Category: Devotional

6 of the Basics of Christianity
Hebrews 5:11-6:20 was listed as one of the 5 Warnings to Christians given in Hebrews. One of the reasons I called it a warning of lethargy is because of the tendency for people to forget the basics of Christianity – the so-called “milk” of the word. It is ironic that this warning was given in a time when the gospel was given by inspiration. They were so close to the source, yet they were urged to get a solid grip on the basics so they could move on to deeper things.

The Basics of Christianity

The Hebrews writer listed off 6 items that Christians need to insure they have a firm grasp on. The proof that we don’t is in the sheer number of religious denominations out there. This is the opposite of the “one body” that Paul taught about. (Ephesians 4:4-5) Here they are given by the writer in no particular order:

The basics of Christianity are critical to a firm foundation of deeper study
- Repentance from dead works – Changing our ways from the world is an essential step in salvation (Luke 13:3) Hebrews makes a case that all works are dead unless they are motivated by faith and love of God
- Faith toward God – A fundamental. (Hebrews 11:6) In fact it is so fundamental that many quit reading their Bibles when they see faith is a requirement to salvation.
- Teaching of baptisms – There are around seven contexts of the word baptism discussed in the New Testament, including the one baptism of Ephesians 4:4-5. This is the gateway act of salvation. (Mark 16:16-16, Acts 2:38) It is crucial to understand how this fits into God’s plan
- Laying on of hands – Since the printed and leather bound Bible didn’t just fall out of the sky, God had other means to get his word out there. 1 Corinthians 12-14 is a discussion of the spiritual gifts the first century Christians were given to help spread the gospel.
- Resurrection of the dead – I don’t know that we can ever spend enough time on this. The empty tomb is the foundation of Christianity. Paul spent his entire career on this teaching
- The eternal judgment – Sadly, many sinners think they are “ok.” There is a very big surprise waiting for those who haven’t given enough time to the idea that they will be held accountable on judgment day. (Hebrews 9:27)
Not being well grounded in these principles, these Basics of Christianity, is dangerous to our salvation. Without them we cannot go on to deeper understanding. Without them we will fall short.

Daily Bible reading for July 28^th

Song 5:10-6:3
Judges 7
Jeremiah 23:9-40
Hebrews 5:11-6:20
July 28, 2013
Bible Reading: Start With Jude

Tonight a group from my church will meet for another Biblepalooza. I have written about it before, but we call it Biblepalooza to contrast our love for God’s word against the worldly activities that use up our time. These are some long sessions of Bible reading and it is an exercise just to be prepared mentally and physically to sit through it.

Diligent Bible Reading

In our quest to be at home with God one day, we’ll have plenty of opportunity to fall away – to leave the path of that quest. Just like the Jews that were denied entry to the Promised Land, our disobedience and weakness of faith can keep us out. (Hebrews 3:16-19) God has given us his word so we can learn through diligent study how to avoid being “…tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine….” (Ephesians 4:11-14)

It is through this word that our faith grows. (Romans 10:17)

There is nothing like extensive study of the knowledge in God’s word

In our age of instant gratification, we have a hard time waiting. We hate having to put a great deal of effort into anything. This has sadly gotten into our churches and caused Christians to pass on serious or extended Bible reading. We have been tricked into believing that Google will give us all the answers on demand.

God expects a bit more effort than that. To get to that promised rest, we have to stay on top the knowledge he wants us to have. God’s word has a way of laying us open and exposing the blemishes that would cause his rejection of us. (Hebrews 4:11-13)

I put this site together as a way to help build a daily habit of Bible reading and study. Whether it be a few minutes or an hour or more, I want us all in the word daily…

BUT!

We need even more. We need to set time aside for an occasional extensive reading. Nothing gets you plugged into what a book of the Bible is trying to teach you than to read it in one sitting.

Our group’s Biblepalooza is one way of doing that. If you don’t have access to something like that, find another way. Do it with your family. Do it by yourself. Just do it.

The more you do, though, the more you want.

If you have to, start with Jude, and work backwards through the books. (In case you never noticed, the epistles are arranged longest to shortest) Once you get the thrill of reading a complete book, you will be ready for the longer ones.

