Tuesday, Easter Week Three -- May 6
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Meditation
Tuesday of Easter Week Three distilled the Christian life experience. The Old Testament Psalmist spoke of the blessing coming from God; the teacher of Proverbs laid out the search for wisdom as key. Peter writes succinctly—“Be like babies drinking the milk of the Word.”
Babies’ brains absorb so much in the first years. Their absorbing matches their bodies’ hunger, which cries, ‘Feed me!’ ten to twelve times on average each day. Imagine how Christians might grow, if they searched the Word ten to twelve times a day.
Peter compared the new Christian to a baby.
He also cited a few aspects of life to discard:
“Therefore, rid yourselves(A) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander(B) of every kind.” NIV
Malice—maliciousness. Interesting that the early church suffered people being malicious with each other. The church hasn’t changed much. So many complained to me, as a pastor, how the interactions they had with church people was too harsh to endure and they left. Peter said not to be deceptive or slander (speak against others and judge them).
Hypocrisy. The same issue that Christ accused the leaders of the Jews of doing, filtered into the church, and, I am sorry to say, has remained there. Church leaders proclaim against sexual sin and yet pastors were caught doing the same thing they preached against. Caught with prostitutes, or with members of the church. Hypocrisy.
It can happen close to home. My Uncle Stewart was pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian Church in its early days. He ran off to Mexico with his secretary. Hypocrisy.
Married preachers harangue against gays and lesbians and then are caught engaging in illicit liaisons. Hypocrisy.
The fact is that all hypocrisy starts from people judging others. The “hypocrite” judges someone and then is caught doing the very thing they judged others.
Malice is about judging others. Slandering is about judging others. Speaking evil is about judging others. Being hypocritical is about judging others.
To avoid those things, stop judging. We are not to judge. Problems in the church arise out of judging one another. Christ specifically said, “Don’t judge.”
Instead, do as Peter said. Study the Word like a baby suckles milk. Frequently, in little bits, so that we can absorb the information and apply it to our lives.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Tuesday, Easter Week Three
Psalm 134
Proverbs 8:32-9:6
1 Peter 2:1-3
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Proverbs 8:33
King James Version (KJV)
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
1 Peter 2:1-3
King James Version (KJV)
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, We fail you by being judgmental when we have no right to judge. Empower us to be like babies and hunger for your Word. We thank you for your grace. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Tuesday of Easter Week Three had the lessons recommend for believers to seek wisdom and receive blessings. Put away judgmental type evils and seek to replenish our spiritual cup with the Word as eagerly as a baby suckles milk.
Avoid judging people and one can avoid hypocrisy, malice and slander.
Like the adage I heard at my first job:
“Notice: This department requires no physical fitness program.
Everyone gets enough exercise: jumping to conclusions, flying off the handle
running down the boss, stabbing friends in the back, dodging responsibility, and
pushing their luck.”
Replace that activity with nourishment from the Word of God. Meditation on the Law of God, day and night serves that purpose. What a transformation that will make.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Tuesday of Easter Week Three distilled the Christian life experience. The Old Testament Psalmist spoke of the blessing coming from God; the teacher of Proverbs laid out the search for wisdom as key. Peter writes succinctly—“Be like babies drinking the milk of the Word.”
Babies’ brains absorb so much in the first years. Their absorbing matches their bodies’ hunger, which cries, ‘Feed me!’ ten to twelve times on average each day. Imagine how Christians might grow, if they searched the Word ten to twelve times a day.
Peter compared the new Christian to a baby.
He also cited a few aspects of life to discard:
“Therefore, rid yourselves(A) of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander(B) of every kind.” NIV
Malice—maliciousness. Interesting that the early church suffered people being malicious with each other. The church hasn’t changed much. So many complained to me, as a pastor, how the interactions they had with church people was too harsh to endure and they left. Peter said not to be deceptive or slander (speak against others and judge them).
Hypocrisy. The same issue that Christ accused the leaders of the Jews of doing, filtered into the church, and, I am sorry to say, has remained there. Church leaders proclaim against sexual sin and yet pastors were caught doing the same thing they preached against. Caught with prostitutes, or with members of the church. Hypocrisy.
It can happen close to home. My Uncle Stewart was pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian Church in its early days. He ran off to Mexico with his secretary. Hypocrisy.
Married preachers harangue against gays and lesbians and then are caught engaging in illicit liaisons. Hypocrisy.
The fact is that all hypocrisy starts from people judging others. The “hypocrite” judges someone and then is caught doing the very thing they judged others.
Malice is about judging others. Slandering is about judging others. Speaking evil is about judging others. Being hypocritical is about judging others.
To avoid those things, stop judging. We are not to judge. Problems in the church arise out of judging one another. Christ specifically said, “Don’t judge.”
Instead, do as Peter said. Study the Word like a baby suckles milk. Frequently, in little bits, so that we can absorb the information and apply it to our lives.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Tuesday, Easter Week Three
Psalm 134
Proverbs 8:32-9:6
1 Peter 2:1-3
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Proverbs 8:33
King James Version (KJV)
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
1 Peter 2:1-3
King James Version (KJV)
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, We fail you by being judgmental when we have no right to judge. Empower us to be like babies and hunger for your Word. We thank you for your grace. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Tuesday of Easter Week Three had the lessons recommend for believers to seek wisdom and receive blessings. Put away judgmental type evils and seek to replenish our spiritual cup with the Word as eagerly as a baby suckles milk.
Avoid judging people and one can avoid hypocrisy, malice and slander.
Like the adage I heard at my first job:
“Notice: This department requires no physical fitness program.
Everyone gets enough exercise: jumping to conclusions, flying off the handle
running down the boss, stabbing friends in the back, dodging responsibility, and
pushing their luck.”
Replace that activity with nourishment from the Word of God. Meditation on the Law of God, day and night serves that purpose. What a transformation that will make.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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Replies
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I love the notice about the physical fitness advice that was in your office. I have been great at jumping to conclusions. I should be the most fit on mfp. I am learning each day to keep my nose to my own business and to look in the mirror and see what and who is looking back at me. To do self evaluations before I evaluate others. It is easier to love than to hate and easier to watch my words than to have to make amends. Silence is golden. Whoever said that is wise. Yes, rrading and feeding myself with knowledge from the word of God is good. My cats names, Solomon, who is three and very wise, and Samson who really is the explorer and always up to something. They should remind me by watching them that there are so many lessons to be learned. I enjoyed todays reading. may I live that knowledge and read Gods words daily. Thanks be to God.0
