Followers of the Way

Day 60: Self-Control

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 10 • Bible reading from Galatians 5:13-25 Self-Control

Character: "I have the power, through Christ, to control my thoughts and actions."

________

Text:

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful
nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command:

"Love your neighbour as yourself."
If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each
other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For
the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:

sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy,
fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful
nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the
Spirit.

_________

Take a minute:

How can we assist the Holy Spirit to grow self-control in our lives?

Day 59: Self-Control

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 9 • Bible reading from Titus 2:11-14 Self-Control

Character: "I have the power, through Christ, to control my thoughts and actions."

________

Text:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this
present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and
Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to
purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

_________

Take a minute:

Look at these activities…
Pride, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Anger, Rage

How are you going in your daily battle against sin?

Select a Christian brother or sister that could help you stay accountable.

Day 58: Sacrificial Giving

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 8 • Bible reading from 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Sacrificial Giving

Behaviour: "The way I use my money reflects my faith in God."

_______

Text:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to
give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to
make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will
abound in every good work.
As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever."

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your
store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every
way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result
in thanksgiving to God.

__________

Take a minute:

Pray for an opportunity to be generous this week, and do it anonymously.

Ask God to show you how 2 Corinthians 9:11 comes true!

Day 57: Sacrificial Giving

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 7 • Bible reading from 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 Sacrificial Giving

Behaviour: "The way I use my money reflects my faith in God."

_______

Text:

But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness
and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding
you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

________

Take a minute:

The final conversion of the Christian is the ‘hip-pocket’.

Why would this be so true of our culture?

Day 56: Stewardship

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 6 • Bible reading from Matthew 25:14-30 Stewardship

Belief: "Everything I own or have belongs to God."

_______

Text:

Jesus: "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and
entrusted his property to them:

To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each
according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents
went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two
talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you
entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' "
His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few
things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "
His master replied, well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few
things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

"Then the man who had received the one talent came `Master,' he said `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs
to you.'

"His master replied `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not
sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on
deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.

For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not
have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into
the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

_______

Take a Minute:

When I budget, how does my planning of financial spending reflect good stewardship?

Day 55: Stewardship

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 5 • Bible reading from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Stewardship

Belief: "Everything I own or have belongs to God."

_______

Text:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in
wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

_______

Take a minute:

Where your treasure is, that is where your heart truly lies.

How then is your heart before God?

Day 54: Humility

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 4 • Bible reading from James 4:1-10 Humility

Character: "I choose to esteem others above myself."

______

Text:

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle
within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what
you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend
what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with
the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an
enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live
in us envies intensely?

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God
and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, & purify your hearts, you
double-minded.
Grieve, mourn & wail. Change your laughter to mourning & your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, & he will lift you up.

________

Take a minute:

What difference does humility make to our relationships with others?

Day 53: Humility

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 3 • Bible reading from Philippians 2:3-11 Humility

Character: "I choose to esteem others above myself."

________

Text:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests
of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

________

Take a minute:

How did Jesus model humility for us to follow as an example?

Meditate on this line: ‘LORD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER’

Day 52: Sacrifical Service

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 2 • Bible reading from Mark 8:34-38 Sacrificial Service

Behaviour: "God’s plans and priorities determine my life decisions."

_______

Text:

Then Jesus called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the
gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of
Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

________

Take a minute:

"Jesus will be Lord of ALL or he won’t be Lord AT ALL." (Origen, 4th Century A.D.)

Why must we understand Jesus is Lord as well as Saviour over our life?

Day 51: Sacrificial Service

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

July 1 • Bible reading from Philippians 3:7-12 Sacrificial Service

Behaviour: "God’s plans and priorities determine my life decisions."

______

Text:

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more,
I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that
which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from
the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

_______

Take a minute:

What did you ‘lose’ to become a Christian?

Are those things truly ‘rubbish’ in your eyes yet? Pray they will become so.

Day 50: Eternity

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 30 • Bible reading from 2 Thessalonians 1:5-11 Eternity

Belief: "There is a heaven and hell, and Jesus is returning to judge the earth
and bring in his kingdom."
_______

Text:

You will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just:
He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled,
and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire
with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord
and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and
to be marvelled at among all those who have believed.
This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. With this in mind, we constantly
pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may
fulfil every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

________

Take a minute:

Christian brothers & sisters around the world die for their faith:
more in the 20th Century than all the years before them combined.

What should it mean for ME to live by 2 Thessalonians 1:11?

NOTE: There is a RECOMMENDED READING RESOURCE for this topic ("Eternity")
in the form of an audio sermon. It has been posted on this blog, and you can find it here:
http://followersway.blogspot.com/2008/04/recommended-reading-belief-eternity.html

Or by following the link to Followers files in "iTunes" on the Blog main page.

Or you can download the sermon by right-clicking this link:
http://www.boxstr.com/files/1919937_gjosh/The%20Believer%27s%20Greatest%20Unbelief.mp3

Day 49: Eternity

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 29 • Bible reading from John 14:1-6 Eternity

Belief: "There is a heaven and hell, and Jesus is returning to judge the earth
and bring in his kingdom."

_______

Text:

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are
many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that
you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No-one comes to the Father except through me.

________

Take a minute:

You hear on the TV: ‘I’m going to heaven. After all, I’m not a murderer!’

How would you respond to their comment in a mixed crowd?
(non-Christians and Christians both present)

NOTE: There is a RECOMMENDED READING RESOURCE for this topic ("Eternity")
in the form of an audio sermon. It has been posted on this blog, and you can find it here:
http://followersway.blogspot.com/2008/04/recommended-reading-belief-eternity.html

Or by following the link to Followers files in "iTunes" on the Blog main page.

