2 Timothy

R.E.A.D.!

12:00 AM



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing 2 Timothy 2:15…

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Here is the amplified version…

Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.

There is nothing in this world that will help us more to please God than to handle carefully and correctly God’s written word…we should be looking at the written word of God just as the psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a lamp to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

While it is important to study His Word, we should not be studying to “show ourselves approved.” We are already approved in Jesus. Here, Paul is urging Timothy to be more diligent in living his life according to the Gospel. 

And remember everyone, studying God’s Word is just one “ingredient to a healthy spiritual diet in God’s Word.” There are 4 things:

~ Reading the bible - just take your Bible and read through it, page by page, truth by truth.

~ Examine the bible - study. Take a passage of the bible and work through the text. Use resources to help you.

~ Apply the bible - once the Holy Spirit has shown you a truth, pray, put it in action, obey what you’ve learned.

~ Diligent - keep it up, don’t give up.


Make Bible study a major priority. Listen to what God is saying to you. As you READ  also pray - talk to God - He will listen. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7) Answered prayer is one of the many benefits of abiding in His Word—walking with Christ and living His Word. This is our strength as a believer!


Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

1 Timothy

Real Contentment!

12:00 AM



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing 1Timothy 6:6,7…

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

I love reading verses in the Amplified version as well…

But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God]. For we have brought nothing into the world, so [it is clear that] we cannot take anything out of it, either.

As followers of Christ our lives need to be focused on pursuing holiness in behavior, attitude, and thought.  Easy to do in this world?  - no - but we should continue to choose to be content in whatever circumstances God has placed us, placing our trust in a Sovereign God, as Paul himself writes while in prison…

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. (Phil 4:11,12)

Paul’s secret? “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

Contentment, as Paul is describing, is a mindset, a heart set, and a work set…knowing/believing/behaving that our real home is in heaven. "It requires but little of this world's goods to satisfy a man who feels himself to be a citizen of another country, and knows that this is not his rest." (Clarke)

Father, thank you for all of the blessings that you have bestowed upon us, for the spiritual wealth that You have given us through Your Son and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to keep our eyes and thoughts upon the riches we have in You and in the eternal wealth that has been given us.  Help us to see through this world’s constant reminder of what will make us “happy” - to see it as the work of satan and a testing given by him. We desire to place our hearts solely on the true treasure - You!


Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

2 Thessalonians

Comfort and Hope!

12:00 AM



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing 2 Thessalonians 2:16 and 17…

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Here is the amplified version…

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and encouragement and the good [well-founded] hope [of salvation] by His grace, comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts [keeping them steadfast and on course] in every good work and word.

God has given us two wonderful gifts…

~eternal comfort: eternal means whatever we may face in this life will pass - our comfort is here to stay. All of our present pains, sufferings, difficult situations are temporary…our future glory will be forever!

~ good hope: His Word gives us hope! We have certainty that what God promises in His Word is true.  It is good because it is beneficial to us morally and practically.

Paul then adds the words, “through grace.” We have grace because we are the objects of God’s love and receivers of comfort and hope.  It is by His grace and never something we deserve, no matter how faithful we may be. Think upon this…it is by His amazing grace that saved us, that keeps us, and it is by this grace that we will enter into God’s presence eternally.  Such an encouragement for our hearts-!  We are comforted!

But remember, as His loved ones, we are to  “keep (our hearts) steadfast and on course in every good work and word.”  Work and word…these are the essential two parts of a believer’s life…our work, which is our walk, and our words. Our lives should reflect Jesus’ character.  A believer must continuously think upon the truth of God’s Word and hold firmly to the teaching of His Word.

“Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

Our world needs a Savior and our lives should reflect His nature so much so that others will desire to know Him.

Father, thank you for your amazing comfort and hope, not only for today, but for eternity promised. Thank you for the grace that You have bestowed upon us, though undeserving.  With the strength of the Holy Spirit, guide our entire being, our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions, both in words and deeds, in a way that pleases You and glorifies Your Son.   We desire to keep our hearts and mind on Jesus, Your Son, our Savior, and Your Word.

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

give thanks

Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks!

