A simple choice and a hard choice.

I wish I could remember the name of the game show this came from, but I can't.  If anyone out there knows, just comment on the picture, in the place provided on the blog.  Thanks!  Anyway, this picture is a little confusing to me.  Its not the answer, but the selection of "D".  In four seemingly identical answers; why "D"?  perhaps its just because most people choose it, but there may be another reason... I wish I knew!!!  Sometimes we simply do not know the "why" of things; we just have to take them at face value.  So, my next step was to find the following passage of Scripture...

John, Chapter 15

 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.  13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.  15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.  16 You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.   17 “I command these things to you, that you may love one another. 

Why did Jesus choose the disciples?  I have no idea; it just doesn't make sense, because these were unlearned, flawed human beings.  For that matter, so are we, but God loves us anyway and those who choose to obey the Gospel are chosen by Him to be loved and to love.  Frankly, I can think of no higher calling; no greater honor, no greater blessing!!!  God was us to love him and our brethren.  The choice is simple and straightforward; either we will or won't.  Unlike the picture, the choice will not only affect this life, but the next as well!!!  Choose wisely; your life depends upon it!!!!!

Sept. 9 Psalms 52-54

Sept. 9

Psalms 52-54

 

Psa 52:1 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God's loving kindness endures continually.

Psa 52:2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Psa 52:3 You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah.

Psa 52:4 You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.

Psa 52:5 God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.

Psa 52:6 The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying,

Psa 52:7 "Behold, this is the man who didn't make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness."

Psa 52:8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God's house. I trust in God's loving kindness forever and ever.

Psa 52:9 I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good, in the presence of your saints.

 

Psa 53:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good.

Psa 53:2 God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.

Psa 53:3 Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.

Psa 53:4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don't call on God?

Psa 53:5 There they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.

Psa 53:6 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

 

Psa 54:1 Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might.

Psa 54:2 Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth.

Psa 54:3 For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven't set God before them. Selah.

Psa 54:4 Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.

Psa 54:5 He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in your truth.

Psa 54:6 With a free will offering, I will sacrifice to you. I will give thanks to your name, Yahweh, for it is good.

Psa 54:7 For he has delivered me out of all trouble. My eye has seen triumph over my enemies.

Sept. 9 1 Corinthians 5

Sept. 9

1 Corinthians 5

1Co 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father's wife.

1Co 5:2 You are puffed up, and didn't rather mourn, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.

1Co 5:3 For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing.

1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1Co 5:5 are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1Co 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

1Co 5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.

1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1Co 5:9 I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners;

1Co 5:10 yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world.

1Co 5:11 But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. Don't even eat with such a person.

1Co 5:12 For what have I to do with also judging those who are outside? Don't you judge those who are within?

1Co 5:13 But those who are outside, God judges. "Put away the wicked man from among yourselves."

"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY" Chapter Four by Mark Copeland

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                              Chapter Four

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To learn what we can about the apostasy foretold by the Spirit

2) To see what sort of things will make one a good minister of Jesus 
   Christ

SUMMARY

Paul begins this chapter with describing how the Spirit has revealed
that in latter times there would be an apostasy in which some would
depart from the faith.  This falling away would come about as people
gave heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, leading to
their speaking lies in hypocrisy and searing their consciences as with
a hot iron.  Examples of their false doctrines are given:  forbidding 
to marry and commanding to abstain from certain foods.  Regarding the 
latter, Paul makes it clear that all foods are acceptable if they be 
received with thanksgiving, for they are sanctified by the word of God 
and prayer (1-5).

In the last half of this chapter, we find Paul instructing Timothy on
how he can be a good minister of Jesus Christ.  By instructing the 
brethren in matters pertaining to sound doctrine, he will also be 
nourished himself.  But he should also be careful to avoid foolish 
fables, and rather exercise himself to godliness, which is of more 
enduring value than bodily exercise (6-10).

