Wednesday 12/27 ~ True separation of church and state

The scripture for today, December 27 (12/27), is 1st Kings 12:27 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

"If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem [not some other capital city], they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah."

For centuries and millenniums, kings selected a patron god for their nation, a god they most revered to protect them. The patron god was selected by the king. Nations were always ruled by either a high priest or king. Some nations even had priest-kings.
So, when Constantine conquered much of Europe and set up his empire, he needed a patron god. One day during a battle, he looked up and saw a cloud formation that reminded him of things he'd heard about Jesus. So he made Jesus his patron God, and Christianity his empire’s required religion. He even rode his army through rivers, then declared them baptized. He ordered conquered peoples to be baptized or killed.  Headquarters was Rome.
Luther was friends of the Duke [king] of Germany, so when he broke off from Rome, the official state religion became Lutheranism. John Calvin was in the government of Switzerland, so when it broke off from Rome, the official state religion became Calvinism. When the king of England broke off from Rome, he became head of the Church of England (and Prince Charles is head of the Church there today). John Knox was influential with the parliament of Scotland, so his Presbyterianism became the official religion of Scotland.
In each instance, the king or parliament could force its citizens to follow the chosen religion of that nation. If people didn't, they could legally put them in prison, torture them, and execute them at will. And, in earlier centuries, they did just that.
Eventually, the idea of separating religion from the state government became popular. And that is where many nations are today. But it does not mean people in government cannot express religion. It just means they cannot force citizens to be a particular government-selected religion or be in danger of punishment.
That is true “separation of church and state”.

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Scripture for Friday 12/22 ~ My soul is overwhelmed with Joy

The scripture for today, December 22 (12/22), is 1st Samuel 12:22 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
"For the sake of his great name, the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own."
Among all the pretend gods that people have worshipped, there has never been one who wants us to be his children. Islam teaches Allah made man to have someone to worship him. Islam teaches we are Allah’s servants. So sad.
          Oh, how much mankind misses by not opening up to the one and only true God.  He wants us to be his children. He wants to lavish us with his love.
          God made us because God is Love.  Love must have someone to love. That’s us, dear friends. That’s us!
Amazing love of God. It pleases him to make us his own. It pleases him! We the lowly. We the weak. We the inconsistent. We the sinners.
Let us reply, "My soul is overwhelmed with joy.”
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Scripture for 12/14 ~ IF

The scripture for today, December 14 (12/14), is 1st Samuel 12:14 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
"IF you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and IF both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God ~ good!"

The Jews had just insisted on having a king rule over them instead of a supreme judge. Samuel replied and said IF. IF they serve and obey the Lord, and IF they both (people and king) follow the Lord, then it is good.
Today as then, some people live in a nation where the king/government does not follow the Lord. What to do? Galatians 5:22 tells us to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled, for "against such things there is no law".
Is it hard to do this when crooked officials are getting all the advantages and you are being cheated? Indeed it is. It may seem they are on top of things. In reality, they are at the bottom. Never ever let others drag you down to their level. It is not worth it.  Keep your eyes on God!
Hold fast!
       Stand firm!
                Do the right thing!
In the end, they will lose. You and God will win. That is good!
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#governments, #cheaters, #Christians

Scripture for Wednesday 12/13 ~ A God-shaped emptiness

The scripture for today, December 13 (12/13), is Ecclesiastes 12:13 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
When the King James Version was published in the early 1600s, they italicized all words that were not in the original language of the Bible. The word "duty" above was not in the original. Translators inserted it to help us understand the original. But perhaps, in this case, it did not help. Fearing God is the whole of man ~ not our duty, but our essence.
Fearing the Lord is a gift. Isaiah 11:2 predicted regarding Jesus: "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him ~
“...the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,"
“...the Spirit of counsel and of power,"
“...the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." 
Solomon had tried everything to find happiness, as he explained in his book of Ecclesiastes ~ Pleasure (ch. 2), hard work (ch. 3), advancement (ch. 4), riches (ch. 5). None brought him true happiness.  Eventually, he concluded that only one thing can bring that happiness deep down inside where no one and no situation in life can touch it ~ God. God is the whole of man ~ if we let Him be.
Why? Ecclesiastes 3:11 explains it richly: "He has also set eternity in the hearts of men." Another way to view this is "There is a God-shaped emptiness in the heart of man." Fill your mind with the Word of God. Then God will fill your heart and being, and make you feel complete.
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heart emptiness

