Thought for the day
Little Betsy had faithfully attended baptism classes. Her mother, wanting to be sure her daughter understood its significance, asked,
"Honey, what does baptism mean?"
"Well, it isn't the water that makes you clean … " she began.
Smiling, Mother thought, Yes, she understands."
… it's the soap."Well, Betsy was at least half right. Baptism is indeed the point at which the sins of a penitent sinner are washed away (Acts 22:16), but it's not the water itself that makes you clean. Paul makes reference to the cleansing that comes in "the washing of water by the word." (Eph. 5:26). Jesus, himself, spoke of the new birth as being "born of the water and the Spirit" (John 3:3,5). But there is no regenerational power in the water itself.
No, the power of baptism is the blood of Jesus Christ. As John acknowledged in the opening of his Revelation: "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood." (Rev. 1:5).
Does that detract from the value of baptism? Not at all. Baptism is no less important. It just means that the power of baptism is found not in the water, but in the blood of Jesus Christ. That's why Paul connects the two so closely in Romans 6:"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death..." (Romans 6:3-4). Separating baptism from the blood of Jesus Christ is like separating the chassis of a car from its motor. A car is useless without a motor -- that's where the power is! And baptism is worthless without the blood of Jesus -- that's where the power is!
What a beautiful symbol baptism is of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:4-5). Thanks be to God for the cleansing that comes at the point of baptism, but greater thanks indeed for the blood of Jesus Christ which provides the power for that cleansing!
Verses
1 John 5:4
because every child of God conquers the world, and our faith in God is what has conquered it.
Mark 9:23
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
James 1:17
Every gift which is good, and every perfect boon, is from above, and comes down from the Father, who is the source of all Light. In Him there is no variation nor the slightest suggestion of change.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Always keep on praying.
Isaiah 1:19
If you will give ear to my word and do it, the good things of the land will be yours;
Prayer
Jesus, as I exchange places with Peter today I hear the same question, “Do you truly love me more than these?” As I contemplate what “these” things are in my life I want my love and devotion for You to exceed anyone or anything that I value in this life. In searching my heart this day I lay before You anything that would conflict or compete with Your supreme control of my life. I yield my affections to You, my Lord and Master. In loving You more than these my primary allegiance is to You and the Kingdom of God. May my actions be a reflection of my words, I pray. Amen.
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wednesday prayer & verses (22 04 2009)
Thought for the day
I thought you would enjoy the following list of "Rules and Regulations for Teachers in 1872":
1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys, and trim wicks.
2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and scuttle of coal for the day's sessions.
3. Make your pens carefully: you may whittle nibs to the individual taste of pupils.
4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.
5. After 10 hours in school, the teachers spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
7. Each teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.
8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or get shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intentions, integrity and honesty.
9. The teacher who performs his labors faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.
I was intrigued by the wording of #9 above.
It sounded somewhat familiar to me. Then it dawned on me that there is a similarity to what Jesus had to say to the seven churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 2 and 3.
"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev.2:10b)"...[T]hey shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." (Rev. 3:4-5)
There are a couple of significant differences, though, between the promise given to teachers in 1872 and the promises given by Jesus. Jesus doesn't require that we live "without fault" (and oh, how I'm thankful for that!). The reward that Jesus promises is considerably better than 25 cents for every five years of service (and I'm thankful for that as well!). And it's not a matter of gaining the approval of a group of men. The only approval that matters is the smile we'll see on our Father's face.
Father, thank you for the promises that you have given -- not just the promise of a crown or of white garments, but the promise of an opportunity to be in your presence, to be held in your arms. I don't live before you "without fault", so I thank you for your grace as I seek to live faithfully as your child. I commit all that I am and all that I have to be used in your service. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Verses
1 John 5:4
because every child of God conquers the world, and our faith in God is what has conquered it.
Exodus 23:25
And ye shall serve Jehovah your God; and he shall bless thy bread and thy water; and I will take sickness away from thy midst.
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Matthew 7:7
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Psalm 35:27
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Prayer
Father, if You care for the lilies of the field that neither labor nor spin, and You clothe the grass of the field, which is here today and yet tomorrow is mowed down how much more will You care for us who are made in Your own image. You desire our fellowship, our devotion, and our reliance on You for all our needs, for You delight in providing everything we have need of.
I thought you would enjoy the following list of "Rules and Regulations for Teachers in 1872":
1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys, and trim wicks.
2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and scuttle of coal for the day's sessions.
3. Make your pens carefully: you may whittle nibs to the individual taste of pupils.
4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.
5. After 10 hours in school, the teachers spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
7. Each teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.
8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or get shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intentions, integrity and honesty.
9. The teacher who performs his labors faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.
I was intrigued by the wording of #9 above.
It sounded somewhat familiar to me. Then it dawned on me that there is a similarity to what Jesus had to say to the seven churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 2 and 3.
"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev.2:10b)"...[T]hey shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." (Rev. 3:4-5)
There are a couple of significant differences, though, between the promise given to teachers in 1872 and the promises given by Jesus. Jesus doesn't require that we live "without fault" (and oh, how I'm thankful for that!). The reward that Jesus promises is considerably better than 25 cents for every five years of service (and I'm thankful for that as well!). And it's not a matter of gaining the approval of a group of men. The only approval that matters is the smile we'll see on our Father's face.
Father, thank you for the promises that you have given -- not just the promise of a crown or of white garments, but the promise of an opportunity to be in your presence, to be held in your arms. I don't live before you "without fault", so I thank you for your grace as I seek to live faithfully as your child. I commit all that I am and all that I have to be used in your service. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Verses
1 John 5:4
because every child of God conquers the world, and our faith in God is what has conquered it.
Exodus 23:25
And ye shall serve Jehovah your God; and he shall bless thy bread and thy water; and I will take sickness away from thy midst.
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Matthew 7:7
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Psalm 35:27
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Prayer
Father, if You care for the lilies of the field that neither labor nor spin, and You clothe the grass of the field, which is here today and yet tomorrow is mowed down how much more will You care for us who are made in Your own image. You desire our fellowship, our devotion, and our reliance on You for all our needs, for You delight in providing everything we have need of.
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