Daily bible study!!

Title: In Proportion
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll

Deuteronomy 16-18, Mark 13:1-20
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 16:17

Bring up the subject of giving and some reactions are standard. The negative person says, "The church is always asking for money." The self-justifying person says, "I tithe." The evading person says, "I gave at the office."

In the midst of instructions for the "Pilgrim Festivals," annual events that all male Israelites were supposed to attend, is a statement on giving.

First, notice the context is one that emphasizes rejoicing in the Lord (16:11, 14-15). These were times of celebration. Our hearts should be filled with the joy of the Lord.

Second, notice that they were not to come empty-handed (v. 16). Words are cheap, but giving costs. The gifts brought reflected the reality of the heart. To give with joy demonstrates the genuineness of our worship.

Third, notice the gift was to be in proportion to the way they had been blessed (v. 17). Yes, this was a tithe. This, however, was not a percentage gift but a proportionate one. In the same way, our giving is to be as "God has blessed" or "in keeping with [our] income" (1 Cor. 16:2).

Some people find joy as they gain and keep. But followers of God have joy, and from their gain, they give.

Does your giving to the Lord's work follow this pattern? Today you can begin to give as God teaches you to give.

Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Right God,Wrong Way..2/3/10

Title: Right God, Wrong Way
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll

Exodus 31-33, Matthew 22:1-22
Key Verses: Exodus 32:7-8

When we talk about worship, one phrase that is not true is, "Anything goes." It is possible to worship the right God in the wrong way, as today's reading indicates.

The incident of the golden calf typically is remembered as a time when the Israelites worshiped the wrong God. Aaron did say, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt" (32:4). But what he said could be translated, "This is a god, O Israel." This verse at times is translated, "This is thy God, O Israel, who brought thee out of Egypt."

Notice the next verse carefully. It says, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD." When the word lord is in capital letters, that indicates the Hebrew word for "Jehovah."

Put it together. The golden calf represented Jehovah. The people were worshiping the right God, but in the wrong way. God had said, "You shall not make for yourself an idol" (20:4), but the people did.

Give careful attention to your worship. At times people worship the right God in the wrong way.

It is tempting to worship in a self-pleasing way. Ask God if your worship is acceptable to Him.

Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Be strong

Title: Be Strong, Be Strong, Be Strong
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll

Haggai 1-2, Revelation 17
Key Verse: Haggai 2:4

Depression, it is said, has become the common cold of the mind. In spite of so many blessings and so many benefits, people still struggle with depression. When we are "down" emotionally or mentally, it can even pull us down physically.

In the days of Haggai the people were discouraged. Why? Among other things, the new temple they had built was inferior to the old one. One of the common effects of depression was evident-their initiative was stifled. Depressed people often slow down, even stop altogether. Having lost their motivation, they sit. And the longer they sit, the more depressed they get.

God gave very specific instruction to His people, instruction that can help us. He said first, "Be strong." Then He said, "Be strong." After that He said, "Be strong." Mark it in Haggai 2:4. Three times God says, "Be strong." That is spiritually based emotional resolve! It's not psychological self-help talk but divine instruction. It is also something that we must determine to do, to be strong.

God instructed one other thing-"work." This was not a "don't just sit there, do something" kind of instruction. It is amazing how much healing can take place when we start being constructive again.

Don't miss the bottom line. God said, "For I am with you." His presence indeed makes all the difference.

Is something depressing you? Then decide what you can do about it! Work on it, remembering that God is with you.

Acceptable worship

Title: Acceptable Worship
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll


Ezekiel 5�7, Hebrews 12
Key Verses: Hebrews 12:28�29

Imagine you�ve ordered your favorite pepperoni pizza. The delivery person arrives at your house and greets you with the words, �Here�s your anchovy pizza!�

�But I didn�t order anchovy. I ordered pepperoni,� you would protest.

�Yes, but anchovy is my favorite kind,� he replies.

Would this be acceptable? Of course not. While this situation may never happen in the world of pizza, it happens too often in our church pews. We may want God to accept any and all forms of worship, expecting Him to let us approach Him as we want, but He does not. Some of our ideas about God, how we perceive Him to be, and our approaches to worship�based on our wishes, not His will�are not acceptable. Just as we would not accept any and all pizza when we ordered pepperoni, so God does not accept any and all worship. Some is acceptable and some is not.

In an �anything goes� world that has given some people the idea that anything goes in worship as well, it is important for us to understand that when it comes to worship, anything doesn�t go. Understanding what is and is not acceptable to God will bring us to a decision point. Either we seek in our worship to please Him or to please ourselves. And when it comes down to doing what we want because it is what we want, we are no longer worshiping God but serving self, satisfying self, putting what we desire above what God requires.

�God, help me know Your will in worship, that my worship will be acceptable to You.�

Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Coached to the end

Title: Coached to the End
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
Proverbs 27-29, 2 Corinthians 10
Key Verse: Proverbs 27:6
The next time you meet a retired Major League Baseball player, ask him, "At what point in your career did you no longer have a coach?" "I always had a coach," he will answer. Even the perennial all star, certain Hall of Famer, needs a coach.

