| Today's Bible Verse |
| "Take heed that ye do not your
alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye
have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
"
|
Matthew 6:1 King James
Version (KJV)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Today's Bible Study |
One of the highest compliments
I have received came from a friend who described me
as a person who is real.
We have all had enough of empty facades. Almost
daily we learn that someone whom the world honored
was a fake.
Some lied about their accomplishments or military
honors. Others claimed to possess high morals until
they were caught stealing. A few were true flimflam
artists whose public lives were complete lies. I am
thinking of “America’s Dad,” Bill Cosby.
Other well-known people looked good until someone
challenged them, got in their way, or stepped on
their toes. Then they revealed inner ugliness.
Someone has said, “What your heart is full of is
what spills out when you get bumped.”
The Pharisees were the spiritual elites of the Jews
in Jesus’ day. They prayed loudly in public places
and made sure people noticed when they gave alms.
They wore on their foreheads and arms small leather
boxes containing Hebrew texts. And people were
impressed.
Then Jesus came on the scene. To say that Jesus
“bumped” the Pharisees is putting it mildly. He
challenged them at every opportunity.
And the contents of these Pharisees’ hearts spilled
out. They accused Jesus of blasphemy, called him an
agent of Satan, and helped bring about his
crucifixion. Evil filled the hearts of these men
who appeared pious on the outside.
Commit yourself to pleasing God. Let people see
that characteristic in you. Be real.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Today's Prayer |
 |
| Lord, keep me from the sin of hypocrisy. Help
me seek only Your approval. Amen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yesterday's Bible
Verse |
| "…this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which are
before, I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
|
Philippians 3:13-14
King James Version (KJV)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yesterday's Bible
Study |
In a devotional I read
this morning, I came across this Bible truth:
It’s not about what you do; it’s about who you
are becoming.
How we applaud accomplishment! We have
graduation shindigs, retirement dinners,
anniversary galas, and even dinners out to
celebrate good report cards.
We celebrate when people reach watershed
moments. But those events do not mark endings.
They mark progress.
The lives of students, retirees and anniversary
couples don’t come to a full stop when their
parties are over. They continue moving forward,
pursuing new goals.
Singular accomplishments are impressive. But
more impressive are lifetimes of continual
growth toward excellence.
Are you in the process of becoming more
patient? Are you growing less selfish and
prideful? Is your walk with God richer than it
has ever been? Is your faith stronger?
Each of us is a human being, not a human doing.
Keep growing daily and reaching toward
excellence in your spiritual life. You may not
be awarded blue ribbons or gold medals, but
press forward, like the Apostle Paul, toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Jesus Christ.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yesterday's Prayer |
|
| Father, grow me into a person whose main goal is to draw closer to You every day. Make me one whose heart is filled with love and compassion for the hurting. May my driving force be an all-encompassing desire to honor You through demonstrating a strong belief and by serving those around me. Through Jesus I pray, Amen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
TheBibleAppProject.org LLC | PO Box 466, Fishkill, NY 12524
|
|
| |
