Daily Truth

Today, share Matthew 14 with someone. Lord, help me speak Your truth even when it might mean my head on a platter (14:4-8). Give me compassion for the lost even in the midst of my own grief (14:14) so that I bring them to You to be satisfied (14:18). Make me trust You to walk where I have no ability to walk (14:29). Keep my eyes on You (14:30). Thank You for reaching out to save me when I get distracted (14:31). Let my life declare...

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Daily Truth

Today, share with someone what God shows you in Matthew 13. Lord, give me ears that hear You, eyes that see You, and a heart that understands You (13:15-16). Don't let me be too hard for Your Word to sink in (13:19), or too shallow for Your Word to remain in me (13:20), or so in love with the world that Your Word has no room to grow in me (13:22). Make me rich, deep soil that Your Word takes root in and produces fruit (13:23)....

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Daily Truth

Today's mind-changing text is Matthew 12. Lord, teach me to show mercy in applying Your Law and help me know that my religious sacrifices don't make me righteous, only Christ's sacrifice does (12:7). Help me know what it means to work "with" You and to be a gatherer (12:30). Does what I say reveal my heart to be good or evil (12:33-37)? Cause me to trust You without needing proof (12:38-39). Identify me as part of Your be family...

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Daily Truth

Today's mind-transforming text is Matthew 11. Lord, correct any misunderstandings I have about what it means for You to be my Savior (11:16-18). Let my life express wisdom by showing accurately what it means for You to be my savior, king, and righteousness (11:19). Thank You for showing Your thoughts and will in Jesus (11:27). Thank you for giving me rest for my soul, not having to worry about whether I am in Your favor or under...

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Daily Truth

Today's mind transforming text is Matthew 10. Lord, when You send me out to give evidence of the power of Your kingdom, show me: where to go (10:5-6), what to say (10:7), what to do (10:8), and how to rely exclusively on You (10:10). Let my words be the exact Words of Your Spirit (10:20). Cause me to endure all who hate me for loving You (10:22). Convince my heart that You are worth fearing, people are not (10:28). Make my life...

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Daily Truth

Today read matthew 9 to help you think more like Jesus. Lord, thank You for having the authority to forgive my rebellion (9:6). Help me also recognize Your authority to lead me as Matthew did (9:9). Keep me trusting You when the world doubts You and laughs at me for trusting You (9:24). Help me share as persistently as those who had been healed of blindness (9:31). Let me feel Your compassion for the crowds who don't know Your...

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Daily Truth

Today's life altering text is Matthew 8. Lord, make my transformed life a "testimony" of Your will to the particular people who need to see it (8:4). Build my faith to be like the centurion's faith (8:10). Don't let me fail to serve You now that You have healed my twisted heart (8:15). Give me the courage to follow You even if it means no comforts, security, or family (8:19-22). In my storms, help me trust You (8:26). Transform...

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Teaching Our Teens to Evaluate Themselves Spiritually - 1 John 2:3-11

The belief that Christ causes true believers to endure in trusting and walking in Christ is soundly biblical. This truth, however, is often misapplied. For too many Baptists, this belief produces a false sense of security and even a license to sin. This truth mixed with our sinful inclinations produces a dangerous pride. Paul tells us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12); to “test” ourselves to “see...

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Daily Truth

Today be shaped by Matthew 7. Lord, take every log from my eye so I can help my church family be more holy (7:3-5). Lead me to want to ask and ask for the very things that You want (7:7-9). Thank you for being the Giver of incredible gifts (7:10-11). Don't let me follow the crowd through the easy way that ends in destruction. Help me truly believe that real life will often be the difficult and lonely road (7:13-14). Produce good...

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Daily Truth

Today's life-changing text is Matt. 6. Our Father in heaven (6:9), make my walk with You real and consistent, not just for show (6:1-8). Help me show my friend's Your holiness (6:9). Rule me today (6:10). Don't let me think that my way will bring more fulfillment than Your way today (6:13). Help me forgive those who hurt me (6:14). Help me value what You value and be rich in things that last forever (6:19-21). Money and what it...

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Daily Truth

Today's time aligning our lives up with God's ways is in Matt. 5:1-12. Lord, help me want to be with Your followers instead of just with the crowd (5:1-2). Remind me that: when I have nothing, I have heaven (5:3), when I grieve, You are my Comforter (5:4), power and control get me no more inheritance than what You give me (5:5), I will be most satisfied when i crave righteousness (5:6), I must show the mercy You've shown me (5:7),...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being shaped by the Word is in Matthew 4. Lord, if it is Your will that i walk through the wilderness in hunger, protect me (4:1-2). Let me hunger for Your Word alone (4:4). Let me not assume Your protection when i insist on doing what I want (4:7). Let me value nothing more than You (4:10). Let those in darkness see Your light through me (4:16). Make my repentance clear (4:17). Don't let me be a fisher of men who...

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Teaching Teens Why They Should Forgive - 1 John 2:2

It seems that one of the hardest things to do and teach is to forgive. When a child or teen is offended, it is only natural for her to want justice. When our children are hurt, we might want justice even more because we want to protect our children from pain. I am still amazed, however, at the number of Christian parents who encourage an “eye for an eye” or a “punch for a punch” moral code. While doing what we can to keep our...

