Daily Bread_August 28, 2014

Title: Do You Know the Truth?

Text:

John 8:32 (ESV)
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Observation:

This is the verse that came to mind that captures the thought that is in my heart and on my mind this morning.

One of the lessons I learned from playing sports is that you have to let the game come to you. I find that this also works in living my life and fulfilling my God tailored purpose for being alive. When I don't know what to do next I go to the Lord in prayer; I listen to Him, I talk to Him, and I do what He tells me to do.

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

How do you know the truth? The Bible says:

John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Knowing Jesus is the way to make your dream for truth and freedom come true. Coincidentally, it was 51 years ago today that Martin L. King spoke these words in Washington, D.C. He had a dream.

"Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last".

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the privilege of knowing You, and knowing Your power in my life. Father God, the burden of my heart is to know You, and to make You known.

Father, I'm praying that many will be able to say free at last, and give You the praise and the thanks. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV)
¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_August 27, 2014

Title: How Much Joy Do You Have in Your Life?

Text:

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Observation:

I woke up this morning with joy on my mind. Then this scripture came to mind; the source of joy. I met a person recently, and the thing that I notice about her was that she seemed to always be so joyful. Then, I got to know a few things about her, and I discovered the secret of her joy. It was not her circumstances that produced the joy, but it was her Lord; she confirmed that the joy of the Lord was her strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV)
Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

It is possible to have joy in your life; a joy that will last.  I'm talking about a joy that cannot be taken away by circumstances or people; a joy that is not dependent upon having things or right things happening. Think about what David wrote in this Psalm.

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

If you want the joy that will last forever then you need to go to the source; make Him the center of your joy, and the joy that He gives no person or circumstance can steal. Joy is the gift of God to His people. What God gives you no one can take away.

Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful for Your presence and power in the lives of Your believing children.

Father God, I am so thankful to be able to sing with joy in my heart that I am satisfied with my Savior, and the salvation that He supplied so rich and free. O how I rejoice in my Lord. Praise the Lord! In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

"Well of water, ever springing,
  Bread of life, so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
  My Redeemer is to me."

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/325

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_August 26, 2014

Title: Why I Pray

Text:

Luke 11:1-4 (ESV)
¹ Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." ² And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³ Give us each day our daily bread, ⁴ and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation."

Observation:

This passage tells me all I need to know about the importance and the necessity of prayer. Notice those who Luke pointed out felt the need to pray; Jesus, John the Baptist, and the twelve disciples. If they needed to pray, then surely you and I need to pray.

The twelve disciples were aware through the example of John the Baptist and Jesus of the importance of prayer. So one of them spoke up on behalf of the other eleven, and asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

Notice how Jesus answered their question.

Luke 11:2 (ESV)
And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

The object of our prayers should be God the Father; we come to God as His sons and daughters. We are God's children, and children need to communicate with their Father. We pray on the basis of sonship; we don't come to God as customers, we come to Him as children.

Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV)
⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

God is not a grouchy judge like Luke described in this passage:

Luke 18:2-5 (ESV)
² He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. ³ And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' ⁴ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"

Unlike the grouchy judge, God is a generous Father. You can come to Him and get justice, grace, and mercy.

Luke 18:7 (ESV)
And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, I am so grateful the door to Your throne room is always open for every child of God.

Father, give each of Your children a burning desire to pray using the pattern that Jesus taught His disciples to pray. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_August 25, 2014

Title: Are You Running to Win?

Text:

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Observation:

What makes the difference between people who are winners and those that are losers? I believe the main thing is endurance. If you are properly prepared, you can go further with purpose and passion than you can with talent without purpose and passion.

In order to win the race, you have to finish the course. Quitters don't win, and winners don't give up. Winners have these three attributes:

1.       They stay calm.

2.       They stay confident.

3.       They stay committed.

In the race of life you will encounter obstacles along the way; you never know when trouble will knock at your door. The key is to look to Jesus; don't go around with your head bowed down, and discouraged because the way is hard.

Remember that our problems and our troubles are God's raw material for a miracle in your life. You are not the first, and won't be the last to face obstacles in this earthly journey from earth to glory. Consider what Jesus had to endure:

1.       Jesus endured the cross.

2.       Jesus despised the shame.

Now, look at His reward for enduring: He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Here is what Paul wrote from his prison cell.

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)
¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful that I don't have to run the race of life alone; that I have a Savior who saves and sustains me all the way. Father, I thank you for being my redeemer, my rock, and my refuge. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

All the way my Savior leads me,
  Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
  Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
  And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
  Lo! a spring of joy I see,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
  Lo! a spring of joy I see.

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/701

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_August 22, 2014

Title: What Does It Require to Know the Lord?

Text:

Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV)
⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Observation:

Today's topic grips my heart; it penetrates the depths of my soul. Notice what the Apostle Paul was willing to surrender in order to know Christ.

What does surrender look like?

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
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.

Romans 6:13 (ESV)
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Prayer:

Father God, for the sake of knowing Christ, I am willing to surrender my all to Jesus. Father, nothing I have is worth having without the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Father, I want to know you more intimately, and serve you more faithfully. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

"All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me."

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/441

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_August 21, 2014

Title: Who Do You Listen To?

Text:

Psalm 32:8 (ESV)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Observation:

It's amazing the huge amount of data that has become available in the last 10 to 15 years. I saw some statistics on this recently, and they were mind boggling. I had a high school teacher that told us over 50 years ago, "A good education will result in you knowing how much you will never know".

So, how do we sift through all of this data, and find the information that we need to live our lives, and to fulfill our purpose for being alive? I believe the key is who you listen to.

Luke 10:41-42 (ESV)
⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

The thing that informs me on today's topic is these words of Jesus, "Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her". You can never go wrong when you get God's perspective, and you get that by spending time with Him in prayer and the Word of God.

This is what Jesus will do for you if you take the time to sit daily at His feet. He will be your personal tutor and mentor.

Psalm 32:8 (AMP)
I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so thankful for the privilege of being able to sit at Your feet, and to know that You are always available; with You there is never a backlog, and You are an on time God. Father, teach me, and I will teach others. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

"I love to tell the story,
  Because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings
  As nothing else can do."

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/1064

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_August 20, 2014

Title: The Joy of Knowing That You Are Never Alone

Text:

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
⁵ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Observation:

The answer to loneliness for the believer is the presence of the Lord in our life. Notice His promise in the latter part of the above verse, "I will never leave you nor forsake you".

There is never a time that the child of God is alone. The triune God is always present in the lives of God's children. Notice that the Bible says:

John 14:21 (ESV)
²¹ Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

John 14:23 (ESV)
Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 14:16 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

If you are lonely today, go back to Calvary where you first saw the light. The Christ you met at the cross of Calvary is as real today as He was the day you invited Him to come into your heart. Draw near to Him; you will find that He has been there all the time. When Jesus comes into our heart He comes to stay. He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you".

I have been down, I have been low; almost under the ground, but I have never been without hope or without help. There are some things I do not understand. However, I don't live on answers; I live on the promises of God.

The promise of His abiding presence is all I need in life and in death. Think about it; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit of God living in you. O my, heaven came down and filled my soul.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that since Jesus came into my heart that I have had the blessed assurance of my Savior that I will never be alone. Yes, I thank the Lord every day for His abiding presence in my life. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
    Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
    Since Jesus came into my heart!

Since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,
  Since Jesus came into my heart!

Source: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/309

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/