Day 248 - Proverbs 7-8 & 1 Corinthians 14:21-40
“But all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 4:14 ESV)
What excellent advice for life.
What excellent advice for students going back to school. What excellent advice on how to interact with others.
What excellent advice for your daily walk with Jesus.
Where do you find the details for doing all things decently and in order?
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)
Following any advice other than the Lord’s, will lead to disorder, confusion, sin and its consequences. Following what the Bible teaches concerning Christian living will lead to a decent and orderly life in the middle of the chaos of life today.
Lord, take my hand and lead me Upon life's way;
Direct, protect, and feed me From day to day.
Without your grace and favor I go astray,
So take my hand, O Savior, and lead the way.
(Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me, Lutheran Service Book, C.P.H. #722, stanza 1)
Lord, please help me to live my life to Your glory by doing everything decently and in order. Please remind me that the order is You first, others second, and me last. May I find the motivation for such obedience in the forgiveness of my sins that You bestow on me through Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 247 - Proverbs 5-6 & 1 Corinthians 14:1-20
“There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
#1 haughty eyes,
#2 lying tongue,
#3 and hands that shed innocent blood,
#4 a heart that devises wicked plans,
#5 feet that make haste to run to evil,
#6 a false witness who breathes out lies,
#7 and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV)
The picture may be beautiful and calming, but these verses definitely are not. God is serious about sin. The truth is that all people can find themselves somewhere on the list, especially #4.
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:19 ESV)
Thank God, there is comforting news for sinners: “The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7b ESV)
Heavenly Father, thank You for having mercy on me and on all mankind. I am guilty of that which is an abomination to You. Please forgive me and cleanse me from all sin. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 246 - Proverbs 3-4 & 1 Corinthians 13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV)
Faith, hope and love. Do you have these down? How does your love measure up? Paul opens this chapter with eye-opening statements that defines the importance of genuine Christian love.
13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Paul next gives us a check list for genuine Christian love:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
One way to determine how you measure up in the Christian love department, is to replace the words “love” and “it” with your name in verses 4-8.
While your love is most likely like mine, imperfect, we know One whose love is perfect.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving sinners like me so much that You sent Jesus to be our Savior. May Jesus’ love motivate me to live a life of genuine Christian love. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion table this morning!
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 245 - Proverbs 1-2 & 1 Corinthians 12
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7 ESV)
“The First Commandment teaches that ‘we should fear, love and trust in God ABOVE ALL THINGS... He desires for His people to regard Him in awe, respect, and love... Such wisdom–given by God through Word and Sacrament, making us His children, is the theme for the book of Proverbs. True wisdom begins with an individual’s apprehension in knowledge and trust in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior. Fools are those who reject God and the wisdom and instruction He freely offers through faith.” (Lutheran Study Bible, CPH 2009, page 999)
Lord God heavenly Father, I truly want to fear, love and trust in You above all things. Please forgive me for the many times I have foolishly disobeyed Your holy will. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow!
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 244 - Psalm 148-150 & 1 Corinthians 11:16-34
“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!"
Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150 ESV)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
(Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #805)
Heavenly Father, I praise You for all that You have blessed me with. Above all, I praise You for sending Your Son to be my Savior. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 243 - Psalm 145-147 & 1 Corinthians 11:1-15
“The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18 ESV)
They say that there are no atheists in foxholes. I would think that the same would be true with hurricanes and floods. Can you imagine the horror and paralyzing fear that overcame many who were caught in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey? And can you imagine how may prayers for rescue were sent heavenward?
“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15 ESV)
There are countless touching accounts of flood victims praying to be rescued who are now thanking the Lord for answering their prayers. In today’s verse, we reminded of one of the key components of effectual prayers.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Are you experiencing days of trouble?
Are you calling on the Lord for deliverance?
Are you doing so in truth, that is in faith?
The writer of that great “prayer hymn” certainly had this truth in mind when he penned these precious words:
1. What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Ev’rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.
2. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a Friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our Refuge - Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.
(“What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” Concordia Publishing House 2006, #770)
Heavenly Father, thank You for answering prayers for rescue from so many caught in the post hurricane flooding. Please watch over and protect all who may be in peril of the other storms of life as well. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 242 - Psalm 142-144 & 1 Corinthians 10:14-33
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)
Paul is giving us some excellent advice when it comes to deciding what we should do, think or say. Negatively put, if you can’t do something, say something or even think something to the glory of God, you had better make another choice.
The Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and these words of Jesus, give us some pretty good guidelines on how to glorify God.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)
Almighty God, please help me to glorify You in everything. Remind me of all that You have done for me through Jesus’ death on the cross. Help me to show my love for You by loving others. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