Some coaches are great motivators, encouraging with positive statements to help the athlete maximize his potential. But all coaches are critics. They have an ability to see what is wrong, point it out and correct it. The player who wants to improve his game needs a good coach and a willingness to listen. He may prefer having his ego stroked, but knows that he needs the blows the coach can dish out.

We all need coaches who will tell us what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear. We need to be coachable, people who will listen and learn from what Solomon calls the "wounds from a friend" (27:6). The words of a friend may hurt for a while, but ultimately they will help if we will listen. The person who says what we want to hear instead of what we need to hear is more like an enemy who kisses up to us.

Later in this chapter Solomon says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (v. 17). To sharpen involves removing some from the edge being sharpened. In a sense it, too, is a wounding, but for the good.

So which do you want ego strokes or wounds?

Has someone tried to help you but you rejected him because his words hurt? Go back to that friend and ask for his help. You can trust the wounds of a friend.

Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Stoking the fire

Title: Stoking the Fire
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
Proverbs 25-26, 2 Corinthians 9 Key Verses: Proverbs 26:20-21
A few years ago my wife and I decided to make the change from charcoal to liquid propane gas. We enjoy "grilling" and opted for convenience over taste. The flavor, in our humble palettes' opinion, is better with charcoal, but we do cook out much more with the gas grill. I have at times brushed the snow off the top to fire it up in the middle of the winter. A twist of the knob on the tank, one match and we are on our way.
There is a problem, though. With charcoal I could see how much was left in the bag, but with a propane tank, it is pretty much a guess. One time the meal was not completely cooked when we ran out of gas. No fuel, no fire. That's the way it is.
It is the same with arguments. If there is no fuel, there will be no fire and the argument will end. One of the things that can feed that fire is gossip, and when it dies down, the quarrel does also.
Some people are quarrelsome. They stir up things and keep them stirred up. That is why they are described as being like charcoal, or wood. They kindle strife.
With picturesque words, Solomon challenges us not to be the fuel for the fire. Neither our actions, as in gossip, nor our character, as in being contentious, should start disagreements and keep them burning.
Ask yourself before you say something about another person, "Am I saying this to stir up trouble?" Answer honestly. Better to be quiet than to stoke the furnace of disagreements.
Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Never give up!

Title: Never Give Up!

Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
Proverbs 22-24, 2 Corinthians 8 Key Verse: Proverbs 24:10
He was a paunchy, stern looking, cigar chewing Englishman, an unlikely candidate to stand against the tyranny of Nazism. But Winston Churchill will be forever remembered for his motivational one-liner: "Never give up!"
That's good advice for the Christian. Our verse for today counsels us, "If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!" Translation: never give up.
Let's face it. Anybody can have strong faith when not being tested. It's when the storms of life come, when the report from the doctor is not good, when the voice on the other end of the line bears tragic news, that we need strong faith in God. That�s not a given. In fact, it's not even likely, unless we are convinced of God's righteous character in the good times of life. It's the knowledge of who God is and how He works in our behalf that gives us strength in the day of adversity.
What has God put on your plate today? Is something too difficult to bear? Is it some unexplainable disaster? Is life getting tougher for you instead of sweeter? If so, remember the paunchy Englishman. Better still, remember the advice of King Solomon: "Don't give up when tough times come. God will help you through them. Trust Him. You'll see brighter days if you never give up."
"Lord, help me to face the increasingly difficulties of life with your grace. Help me to hang in there when others hang it up. Give me the courage to do my best and look beyond the difficulty of today to the victory of tomorrow."
Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Set apart and acceptable

Title: Set Apart and Acceptable
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
Proverbs 19-21, 2 Corinthians 7 Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:1
Imagine sitting down at the table for a meal. A place has been set for you. Imagine looking at the plate and seeing on it the remnants of previous meals eaten from that plate. You just might protest a bit, especially if you are in a restaurant and don't know whose food was left on your plate! Now imagine the waiter saying, "Is there a problem? We set this place for you. What more could you want?"
Your answer would be immediate. "I want a clean plate!"
Now imagine you are the one setting the table for a very special guest. You would not want him to ask you, "Would you please bring me a clean plate?" Instead, you would make certain that not only was a place set for the guest but that it was immaculate.
This illustrates holiness. To be holy means to be "set apart." In a sense the place at the table is set apart for you; it is holy. But more is needed for it to be acceptable. It must not only be set apart but also clean. So it is with holiness.
Paul tells us to be "perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (7:1). Being set aside and available are only part of what makes a person holy. We must be acceptable to God which will be the result of truly being set apart!
How clean is your life before God? If you know of "dirty food" on your plate, ask God to forgive you and to help you remove it from your life.
Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Count to ten again

