ways. They knew they would face the wrath of man, but they did not give up. Let us also be found faithful and true when we stand before our LORD to receive our reward in Heaven.

Who Do YOU Please?

Linda Hull — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:29:42 +0000

I think just about everyone loves a pat on the back for a job well done! Affirmation when we do the right thing is such a bolster to the ego. Praises from others provides acceptance and assurance. The more praise we receive, the greater our confidence to pursue higher achievements.

It is no secret that praise is a great motivator. Putting forth our best effort is taught in the Bible. Consider Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”(KJV)

Yet, the devil has taught us a lie. That is, earning the praises of man is far better and somewhat easier than earning God’s praise. If we live by our own standards, we will certainly meet our expectations for success. However, we may find we have lost the approval of our LORD.

When Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, we would have assumed people who witnessed this miracle would have rejoiced and given thanks. Instead, the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus because in their eyes, He had broken the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy.

They believed they were justified in their desire to kill Him, for the LORD told Moses, “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” (Exodus 31:15)

Much discussion followed as Jesus explained He was sent by God to do His work. Jesus even explained He was God’s Son, carrying out the will of the Father. His comments further inflamed their wrath, because to them, Jesus was trying to make Himself equal with God.

Even though they knew the teachings of Moses and the Prophets, they missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, God’s Son. Their minds were closed to the possibility that God would allow healing on the Sabbath.

Instead of rejoicing in His miracles, they chose to find fault. They were not going to honor Him as God’s Son, nor would they honor the miraculous healing He did. Their blindness kept them from believing in Jesus and lost them God’s approval.

Jesus wrote a very interesting comment as recorded in John 5:44, “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”

With these words, Jesus admonished the Jewish leaders. They feared if they agreed with Jesus, they would be thrown out of the Temple, no longer allowed to worship there. Their desire to appear righteous in the eyes of others overshadowed any desire to please God.

There is an important lesson in this account of the Sabbath healing of the lame man. We often believe when the majority is in agreement and is accepting of something, whatever it is, it must be right. People are frequently misled by what is said by people of influence.

Let us be reminded the crowd mentality exerts a great deal of influence over the individual, not necessarily in a good way.

“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:43

Our praise must come from our LORD. His opinion is what counts. If we are righteous in His eyes, and our works are pleasing to Him, then we will have the praise and affirmation we seek.

Laying a Firm Foundation

Linda Hull — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:23:42 +0000

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

I hung up the phone in disgust, misled again by yet another job superintendent. This time, my lack of knowledge and their poor sense of humor had cost the company money. Wanting to scream in frustration, I went to my boss’ office to complain about my lack of building construction knowledge.

My job was truck scheduler for an aluminum manufacturing company. It was my responsibility to contact job sites to determine the building progress so I could schedule delivery of roof materials. Unless they were in a panic over deadlines, the job site supervisor rarely called. Unfortunately, since I didn’t know much about the building process, they took great delight in telling me they were ready when they really weren’t.

It was clear that my foundation of building construction knowledge was lacking. Meeting with my boss helped to point me in the right direction to acquire the information I needed to do the job more effectively.

Many of us are feeling the same frustration when it comes to understanding Biblical concepts. A lack of knowledge and understanding keeps us from developing a more personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We’re stuck on a “milk diet,” wondering how to have a Biblical foundation.

Peter understood that every Believer has to begin with the “milk of the Word” for he writes: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby;” 1 Peter 2:2. A new Christian has to study the Bible to learn about our Lord and to discover how to have a relationship with Him. However, there comes a point when new growth must occur.

You know it is far easier to stick with what you know and grow content, refusing to continue to grow in knowledge and understanding. The writer of the Book of Hebrews understood that spiritual maturity requires us to move past the basics. The Hebrews were dull of hearing because they heard the same things over and over. They weren’t growing spiritually, preferring ignorance.

“…seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:11-14

As Paul instructed Timothy, we are to study God’s Word so that we can become equipped to do the work the Lord has called us to do. But first, we must lay that firm foundation of basic Bible concepts. Then we must obey what we learn.

“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” Luke 6:48

Change is only a prayer away…

Dear Lord, I pray that you will give me a hunger and thirst for Your Word so I may acquire a Biblical foundation. I pray for spiritual understanding and wisdom that I may be equipped to teach others. Please help me to walk in all of your ways that I might be a faithful servant. In Jesus Name, Amen.

the Lord is my Shepherd… what does that mean to me?

Emily Riley — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:00:13 +0000

As I’ve grown as a Christian, I’ve learned that my times of Bible study don’t always have to look the same. Knowing Jesus is not a formula, it is a relationship. And just like relationships with friends and family change through various seasons, our times with God change as well. Sometimes it looks like grabbing a huge commentary and my Bible and really digging into a passage or book of Scripture. Other times it looks like an intense season of Scripture memorization, or camping out in one book for an extended period of time (I “lived” in Psalms for over a year and didn’t study anything else for that entire time).

At times I’ve found it to be helpful to rephrase certain passages of Scripture in my own words in an attempt to better understand what is being said. I’m sure you’re familiar with this concept. Instead of “For God so loved the world” you would read it as “for God so loved Emily (or fill in your name).” Now this does not mean changing Scripture to say what I want it to say, but rather rewording it in an attempt to more clearly understand what God is saying.

One way I do this is by re-writing certain passages of Scripture in poetry form. I find this helps me meditate on what is being said (and sometimes see truths in a fresh, new way), and allows me to use my creative gifts for the glory of God. As an example, here is Psalm 23…

The Lord is my Shepherd, my heart will not fear
for in the green pastures I rest. He is near.
He leads by still waters, my soul He restores
He guides me and I will His greatness adore.

At times through the valley of death we must go
but I will not fear, for He comforts His own.
His rod of correction and staff keep me close
I won’t go away, or His guidance oppose.

I sit at His table. He meets all my needs
in the presence of terror, my hunger He feeds
He welcomes me in and my cup overflows
So I will not fear when through darkness we go.

I know mercy and goodness will follow always
for the Lord is my Guide throughout all of my days.
In the House of the Lord I will dwell for all times
Yes, the Lord is my Shepherd – what a comfort! – He’s mine!

What are some ways that you have found helpful in studying Scripture and seeing familiar passages in a fresh light? Let’s continually be seeking to grow and learn in Scripture… the wonders of God to be explored in the Bible are limitless!

I feel … but God says …

Emily Riley — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:09:40 +0000

There are many times in my life when how I feel does not match what the Bible says is true. My emotions and feelings overtake what my mind and heart believes. At those times, one thing I’ve found to be really helpful is to take one bit of Scripture and apply it to that one part of my life where I’m struggling. Often I will study and memorize these Scriptures that apply to my area of struggle. And as I do this, I find that God is faithful to help me in my struggle. Here are some examples that are helpful for me…

When I feel burdened by my sin and unable to approach the holy God … the Bible says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16) Also, “you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.” Colossians 1:21-23

When I feel weary and too tired to take another step … God says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

When I feel bound by circumstances and fear of man … God promises He is with me. “In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:5-6

When I feel like God’s love is gone …the Bible says, “for I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:28-29

When I feel like sin has power over me … the Bible says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:12-14

How about you? What are some verses that encourage you when you are struggling? I’d encourage you to memorize them, carry them on little cards and keep them with you throughout the day. God is faithful and His Word is powerful! When your emotions seem out of control, remember that the God who created emotions is there to help.