Prayer, April 30, 2008
Prayer, April 30, 2008 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:13-16 www.solascriptura.com Father, James, the half-brother of Jesus, seems to be one of the more direct persons in proclaiming Your will for us. He speaks clearly and bluntly and always with a sense of urgency concerning our salvation. May we listen intently to the words You gave him. Here we are reminded of the power of prayer. Father, we sometimes keep our needs, both spiritual and physical, to ourselves. We know that is not recommended although personal and private time with You is still very important. When we share our concerns and needs with each other You tell us that is good. How Father can we be blessed if we do not ask? Help us, today, to ask for Your intervention and help us to ask our family and friends for prayer, especially when there is a specific need. In asking, we declare our hope in You. We pray that we will be alert to the needs of others, intervening with sincerity and optimism, believing in the power of Your grace and mercy to us all. Heal the sick and broken-hearted. We pray in Jesus' Holy name, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Forgiven, April 29, 2008
Forgiven, April 29, 2008 Now early in the morning (Jesus) came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,
they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
"Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"
This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."
And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:2-11, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, You teach us much in these verses. We pray for wisdom and discernment in understanding. You, again, cite, "early in the morning" as the time You went to the Temple to pray and teach. Prime time with the Father seems to be "early in the morning".
Then You teach us that the scribes (lawyers) and Pharisees (religious leaders) are in the role of accusers. You did not say they accused falsely, Jesus, You said they too commit sins of various kinds and if any of them thought they were without sin, then step up and cast the first stone in the killing process. You then teach us that everyone has a conscience that either accuses them or excuses them and that we personally know when we have sinned whether other people know it or not. Then, in Your mercy, you teach us that adultery is not a sin unto death if one confesses and repents (changes direction). You forgive the woman and you encourage her. O' God, if we could but have that kind of mercy and hope when we see sin in action. Help us today to be part of the healing process, not one of those who accuse. In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Salvation, April 28, 2008
Salvation, April 28, 2008 ... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 www.solascriptura.com
Father, You continually teach us that we each bear our own responsibilities in relation to You. Our relationship is personal. It is not a relationship we are able to inherit or claim as a member of an organization or as a member of a Christian family. We come to You as individuals, seeking to do Your will, knowing that it pleases You immensely when we do so.
What things would you have us do to "work out" our salvation? We know the answer. We must look to Your words, Your heartfelt guidance and Your unending resources, which are readily available to us. Help us today to be part of the solution in bringing words of reassurance to those we meet. Bless us this day as we draw near to You. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Hope, April 27, 2008
Hope, April 27, 2008 ... we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7, www.solascriptura.com We thank you Father for sending the Holy Spirit, a constant source of Your Holy presence in us. O'God, Your thoughts toward us exceed number. That is a reality we have a hard time grasping. Can we do any less but to look to You, all day, in every circumstance. We truly never need to walk alone. You came that we might have abundant life. Thank You Father for helping us understand that it is Your desire that we experience goodness and mercy, at Your hand, even if others try to discourage us. Help us to be an encourager to such people, we pray. May we draw near to you, constantly? We know that we can! In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen Bruce Caldwell
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Temptation, April 26, 2008
Temptation, April 26, 2008 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
"but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.
