Week Two, Day Two. Aligning with Gods Word

[Maggievt]

Good Morning! Today we begin to press into some in-depth stuff.....

Central Passage
Proverbs 9:10
Matthew 25:14-30* (*response requested to this passage)
Psalm 119:105
John 17:17
Psalm 1:1-2
Psalm 119:11
James 1:22
2 Timothy 3:12-17*

My Daily Response

My Daily Meditation

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

Central Passages

So we go back to the story of the three slaves who were given hundreds of thousands of dollars (in today's currency) by their master. Two of them knew their master well enough to know what he expected from them without being told. The third, sadly, had a superficial knowledge of the master that shielded him from truly knowing the master's heart.

Knowledge of God's Word to us is essential to our moving forward in our walk with God. The more we know, and the deeper our knowledge, the straighter our path will be as we strive to love the Lord with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

The good news is that we don't have to know it all before we start to follow; we can take what we know right now and live it out, and as we come to know more, we live that out, also. This is how we grow.

I love that Dwayne is emphasizing the reliability of God's written Word. In a culture where much of the truth found in the Word has been discarded, where many biblical scholars and even pastors don't believe that the Bible is the reliable message from God, it is good to be reminded that "all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." Because without that solid foundation, the man of God (or any would-be follower of God) cannot be adequately equipped for every good work.

My Daily Response

I have come to believe that any person who claims the name of Christ, who then denies him or refutes his Word in order to avoid tribulation or death, has never truly been redeemed.

In the past, I have avoided sharing the Good News out of an irrational fear of rejection or scorn. I can no longer back away from being obedient to the Word out of fear. God's perfect love casts out all fear.(I John 4:18)

My Daily Meditation

Lord Jesus, You are Love; you are loving. As we learned yesterday, we are to love the Lord with our whole being and love our neighbor as ourselves. I confess that I do not love you as I should, nor do I truly love my neighbor.

You are faithful.(Lamentations 2:23-24) I can depend on your word, I can depend on your promises, both for blessing and for curses. I confess that I am unfaithful. I cannot always be depended on.

You were 100% obedient as a man. Every test you were given you passed perfectly. Even when you left the Upper Room and went to the garden to pray, knowing fully what was about to happen, you obeyed perfectly. I confess that I am a disobedient child.

You are courageous. You stood up to Satan, to demons, to mis-guided and evil religious authorities. I confess that I am so timid when it comes to speaking about what you have done for me.

As you renew my mind, Lord Jesus, I beg of you to transform these areas of my failure until I begin to look like you.

Tom

[Maggievt]

Central Passage - Two things stuck out from this section, from a really rich section, that I will have to revisit -
1) the light description - the high beams vs low beams - how there are times when we will know what is ahead, but how we are led by the light at our feet for those times when the fog is very thick. That is a really great and accessible description of Psalm 119:105.
2) the little girl story. that affects me in so many ways, on so many levels - for all that I say I love Jesus, do I love His Word like that? Or would I rationalize? For this wonderful life He restored and for the eternal life I will have with Him, could I go to that length? and, the story itself. How tragic and wonderful, all at once...

My Daily Response
Lord, I pray that I love Your Word the way I love You. I want to be true to You in all ways and whatever that may mean. I entrust my heart, my weak, sinners heart, to You. Give me the intent, the desire, the drive to be a true follower of Yours. Yes. Amen

My Daily Meditation
This is one of those rare times I will keep my response between me and Him...I rarely do this, but this really touched on some deep and old areas that I am not ready to share on-line....thank you for allowing me to do this

Maggie

[Maggievt]

The good news is that we don't have to know it all before we start to follow; we can take what we know right now and live it out, and as we come to know more, we live that out, also. This is how we grow.

I LOVE this observation! We all 'know' this, but I so often forget it.
I, also, share such a timidity about sharing Him with others. Not only this study, but the current sermon series at my church is truly convicting me about this area of my spiritual life. A woman that I know has expressed a clear interest in hearing my story about how I came to Christ as an adult. I have been praying that I don't back away - that I step up! I know i will be made able if I am available.....
Maggie