Friday, January 22, 2021

Don't give up living for God even if people hurt you

 Zechariah 2:8 For thus says the Lord... he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

Malachi 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

Proverbs 3:31 Do not envy the oppressor, and choose none of his ways

Psalm 37:7-9 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.

Isaiah 40:30-31 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

1 Peter 2:20-24 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Psalm 91:4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

Psalm 91:9-11 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.

Psalm 31:19-20 Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.

Psalm 91:14-16 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places

 Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Colossians 3:2-3, 12-13 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God... put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

James 3:16-18 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 1:5, 17 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him... Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Relevant quote:

Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. [My Life Today, p. 47]

Monday, January 11, 2021

The Lord Our Shepherd

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Ezekiel 34:11-16 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

Psalm 78:52-53 But He made His own people go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

Psalm 79:13 So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

Psalm 100:1-3 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

 Isaiah 40:11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.

Psalm 95:6-8 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.  Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of [c]trial in the wilderness,

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

1 Peter 2:24-25  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 5:2-4 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Matthew 18:10-14 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

John 10:1-10 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:11-16 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Matthew 25:32-45  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’  “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’  “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer [a]Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

Another interesting topic (outside this blog): Jesus' names and titles in the bible

Friday, January 8, 2021

Your Identity in Christ

YOU ARE
Fully known (John 10:14, Psalm 139:1-6)
Forever loved, no matter what you've done (Jeremiah 31:3, Rom. 5:8)
God's beloved child in whom He is well pleased. (Matt. 3:17)
Accepted into the beloved - Ephesians 1:6
Called by name and belong to God (Isaiah 43:1)
Rejoiced over by God with singing (Zeph 3:17)
Hidden with Christ in God (Psalms 32:7)
Rooted and grounded in His love (Ephesians 3:17)
Healed by Jesus' stripes (Isaiah 53:6)
Redeemed by Jesus' blood (1 Peter 1:18-19, Rev 5:9)
Reconciled to God (Colossians 1:21, 2 Corinthians 5:18)
God's Masterpiece - Ephesians 2:10
A New Creation - 2 Corinthians 5:17
A Child of God - John 1:12, Romans 8:16
Adopted into God’s family (Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:5)
A Brother/Sister - Matthew 12:50, Hebrews 2:11
Set free from sin’s power (Romans 6:14, Rom 8:2)
Set free from condemnation (Rom 8:1-2)
Set free from Satan’s control (Col 1:13)
Freed from Satan's accusations (Rev 12:11)
A Soldier - 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Ephesians 6:11
Victorious over sin (1 Corinthians 15:56-57, 1 John 5:4)
Provided a way out of temptation (1 Cor 10:13)
More Than A Conqueror - Romans 8:37
Can handle any situation (Phil. 4:13)
Justified freely by his grace (Romans 3:24)
Sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Chosen for holiness in God's love (Ephesians 1:4)
A vessel for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2:21)
A Saint - 1 Corinthians 1:2
Temple of God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:16)
Forgiven and cleansed of all your confessed sins 1 John 1:9
Predestined to be like Jesus (Ephesians 1:11)
Given the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22)
A Partaker of Christ - Hebrews 3:14
A Branch of the True Vine - John 15:5
A Member of Christ's Body - Romans 12:5
Dead indeed to sin, but alive to God (Romans 6:11)
Made alive by his mighty power (Ephesians 2:1)
Seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)
Blessed us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
Complete in him (Colossians 2:10)
Given all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)
Given great and precious promises (2 Pet 1:4)
Given ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 1:22)
Given authority over the power of enemy (Lk 10:19)
One with the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17)
City set on a hill (Matthew 5:14)
Candle in a dark place (Matthew 5:15)
A Child of Light - 1 Thessalonians 5:5
A Citizen of Heaven - Philippians 3:20
A Pilgrim - 1 Peter 2:11
An Ambassador - 2 Corinthians 5:20
A Witness - Acts 1:8
Given wisdom (Ephesians 1:8)
Co-laborers with God (1 Corinthians 3:9)
A Steward/Servant - 1 Corinthians 4:1–2
A Friend of Jesus - John 15:14
A Joint Heir With Christ - Romans 8:17
A Royal Priesthood - 1 Peter 2:9
A Living Stone, Built in Christ- 1 Peter 2:5
Salt and a Light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14)
A Jewel- Malachi 3:17
A Royal Diadem - Isaiah 62:3
The head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13)
Cared for and protected as His sheep (Psalms 23, Psalms 100:3)
Kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5)
Kept from falling (Jude 1:24)
Kept in the palm of his hand (John 10:29)
Secure in Christ (John 10:28-29)
Sheltered under his wing (Psalms 91:4)
Set on a Rock (Psalms 40:2)
Hidden in secret place of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1)
On the way to heaven (John 14:6)