"For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. Genesis 3:1-7, www.solascriptura.com Father, thank You for sharing this account of "original sin". Some blame Eve for enticing her husband Adam to eat and some say Adam was responsible for being obedient, enticement or not. You have taught us that it is from this point forward that all men are guilty of sin, born of the flesh; none, no not one, is perfect. You have taught us that it is only in Jesus' perfect atonement that our sins are forgiven and our spirit is witnessed to by Your Spirit. Yes Father, we are no longer in the Garden of Eden, but You have told us of Your plan to restore the Garden of Eden, in heaven. We now realize our sinful state and our need for redemption from our sin; that is, provided that we have confessed our sin with a humble and contrite heart, and have asked You for forgiveness and cleansing. By Your grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are saved. Due to the presence of the Holy Spirit, we need never lose the battle to sin again although perfection remains ahead of us. We seek to apprehend perfection but we find it is a race, all the way to the end. We pray for Your strength in us, constantly. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Family Bible Study, April 25, 2008
Family Bible Study, April 25, 2008 Grace, Faith and Works…In That Order, www.solascriptura.com
What is Grace? Grace is a word that describes God's love toward you. The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:8-9 "But don't forget this, dear friends that a day or a thousand years from now is like tomorrow to the Lord." He isn't really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent. TLB
That means that God is very serious about His promises and very patient with His children. God does not want one single person to perish, that is, for their spirit to be separated from God and His people, forever. God wants us to repent, that is, to turn away from sin and to love Him, to turn towards Him. But sin did come into the world when Adam was disobedient (with Eve's encouragement). Adam's sin did not surprise God. Nothing ever surprises God. Our God in omniscient, that is, He knows the beginning from the end and He knows what choices man will make. Since God will not let sin come into His presence, He provided a way for each of us, as well as any person who ever sinned, to be cleansed, to be washed as white as snow so that we could stand in His presence, just as if we had never sinned. He sent His Son, Jesus, to live a sinless life among men. Jesus, as a result of being hung on a cross by an angry crowd who did not believe He was the Son of God, died. He died that we might, by believing He is the Son of God, be forgiven and cleansed of our sins. All we have to do, to have eternal life, is to humbly and with sorrow confess our sins, to turn away from sin in the future and to rely upon the power of the risen Christ in us so that we can, by faith, experience on a daily basis, God's protective love. Then God expects us to love Him and obey Him. Some people call the obedience part "works". That just means doing things that God has commanded, such as loving other people, being Baptized, praying to Him about every decision and about our needs and hopes and the needs of others. Works that are rooted in faith please God. Works, simply intended to earn points with God, do not please Him. Faith in Jesus makes your works noticed by God. There you have it! First God's grace to you, second your faith in Jesus Christ and third, your works, those things you do to respond to His love. We need to know that the order cannot be reversed. Discuss why works alone will not bring you eternal life. For instance, if someone is doing a lot of good things, even going to church and tithing and being good to their neighbor, have they yet done the one thing that makes their works lead to eternal life? Why do you think God's grace must precede faith in Jesus? A way to think about that question is to ask yourselves, "what if God had not sent His only Son to take our sin upon Himself." Could enter into God's presence if our sin was still with us? First, it was God's grace. That means, God's riches at Christ's expense, are ours. Are your good works earning you favor with Jesus or do you do good works because you love Jesus and have faith that He is the Son of God? Do you think good works that are not particularly motivated by your faith in Christ are as meaningful as good works based on your love for Jesus? What do you think it means when the Bible says, "do all things as unto the Lord?" Core Christian Value: First God's grace to you, second your faith in Jesus Christ and third, your works, those things you do to respond to His love. We need to know that the order cannot be reversed. Bruce Caldwell
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Perseverance, April 24, 2008
Perseverance, April 24, 2008 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
"Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'
"And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"
Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.
"And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Luke 18:1-9, www.solascriptura.com Jesus, Again, You tell us to persevere and show us that even the unbelieving judge yielded to the continual pleas of the widow. Then Jesus, You teach us that if an unbelieving judge can be influenced by persistence, we can depend upon our God to listen to our cry day and night. We see that we can not despise others and say we trust in You. Our trust is in Your righteousness, not ours. Jesus, You are the judge of all mankind and You ask the question, "Will You really find faith on earth?" Thank You for teaching us that positive responses are reserved for those who diligently seek You. Help us Jesus to persistently seek the will of the Father, every moment of the day. We are only able to do so because we approach our Father, wrapped in Your righteousness. We know He will not hear us if we persist in sin and then expect blessings. We pray for discernment. In Your Holy name, lead us we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Humility, April 23, 2008
Humility, April 23, 2008 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 2 Corinthians 6:1-11, www.solascriptura.com Father, Paul is an example to us of one who has been severely tested, yet faithful in every way. Father, we also know that he persecuted Christians before his life-changing encounter with Jesus. Now here he tells us that "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Father, the contrast between pride and humility is always before us. We have such an inclination to allow our ego to overcome us. Help us, today, to know that it is You we seek to please and that even when we do please You, it is due to the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not our fleshly spirit. O' God, we know that serving You requires the death of our "old nature". Help us to be what You desire us to be, this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Fidelity, April 22, 2008
Fidelity, April 22, 2008 ...no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring can yield both salt water and fresh.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. James 3:8-13, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we know that to be faithful to You, we should not be inconsistent in our approach to others. You have taught us that all people are created in Your image. Help us look upon people as Your potential servants, some of whom are called early in life and some later.