Or you can download the sermon by right-clicking this link:
http://www.boxstr.com/files/1919937_gjosh/The%20Believer%27s%20Greatest%20Unbelief.mp3

Day 48: Gentleness

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 28 . Bible reading from Philippians 4:5 Gentleness

Character: "I am thoughtful, considerate, and calm in my dealings with others."

_______

Text:

Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.

_______

Take a minute:

Compose a prayer asking God to give you the fruit of gentleness in your character.

It could be in the form of a poem, a song, or sms.
When finished, why not give it to someone?

Day 47: Gentleness

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 27 . Bible Reading from Matthew 11:25-30 Gentleness

Character: "I am thoughtful, considerate, and calm in my dealings with others."
_____

Text:

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have
hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
"All things have been committed to me
by my Father. No-one knows the Son except the Father, and no-one knows the Father except
the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

_______

Take a minute:

Rate your agreement level (between 1 & 10) to this statement: ‘People see Jesus in you.’
1 = Strongly disagree
5= Just Average
10= Strongly agree

Day 46: Godly Use of Time

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 26 . Bible reading from 1 Peter 1:13-22 Godly Use of Time

Behaviour: "I use my time to help fulfil God’s purposes in my life and the
lives of others."

_______

Text:

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to
be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil
desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:
"Be holy, because I am holy."
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as
strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as
silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from
your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last
times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by
obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply,
from the heart.

_______

Take a minute:

What does it mean to live in the ‘last times?'

Day 45: Godly Use of Time

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 25 . Bible Reading from Ephesians 5:1-16 Godly Use of Time

Behaviour: "I use my time to help fulfil God’s purposes in my life and the
lives of others."

_______

Text:

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ
loved us & gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity,
or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity,
foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ & of God..

Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness
& truth) and find out what pleases the Lord…

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

_______

Take a minute:

List: my daily activities for God, my once/wk, my once/mth, my annual activities for God.

Does your time give God His Time?

Day 44: Compassion

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 24 . Bible reading from Galatians 6:1-3, 7-10 Compassion

Belief: "God calls all Christians to show compassion to those in need of help."

_____

Text:

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him
gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. Do not be deceived:
God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful
nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the
Spirit will reap eternal life.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do
not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those
who belong to the family of believers.

_______

Take a Minute:

Pray about our church family: who needs good done for them?

Before the week is out, find a practical way to show compassion to them, and share it with your
group at the next meeting.

Day 43: Compassion

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 23 . Bible reading from Luke 10:29-37 Compassion

Belief: "God calls all Christians to show compassion to those in need of help."

_______

Text:

"Who is my neighbour?" In reply Jesus said:

"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.
They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him halfdead.
A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on
the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other
side.
But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity
on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.
Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next
day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.
`Look after him,' he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you
may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

_______

Take a minute:

Which road are you crossing over to avoid helping someone who is obviously in need
at the moment?

Day 42: Hope

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 22 . Bible reading from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Hope

Character: "Hope in Christ enables me to deal with the hardships of life and death."

_______

Text:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and
not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be
revealed in our body…

we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and
present us with you in his presence…

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are
being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an
eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.

_______

Take a minute:

How does hope shine through in your daily activities?
Thank God for the hope he has given you.

Day 41: Hope

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 21 . Bible reading from Hebrews 6:13-20 Hope

Character: "Hope in Christ enables me to deal with the hardships of life and death."

_______

Text:

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no-one greater for him to swear by,
he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Men swear by someone
greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of
what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable
things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to
us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered
on our behalf.
He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

_______

Take a minute:
Before the weekend finishes, find an hour of quiet (miss a TV show) to praise God using these
verses. Journal, walk, pray, sing, or share with another.

(no, morning or night church does NOT count!)

Day 40: Sharing my Faith

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 20 • Bible reading from Romans 10:12-15 Sharing my Faith

Behaviour: "I share my faith in Christ with others so that they might
come to know God."

_______

Text:

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly
blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the
one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
And how can they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

________

Take a minute:

Pray for our church family missionaries who are forming ‘beautiful feet:’

Sleimans, Westnewmans, Higgins, McDonalds, Leaches, Forsyths.

Day 39: Sharing my Faith

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 19 • Bible reading from Ephesians 6:19-20 Sharing my Faith

Behaviour: "I share my faith in Christ with others so that they might
come to know God."

_______

Text:

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly
make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains.
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

_______

Take a minute:

What fears do YOU have in sharing your faith?

WARNING: Praying for opportunities to share is a prayer God ALWAYS answers…
What else would you be afraid to pray for?

Day 38: Humanity

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 18 • Bible reading from Acts 4:8-12 Humanity

Belief: "All people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord."

______

Text:

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people!
If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked
how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel:
It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from
the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone’. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men and women by which we must
be saved.

______

Take a minute:

Some say: ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO GOD.
Pray for people you know by name who are yet to call on the name of Jesus.

Day 37: Humanity

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 17 • Bible reading from 2 Peter 3:3-9 Humanity

Belief: "All people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord."

______

Text:

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following
their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our
fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was
formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and
destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept
for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years,
and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some
understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance.

_______

Take a minute:

Would Peter agree that ‘Better education will help people live good lives?’

Day 36: Faithfulness

al@menaibaptist.org.au (EMO_pastor) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

June 16 • Bible reading from Titus 3:1-8 Faithfulness

Character: "I am known for keeping my word and being trustworthy
in my relationships."

________

Text:

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do
whatever is good, to slander no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true
humility towards all men.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions
and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the
kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things
we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal
by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal
life. This is a trustworthy saying.

And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful
to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for
everyone.

_______

Take a minute:

Reflect on key relationships over the last year (family, friends, work).
What can you rejoice in according to the standards Titus holds up in this text?