Monday prayer & verses (10 05 2010)

Thought for the day

Joe and Sam were talking one day. Joe said, "My wife asked me to
buy organic vegetables from the market garden."

"So were you able to find some?" asked Sam.

"Well when I got to the market, I said to the gardener, 'These
vegetables are for my wife. Have they been sprayed with any poisonous
chemicals?' The gardener said, 'No, you'll have to do that yourself.' "

There are some things in life that you have to do for yourself.
Your parents can't do them for you, nor can your spouse or your best
friend. Only you.

Whenever people try to point out the "contradictions" in the Bible,
they will frequently point to Galatians 6. They say, "Paul contradicted
himself within just a few short sentences." He said in verse 2, "Bear
one another's burdens" and then shortly after that, in verse 5, he said,
"For each one shall bear his own load."

"There, that proves that the Bible is contradictory!" Nonsense!
Giving it just a small amount of thought will cause you to realize that
while there are many areas where we need to help carry the load of our
brothers and sisters in Christ (being there in times of sickness or
sadness, for example), there are other areas where we cannot do that.

We can help carry the burden of difficulties this life has to
offer, but we cannot carry the burden of responsibilities we each have.
In regard to salvation, for example, I can't be saved for you. I can
teach you, I can encourage you, but I can't do anything to save you.
That's a load that you must bear.

In like manner, I can't fulfill your responsibility to live
morally, to visit those in need, or to give as you ought. In areas of
responsibility, you must carry your own load and I must carry mine.

"But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have
rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear
his own load." (Gal. 6:4-5)

As the gardener put it so well, "You'll have to do that yourself!"

Verses

Luke 1:37

For no word from God shall be void of power.

Exodus 15:26

saying, "If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD, your healer."

1 John 5:5

Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 Samuel 1:27

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Let each one give according as he has purposed in his heart, not out of an annoyed and troubled heart, nor because of necessity, for God loves a cheerful, ready giver.

Prayer

Father, the mindset of the world too often is a driving force in the way I conduct myself day in and day out. But as I saturate myself in Your Holy Scriptures I am much more inclined to regard Your approval and Your direction in the way I live. May the meditation of Your Word keep my focus on You, not myself this day. Let my conversation be wholesome rather than empty or conniving so that I benefit both the listener and myself. Let the work of my hands be productive and helpful to others, my family and myself. Let it be a positive witness to unbelievers of the work You are doing within me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.