We see, Father, that a fig tree does not bear olives. Are there times, Father, that we claim to be Your children and then openly sin against You and others? Father, we pray for fidelity, for consistency in our daily walk. Help us to never be hypocritical, bringing shame to ourselves, when we deeply want to be as You, Jesus. Help us to be an encourager, not saying in one breath that we love You and in the next breath, to speak despairingly of men. Give us the gift of fidelity, one in which our love for You isn't mixed with unloving actions towards others. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Industriousness, April 21, 2008
Industriousness, April 21, 2008 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
"You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:12-16, www.solascriptura.com Father, You have taught us that the two greatest commandments are to love You with all our heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It seems Father, that all Christians find the first commandment completely clear and that the command to love our neighbors, though clear, is much more challenging. Help us to understand that the kind of love we should have for each other is as the love You have for us. Father, not many of us have the depth of love for others that we have for You. Help us to see that our own imperfections make it difficult at times for others to love us. Then help us to see that the imperfections in our acquaintances and friends are not only to be expected but they are to be forgiven as You have forgiven us. Father, again You say, bear fruit! We thank you for defining the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize our lives; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness and self control. Now help us to manifest our love for You by loving our neighbors in a way that is impossible without Your Spirit in us. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Conscience, April 20, 2008
Conscience, April 20, 2008 "This is the covenant that I will make with them...says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
... brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and having a High Priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:16, 19-23, www.solascriptura.com Father, we are so grateful that we are no longer judged by the Law. If we were to choose to remain under the Law, our sins would still be with us. For the New Covenant, we are grateful. You not only cleansed us of our sins but You then inscribed the truth on our hearts and minds, forever, and the miracle of being born again with a new purpose in life is ours if we would but love and obey. We no longer stand outside the Holy of Holies, but we are invited behind the veil, right into Your presence and there You call us friends. Such truth is too great for us to fully comprehend. Let us draw near to You Jesus, our High Priest and more, for cleansing, strengthening, counseling, and comfort. No one on this earth can do for us what You have already done and what You are yet able to do if we but trust and obey. The refreshment of Your cleansing water in our lives daily is like none other. You are the Living Water. Fill us afresh. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Joy, April 19, 2008
Joy, April 19, 2008 Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophecies.
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil. 1Thes 5:16-22, www.solascriptura.com Father, in 7 sentences, Paul teaches us the basics of our faith. We do rejoice always, in good times and in bad times because of Your Holy presence with us and in us. We often fail to pray unceasingly but here we see it is Your will that we never stop acknowledging Your presence in every small and every large event of our lives. Not a hair falls from our head that You do not notice. Help us to observe You with equal attention and to ask You into every circumstance of our lives. We do not always give thanks when we are being challenged but again, it is Your will we do so because You are allowing us to be tested. We know that to quench the Spirit is to remove You from the situations we encounter. Father, we acknowledge that absent the presence of the Spirit, we are depending upon ourselves. In such cases we are going it alone. We pray that is never the case. Father, despising teaching is the path of a self centered, self directed person. Help us learn from the prophets and from You Jesus. Help us this day to abstain from evil, to flee from it, never to gaze upon that which is sinful. It feels so good to do the right thing and we feel so weak, so impotent when we allow sin to fill our mind and our eyes. We feel tricked by Satan, the great deceiver, when we entertain sin. We simply want to be as You Jesus. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Prayer, Part I, April 18, 2008
Prayer, Part I, April 18, 2008 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
Answer me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Psalms 143:1-7, www.solascriptura.com Father, we know that Kind David and others suffered as they sought to fulfill Your expectations. We seldom suffer as we seek to do Your will. Perhaps we are less overt in our efforts and we are spared suffering because we do not engage in the battle. Help us this day to run the risk of being persecuted as a result of our declared love for You. We do not seek persecution Father, but if it comes as a result of our efforts to serve You, so be it. Strengthen our resolve to be Your person in the midst of a sinful world and allow Your enemies to become as was always intended, Your children. Give us love and wisdom in our witness. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Revenge, April 17, 2008
Revenge, April 17, 2008 " the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them."...