Friends, Be Diligent. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Daily Bible reading for July 26

Song 4:9-5:1
Judges 5
Jeremiah 21
Hebrews 3:7-4:13

July 26, 2013
What is Doing Right?
Some people think they are doing right, but in the end it leads to death. – Proverbs 16:25 NCV

When the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket told Pinocchio to “let his conscience be his guide,” the world thought (and maybe still does) they were getting good sound Bible principles. Here is a little food for thought on this “Disney theology:”
- The majority of people living in sin are not acting against their conscience.
- Incorrect worship is sinful yet it usually makes people feel good about what they have “done for God.” (Colossians 2:23)
- A philanthropist that never obeys the gospel will be passed over at the judgment even though most consider him “good”
What steps are you taking to know that you are “doing right?”
July 25, 2013
Disobedience for Convenience
Avoid letting sinful decisions become a thorn in the side

Man has a history of modifying God’s word to meet his needs.
- Nadab and Abihu made a custom mixture and created strange fire (Leviticus 10:1-3)
- Moses was too embarrassed to speak to the stone for water and struck it instead (Numbers 20:8-12)
- Jonah didn’t want God to save Nineveh if they repented (Jonah 4:1-4)
The children of Israel were no different. They were supposed to drive the inhabitants completely out of Canaan, but they did not. Their disobedience ranged from taking the natives as slaves to allowing the natives to live among them as they took control of the land. (Judges 1)

God revoked his promise to drive the natives out and allowed them to become a “thorn in the side” of Israel. (Judges 2:3) We see throughout the rest of the Old Testament that God’s chosen people were drawn away from him by the sins and temptations of Canaan’s descendants. In all of the cases of disobedience, we see that God did not clean up their mess.

Even now, man continues to modify God’s word to suit his needs. And even now, man is getting himself into sinful jams that are more and more difficult to get out of. Take for instance:
- Religious denominations: These were created by man’s slight changes from God’s word being taught as truth. How does a professional minister for one of these repent?
- Divorce and remarriage: Through recent years, divorce has gotten easy to get for reason other than adultery. How do you break up an unbiblical marriage that has produced children?
- Taking and keeping jobs that keep us away from the church: How does a person that becomes financially dependent on such a job quit so it stops weakening his or her faith?
This is the nature of disobedience. Making decisions contrary to God’s word to suit our needs and weakly justifying them has serious implications but fools us into thinking we’re OK. If you are not where you need to be spiritually, a serious look back at the choices you’ve made could help you see the way back to the correct path.

Daily Reading for July 22

Song 1:9-2:7
Judges 1
Jeremiah 17
Matthew 28
July 22, 2013
In Memory
Observing Christ’s Memory

As you go into your next church service, here are some thoughts for reflection while you participate in the Lord’s Supper to honor his memory. Look over Matthew 26 and 27 or Luke 22 and 23:
- Jesus was full of sorrow and dread as the time approached for his crucifixion.
- Jesus could have put a stop to it at any point.
- He had to endure a crowd of his people choosing a horrible, vile man over him
- Even someone suffering the same fate mocked him.
Some waited until it was too late to admit that “Truly he was the Son of God!” They realized they were too late to be able to enjoy being in his physical presence.

What can you start doing today to be a credit to his sacrifice? What would you miss if you suddenly realized it is too late?

Daily Bible reading for July 21

Song of Solomon 1:1-8
Joshua 23-24
Jeremiah 15:10-16:21
Matthew 27:27-66
July 21, 2013
Time for a Decision
The Decision of Decisions

Sometimes we are tempted not to make decisions

How we live and who we surround ourselves with have a lot to do with how we’ll react to life. The way we react to life is made up of the chain of decisions we make to get through the day. Sometimes we even decide not to make a decision (which is still a decision!) – we just let happen what may.

What drives our choices?
- The roar of a crowd of strangers
- Approval of others
- The subtle hints of a friend
- What we feel in our heart
- Experience
Pilate had all of these things at work when he faced the decision of whether to acquit Jesus. He knew deep down Jesus was innocent. His wife did her best to confirm it. In the end, he let the masses guide his decision not to decide, and released another who did not deserve freedom. (Matthew 27:15-23) Pilate literally washed his hands of it!

How often do we get the chance to influence the outcome of an event but fail to speak up?
- We vote for those who would legalize abortion or legitimize sinful lifestyles
- We attend parties or events in places Christians shouldn’t be
- We dress in the “fashionable” way
- We don’t correct those in our presence.
Just like Pilate, we often let things happen – the wrong things – because we decided not to act or speak. Even when we have enough influence to have changed the outcome!

James 4:17 describes exactly what I mean.

Daily Bible reading for July 20

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
Joshua 22
Jeremiah 14:1-15:9
Matthew 27:1-26
July 20, 2013