Scripture for Tuesday 12/12 ~ Miracles: Interesting discoveries

The scripture for today, December 12(12/12) 2nd Corinthians 12:12 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

"The things that mark an Apostle ~ signs, wonders, and miracles ~ were done among you with great perseverance."

This is so interesting. These are not things that mark Christians in general, but the Apostles.

Jesus told his Apostles that, when they taught the world about Jesus and baptized them, miracles and signs would accompany the believers (Mark 16:17). The miracles and signs followed conversions of believers by the Apostles to whom he was speaking.

Acts 3:6f and 9:40f involved healing by the Apostle Peter, and Acts 20:9f involved healing by the Apostle Paul which they performed to prove their words were the Words of God.

In Acts 6:5-6, the Apostles laid their hands on seven men to serve the church in a special way. Of those men, Stephen performed miracles (6:8) and Philip performed miracles (8:5-7), both to prove their words were the Words of God.

In Romans 1:1,11, the Apostle Paul said he wanted to visit the Christians in Rome so he could impart some spiritual gift. In 1st Corinthians 1:6-7 the Apostle Paul said he imparted spiritual gifts to Christians in Corinth.

We have no examples in the New Testament of anyone other than an Apostle passing on the power to perform miracles. Even the writings of the "Apostolic Fathers" in the late 1st and early 2nd century say things like "Even down to those times there were a few miracles being performed including raising the dead" (Eusebius).

Yes, the reason for the miracles was to prove the words of the miracle performer were the Words of God (which had not yet been written down). It was this way with Jesus, and this way with his Apostles. Now that we have the New Testament (Jesus' and his Apostles' teachings in written form) we no longer need the miracles.

They were “marks of an Apostle.” The miracles including, healing, renewing the maimed (making limbs grow back), and bringing people back to life. All of them.

Interesting, isn’t it?

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#miracles

Scripture for Monday 12/11 ~ Tired? Let your soul soar

The scripture for today, December 11 (12/11), is Romans 12:11 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

Sometimes we get physically tired and our spiritual zeal wanes along with it. We just want to rest. Well, while we rest, we can always become prayer warriors.
When you see friends, ask them, "How was your week/day/month?" Don't ask them how they are, for they will probably reply, "Fine." But if you ask how their week has been, that gives them something to talk about. They'll tell you of things they have been doing. Regardless of  what they say, reply, "May I pray for your success in...." or "I'd like to pray for your...."
What the world needs is prayer. Many people have never in their entire life heard someone tell them, "I am praying for you." Be the first. Open up their lives to the love of God.
Prayer is powerful, especially when you are not praying for yourself all the time, but rather are praying for others. Do you have a prayer list? How many are on it besides yourself? Ten? Fifty? A hundred? Five hundred? Is that too many to cover? Not at all. How long does it take to read 500 names in earnest, sincere prayer?
You may say, “But just mentioning a name is so meaningless; it’s too simple. God expects me to explain all I know about this person’s problem and then do some begging.” No, he doesn’t; not with everyone. Prayer is so very, very powerful, that just mentioning a person’s name will bring this person before the very throne of God.
Then, even when you are tired and lack physical zeal, your soul can rise up with spiritual fervor to heaven itself.
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#tired, #soul, #prayer

Scripture for Sunday 12/10 - Letting the mind catch up with the body

The scripture for today, December 10 (12/10), is Job 12:10 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

"Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?"

