Daily Bread_August 8, 2013

Title: Do You Realize the Greatness and Goodness That is Within You?

Text:

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Observation:

If salvation was up to our works then we would get the glory. However, since our salvation is God's work, He gets the glory. When God saves you He places within you the potential for greatness and goodness; by faith, you work it out.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The good works that flow from the life of Christ followers come from the divine presence of God who lives and abides in the lives of His people.  Think about this; mediate on this truth.

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I exalt You because You are righteous in all in all Your ways, and that You are gracious in all Your works.

Father, I shudder to think of where I would be without You in my life, and the source of my life and my works.

Father God, I am so glad that You are near to all who call upon You in truth, who fear and adore You for all of Your majesty and power.

Father, I will be forever grateful that You save, supply, and safeguard Your people. Father, I thank You for the greatness and goodness You have placed within Your people. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_August 7, 2013

Title: God Opens Doors Through Prayer

Text:

Revelation 3:8 (HCSB)
⁸ I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close.

Observation:

One of the things that I have noticed over the course of my life is that God does His greatest work through those with limited strength. What God requires of His people is faithfulness to Him and His Word.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)
² Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

I received the following message from one of my friends recently.

"God is big enough to care for the smallest needs".

What this brother was saying, and that I received, is that there is nothing that is beyond the reach of prayer. Yes, I realize that life is hard; but, I also know that God is good, and the best is yet to come. This world is not our home.

This Lord is looking for some praying people with limited strength that He can use to touch the lives of needy people that are everywhere.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (HCSB)
⁹ For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His. You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on."

God is searching for people who will pray. Will you be the one He finds? Will you have faith or will you falter?

Luke 18:1 (ESV)
¹ And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I extol your greatness and your graciousness. Father, You are God alone; there is none like You, no not one.

Father God, You are full of compassion, slow to anger, and great in mercy; Lord, and You know better than anyone that mercy suits my case.

Father, I come to Your throne room of grace with an empty pitcher before a full fountain, and I cry out to You asking You to fill my cup. Lord, I come asking for mercy for those who have such desperate needs, and have such limited strength. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
⁷ "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_August 6, 2013

Title: The Potential and Power of Prayer

Text:

Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB)
⁶ Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

We only have to look at the life and ministry of Jesus to see the importance he attached to prayer. The scripture records numerous instances where Jesus prayed. I ask myself the question, If Jesus had to pray, then what about me?

Mark 1:35 (HCSB)
³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.

I believe that we do ourselves the most good when we saturate our prayers with praise and thanksgiving to God. I have also discovered that praying for others more than we pray for ourselves also results in getting my needs met without me even asking. However, we should not neglect praying for ourselves because Jesus prayed for himself. Notice how Jesus set the example for prayer in John chapter 17.

John 17:1-5 (HCSB)
¹ Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You,
² for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him.
³ This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.
⁴ I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.
⁵ Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.

Prayer is the means that God has provided for His people to communicate with Him. It is through prayer and the Word of God that God's people are able to align our will with God's will. It is the means by which we get the power to fulfill our purpose, and reach our potential.

Who wouldn't want to exchange worry for the peace of God? You can have it when you pray; Prayer is the key to God's storehouse. There is no scarcity in God's storehouse; nothing you need is ever out of stock.

"What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!"

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/789#ixzz2bByM6HRr

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father,  I extol You, my God, O King, I bless Your name, and give You the praise that You alone are worthy of.

Father God, I am so grateful for the potential and the power of prayer. Father, Your love is so amazing, and Your cup of grace, mercy and forgiveness is bottomless.

Father God, I will bless Your name forever and ever; every day I will bless You, and never cease to cast all my cares upon You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_August 5, 2013

Title: The Bible is Not Your Ordinary Book

Text:

Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Observation:

There is something different about the Bible. It can have a life changing effect on those who read it. I remember hearing the story of a young man who was reading the Bible, and the book changed his life. He became a believer, and when I heard him speak he had been a successful pastor for many years.

He quoted this scripture to indicate the power of the Word of God in his life. He said he was simple, but the Word opened his eyes to enable him to see Jesus. The Word opened his eyes so that he saw that he was a sinner who needed a Savior.