Though Timothy is young, he should not let anyone despise him for his
youth.  Instead he must demonstrate the proper example of how a
believer should speak and live.  With further instruction as to what
things to give attention, Paul encourages Timothy that by following
these admonitions his progress will be evident to all, and he will save
both himself and those who hear him (11-16).

OUTLINE

I. THE COMING APOSTASY (1-5)

   A. THE DEPARTURE FORETOLD (1-2)
      1. Foretold expressly by the Spirit (1a)
      2. In latter times some will depart from the faith (1b-2)
         a. Giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons
            (1b)
         b. Speaking lies in hypocrisy (2a)
         c. Having consciences seared with a hot iron (2b)
   
   B. THE DEPARTURE DESCRIBED (3-5)
      1. Some will forbid to marry (3a)
      2. Some will command abstention from certain foods (3b)
         a. Which God created to be received with thanksgiving (3c)
         b. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be
            refused (4a)
            1) If it is received with thanksgiving (4b)
            2) For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer (5)

II. A GOOD SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST (6-16)

   A. IN REGARDS TO DOCTRINE (6-7a)
      1. Instruct the brethren in regards to such things as the 
         apostasy (6a)
      2. You will be a good minister of Jesus Christ (6b)
      3. You will be nourished in the words of faith and good doctrine
         (6c)
      4. But reject profane and old wives' fables (7a)
   
   B. IN REGARDS TO GODLINESS (7b-10)
      1. Exercise yourself to godliness, for bodily exercise profits a
         little (7b-8a)
      2. But godliness is profitable for all things, having promise...
         a. Of the life that now is (8b)
         b. And of that which is to come (8c)
      3. Such is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance (9)
      4. And to this end we labor and suffer reproach (10a)
         a. Because we trust in the living God (10b)
         b. Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who
            believe (10c)

   C. COUNSEL FOR A YOUNG PREACHER (11-16)
      1. Command and teach such things as previously described (11)
      2. Let no one despise your youth (12a)
      3. Be an example to the believers (12b)
         a. In word, in conduct, in love
         b. In spirit, in faith, in purity
      4. Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine (13)
      5. Do not neglect the gift in you (14a)
         a. Given by prophecy (14b)
         b. With the laying on of hands of the presbytery (14c)
      6. In order that your progress may be evident to all...
         a. Meditate on these things (15a)
         b. Give yourself entirely to them (15b)
      7. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine (16a)
         a. Continue in them (16b)
         b. In doing this, you will save both yourself and those who 
            hear you (16b)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The coming apostasy (1-5)
   - A good servant of Jesus Christ (6-16)

2) What did the Spirit reveal would happen in latter times? (1)
   - Some will depart from the faith

3) What would such people give heed to? (1)
   - Deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons

4) What would they speak?  Why? (2)
   - Lies in hypocrisy
   - Their consciences would be seared, as with a hot iron

5) List two examples of the sort of doctrines they would teach (3)
   - Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from certain foods

6) What foods are acceptable for Christians to eat?  What makes them
   acceptable? (4-5)
   - Nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving
   - They are sanctified by the word of God and prayer

7) What would ensure that Timothy would be a good minister of Jesus 
   Christ? (6)
   - If he instructed the brethren in these matters

8) As a good minister, in what would he be nourished? (6)
   - In the words of faith and of the good doctrine which he has 
     carefully followed

9) What was Timothy to reject?  Unto what was he to exercise himself?
   (7)
   - Profane and old wives' fables
   - Godliness

10) What is the value of godliness? (8)
   - It has promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to
     come

11) What was Timothy not to let anyone despise? (12)
   - His youth

12) In what areas was Timothy to be an example to the believers? (12)
   - In word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity

13) To what three things was Timothy to give attention? (13)
   - Reading, exhortation, and doctrine

14) What was Timothy not to neglect?  How was it given to him? (14)
   - The gift that was in him
   - By prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery
     (elders)

15) How could Timothy ensure that his progress would be evident to all?
    (15)
   - By meditating on these things, and giving himself entirely to them

16) How could Timothy save both himself and those who heard him? (16)
   - By taking heed to himself and to the doctrine, and continuing in
     them