12:00 AM

 
Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 17, and 18…

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Here is this verse in the amplified version…

Rejoice always and delight in your faith;  be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

What was Paul asking of me personally to draw me closer to Him and strengthen my faith in Him?  I asked myself these questions and I pray that they will be of help to you as well…

How can I always “rejoice and delight” in my faith?
~I will be thankful. I will focus daily on the blessings that God has given me through His Son Jesus.
~I will yield and rely on Him in every situation I may come across. I will give all control of my life over to Him…I will be worry free! 
~I will sing! Praising Him in song always brings me joy.  I will praise Him for His goodness, love, and grace. Even if I do make a “joyful noise!” ;)

How can I “pray without ceasing”?
~I will first to admit that I need to depend on the Lord for everything.  I read, “Prayer is the language of trusting the Lord.” 
~When I think of a loved one or friend I will pray for them immediately, even if it’s “short and sweet.” When someone asks me to pray for them, I will pray right there with the person.  I won’t promise to pray later and then forget to do so.  I will pray immediately for them.  
~I will read books on prayer.  
~Most importantly I will spend time in God’s word and prayer each morning.  I will continue using His words for my prayers. That’s why I love memorizing His Word!

How can I “give thanks in all circumstances” to God?
~I will read His Word and deepen my understanding of who God really is. I have studied the names He is given in the Bible and recommend every one to do the same!
~I will truly trust Him above all else.  Thankfulness will be my habit if trusting is my habit.  If I am trusting Him, then it follows that I will be thankful and if I’m thankful, I am trusting Him.

Remember that this is not something that we can just do, it is a life-long process, We must practice daily. Remember practice doesn’t make perfect it just makes permanent. Realize that “this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

Dear Father, thank you for your goodness, for your love, for your forgiveness, and for your Son! Help me to live according to Your will.  Give me your wisdom and guidance during my prayer time and all day as I lift others in prayer. Remind me to continually look to You and trust You for all things.

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Colossians

LOVE!

12:00 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing Colossians 3:14…
And above all these put on love, which binds everything in perfect harmony.

Here is the amplified version…

Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].
 
Love is very important to the Christian. When Jesus was asked how to inherit eternal life He responded in agreement with what was written, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”(Luke 10:27)
In our verse today, Paul says to "over all" put on love. A follower of Jesus should be known for his or her love above all else.  Ask yourself, “How are you known by others?” 
In 1 Corinthians Paul writes about the importance of “over all” love. ”If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (13:1-3)

All these gifts are empty without love. True, genuine faith reveals itself in love.
I read this wonderful sermon about what it means to “put on” love and I wanted to share excerpts from it with you all…
“Paul tells us to ‘put on’ love. It is something we are required to DO. We can become more loving but we must understand what love means practically. We must study what God says love is. We must ask ourselves, ‘Am I patient, kind, and without envy in my relationships? Am I seeking to help those who have a need? Am I desiring the best for those that God has brought into my life? Am I seeking to build up others or only to build up myself through others?’

Putting on means…
~to accept people where they are. Love starts where the other person is not where we would like them to be.
~overlooking small irritations. Everyone of us has blemishes. 
~looking for potential rather than problems. We need to remember that each person is created in the image of God. Each one has been made for a particular purpose. Love demands we learn to build up, rather than tear down.

Love does not happen naturally. We must focus on love. When we see unloving feelings beginning to creep in, we must stand against them. We must repent of our attitude and return to love.” (B. Goettsche)

And what happens when we “above all these put on love”? You will see love bringing Christians together. You will see how love will draw people to Christ. We each have a responsibility to "put on love" in our own lives. This is the most important task we have because if we, without hesitation, “put on love”  the world will see Jesus as the great Savior that He truly is.

Father, through your strength, help me to focus on and guide me to love others as Your Son loved me! Help me glorify You in my every day loving attitude and actions.

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Peace

Pray About EVERYTHING!

12:00 AM

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing Philippians 4:6-7…

…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Here, Paul is promising that if we are dependent on Christ, enjoying a prayerful life, then we are protected from anxiety and worry by the peace only He can give.

If we desire to be victorious over anxiety and worry, then here is the solution…”in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God.” EVERYTHING! Pray about everything, stay your thoughts in prayer all day. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Corinth 10:31)

I remember reading that a fellow Christian lady would pray while doing everyday chores.  Folding laundry? Pray specifically for my children. Doing dishes, pray specifically for my church. Making lunches, pray specifically for my husband, friends, family. Great way to stay in prayer all day!
Here is Paul’s solution on how do we do this…
~ by prayer - spiritual devotion as we pray
~ by supplication - asking for help
~ with thanksgiving - the humble prayer being content and thankful with whatever God, through His infinite wisdom and love gives us.
If we let God know of our requests - in devotion to Him, asking God for His help, thankfully knowing that He hears us and will answer our prayers wisely and lovingly - He promises that we will be a peace. He will guard our hearts from  anxiety and worry in a way that we cannot possibly explain.

