Article worth reading

https://lps.dts.edu/hubfs/Advancement%20eBooks/The%20Irresistible%20Appeal%20of%20Love.pdf?utm_campaign=20468577-North%20Texas%20Giving%20Day%202025&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_G4yvQgakeApKo0Cc2fKQ3grQ4h_wRA4pgi1TfpZtOYZbFV21bMC_rhWZuvhZH0tJrU0WXyxnML5TmMPiH4adGHe0GLQ&_hsmi=379281135&utm_content=379281135&utm_source=hs_email

1 Peter 5:8 NIV
[8] Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour

Philippians 2:3 HCSB
[3] Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Difficult or easy?

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (1 Cor. 1:27–29)

But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

How do we "put God in a box"?

Ok, what's the Greek word behind this English word "judge"?

Matthew 7:1-2 NIV - “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Selamat Hari Natal, kepada semua

#MIA It appears to me that the number of lights and gifts have replaced the original focus of this season. (Yes, I know that CHRISTmass replaced the YULE celebration)

Scripture: Leviticus 5:14-19 (NIV)
14 The LORD said to Moses: 15 "When a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in regard to any of the LORD's holy things, he is to bring to the LORD as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. [b] It is a guilt offering. 16 He must make restitution for what he has failed to do in regard to the holy things, add a fifth of the value to that and give it all to the priest, who will make atonement for him with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.
17 "If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible. 18 He is to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the wrong he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering; he has been guilty of wrongdoing against the LORD.”

Commentary: Matthew Henry
Here are offerings to atone for trespasses against a neighbour. If a man put to his own use unwittingly, any thing dedicated to God, he was to bring this sacrifice. We are to be jealous over ourselves, to ask pardon for the sin, and make satisfaction for the wrong, which we do but suspect ourselves guilty of. The law of God is so very broad, the occasions of sin in this guilty of. The law of God is so very broad, the occasions of sin in this world are so numerous, and we are so prone to evil, that we need to fear always, and to pray always, that we may be kept from sin. Also we should look before us at every step. The true Christian daily pleads guilty before God, and seeks forgiveness through the blood of Christ. And the gospel salvation is so free, that the poorest is not shut out; and so full, that the most burdened conscience may find relief from it. Yet the evil of sin is so displayed as to cause every pardoned sinner to abhor and dread it.

Questions:
1. What is the name of the Priest that has made atonement for you?
2. What was the value of that offering in today's US currency? Was there a 20% upcharge on it?
3. Does some of this sound like "Ignorance is no excuse" to you?

Scripture: Exodus 5:10-21 (NIV)
10 Then the slave drivers and the foremen went out and said to the people, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you any more straw. 11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.' " 12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, "Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw." 14 The Israelite foremen appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers were beaten and were asked, "Why didn't you meet your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?"

15 Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people."

17 Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks."

19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, "You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day." 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."

Commentary: Matthew Henry
The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. See what need we have to pray that we may be delivered from wicked men. The head-workmen justly complained to Pharaoh: but he taunted them. The malice of Satan has often represented the service and worship of God, as fit employment only for those who have nothing else to do, and the business only of the idle; whereas, it is the duty of those who are most busy in the world. Those who are diligent in doing sacrifice to the Lord, will, before God, escape the doom of the slothful servant, though with men they do not. The Israelites should have humbled themselves before God, and have taken to themselves the shame of their sin; but instead of that, they quarrel with those who were to be their deliverers. Moses returned to the Lord. He knew that what he had said and done, was by God's direction; and therefore appeals to him. When we find ourselves at any time perplexed in the way of our duty, we ought to go to God, and lay open our case before him by fervent prayer. Disappointments in our work must not drive us from our God, but still we must ponder why they are sent.

Questions:
1. What's the best time to listen to God for direction?
2. What's the worst time to NOT listen to God for direction?
3. What helps YOU listen?

#basicBelief The question came up this morning at my small group. Is belief in the resurrection of Jesus a requirement to be a Christian?
One response was that "it's not important. what Jesus taught is the important part of Christianity."

Comments?

#churchHistory What caused the split into a multiplicity of denominations?

Hurricane Beryl category FIVE churning thru the Caribbean Sea.

Spent yesterday morning helping pack school supplies for shipment to a school in Cayo District, Belize.

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