The Word – Instruction and Inspiration for Our Path – Purity 1505
Purity 1505 11/16/2024 Purity 1505 Audio Podcast
Purity 1505 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of Ten Commandment Mountain comes to us from Fred Dimmick who shared this scene from his visit to Fields of the Wood on social media yesterday.
Fred informs us that “Fields of the Wood is a biblical “theme park” consisting of Prayer Mountain, featuring 29 monuments, Ten Commandment Mountain with letters 5 feet high and 4 feet wide, bordered with one-foot concrete sections measuring 300 feet from side-to-side, a tomb replica, and more, including walking trails and gift shop.” Fred also shared a link to their website,: https://cogop.org/fow/earlyhistory/ , which is on the blog today.
Well, It’s Saturday and as Fred’s photo points us to the Word of God, let me share with you the nuggets of inspiration that I got from this mornings Bible Study.
While I have been keeping my time in the Bible to minimum, a chapter a day, to increase the quality of my study of God’s word, lately I have been moved to “pray the Psalms” so this morning I did Psalm 5 and I have to recommend it to those of us on the path of Christian Discipleship. I’m currently using a Large Print NLT version of the Bible for my morning studies, and I love how it puts verse 8:
Psalm 5:8 (NLT2)
8 Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.
As a disciple who loves “pathway”, way, narrow road, or following references, the whole psalm is a keeper for anyone who seeks to “do what is right” and follow the Lord.
I also am reading through the New Testament and am currently in Acts, where I was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s words in
Acts 20:21 (NLT2) where he said:
21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.
Paul puts our focus quite plainly – One message for all – repent of sin, turn to God and have faith in Jesus Christ.
The Bible is our source of truth and our instructions for life. Today’s In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley trumpets this truth today, and so I am sharing it on the blog to encourage us all to study and follow its wisdom. Charles Stanley writes:
“Wandering From the Word
The Bible is our most reliable source of information and inspiration for living.
Psalms 119:9-16
Imagine a man has bought his grandchildren a new toy. After a brief glance at the directions, he sets the booklet aside and gets busy building. A few frustrating hours later, he humbly opens the instructions again and follows the steps to put the toy together. Soon he is done, and the grandkids are playing happily.
The grandfather knew that the manufacturer had a plan for assembling the toy, but he assumed he could figure it out on his own. Many of us approach Scripture the same way. Instead of treating God’s Word like a manual to live by, we’ll glance at it only when we’re at a loss over what to do next.
The Bible teaches believers who God is, what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing the ways of the Lord ensures that we can make wise decisions that honor Him. The Bible is also God’s instruction book for living (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In today’s passage, we read that if a person wants to be righteous, his or her life must comply with scriptural principles (vv. 9-10)—and the only way to do that is to read, study, and meditate on the Word.
God’s Word is a possession of supreme value. Among the Bible’s riches are stories teaching us how to serve the Lord and live in a way that honors Him. It contains a wealth of instruction for building a righteous and meaningful life.” – Charles Stanley
Amen. Stanley’s message refers to.
Psalm 119:9-16 (NKJV) where the psalmist proclaims:
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes!
13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
As we encourage others to live a surrendered life in Christ, we have echo Stanley and the psalmists instruction to read, study and meditate upon the truths in the Bible and to contemplate our ways and determine what needs to change in our lives to more perfectly align with God’s word and will for our lives.
Our journey of faith becomes an adventure when we engage with the Lord and seek to learn from and learn from Him. So read the Bible everyday to hear from the Lord and seek to let it change your heart and mind about how you live your life.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/ .
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
( While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Scripture-Reference-Counseling-Kruis-ebook/dp/B00CIUJZT2?ref_=ast_author_dp )
This morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on Giving.
Proverbs 22:9 (NKJV)
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.
Today’s verse is the third of five passages of scripture that fall under the eighth point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on Giving.
8. God requires us to be merciful and give to the poor.
Today’s Bible verse makes a direct correlation between generosity and “being blessed” – for those who give of “their bread to the poor”.
While our modern economic system takes the “bread” of our money in form of our taxes to support government welfare programs, we mustn’t harden our hearts to the idea of giving because the Lord commands us to and makes it clear that we were saved to perform “good works”.
The “blessing” of giving has two possible aspects – the natural and the supernatural. It naturally feels good to do good things (as long as our hearts are in it, anyway), Some Bibles translate the word “blessed” as happy and so we shouldn’t necessarily think that the Lord will do something special when we are generous and could understand that the “blessing” of giving is just the “good feelings” of doing something good.
However, the Lord is alive and working in the world so while we don’t wish to imply that He will give a special blessing for every act of generosity, if it is His will, He could, and He might. So if the Lord moves you, give more than your taxes and tithes and be “blessed” by choosing to be generous and freely giving “your bread” to the poor.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we begin sharing from “Day By Day Along the Way” By Jay E. Adams.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Easley’s books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 4
Who helps us in all of our afflictions to make us capable of helping …
2 Corinthians 1:4
Here is a two-fold promise. Paul, writing after grave trials of his own, having been rescued from near death, assures the Corinthians that God will also help them when afflicted for their faith. Indeed, he goes even farther, saying that the help that they receive is intended not only to sustain them in their afflictions, but is also intended to enable them to help other believers when they face trials. Afflictions differ, but the help of God does not change. Regardless of the trial, God’s help is ever sufficient, unfailing, and perfectly adapted to each individual. “But God is faithful Who will not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able to bear” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Are you suffering for the faith at work, at school, in your family? God knows and will provide “help” for you on the way. But, having experienced that help, He expects you to explain to others who suffer how to obtain His comfort for themselves. Those blessed by Him must become a blessing to others. Believers are walking the Way together and need each other.[1]
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Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
[1] Jay E. Adams, Day by Day along the Way (Cordova, TN: Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2020), 12.
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