Day #17

Good morning!!  I hope you have been taking some PHYSICAL ACTION to catch up in your Bible studies.  Your obedience encourages everyone to continue.  Don’t blow this off… your OBEDIENCE is encouragement to everyone!  Even me!

Yesterday in Life Group, we learned about storing up God's word.  We talked about a farmer and all he has to do to store up his harvest.  If he were a planter of tomatoes, he would have to...
1. pick the tomatoes
2. wash the tomatoes
3. cook the tomatoes
4. can the tomatoes
5. etc.

Just like a farmer has a process in storing his crop, we have a process in storing God's word in our hearts.  Many of you helped in figuring out some ways to store it up...
1. read slowly
2. read more than once
3. read out loud
4. make memory verse cards and place them everywhere you will see them... on the mirror in bathroom, in front of toilet, on dash in car, etc.
5. talk about it everywhere you go
6. write it on your hands
7. ask a Godly-wise, God obedient person questions and don't be afraid
8. get help in searching something out

Use some of these today as you study His Word with us!

Now let us begin!!

Ever planted anything? We like to go to Lowe’s from time to time and get fresh flowers to plant.  The trays that have about 18 sprout flowers in them are our favorite:)  At first when we plant these tiny flowers, they seem weak and limp… almost like they are never going to make it.  But, we place them in the sun and water them regularly and voilà!!  They take root and become strong and beautiful.  They begin bearing more and more fruit (which for a flower is its colorful petals).  God gives us an awesome visual for our growth as Christians in the story of a plant.

Read James 1:21b

“… and receive with MEEKNESS, the IMPLANTED WORD, which is able to SAVE YOUR SOULS.”

To understand this verse, we need to look at some key words … MEEKNESS, IMPLANTED WORD, and SAVE YOUR SOULS.

Definition:

MEEKNESS is an attitude or quality of heart (1 Peter 3:4) where a person willingly accepts and submits, without fighting, to the will and desires of someone else. The meek person is not self-willed.  They are not continually concerned with self, their own ways, ideas, and wishes. They are willing to put themselves in second place and submit themselves to achieve what is good for others. Meekness is the opposite of self-will, self-interest, and self-assertiveness.

LIFE LESSON:  When you are spending time with the Lord and obeying Him… IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU!  “Self” died the day you gave Christ your life and let Him be in charge of you. You are running this race not for yourself, but to benefit others… to encourage… to point them to a Loving Father… to lead them into a saving, VERY REAL, relationship with the God that created them.

Read...

Deuteronomy 30:11-14

Jeremiah 31:33

When you give your life to Christ… you recognize that you are a sinner, that there is nothing good enough you can do to come close to Holy God.  You understand that it is only Jesus’ death on the cross that makes it possible to have a relationship with Him and go to Heaven when you die… but you have to give up YOURSELF to receive that gift.  When you finally give up, or surrender, God gives you a new heart… a heart that is implanted with the ability to KNOW HIM and to obey HIM.  This IMPLANTED WORD of GOD is now able to take root in this new heart.  This never could have happened with the old heart.

This is where MEEKNESS comes in.  Read the "meekness" definition one more time.  Is it clear?  The LIFE LESSON is so important!!  Getting into God’s word each day is not just for you.  You were never meant to be just a taker!  You are to continually become more and more like Him so that others can benefit. 

This is where the SAVE YOUR SOULS part comes in.  Like a plant needs sun and water to grow… you must place yourself in the SON's hands each day and receive the LIVING WATER that He has for you each day.  This process is called sanctification (becoming more like Christ) and it must happen daily!

Click on the MEMORY VERSES tab above.  We have a new memory verse.  Print it out and tape it up several places.

Click on the PRAYER REQUESTS tab above.  Please pray for the ones listed.

Click on the PRAISE tab above.  Type in one thing that you are thankful for today.  Try to make it different than any you have listed.

TARGET OF THE DAY

Write in the COMMENTS section, your name and something that you learned today!!  Remember, BE REAL!!