The Fire Must Never Go Out

Leviticus 6:12-13
"Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must never go out. Each morning the priest will add fresh wood to the fire and arrange the burnt offering on it. He will then burn the fat of the peace offerings on it. Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out."

I must keep the fire on the altar of my heart burning for you, Lord. It is up to me to add fresh wood every morning, by spending time with you. I need to arrange the burnt offering by the sacrifice of my time, sleep, energy or whatever you ask me to give. I burn the fat of the peace offering to maintain my fellowship with you.

2 Timothy 1:5-7

I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Revelation 3:15-16

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Lord, I don't ever want my fire for you to go out! I will continue to buy gold from you that has been purified with fire. I will buy white garments from you to cover my nakedness. I will buy ointment for my eyes so I will be able to see.

I will listen for your knock so that we can fellowship together. When my heart hears you say, "Come and talk with me," it will respond, "Lord, I am coming." In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

Christ Paid the Penalty

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

Christ Paid the Penalty

Christ Paid the Penalty

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

Christ Paid the Penalty

I Was Blind, and Now I Can See

John 9:24-25

So for the second time, they called in the man who had been born blind and told him, "God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner."

There is much questioning in this chapter about who was a sinner. The disciples assumed that because the man was born blind, then either he or his parents were sinners. The Pharisees decided that Jesus was a sinner because he healed on the Sabbath. They also held the belief that the man had been born a total sinner. (Verse 34) The truth of the matter is that we were ALL born total sinners.

The man who had been blind had more understanding than the Pharisees. He said that if Jesus were not from God, then he wouldn't have been able to heal his eyes.

Jesus is the ONLY human to ever be born totally without sin. That is why he is the only one who can take our sin away. He is indeed the light of the world who gives sight to the blind and shows those who think they see that they are actually blind.

Lord, please improve my spiritual sight. Bring into focus the areas where I think I can see clearly but I'm actually blind. Most of all help me to see you clearly. Let me see other people the way you see them. Thank you for what you taught me this morning. In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

James 1:14-15

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. Those desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

James 1:14-15

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Gems of Truth

Hosea 6:6

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 13:52

Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old."

The teachers of religious law knew the Old Testament backwards and forward. True they were also steeped in erroneous traditions which they attached to the law. But Jesus was saying that when one of these teachers truly understands and becomes one of His followers, then the Holy Spirit is able to sort all that out and show them treasures from the Word. The traditions they once thought were so all important are stripped away and in their place sparkles the gems of truth that were hidden inside. The Holy Spirit also shows them new gems of truth as they grow and learn to know Jesus better.

I can relate to this. Not that I've ever really been steeped in religious traditions. But I do have a strong background of solid Bible teaching. I have a vast treasure trove of gems of truth just waiting for me to discover them!! The Holy Spirit is training me to bring them out of my storeroom.

I praise you, Jesus, for helping me to see this and for how you are training me!

How We Should See Money

Psalm 119:133

Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.

Psalm 119:133

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 6:22-23

"Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!"

Lord, these verses have always confused me. Would you please help me to understand them?

Why are they here between verses about money?

After looking up the cross-references provided by my Bible: Matthew 20 and Mark 7:22, this seems to be a warning against becoming too focused on money. If we think too much about money, then it will cloud our spiritual vision. Depending on how we see and use money, it will either bring us spiritual sight and health or spiritual blindness and death. You want us to use money to help bring others to you.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.