Do You Know?

Thursday, ‎August 24, ‎2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Psalm 116:1-2

I love the Lord, the Eternal; for not only does He hear

my voice, my pleas for mercy,

2 But He leaned down when I was in trouble and brought His ear close to me.

So as long as I have breath, I will call on Him.

Memory verse: Philippians 4:8 ►Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Today's reading: PSALM 116-118 1 CORINTHIANS 7:1-19

Do You Know?

Do you know who you are in Christ?

You were bought with a price.

1 Corinthians 6:20 ►for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1 Peter 3:18 Christ suffered and died for sins once for all. He never sinned and yet He died for us who have sinned. He died so He might bring us to God. His body died but His spirit was made alive.

The Bible tells us to always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us, 1 Peter 3:15. It occurs to many that if someone asks us what would we say? That is a problem because we should always know and be ready-so what aren't we?

Jesus was telling the teachers of the law what defiles a man and he said, "Matthew 15:18 ►But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.

I think we can safely say, then, that if a heart belongs to Christ Jesus and that heart dwells on Him, that the message of a righteous man's heart would be on his lips...

Are we ashamed of our Lord? Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

This is a problem. But even if you are not ashamed, are you ready to speak for Christ?

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

This says for us to be eager to prove ourselves with our courage or confidence in accurately speaking God's truth. How do we build that courage or confidence in our own ability to handle God's word"

First know what God's word says. We can only do this by staying in the word. We can only know who we are in Christ Jesus by staying in His living word.

First, we must read the word daily. This cannot be omitted if a believer wants to be confident in God's word. You can argue all you want-you can come up with excuses until you die-there is no excuse and no substitution for reading God's word. God's word is our breath of life. How long can you hold your breath? This is how important reading God's word is.

Then, how do we stay in God's word while we work in the world? Memorization is key. You can carry a Bible with you forever out in the world-in your pocket-but until it stays in your heart it is just print on the page. Memory work, no matter your age, keeps the Living Word on our minds.

Bible study is a necessary tool to build confidence in who we are in Christ. It is a must. Reading keeps us in the word-memory work keeps the word alive in us-Bible study reveals to us God's wisdom in the word.

Who are we in Him? We are His chosen who have been charged with speaking the very words of God so God will be praised through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:11,12...In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.…

1 Peter 4:11 ►If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

We are chosen, bought with the Lifeblood of Christ to be courageous students who know His Living Word, speak His word boldly so that God will be praised in Christ Jesus.

Yes, we all have much work to do...so let's work for His glory...

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive my lazy excuses and fill me with desire for more of You and your Living Word.

All Glory and power to You, oh God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen