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Bible reading for March 1--2 Mar 1 -- Job 30 and 1 Corinthians 16 Mar 2 -- Job 31 and 2 Corinthians 1 "I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him." (Job 31:37)  JOB'S SUMMATION (ch 30) . In chapter 29 Job tells of his past sense of blessedness in his walk with the Lord. In chapter 30 he describes his life as a social pariah. Even the outcasts of the community consider him an outcast of outcasts, and sing disparaging songs about him. His prosperity has passed away like a cloud in the sky. His health is broken; he cannot sleep without pain; the few friends that remain are of no help. We must ask ourselves, how do we respond when we see others suffering, and suffering in a way that we might presume that they are under God's judgment? Do we stay away, stand far off, and avoid contact? Do we just think how thankful we are that it is not us suffering that way? Or, do we like Jesus see and have compassion upon others in their misery and l...

Bible reading for June 9.  Deuteronomy 13-14.  "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (Deuteronomy 14:2)  FALSE PROPHETS (13). Here, and in Deuteronomy 18, Moses explains the importance of dealing with false prophets and with those who entice to worship other gods.  This carries over into the church age, as well. Jesus warned against false prophets (Matt 7:15; 24:11, 24). Satan bombards people with lies, false gospels, false prophets, false apostles, all leading to false hopes (2 Cor 11:3-4; Gal 1:6-9). As believers we are to test and discern the spirits (1 Jn 4:1). False teaching has been a real threat throughout church history. During the Reformation John Calvin warned against those who "bury the Word of God in order to make room for their own imaginations, claiming the authority of modern revelations over the expre...

Bible reading for April 17 -- Leviticus 21; Psalm 26-27.  "...but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them." (Leviticus 21:23) The perfection of the priest.   The Lord sets apart his priests to be holy: "I am the Lord who sanctifies..." (21:8, 15, 23). Both the priest and the sacrifices he offers must be perfect . This points us to Christ who alone is both perfect high priest and unblemished sacrifice (Heb 7:26; 9:14).  We draw near to God by faith in Christ.  We believe ... 1) that his life and death for us is a complete and perfect work that truly and actually removes our guilt and cleanses our conscience before God (Heb 9:14).  2) That Christ's death and resurrection free us to serve the living God (Heb 9:14); that is, we serve God not fearfully or grudgingly, but joyfully as children of grace.  And 3) that Christ ascended ...

Fred Smith, Sr., successful Christian businessman and mentor to many, had an ability to ask himself questions "with toughness and objectivity.  He regularly assessed his progress.  He didn't trust the idea of achieving integrity and then putting himself on 'auto pilot.'  He took his emotional, spiritual, and intellectual temperature to maintain accuracy." Here are a few questions he used in his personal search for integrity: 1) Do my motives have integrity ?   Rationalization does more to pollute integrity of motive than any other factor. Ends never justify illegal, unjust, or unethical means.   2) Am I ego-driven or responsibility motivated ? Ego-driven people satisfy their ego from the cause while responsibility motivated people sacrifice their ego to the cause.   3) Do I want the truth ?  It takes a tough mind and a strong heart to love truth. Integrity demands trying to know and love truth for its own sake.   4) Does my will contro...