Let's talk a moment about teenagers. Many adults joke that their teen is 16 going on 60. Let's look at the situation this way. They may have bodies that have grown to that of an adult. But minds grow much slower, and teens must give their minds a chance to catch up!
As adults, it is our responsibility to help their minds catch up. Know enough about the Bible that you can apply scriptures to their activities and interests and friends. You may wish to make a list of your teenager's activities, interests, and friends, and then list a scripture next to each. Proverbs is an excellent book to start with. Then when the occasion arises, be ready (even if you have to sneak into the other room a minute to consult your list) to instill some wisdom.
This way, it is not you speaking, but God speaking. God said, "My word will not return to me void" (Isaiah 55:11). And God is older and wiser than all of us.
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#teenagers

Scripture for Friday, 12/8 ~ Why Am I Here?

The scripture for today, December 8 (12/8), is Ecclesiastes 12:8 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

" 'Meaningless! Meaningless!' says the teacher. 'Everything is meaningless!' "

Several years ago some Christians in England did a sidewalk survey in the downtown of a major city. One of their inquiries was: "What question about your life do you ask the most?". The answer almost always was, "Why am I here? What is life all about?".
The entire book of Ecclesiastes is about all the things the richest and most powerful man in the world did in order to have an enjoyable and fulfilling life: He built mansions and grand temples, he cultivated great gardens, he brought in gold and precious stones and fabrics from around the globe, he had numerous wives and mistresses, he built the largest army and navy in the world, he studied every possible subject. At the end, he said it was all meaningless.
The meaning of our life is that we were born to die. This life is temporary. This life is the foyer of the life we will have eternally ~ a life in heaven or hell. We were not put here just to have fun, but rather to take as many people with us to heaven as possible.
How do we do that? By continually studying and following our manual the Bible that our Creator gave to guide us through this temporary life and into our eternal life ~ our final destination ~ and encouraging others to do the same. Then applying it to our everyday life.
That is the meaning of life.
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#meaning, #heaven, #hell, #life

Scripture for Thursday 12/7 ~ We Are Never Alone

The scripture for today, December 7, is Luke 12:7 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:
"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Jesus had just said that God knows every sparrow individually. Amazing! This God of ours, this Creator of ours knows everything that is going on in his world, and knows everyone in his world, regardless of where we are in the world.
Is God invisible? To us he is. Why?  He is too big to see.  If we stand so close to a building we can see only one brick, we really do not know what the building looks like.  It is the same with God. We are so close to him, we cannot see all of him. But that does not matter. It just shows how close he is to us.
Not only does He know everyone, but He knows our name, our likes, our dislikes, our struggles, our joys, if we bump into a door, how much we paid for groceries this week ~ everything. He is with us where ever we go. There is no place we can go that he is not there.
We are never alone.
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#alone

Scripture for Tuesday, 12/6 ~ You are stronger than you think

The scripture for today, December 6 (12/6), is 1st Corinthians 12:6 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

Later in this letter, Paul explains, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’  On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (12:21f). He further explains, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body….” (12:13).

For ambitious people in the church who “fight for position,” this may be hard to take. The visible workers noticed by everyone are dispensable, BUT those who do the seemingly menial works (the “weaker”) are indispensable ~ those who take food to the bereaved, who read the Bible to the sick, who clean the bathrooms, who daily pray for members and the lost, who give a tract to a friend, who share a bulletin with a neighbor, who send a thinking-of-you card to a lonely person, who mow the church building lawn, who watch the nursery, who periodically quote a Bible verse to a friend in distress ~ such works that are in the background are the ones that are indispensable.

To you who are jealous of people who get to have a more public position in the church and stand in front of the congregation and act like a leader, take heart. God is working just as much or more in you than them.

You may seem weaker to the others, but to God you are strong. God sees things that we do not. And rewards us accordingly.

So, stay the course. You are stronger than you think.
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#good works, #leadership

Scripture for Tuesday 12/5 ~ I will arise!

The scripture for today, December 5 (12/5), is Psalm 12:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

" 'Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,' says the Lord. 'I will protect them from those who malign them.' "

Notice, in this scripture the Lord says, "I will now arise." Sometimes God needs us to endure difficulties so that bad people who cause such problems can be exposed for what they are, and ultimately so Satan can be exposed for what he is. Sometimes that difficulty will last months or years ~ sometimes even a lifetime.

