Evening Scripture Reading - 1 Chronicles 12:18

 1 Chronicles 12:18 New King James Version (NKJV)

18 Then the Spirit [a]came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said:

“We are yours, O David;
We are on your side, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
And peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.”

So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Chronicles 12:18 Lit. clothed

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 38:21-22

 Psalm 38:21-22 New King James Version (NKJV)

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord;
O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 18:1

Proverbs 18:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Name of the Lord Is a Strong Tower

1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all [a]wise judgment.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 18:1 sound wisdom

Morning Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

Comfort in Suffering

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our [b]consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Delivered from Suffering

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our [c]trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and [d]does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on [e]our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 1:4 tribulation
2. 2 Corinthians 1:5 comfort
3. 2 Corinthians 1:8 tribulation
4. 2 Corinthians 1:10 NU shall
5. 2 Corinthians 1:11 M your behalf

Evening Scripture Reading - Deuteronomy 11:13-15

Deuteronomy 11:13-15 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly [a]obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 then I[b] will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. 15 And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be [c]filled.’

Footnotes:

1. Deuteronomy 11:13 Lit. listen to
2. Deuteronomy 11:14 So with MT, Tg.; Sam., LXX, Vg. He
3. Deuteronomy 11:15 satisfied

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 38:17-20

Psalm 38:17-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 For I am ready to fall,
And my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I will declare my iniquity;
I will be in [a]anguish over my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong;
And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied.
20 Those also who render evil for good,
They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 38:18 anxiety

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 17:27-28

 Proverbs 17:27-28 New King James Version (NKJV)

27 He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Morning Scripture Reading - Isaiah 53:4-6

 Isaiah 53:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Surely He has borne our [a]griefs
And carried our [b]sorrows;
Yet we [c]esteemed Him stricken,
[d]Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded[e] for our transgressions,
He was [f]bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes[g] we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord [h]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Footnotes:

1. Isaiah 53:4 Lit. sicknesses
2. Isaiah 53:4 Lit. pains
3. Isaiah 53:4 reckoned
4. Isaiah 53:4 Struck down
5. Isaiah 53:5 Or pierced through
6. Isaiah 53:5 crushed
7. Isaiah 53:5 Blows that cut in
8. Isaiah 53:6 Lit. has caused to land on Him

Evening Scripture Reading - Deuteronomy 32:5-6

 Deuteronomy 32:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 “They have corrupted themselves;
They are not His children,
Because of their blemish:
A perverse and crooked generation.
6 Do you thus deal[a] with the Lord,
O foolish and unwise people?
Is He not your Father, who bought you?
Has He not made you and established you?

Footnotes:

1. Deuteronomy 32:6 repay the

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 38:15-16

 Psalm 38:15-16 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 For [a]in You, O Lord, I hope;
You will [b]hear, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me,
Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.”

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 38:15 I wait for You, O Lord
2. Psalm 38:15 answer

Mid-Week Message - Standing For Truth

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."  2 Timothy 3:16-17  (NLT) 

One of the very first things I remember learning about the Bible was that the Word of God is to be treasured.  I must have been about seven or eight years old.  The place was South Georgia Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas.  It was an evening class right before the evening service.  I had laid my Bible on the window ledge and put something else on top of it.  My sweet teacher instructed me that the Word of God is precious and to be treated with respect.  She told me never to place other things on top of it.  

Now, I don't necessarily think the Bible must always be on top of a physical stack.  But I do believe it is to be esteemed above any other book or item we have.  It contains our "love letter" from God.  His words, delivered over the ages, preserved through time so that we can hear directly from Him.  He uses them to teach us, to guide us, to comfort us and to assure us that He is intimately involved in our lives.  

A week or so ago as I sat and watched the news, I saw a report about a Bible being burned in the street.  After my shock and anger came incredible sadness and I wept.  In my mind, I saw Jesus on the cross saying, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."  I wondered if, at any time in their lives, these persons involved had ever personally cradled a Bible in their hands, opened it and been exposed to the powerful truths contained therein.  

We are witnessing large groups of individuals who are turning their backs on morality and attempting to rewrite the rules of society.  They want nothing to do with obedience to the law, with patriotism or any other system that directs behavior.  Instead they want to do what feels good to them even if that means destroying the life of another.  God's Word stands as a beacon of truth which directs us to forego our own will and desires and to follow Him.  It stands to reason that they would lash out at it as well.  

It is vitally important that those of us who believe in Almighty God and the Bible as His inerrant Word, be willing to stand up for what we know to be right.  It is time for churches to return to preaching God's Word rather than tickling ears with "feel good" messages.  Some of what God has to say is hard to hear.  We don't want to be confronted about the sin in our lives.  We want to follow the world's excuses and blame our shortcomings on anyone or anything besides ourselves.  But until we encounter Jesus and admit the truth about what we have done we will not find forgiveness. 

We must be willing to speak God's truth.  We are seeing more and more vitriol being directed at Christianity.  It will only continue to worsen.  This is not the time to hide our heads but to boldly stand in the name of Jesus.  Our children need to be raised in true Bible believing and teaching churches and what they learn there needs to be modeled by parents and reinforced at home.  We need to be fully aware of what they are hearing as "truth" at school so that we can make sure they are not confused and led away.  

I know how difficult it is.  It is frightening to speak out.  We could encounter disapproval, criticism, mocking or even worse.  But in this day of kneeling to lies, we must be careful to kneel only before our Lord.  He left Heaven, came to earth and died a torturous death for us.  What are we willing to do for Him?  

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 17:26

 Proverbs 17:26 New King James Version (NKJV)

26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

Morning Scripture Reading - John 20:19-23

John 20:19-23 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Apostles Commissioned

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were [a]assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Footnotes:

1. John 20:19 NU omits assembled

Evening Scripture Reading - Isaiah 53:4-6

 Isaiah 53:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Surely He has borne our [a]griefs
And carried our [b]sorrows;
Yet we [c]esteemed Him stricken,
[d]Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded[e] for our transgressions,
He was [f]bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes[g] we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord [h]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Footnotes:

1. Isaiah 53:4 Lit. sicknesses
2. Isaiah 53:4 Lit. pains
3. Isaiah 53:4 reckoned
4. Isaiah 53:4 Struck down
5. Isaiah 53:5 Or pierced through
6. Isaiah 53:5 crushed
7. Isaiah 53:5 Blows that cut in
8. Isaiah 53:6 Lit. has caused to land on Him