Title: Count to Ten, Again
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
Proverbs 16-18, 2 Corinthians 6 Proverbs 16:32
In our fast paced world, with lives stuck on fast forward, rage comes quicker than ever. Someone gets cut off in traffic and rage kicks in laying on the horn, screaming out the window, if not doing something even more drastic. Road rage is one example; airline rage is another. I once witnessed frustrated and fearful gate agents called for the police when a passenger at the airport, frustrated by a delay, began to yell.
"Better a patient man than a warrior, . . ."
A friend caught in one of those nightmare travel scenarios, flights delayed and canceled due to weather, described what happened when he was patient with the ticket agent. After she worked out the remainder of his trip she thanked him for his demeanor. "You made my day," she said.
". . . a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city."
The person of rage may get his way at the counter or feel better having vented his anger at other drivers. He may feel good about being a road warrior, but he is not. God's Word says that the patient person, the one who can control his temper, is better.
The impatient person may think he is in control by forcing his will on others, but he is not. He is out of control, unable to control himself. We are to be under the control of the Spirit and be people of patience.
Rage may be the rage today, but patience is honored by God forever.
Perhaps something will test your patience today. Do you think you will pass or fail? You probably already know the answer! Ask God right now to help you begin to be a patient person.
Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

A house,Not a tent

Title: A House, Not a Tent
Author: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
Proverbs 13-15, 2 Corinthians 5 Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:1
It is not unusual to see a canopy tent set up in the cemetery near our house. These are temporary structures, providing some relief from the weather during a graveside service. Soon after the burial, the tent is removed.
I like those tents for two reasons. One is obvious they do keep the sun, snow or rain off of those gathered by the grave. The other is not so obvious, but I would point it out if I were leading the service. At the committal I would reach up and grab hold of the tent. "We don�t live in tents," I would say, "but in houses." Tents are fine for times such as that, but most people would not want to live in one. They would rather have a house. I like the tent because it was a reminder of the truth that we all will one day move out of current residences and into our permanent home in heaven.
Where we live now is one sense a tent. That is what Paul calls our body, which will one day be destroyed. Until then we look forward to the building we have that is from God, "an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands" (5:1). A tent over a grave is a vivid picture of this truth. It serves as a reminder that we will leave the earthly tent behind for the home we have in heaven.
All that is around us is temporary, even our aches and pains. Rejoice that one day you will move out of the tent and into the house, the one prepared for you by God.
Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Audit Phobia

Title: Audit PhobiaAuthor: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
Proverbs 10-12, 2 Corinthians 4 Proverbs 10:9
One of the least welcome return addresses on mail that comes to our homes is that of the Audit Department, Internal Revenue Service. Just reading those words makes us wince. Perhaps we dread the thought of gathering up all the needed materials to answer the questions of the person assigned to examine our tax return. Honest mistakes do happen. We can copy a figure incorrectly, miscalculate or even not understand what deductions are allowable or not allowable. Still, we would rather not make the trip, returns, receipts and documentation in hand, to see the IRS agent.
The dread of an audit is worse if we know that we cheated on our return. Now the mind turns to possible explanations for the intentional error or to wondering what the penalty might be. The stomach churns, the mind races and dread hangs heavy in the air as the appointed day to meet with the auditor approaches.
Solomon said, "The man of integrity walks securely" (10:9). This person may dread an audit but only for the inconvenience. Other than a possible error in his math or a misunderstanding in the tax laws, he approaches an audit with an inward security, at peace because he knows that he has done what is right. In contrast, "he who takes crooked paths will be found out."
Integrity is not a bother but a blessing. It enables a person to walk securely, even when that walk is into the office of an auditor. Choose the secure path.
Is there an aspect of your life you live without integrity? Change that today. Choose the secure path to walk, the one of integrity.
Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.

Our Competence

Title: Our CompetenceAuthor: Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
Proverbs 8-9, 2 Corinthians 3 Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:5
Some help wanted ads sound like only Superman should apply for the job. The job description may include the required education and the amount of experience in the field, plus the abilities that are expected of the person filling the position. We may look over the ad and wonder if anyone would be up to the job.
In 2 Corinthians 2:16, Paul asks a question that is not answered until the next chapter. It is a little like an advertisement in the help wanted section. After describing believers as the "aroma of Christ" (v. 15) and how we are to the one "the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life," he asks, "And who is equal to such a task?" (v. 16).
We certainly aren't! It is important for us to recognize that confidence in self alone is insufficient to accomplish what God wants us to do. It is also vital that we not excuse ourselves from our God given responsibilities by highlighting our inadequacies either. At this point we need to keep reading. "Our competence," Paul writes, "comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant" (3:5-6).
We may feel like the overwhelmed candidate for an overwhelming job, but we have this assurance God can make us competent for the task. The only real question is not if He can but if we will. Will you let Him so mold and make you that He can effectively use you?
"God, help me not to be overly confident in myself but properly dependent on You. Help me see how You are molding and making me to serve as Your witness."
Daily devotions courtesy of Devotions.org, a ministry of Back to the Bible.