Psalm 119:130 (ESV)
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Here are some benefits that you can receive from a serious reading of the Word of God, and a willingness to obey it.

Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV)
⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that each person who reads Your Word will receive a special blessing. Father, I pray that the Holy Spirit will do His office work in their lives by giving them ears to hear and a heart to obey Your Word. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

"The Bible testifies concerning the Lord Jesus;
The Bible makes man wise, wise unto salvation;
The Bible causes man to be regenerated;
Our spiritual milk, our bread of life;
It makes us all complete."

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/ns/58#ixzz2b5zONlKh

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_August 4, 2013

Title:  What is Love?

Text:

Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)
¹² Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Observation:

When you think about the bible and love you would expect to look to the Apostle John's writings for the last word on love.

However, it is in the writing of the Apostle Paul that we find this soaring prayer and great hymn of love. Love is so vast that it is beyond the vocabulary of man to grasp in words. This is what Paul said about the vastness of love.

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV)
¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

In another letter Paul stretches to help God's people understand the concept of biblical love; he did not define it, but he describes it like this.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)
⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, we bow in awe as we think about the vastness and the endurance of love. Father, may the love that you have poured out into our hearts be like a river that flows from us into the lives of those we encounter along life's highways and byways. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_August 2, 2013

Title: Do You Know How to Live the Overcoming Life?

Text:

Psalm 31:15 (HCSB)
¹⁵ The course of my life is in Your power; deliver me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors.

Observation:

One of the things that I have discovered over the course of my life is that things happen in life for a reason, but they only last for a season. There is a song that I remember from my youth; "I'm so glad trouble don't last always".

The key to living the overcoming life is in knowing that everything that happens to us in our lives has to pass through the hands of the Lord before it gets to us. The child of God is always in the Father's hands, and He will see us through; not part of the way, but all the way.

Your Faith will get you through it all if your faith is in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The victory comes to those who know Him and who trust in Him with their whole heart. We may not be able to explain the reason for our troubles, but we can rely upon the promises of our God.

David, a man after God's own heart, was such a man. In the midst of going through his season of troubles he was able to write these words in Psalm 31.

Psalm 31:1-5 (HCSB)
¹ LORD, I seek refuge in You; let me never be disgraced. Save me by Your righteousness.
² Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.
³ For You are my rock and my fortress; You lead and guide me because of Your name.
⁴ You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for You are my refuge.
⁵ Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You redeem me, LORD, God of truth.

David found in the season of his trouble that the Lord was a way maker. David trusted in the Lord, and the Lord saw him through his troubles.

"Our times are in Thy hand;
O God, we wish them there;
Our lives, our souls, our all, we leave
Entirely to Thy care."

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/681#ixzz2aoQnhVkA

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful for Your caring and helping hands. Whatever may come my way I would not have it any other way. Lord, I realize that sometimes life is pleasing, and sometimes life is painful; but in every case You are my God and Father, and I will trust in You to see me through it all. Amen and Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_August 1, 2013

Title: The God Who Walks with His People

Text:

Acts 17:28 (HCSB)
²⁸ For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.

Observation:

We live in a day when many people are not interested in seeking or knowing the God of the Bible. Paul encountered some of those type people in the first century.

We would do well to follow the example of Paul, and share with all who have ears to hear the gospel of Christ.

What is the gospel that Paul preached? Here it is in a nutshell.

Romans 6:4 (HCSB)
⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.

The majority of those who heard Paul speak did not have ears to hear; they rejected the message. However, some had ears to hear; they believed.

Acts 17:32-34 (HCSB)
³² When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, "We'd like to hear from you again about this."
³³ Then Paul left their presence.
³⁴ However, some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

I have been telling the story of God's love for over 60 years, and it is as new as the first time I heard it. O, how I love to tell the story of Jesus and His love. I am so thankful that the Lord has been my companion all of the days of my life; I have never had to face anything alone. I may have been forgotten and forsaken by others, but never by the Lord.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that I will never grow tired or weary of telling others about the goodnews of the gospel of Christ. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

 I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
Because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do.

• I love to tell the story,
  'Twill be my theme in glory
  To tell the old, old story
  of Jesus and His love.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/1064#ixzz2aiewrfu0

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/