Here is a link that some of you may find encouraging…
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/prayer-for-beginners

O Father, grant me the joy, the power and the peace of a life in prayer…

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Ephesians

Grace, Saved, Faith…

12:00 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!
 
Today we are memorizing Ephesians 2:8-9a…
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works…
 
I love the amplified version of this verse…
For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God…
 
Let's look at the three key words in this verse: grace, saved and faith, and what they mean to us as Christians…
_Grace - "unmerited favor." It is God's doing good for someone who does not deserve it. Nothing in us entitles us to salvation. God is gracious, full of mercy, love, and kindness towards us.  He has reached out through His Son Jesus Christ to save us.
_Saved - is a passive verb. It emphasizes what has been done TO us. We do not save ourselves by completing admirable works…God saves us.  He makes us whole.
_Faith - we must have faith to receive God's gracious offer of salvation. God expects us to trust in and act on His Word. In other words, God showers grace on those who are faithful and obey His truth. Our obedient faith allows grace to be given.

“The grace that saves is the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God; and He saves, not by the works of the law, but through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul. A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul; he lives a life of holiness, being born of God: he lives, being delivered from the guilt of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace.
We are saved through faith in the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ. So when I unintentionally sin, I must repent and confess my sin and believe by faith I am forgiven. It is only after doing these things that I can receive the grace of God.” (M.Henry)

“God's wonderful grace has saved us through our obedient faith to do His good works. God has inseparably joined grace, faith, and works together in His plan for the salvation of man.” (A.Cole)
To truly apply His word, this verse, to my life I must be reminded of this. Through my FAITH in Christ and what He did for me, I received God’s grace. I have become His “work of art”.  I am then God’s “masterpiece” to do His good works. God saved me to serve. Others should be able to see my good works, my life, as a masterpiece that glorifies my Father in Heaven!

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Doing well

Doing Good

12:00 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing one verse for the book of Galatians…
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (6.9)
Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good…(Amplified version)

The “doing good” that Paul is talking about is “doing” the fruit of the spirit which he speaks about earlier in Galatians… 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (v5:22,23)

We are not to grow weary being “patient and kind and good and faithful and gentle and (showing) self-control. Don’t grow weary of manifesting your peace and joy in all kinds of acts of love to your neighbors and associates and family.” (Piper)

If we do not spend our time living as Christ did, living in His Spirit, keeping our eyes on Him, then the flesh will take over…
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Gal. 6:8)
And we all need to be reminded at times why it matters that we not give up, why it matters that we keep on keeping on…
~Because of God’s love
~Because of Christ’s sacrifice
~Because of our commitment to the Lord
~Because of heaven and hell
~Because we may take others with us through our testimony
~Because of the love we share with other Christians
~Because of our fellowship with God

It matters very much, in every way, what we do, how we live our lives.  We must always keep our eyes on Him and eternity, pressing forward in serving God every day, with every step, until we are with Him.
Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

2 Corinthians

Grace

12:30 AM

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today, we complete our memorization of verses found in 2 Corinthians with 8:9…
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.
 
Grace.  Here are some synonyms…charity, mercy, kindness, favor, goodwill, pity, thanksgiving, reward.
But the basic meaning of this word is beauty, charm, loveliness.  We also have the word graceful which means beauty of line or movement…acts of beauty.  So when we combine the synonyms of kindness and mercy with acts of beauty we have the most beautiful acts possible to human beings.  Through this verse Paul is saying to the people of Corinth…”You know the beautiful acts of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We all know that Jesus is kind and merciful - we know of His self-giving love. He was ready to give of Himself, holding nothing back and still is for us today.”

Before Jesus came to this earth in the form of a man, He had everything - he was omnipotent - everything in this universe was at His command - yet He laid this all aside and He became powerless.  Remember what He said of Himself in John? …”Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works.”  He was dependent fully on His Father for everything…He became nothing.
And through Him we have become rich! By His daily mercies, His love, His selfless giving of Himself He has given us power.  Power to become like Him - self-giving, kind, merciful - we are right where He began. He began rich, became poor, so that we, like Him, can be rich, to become poor for others so that they may be rich! 
Freely you have received; freely give. (Matt 10:8b NIV)

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

2 Corinthians

Today is the Day!

12:30 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today, we begin our memorization of verses found in 2 Corinthians with 6:2…
For He says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
 
Here is the verse in the New Living Translation…
As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Here, Paul is quoting Isaiah 49:8…
This is what the Lord says: “At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them. Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel and assign it to its own people again. (NLT)
Just as God spoke to the people of Israel through Isaiah, Paul wanted to give the Corinthian Christians a sense of urgency and purpose.  God has an acceptable time for us to work with His grace.  God has a day of salvation that will not last forever.  As a follower of Christ we need not to live our lives in comfort.  It is time for us to begin getting busy for the Lord, and to be work with with Him and glorify Him through our lives.