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Teaching Teens How Not to Sin - 1 John 1:7-2:2

The elderly John refers to his spiritual children in 2:1 as “My little children.” Hethen identifies the goal for which he writes, “so that they won’t sin.” Let’s not misunderstand what sin is. John is not merely desiring to produce nice, good spiritual children. Instead, he is wants them to depend wholly on Christ. The heart of sin is deeper than being a mean, immoral person. The heart of sin is being one’s own master. Neil Anderson...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being shaped by the Word is in Matthew 3. Lord, let others see your clear rule in me. Turn me 180 degrees from the path of sin (3:2). Let me not be an obstacle to jesus' path (3:3). Don't let clothes or food be my priorities (3:4). Make me love others enough to tell them of the coming wrath (3:7). Help my life bear fruit that matches my claim to have repented (3:8). Not bearing fruit is serious because it could mean...

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Daily Truth

Today we begin the book of Matthew. Read 1:1-1:25. Father, thank you that Your salvation in Jesus is a matter of historical record (1:1). Thank You that You use doubters (Abraham), adulterers (Judah), prostitutes (Rahab), foreigners (Ruth), and murderers (David) to bring the Savior to this world (1:16). Use me too to share Jesus with the world. Thank you that Your control over history is perfect (1:17). Thank You that Mary chose...

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Daily Truth

Today's time (last day in Nehemiah) is in chapter 13. My God, help me take Your word seriously (v. 1). Thank you for turning my curse due to sin into a blessing through Jesus (v. 2). Thank You for choosing me by grace to share in the fellowship of Your people by faith (v. 3). Let me not use Your temple (my body) for just worldly stuff when it's made to be used for holy stuff (v. 4-9). Use me to keep holy what You have declared...

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Teaching Teens How to Live in the Light - 1 John 1:5-6

The apostle John warns his spiritual children of two common spiritual deceptions. The first occurs in verses 5-7. It is the belief that we can have fellowship with God and continue to live as our own masters. John begins by affirming that God is light and in Him there is no darkness. God is perfectly holy. There is no evil in Him. If we claim to have fellowship with God, but continue to walk in sin, we are lying to everyone.Not...

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Nothing Screams Competence Like a Neck Tattoo

The last time I went to the doctor’s office, I noticed how old and stodgy they all were dressed. Nearly all of them wore ties and I didn’t see any of them without coats. The nurses and receptionists all looked relaxed and comfy in their cartoon character scrubs. But the doctors were dressed… professionally. A few months ago, my wife and...

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Daily Truth

Today's time hearing from God is in Nehemiah 12. Lord, thank You for showing us that You know the names of the average Joe people whom You use in Your plan; use me (v. 1-26). Shape me so others can rightly refer to me as a "man of God" (v. 24). Give me a heart to celebrate what You accomplish through me (v. 27) and purify me (v. 30). Give me great joy today from serving You and let the nations hear my joy in You (v. 4...

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Be Careful What You Preach!

Though the fig tree does not budand there is no fruit on the vines,though the olive crop failsand the fields produce no food,though there are no sheep in the penand no cattle in the stalls,yet I will triumph in Yahweh;I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!Yahweh my Lord is my strength;He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables...

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Double-Take 1/4

Today we're going to add a new feature to Deep Riches Blog. There are far too many good blog articles for most people to keep up with, even with Google Reader and all the other RSS readers that are out there. I keep up with several blogs, so rather than keep all the good stuff to myself, I will periodically post a list of links...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being reshaped by the Word is in Nehemiah 11. Lord, make me so willing to do Your kingdom work that I volunteer for the work instead of having to be asked (11:1-2). Make me willing to leave what is familiar to be used by You (11:...

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Daily Truth

Today, let Nehemiah 10 transform your thinking, wanting, and doing. Loving God, I put my name on the list of those who "make a firm promise" to obey You (v. 1-29). Let my faith in You make me different than the lost around me (v. 30). I commit not to treat as common/average that which You have called holy (v. 31). I will sacrifice to keep the temple (my body) holy (v. 32). Make me faithful to do my part in Your work (v. 34-37)....

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Daily Truth

Today we shape our thinking to be like God's from Nehemiah 9. My God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who keeps His promise and always acts in love (9:32), let me be broken over my rebellions (9:1). Help me to spend much time in Your Word, prayer, and worship (9:3). Make my speech to show Your greatness (9:5). Lead me today clearly (9:12). Don't allow me to be stiff-necked (9:16). Thank You for being quick to forgive...

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Are Joy and Parenting Mutually Exclusive? - 1 John 1:4

How many parents think that parenting is an absolute joy? Contrast that number with how many parents would settle for even a little joy. The Apostle John has just told his spiritual children that he tells them all about his firsthand knowledge of Christ so that they can think, want, and work along with him, and with God (ie, have fellowship). What reason would you give for wanting your teen to think, want, and work like Christ,...

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Why Just One True Faith?

If God is all powerful,there can only be one God since there cannot be two "most powerful" beings. Any religion that affirms multiple gods really views their gods as less than what what God is by definition, all-powerful. I choose the God who does not have to share His power with another. Why choose a lesser power or risk choosing a God who might have the potential of being defeated?The famous athiest, Bertrand Russell, wrote...

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Fellowship with God. . . Fellowship with Teens-1 John 1:3

One of the most common concerns of parents is that their teens seem to be on anentirely different page than that of the parents. Some of this problem canbe attributed to the generation gap. But Christ intended the church to be manygenerations in a single unified body. So the generation gap, by itself, cannot be an insurmountable obstacle to fellowship. In 1 John 1:3, the aged apostle John told his spiritual children in the church...

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Your Resolutions Are Lame

Lose weight, get in shape, get organized, do a daily devotion, go to church more, read my Bible.  Those are typical of the resolutions many Christians will make this New Year. I have heard many people opine on the futility of making New Year's resolutions, but I'm not so sure they are as useless as we might think.  Jonathan...

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