See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Luke 9:-56, 1Thessalonians 5:15, www.solascriptura.com Jesus, Your purpose is to save lives that we might exist in eternity with You. It is Satan that is set on bringing us down and accusing us of sin. Satan wins unless we realize that we need a new heart and a new start. You "save" us when we accept, by God's grace, Your sacrifice on the cross as one which cleanses each of us personally. Equip us this day to not render evil for evil. Revenge is the province of the unforgiving where they presume to judge others instead of accepting and redistributing Your forgiveness and love. Strengthen our resolve, this day, to be Your good and faithful servants. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Mind of Christ, April 16, 2008
Mind of Christ, April 16, 2008 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. I John 2:24-28, www.solascriptura.com Father, You tell us that "if" what we heard from the beginning, the new covenant written on our hearts, abides in us, You teach us all things. Father, let not our hearts be blinded by sinful actions and hardened for eternity. We pray that You do abide in us in a life-changing way and that Your presence, every moment, is a source of strength and light. We know Father, that where Light abides, Your Light, there is no darkness. Help us today to turn to the Light in us, to seek to have You illuminate our paths and to comfort us in the midst of life's inevitable trials. In Your Holy name we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Law of God, April 15, 2008
Law of God, April 15, 2008 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:5-10 www.solascriptura.com
Father, Paul again reminds us to pay taxes, honor and respect to those You have allowed to be in authority and here he also reminds us to support those who minister unto us.
Help us Father to not compromise in this responsibility. Paul also says not to covet. You have taught us, repeatedly, that the assets You give us are intended to enhance our ability to serve You and others. Lead us, we pray, in wisdom as we seek to glorify You and serve others. Father, You are love and we who say we love You must love others as well. It is not easy Father to love the person who would and does do us harm, yet, that is the command. Help us, this day, to see the bigger picture and to know that our witness is empty if we do not love others. We will need Your strength, Your presence in our circumstances to do so. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Prayer, Part 2, April 14, 2008
Prayer, Part 2, April 14, 2008 The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. You have heard my voice: "Do not hide Your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help."
You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, "Do not fear!"
O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; you have redeemed my life. Psalms 2:7, Lamentations 3:56-58, www.solascriptura.com Father, Just as You declared Jesus, as Your begotten Son, You assure us that we can cry out as Jeremiah did, for Your help. We know Father that Jesus made it possible for us to come into Your presence, cleansed, and prepared to speak to You. We can stand before You without fear, though we shall surely be overwhelmed when we do so. You have provided a Lamb, a perfect stand-in for our sins and we joyfully accept Your gift of life but at the same time we feel so unworthy. Help us today to see that our worthiness is not a result of our works but of our faith in You, Jesus and Your grace and love to us, Father. Lead us this day to be like You, Jesus, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Peace, April 13, 2008
Peace, April 13, 2008 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Romans 15:4-5, Hebrews 13:8 www.solascriptura.com Father, this says that whatever was written in the Scriptures was written for our learning. Oh how we need to read Your word as persons dying of thirst for more knowledge of You. Your prophets tell us that the day will come when the Word is no longer available. Here it is at our fingertips Lord. Help us, today, to commit to a plan of reading Your word daily. You tell us that it is the Scriptures that give us hope. Would it be true Father that if we do not have Your word stored in our heart that, in times of need for Your instruction, we would be without hope? We all have some knowledge of the Scriptures, Father, but we know You would not have us remain as babes in that regard. Strengthen our resolve to "listen to You" and to speak with You many times a day. You are the same, yesterday, today and forever. You are our Light, You are the Word in our hearts. Bless us we pray, in Jesus' name, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Courage, April 12, 2008
Courage, April 12, 2008 ... though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 www.solascriptura.com Father, Paul was a lot like us. He wanted to boast of his good works in Your name but he knew that was not Your will. You allowed him to experience many difficulties and You told him it was for his own good. We too do not always have smooth sailing in our Christian walk. The difference between us and Paul is immense, in terms of outreach and effectiveness, but he too experienced physical weakness and pain. It is his Spiritual strength that captures our attention. You, at the same time, gave him challenges and successes and taught him and now us, that his successes, even in a weakened physical condition, are proof that You can use anyone, no matter how weak they are as long as they trust in You. Jesus, we are weak, in so many ways. Here we learn that it is in our recognition of our inadequacies, that You empower us to serve. It is in Your strength that we go forward. How else could it be without our pride becoming a burden? Take away any trace of arrogance in our lives, we pray in Your Holy name, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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God's Children, April 11, 2008