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

1 Corinthians

Self-less Love…a Priority for Every Christian

12:30 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today, we complete our memorization of verses found in 1 Corinthians with 13:7-8a...

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Paul describes how love acts…Love is not talk; it is action."

~Love bears all things…In this verse I like to think of the word “bear” to mean:  protect by covering.  Love protects others. Love doesn’t broadcast the problems of others, it doesn’t put down another. This love defends others in truth.
~Love believes all things…this does not mean to be gullible, but it means that love is not suspicious and doubting of others’ character or motives.

~Love hopes all things…it rests on the promises of God.  He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  Love always hopes.

~Love endures all things…enduring = sustaining…holding up under trial, persevering through difficulties.  It means that love hangs in there.  It is a positive spirit that sticks it out through tough times.

That’s how love acts.  It is self-less, directed to another person or persons. Is it difficult?  Yes…this love that I described is perfect and only God is perfect.  This is how God loves. And we should strive to love as God loves…

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

Now reread our memory verse and replace “love” with “Christ”…
(Christ) bears all things, (Christ) believes all things, (Christ) hopes all things, (Christ) endures all things. (Christ) never ends.
Amen!!!

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

1 Corinthians

“Small Things With Great Love.”

12:30 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today, we continue our memorization of verses found in 1 Corinthians with 10:31….

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
 
This verse gives meaning to our lives.  What we do with our day-to-day lives is not as important as if we do all things for the glory of God.  If we are really, truly living for God, then everything that we do should be for Him. This doesn’t mean that we are to spend every minute of our day at worship service, or reading the bible.  We can make every little thing that we do do in our day as a prayer to God…if we do it with love and with the mind of a servant.  No matter how trivial or ordinary our actions through our day are, they can be all done for the glory of God.
Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”  Even the simplest of things can be done with great love if it is done for our Lord.
My prayer…”Dear Lord, help me give You glory in all that I do today!”

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

1 Corinthians

Glory to God!

12:30 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!
Today, we begin our memorization of verses found in 1 Corinthians with 6:19-20….
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit with you, whom you have from God? You are to your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
 
Here is the amplified version…
"Do you not know that your body is the temple, the very sanctuary, of the Holy Spirit Who lives with you, Whom you have received, as a Gift, from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price, purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body."
 
Matthew Henry commented on these verses, and I wanted to share his wisdom….
~ Every Christian is a living temple of the living God. God dwelt in the Jewish temple, took possession of it, and resided in it, by that glorious cloud that was the token of His presence with that people. So Christ by His Spirit dwells in all true believers. The temple was devoted and consecrated to God, and set apart from every common to a holy use, to the immediate service of God. So all Christians are separated from common uses, and set apart for God and His service. They are sacred to Him—a very good argument this against all fleshly lusts, and all doctrines that give countenance to them. If we are the temples of God, we must do nothing that shall alienate ourselves from Him, or corrupt and pollute ourselves, and thereby unfit ourselves for His use; and we must hearken to no doctrine nor doctor that would seduce us to any such practices. Note, Christians are holy by profession, and should be pure and clean both in heart and conversation. We should heartily abhor, and carefully avoid, what will defile God’s temple, and prostitute what ought to be sacred to Him. ~

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Romans

The Roman Road to Salvation Part 4

12:30 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!
We complete our memorization (or reviewing) the verses that make up “The Roman Road.”  The verse for today is 10:13…
~“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
Anyone and everyone who accepts Jesus’ gift, or “calls on His name,” will receive God’s salvation.
I pray that you all have hidden all these Romans Road verses in your heart…for to God be the glory and for all to know Jesus as their Savior!
Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Romans

The Roman Road to Salvation Part 3

12:30 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!
We continue our memorization (or reviewing) the verses that make up “The Roman Road.”  The verses for today are 10:9 and 10…
~“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him for the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Anyone who believes in their heart and confesses that Jesus died for us and rose from the dead will be saved!
Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Sandra Wyatt

The Roman Road to Salvation Part 2 {Scripture Saturday}

8:09 AM



By Sandra Wyatt

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

We continue our memorization (or reviewing) the verses that make up “The Roman Road.”  The verses for today are 6:23 and 5:8….

~“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23)

~“but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (5.8)

Our sin has a cost.  The cost is spiritual death or eternal separation from God.  BUT because God loves us so very much, He sent His sinless, perfect Son to earth to die and pay for our sin Himself. 