YOU HAVE…
Salvation (2 Timothy 2:10)
Redemption and forgiveness (Romans 3:24, Ephesians 1:7)
Access to the Father (Romans 5:2)
Jesus as your Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Jesus as your High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Eternal life (Romans 6:23)
Victory (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Freedom/liberty (Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:1)
Grace (2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:1)
Righteousness by faith (Romans 3:22, Philippians 3:9)
Faith and love (1 Timothy 1:14, 2 Timothy 1:13)
Faith working through love (Galatians 5:6)
Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)
You have a new name in heaven (Rev. 2:17)
A home in heaven waiting for you (Jn 14:1-2)
All you need (Philippians 4:19)
A living hope (1 Peter 1:3)
An eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15, 1 Peter 1:4)
An anchor to your soul (Hebrews 6:19)
A hope that is sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19)
Authority to tread on serpents (Luke 10:19)
Power to witness (Acts 1:8)
The tongue of the learned (Isaiah 50:4)
The mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
Peace with God (Romans 5:1)
A measure of faith (Romans 10:17, Romans 12:3)
Purpose and grace (2 Timothy 1:9)
A future and an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11)

Monday, December 28, 2020

What the bible says about being humble

 Psalm 69:29-32 I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power. Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.

Psalm 37:8-9, 11 ....Do not fret—it only causes harm.... those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth... the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Proverbs 3:31-34 Do not envy the oppressor, and choose none of his ways;  For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

Psalm 138:6
Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.

Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Psalm 9:11-12 Sing praises to the Lord...  He does not forget the cry of the humble.

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.

Proverbs 18:12 (NIV)
 Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Psalm 25:9 The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.

Psalm 34:2
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Psalm 10:17-18 (NASB) Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will make Your ear attentive to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that mankind, which is of the earth, will no longer cause terror.

Psalm 18:35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.

Psalm 149:2-4 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Psalm 147:6 The Lord lifts up the humble...

Isaiah 29:19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 22:26 (CSB) The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him. May your hearts live forever!

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

2 Chronicles 7:14  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Isaiah 61:1 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound

2 Kings 22:19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord.

Matthew 5:3-12 (GW Translation) “Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are those who mourn. They will be comforted. Blessed are those who are gentle. They will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval. They will be satisfied. Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be treated mercifully. Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God. Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God’s children. Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.  “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.

Mathew 11:29-30  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Mathew 18:1-6 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Luke 18:13-14 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 6:10-11 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Ephesians 4:2-3 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 3:13  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

James 4:6-7 
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:6-7  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

 James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for  “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Titus 3:1-2
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

1 Peter 3:13-16  And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

Romans 12:14-16 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5-8 (MEV) Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. But He emptied Himself, taking upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Helpful verses for overcoming pride:

Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord:  
“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 6:5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”

Psalm 8:4 
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Philippians 3:8
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

1 Corinthians 8:1b  ...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?


Monday, December 21, 2020

Idols are lies which can never satisfy nor save

Jeremiah 10:14 Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image; For his molded image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

Habakkuk 2:18 (GNT} What's the use of an idol? It is only something that a human being has made, and it tells you nothing but lies. What good does it do for its maker to trust it--a god that can't even talk!

Isaiah 44:13-14, 19-20 The craftsman... makes [an image]... according to the beauty of a man.. He cuts down cedars for himself.. And no one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” 

Jeremiah 2:11-13 
Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? ....Be astonished, O heavens, at this... For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Proverbs 27:7 A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Romans 1:25 
[They] exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator...

Isaiah 45:20-22 “Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of their carved image, and pray to a god that cannot save. Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Jeremiah 16:19 O Lord, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, “Surely our fathers have inherited lies, worthlessness and unprofitable things.”
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God gives you a map [the bible] that leads away from false worship and on to true worship - Edward T Welch

Friday, November 27, 2020

How To Get Things Done

1. Quiet alone time with no distractions 
Matthew 14:23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

2. Write down everything you want to do
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

3. Set time limits for each task
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven

4. Get some rest
 Mark 6:31 
And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”...

5. Eat healthy
Genesis 1:29 
And God said, see, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.