God's Children, April 11, 2008 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I John 2:1-6, 12, www.solascriptura.com Father, we come to You, cleansed of our sin because Jesus, our advocate, has made it all possible. We know there is no other way to be in Your presence except at the nomination of ourselves by Jesus. Our advocate, the One who appeals to You, Himself, paid the price for our sins. This is true of no one else, therefore all judgment has been assigned to Jesus. We can boldly enter into Your presence because our faith is based on the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of a new heart and a completely new start. The Apostle John speaks plainly about obedience. "He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Keeping Your commandments is not easy. We know our walk with You is a little "uphill" but each day of obedience makes the next day's hill, easier. John says, "walk just as He walked." That is our prayer today. Help us to be more like you every day. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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The Narrow Gate, April 10, 2008
The Narrow Gate, April 10, 2008 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Ephesians 1:7-10, www.solascriptura.com Jesus, some recoil from the notion that blood must be shed for the forgiveness of sin. Help us to learn what You have taught us, many times. Sin is deserving of death or at the very least, it prevents entry into the presence of our Holy Father. Sacrifices of animals, to cover the sins of a believer, were a very serious way of allowing a substitute to die in the place of a sinner. Jesus, You became the final "substitute" for our sins, because as the Scriptures teach, your blood was shed for the remission, the cleansing, the removal of our sins. No more sacrifices are needed or wanted, by You. Your shed blood has paid the price for our salvation. You have died for our sins, in our place, and now You are at the right hand of the Father, awaiting our arrival, our redemption. You have now implanted the truth upon our hearts; all wisdom and prudence are available to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. You have revealed the mystery of Your will to us. We who worship You in truth and in Spirit will be gathered unto You. How wonderful these words are Jesus. May they become a reality in all of our lives this day, we pray. Amen. Bruce Caldwell
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God's Gifts, April 9, 2008
God's Gifts, April 9, 2008 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:9-11 www.solascriptura.com Father, here Peter points out an important fact; we have received gifts. We sometimes doubt that is true but help us to remember the times in our lives when a person said something kind to us or commended us and how we never forgot it! Father, each of us has had someone compliment us or tell us something we really enjoyed hearing. We know that "flattery" is wrong so help us not to offer insincere compliments. Peter says we should speak using the very words of God, words of assurance and comfort. Help us today to lift the spirit of another person by using Your word as a key element of our praise. Father, You have taught us that if we say, "God has really blessed You with great talent" that it is much better than saying, "You have it all man, You da man!" We are so vulnerable to praise. Remind us today that, we brought nothing into this world and no matter how cool we are, we will take nothing out. Our only hope is in You. Father, help us today to praise You for our gifts and to exercise them to Your glory. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Temple of God, April 8, 2008
Temple of God, April 8, 2008 ... you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22 www.solascriptura.com Father, it is sometimes difficult to admit it, but we were all once strangers and foreigners to You. That was our condition before we learned of Your grace to us and of salvation from Jesus. But now we are citizens of heaven with all of the other saints, we are members of Your household. We are family! As we learn from the apostles, prophets and Jesus, we build a foundation for our inner temple, where we know You better every day and trust You more every day. Your word says we are the dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Help us Father to be an effective witness of Your love. Let our Joy in You be evident to all, all of the time. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Prayer, April 7, 2008
Prayer, April 7, 2008 I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth-- praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.
Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Psalms 40:1-4, www.solascriptura.com Father, sometimes we feel that nothing is going right. This Psalm tells us that when we patiently wait upon You, in the midst of struggles, you do incline Your ear to us; You do hear our cry. You take us from the feeling of being alone and lost to being lifted up and encouraged. You put a new song in our heart when we turn to You. Nothing in this world can comfort us as You can and no one understands our needs as You do. Your word says blessed is the man who trusts You and does not look to other persons here for the kind of leadership and comfort that only You can give. Help us today to seek You in all things, at all times. In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Forgiven, April 6, 2008
Forgiven, April 6, 2008 ... as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Colossians 3:12-13, www.solascriptura.com
Father, it is so right to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control) and so wrong to be the opposite of these words. We do not need anyone to tell us when we are bearing bad fruit, those behaviors which are clearly not within Your will for our lives.
