Donny gave me a great bible study book. “The Message//Remix: Solo” a 365 day bible study. It looks great, Hoping to come back to blogging daily.
Read: Genesis 3:1-10
Passage: Genesis 3:9
“God called to the Man: “Where are you?”
Pray:
There is no better way to begin to understand God’s Message than to grasp our separation from him because of sin and our desperate need for him to reconcile our relationship.
Live:
If God knows everything, why did he call out to Adam asking, “Where are you?” In Verse 10 Adam responds to God’s question, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid.” When am I most tempted to hide?
Scripture
John 4:50
“Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.”
Observation
There was a government official who’s son was very sick, traveling to Jesus he begged him to come to Capernaum to heal his son who was about to die. Jesus instead tells him to go home and his son will live. Having faith, the official turned and went home to find his son healed. He not only believed Jesus could heal, but he obeyed Jesus by returning home.
Application
It isn’t enough for me to say I believe that Jesus can take care of my problems, I need to act as if he can. When I pray about a need or problem, I need to live as though I believe Jesus can do what he says, and not make a “backup– just in case”
Prayer
I pray I become more trusting of you. I pray that in the future when I do pray for something of importance, I don’t make a backup.. I pray that I can hand over everything to you and let you take care of it and have no anxiety from me.
Scripture
John 3:4-7
“What do you mean? exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again? Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say You must be born again.”
Observation
Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to talk to Jesus in the middle of the night. Nicodemus spoke of how God must be with Jesus because of all the miraculous signs and Jesus replied with verses 4-7. Nicodemus became confused with Jesus’ statement because he did not get the concept.
Application
While reading John 3 this popped right out and I knew this was the verses I should pick. When I try to explain what “born again” means to me, people don’t get it. It’s hard for me to try and explain it to them and I always fumble over my words. I feel convicted to memorize these phrases so when someone does ask me about my relationship with God and I say I’m “born-again” I’ll be able to explain without fumbling over words.
Prayer
Lord, give me the capabilities and conviction to memorize these verses, give me the chances to speak to people who don’t know you, give me the chances to show You through me. Amen
Scripture
2:14
“In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.”
Observation
Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover celebration, upon walking into the temple Jesus see’s vendors set up trying to sell things. He becomes ENRAGED. The people selling things in the temple had rationalized that it was okay to sell things in the temple because it was a convenience for the worshipers and it made the temple money for upkeep.
Application
When I rationalize, they are big rationalizations. I make huge lies and try to make myself believe them. Sometimes God wins and snaps me out of it, sometimes not so much. Jesus became angry because these people had setlled for rationalizations of selling in the temple. I wonder what in my life Jesus is angry about my rationalizations.
Prayer
Lord, whatever I’m rationalizing now or in the future, please show me clearly what I am doing and snap me out of it. Please show me how to not rationalize and how to succeed in the areas I am trying to rationalize over.
Scripture
John 1:38
“Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them….”
Observation
Two of John’s disciple’s were with John when Jesus walked by, John said “Look, where is the Lamb of God! The two disciples, as scripture says, “followed Jesus”. While following, Jesus turns around and asked them what they wanted. Obviously John must have talked to his disciples if they knew who he was when he walked by. They dropped everything and left with him. While walking with Jesus, he turns around and asks them what they wanted. At first I really thought Jesus was being rude .. “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” but then I realized… Just following Christ is not enough, we have to follow him for the right reasons. If we were to follow Christ for our own purposes, that would be asking him to follow us — so we can advance our motives. By following him completely for HIM, we can seek glory for Him.
Application
Sometimes I think I’m just following Christ for the wrong reason.. Sometimes I feel like I’m just following Christ to.. Follow Christ. Sometimes it seems like I have no original thoughts and am using people’s thoughts that they’ve said before. When someone asks me about Christ I sometimes stutter and don’t know what to say. I’m really interested in reading John over again to see what kind of ideas spring forth. I plan to apply this to my life by being able to talk about God more fluently and feel like I know what I’m saying… Follow Jesus for the right reasons.
Prayer
Lord I pray that you can show me how to follow you for a cause, for when the time comes to speak through me so I’m clear and concise and not a jittery bumble mouthed baboon.