First Corinthians 3:9 in the New Testament says we are workers together with God. Ephesians 6:12 says “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly [spiritual] realms.”

We are where God wants us to be. This is our assignment. Are we up to it? Sometimes our job is just to hang on and not give up on God. That’s what Satan is always trying to get us to do, just like he did Job in the Old Testament. God won’t leave us in a situation that is impossible for us to endure. I Corinthians 10:13 says, “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”

So, go ahead and groan in your weakness, but hang on. Never let go of God. That’s your part.

As soon as the evil around you is exposed for what it is, you have proven good cannot be conquered by evil, and you have grown spiritually as a result of your experience, God will move in for his part.

God will then arise.

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#persecution, #troubles, #problems

Scripture for Monday 12/4 ~ sharing and caring

The scripture for today, December 4 (12/4), is Isaiah 12:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

"In that day you will say: 'Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.' "

Do you make known to your part of your nation what God has done for you? When a friend tells you of a difficulty, do you share what you went through that was similar, and that God helped get you through it? Are you ready with an easy-to-remember scripture to prove God cares and God helps? When someone is sick or bereaved, do you let them know that God hurts just as much when they suffer as when he watched his own Son suffer on the cross?

Look back over your life. Make a list of some difficult times you and God made it through. Find an applicable verse and memorize it. Find out what is going on in the lives of your friends, co-workers, neighbors. Then be ready to share your story and what God has done for you. It’s up to each one of us to do this.

Thereby God's name will be exalted.

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#sharing, #caring

Scripture for Sunday, 12/3 - ego

The scripture for today, December 3 (12/3), is Romans 12:3 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

"For by the race given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."

The context of this verse is members of a congregation getting along with each other. He explains that each person is given certain gifts such as serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing and so on (12:6-8).
Many disagreements come about because one person has an idea about a good work, and someone else has a different idea about it, and still, someone else says some other good work should be done ~ and they all believe their way is the best way.
Perhaps the best way to judge whether we are thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought, is to ask ourselves this: If I moved away or if I died, would this congregation survive without me? Of course, it would.
And if our hearts are set on a certain good work, we can always do it alone; we do not need a committee of people to do it with us.
May our prayer be, "Lord, help me see myself as others do."
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#ego

Scripture for Saturday, 12/2 - Determination

The scripture for today, December 2 (12/2), is Hebrews 12:2 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Yes, life gets pretty rough sometimes. And the harder we try to act like Christians among non-Christians, the more difficult it can become. Did such difficulties stop Jesus? No. He was determined to save as many souls as possible. And he was determined to do the job God gave him before returning to heaven.

Where is your determination? You think you have problems? Look at the problems Jesus endured. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Do not “grow weary and lose heart.” Dare to stand firm, hold fast, and do the right thing.

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Scripture for Friday, 12/1 - Bible Research

The scripture for today, December 1, is Jeremiah 12:1ff as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

"Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you to decide. Now let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil men so happy? You plant them. They take root and their business grows. Their profits multiply, and they are rich. They say, 'Thank God!' But in their hearts, they give no credit to you. But as for me ~ Lord, you know my heart ~ you know how much it longs for you. And I am poor, O Lord!"

Now compare this with Job 15:20-24:

"All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for him. Terrifying sounds fill his ears....He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword. He wanders about ~ food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand. Distress and anguish fill him with terror."

These two passages contradict each other. So what is the problem? The words spoken in Job were by Eliphaz, one of Job's well-meaning friends who took it upon himself to help Job figure out why he had lost all his wealth, all his children, and all his health. Was Eliphaz right?

At the end of the book of Job, is this: "The Lord...said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and your two friends because you have not spoken of me what is right." Then God ordered Eliphaz and his friends to sacrifice seven bulls and rams (not small sacrifices), then ask Job to pray for them so God "will not deal with you according to your folly."

When we read scripture, let us be careful to investigate its context and ALL other scriptures on the same subject. Only then can we have the whole picture. Only then can we avoid religious folly.

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#BibleUnderstanding, #ScriptureUnderstanding