If we yield the fruits of the Holy Spirit, we will be as "sanctified", a posture we seek but which eludes us some of the time. Help us to be more consistent. We know, Jesus, that being like You, in our relationships, is Your desire for us. You equip us to do so when we ask. For Your forgiveness, we are grateful.
Help us today to be forgiving towards people just as you are constantly there for us, always forgiving. In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Salvation, April 5, 2008
Salvation, April 5, 2008 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31:31-33, www.solascriptura.com
Father, this Old Testament prophecy signaled the coming of the Messiah, the One who would cause the relationship of every human being to change as it pertains to You. The Old Covenant was a promise to Israel, Your chosen people. It did not surprise You that they would fail to comply with Your commandments, but You, in Your mercy and grace, provided a solution, a Savior, Your only begotten Son, the Messiah, Jesus.
Father, Your prophet tells us here that a New Covenant was coming, wherein all mankind would have Your laws written on their hearts and minds. Father, each of us are recipients of the New Covenant and we praise You for not requiring us to be redeemed by our adherence to the Law, something Israel could not do and something we are unable to do. The straight edge of the Law simply clarifies the extent of our sins. Yes, we are still to obey the Law, but there is a new Law in place, wherein Your grace, and our faith in Jesus, leads us to want to obey You and this is the best part Father; Jesus not only paid for our sins but He said the Holy Spirit would come to comfort us, teach us and give us counsel after He was resurrected and taken to Your side. We are Your people Father and You are our God. Thank You just doesn't quite cover the gratitude we feel. How can we adequately respond to the promise of eternal life? We know the answer, because Jesus told us: Love You with all of our heart, mind and soul and love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us to do so, today. Amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Hope, April 4, 2008
Hope, April 4, 2008 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Hebrews 3:12-15, www.solascriptura.com Father, at times we have the heart of an unbeliever because we doubt You or because we can't understand how the lives of so many people can be in such distress. Father, help us to deal with uncertainty where we wish we could be more certain. Help us, today, not to blame You for the sins of mankind and for our personal failures. Give us hope when there appears to be none and courage where we feel weak and impotent. Give us the steadfast faith that comes from a closer walk with You. Help us to hear Your voice. How Father, can we improve our hearing? We know the answer. How can we learn but to turn to Your Holy word? This day, teach us Your ways, we pray. In Jesus' Holy name, Amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Temptation, April 3, 2008
Temptation, April 3, 2008 "If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
"and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'—which you have not known—' and let us serve them,'
"you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
"You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. ... You, O God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined. Deuteronomy 13:1-4, Psalsm 66:10, www.solascriptura.com
Father, teach us the Truth and help us not to be drawn into schemes or ideas that are contrary to Your word and Your revealed will. Help us to turn to You for counsel being aware that the Holy Spirit utters prayers on our behalf of which we are unaware.
Keep us from trying to relate to so-called secret religious groups who feel there are hurdles one must leap in order to be associated with them. Help us not to be intrigued by those claiming to have some special knowledge, only available to them, and to members of their group. Help us to never add or subtract a single word from Your Holy word. Dear God, let us listen to Your word diligently (read, read, read, as a man dying of thirst) that we may never be led astray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Providence of God, April 2, 2008
Providence of God, April 2, 2008 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you... Peter 1:3-10, www.solascriptura.com Father, You have told us that you have reserved a place for us in heaven. We do not know a lot about heaven, but this we know. It will be a place of perfection, in You, due to Your grace and mercy. You called us and we responded. We choose righteousness over evil, joy over depression and love over hate. Following You is so obviously right. You have taught us that we have a physical self that will perish and a spiritual self that will live forever. Help us not to get too caught up in nurturing the physical while casually or seldom seeking Your Spirit to witness afresh, every day, to our spirit. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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Perseverance, April 1, 2008
Perseverance, April 1, 2008 ...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
You ... must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
This is a faithful saying: for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, he also will deny us.
If we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot deny Himself.
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:1-15, www.solascriptura.com
Father, the words Paul wrote to Timothy ring true to each of us as modern day disciples. Our prayer Father is that we understand these verses and take them to heart. Help us to rightly divide the word of truth and to never tire of pursuing a relationship with You.
In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell
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