Romans

The Roman Road to Salvation Part 1 {Scripture Saturday}

11:30 PM



By Sandra Wyatt

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

As Christians we should be equipped and prepared to share with others the reason for the eternal hope we have in Christ. 1 Peter 3:15 says, ”but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” It doesn’t take a degree or a special “calling” to share the Gospel. All you need to share the truth is a handful of Scripture verses and a desire to see the lost come to know Jesus.
The salvation message is found all over the Bible. “We could spend eternity talking about all Jesus has done for us and never reach the end of His mercy and grace.”  However, when God gives us the opportunity to tell someone about Jesus, we may only have a moment of time.




So, to prepare and equip us for that moment, we begin today with our memorization of verses found in Romans which are the first two of what is, “The Roman Road”.  We begin with verses 3:10 and 3:23, in that order.  We will be spending the next few weeks memorizing (or reviewing) “The Roman Road.”

~ “None is righteous, no, not one;” (3:10)  
~ “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23)

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Acts

God’s Will for Your Life {Scripture Saturday}

11:30 PM



By Sandra Wyatt

Welcome to Scripture Saturday! Today we continue our memorization of verses found in Acts with verses 22:14-15…

And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from His mouth; for you will be a witness for Him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.’

On May 30, Lisa Thayer wrote a wonderful post about living your life according to God’s plan. This verse continues along the same theme.  Do you know the will of God for your life? God  chose that Paul should know His will. How can you discover the specific will of God for your life?

In Romans 12:1,2 Paul said, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Present your body to God.  You say to God, “Here is my body God use it for your purposes.”

Don't be conformed to this world. The world’s way is to live a selfish, self centered life getting all that you can for yourself.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Present your body to God, and live for the eternal values. Many people in the world is do not take eternity in view. They don’t ask themselves, “What are the eternal consequences of my actions?”

You discover the will of God by actively seeking the will of God, praying and reading His word. And as you offer your body to God that He might use it to do His work, when in your mind and heart you desire God's will for your life above everything else, your life will then become a growing testimony of the will of God.

Grow where God has placed you. Whatever you are doing, do it unto the Lord.

God may test you.  Do you really want to do His will? “There may be things in your heart that you are not aware of and God often gives tests that He might prove you. Not to prove to Him, but to prove to you, and to show you just what is in your heart.”

“God showed Paul that to do His will would involve much sacrifice and suffering, but He also showed him the eternal rewards of being faithful. There may be hardship now, but eternal glory later. He promised to stand by Paul in every hardship. ‘And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’(Matthew 28:20b)” The present suffering is not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed. (various sources)

“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1Thess 5:18)
Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Sandra Wyatt

But I Do Not Account My Life {Scripture Saturday}

12:00 AM




By Sandra Wyatt

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!  Today we continue our memorization of verses found in Acts with verse 20:24…

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself”…

I absolutely love how this is said and wanted to share…

“To the natural man the external joys and sorrows of life are all, for he knows no other. But when, by union with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit enters into a man's breast, and he begins another life, that life of Jesus within him becomes to his perception so predominant—it becomes so all-important to him—that the other gradually sinks away and away into a distant insignificance. He stands, as it were, on the margin of a river, and he rejoices to see it flowing out; he rejoices that that which separates him from the land beyond shall cease to be, because he looks for the time when he shall take his wing and fly away and be at rest; and when he contemplates all the affections and fellowships—the rest, the services, the pure, unsullied joys of that life—that which was once to him exceeding precious becomes a thing of little worth, and he can say, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself.” J. Vaughan, Sermons, 1865, p. 1.

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Sandra Wyatt

Believe in the Lord Jesus - Scripture Saturday

11:00 PM



By Sandra Wyatt

Welcome to Scripture Saturday!  Today we continue our memorization of verses found in Acts with verses 16:30,31…


Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Here is the amplified version:  “And he brought them out of the dungeon and said, ‘Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved?’ And they answered, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, give yourself to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping, and you will be saved, and this applies both to you and your household as well.’”

The first part of this verse reads like a command: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ…” Give your self to Him…deny your self, and place your self in His hands, in His keeping. This is what we are required to DO. One must believe He is who He claims to be…

“but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31)

Believe in what He did for us on the Cross.

The second part of this verse says, “and you will be saved…”  This is Grace…the gift of God that we are righteous in His sight.  Salvation is by Grace alone, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph 2:8,9) Salvation has never been attained by being a good person, by going to church, or by being baptized.  Salvation comes only through the belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed and precious day everyone!