OUTER APPEARANCES

Read James 2:1–4 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. James 2:1 The religious experts in Christ’s day judged Him by their human standards, and they rejected Him. He came from the wrong city. He was not a graduate of their accepted schools. He...

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ENTRUSTED AND ENABLED

Read 1 Timothy 1:12–20 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14 The grace of God turned the persecutor into a preacher, and the murderer into a minister and a missionary! So dramatic...

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LOOKING UP

Read Colossians 3:1–2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 How do we set our hearts on “things above”? The secret is found in a literal translation of verse 2: “Habitually set your mind—your attention—on things above, not on things on the earth.” Our feet...

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ORGANISM AND ORGANIZATION

Read 1 Timothy 2:1–7 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.… 1 Timothy 2:1 “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40 NKJV) is a basic principle for the conduct of the ministry of the church. Apparently,...

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A HOPEFUL FORECAST

Read Isaiah 32—33 The LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us. Isaiah 33:22 A university professor posted a sign on his study wall that read, “The future is not what it used to be.” Since the...

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APPEALING TO A HIGHER COURT

Read Job 12—14 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Job 13:15 Job 13:13–17 is one of the greatest declarations of faith found anywhere in Scripture, but it must be understood in context. Job is saying to his...

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LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE

Read Ecclesiastes 10:11–20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say. Ecclesiastes 10:20 The familiar saying “A little bird told me”...

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THIRST QUENCHER

Read Isaiah 54—56 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.… Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1 In the East, water is a precious ingredient, and an abundance of water is a special blessing. Wine, milk, and bread were staples of a...

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WHOM DO YOU TRUST?

Read Isaiah 30—31 Assyria will fall by a sword that is not of man; a sword, not of mortals, will devour them. Isaiah 31:8 Judah’s faith was in people, not in God. Why should the Lord fear the Assyrians? God would pounce on Assyria like a lion and swoop down...

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SELF-DECEPTION

Read 1 John 1:8–9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 Dishonest believers lose fellowship with God and with God’s people. As a result, prayer becomes an empty form to them. Worship is a dull routine. They...

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