July 10 • Bible reading from Galatians 5:13-25 Self-Control
Character: "I have the power, through Christ, to control my thoughts and actions."
________
Text:
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful
nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command:
"Love your neighbour as yourself."
If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each
other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For
the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:
sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy,
fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful
nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the
Spirit.
_________
Take a minute:
How can we assist the Holy Spirit to grow self-control in our lives?
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Day 59: Self-Control
July 9 • Bible reading from Titus 2:11-14 Self-Control
Character: "I have the power, through Christ, to control my thoughts and actions."
________
Text:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this
present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and
Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to
purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
_________
Take a minute:
Look at these activities…
Pride, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Anger, Rage
How are you going in your daily battle against sin?
Select a Christian brother or sister that could help you stay accountable.
Character: "I have the power, through Christ, to control my thoughts and actions."
________
Text:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this
present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and
Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to
purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
_________
Take a minute:
Look at these activities…
Pride, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Anger, Rage
How are you going in your daily battle against sin?
Select a Christian brother or sister that could help you stay accountable.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Day 58: Sacrificial Giving
July 8 • Bible reading from 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Sacrificial Giving
Behaviour: "The way I use my money reflects my faith in God."
_______
Text:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to
give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to
make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will
abound in every good work.
As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your
store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every
way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result
in thanksgiving to God.
__________
Take a minute:
Pray for an opportunity to be generous this week, and do it anonymously.
Ask God to show you how 2 Corinthians 9:11 comes true!
Behaviour: "The way I use my money reflects my faith in God."
_______
Text:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to
give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to
make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will
abound in every good work.
As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your
store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every
way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result
in thanksgiving to God.
__________
Take a minute:
Pray for an opportunity to be generous this week, and do it anonymously.
Ask God to show you how 2 Corinthians 9:11 comes true!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Day 57: Sacrificial Giving
July 7 • Bible reading from 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 Sacrificial Giving
Behaviour: "The way I use my money reflects my faith in God."
_______
Text:
But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness
and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding
you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
________
Take a minute:
The final conversion of the Christian is the ‘hip-pocket’.
Why would this be so true of our culture?
Behaviour: "The way I use my money reflects my faith in God."
_______
Text:
But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness
and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding
you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
________
Take a minute:
The final conversion of the Christian is the ‘hip-pocket’.
Why would this be so true of our culture?
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Day 56: Stewardship
July 6 • Bible reading from Matthew 25:14-30 Stewardship
Belief: "Everything I own or have belongs to God."
_______
Text:
Jesus: "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and
entrusted his property to them:
To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each
according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents
went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two
talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you
entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' "
His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few
things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "
His master replied, well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few
things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came `Master,' he said `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs
to you.'
"His master replied `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not
sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on
deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not
have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into
the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
_______
Take a Minute:
When I budget, how does my planning of financial spending reflect good stewardship?
Belief: "Everything I own or have belongs to God."
_______
Text:
Jesus: "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and
entrusted his property to them:
To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each
according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents
went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two
talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you
entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' "
His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few
things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "
His master replied, well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few
things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came `Master,' he said `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs
to you.'
"His master replied `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not
sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on
deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not
have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into
the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
_______
Take a Minute:
When I budget, how does my planning of financial spending reflect good stewardship?
Friday, July 4, 2008
Day 55: Stewardship
July 5 • Bible reading from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Stewardship
Belief: "Everything I own or have belongs to God."
_______
Text:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in
wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
_______
Take a minute:
Where your treasure is, that is where your heart truly lies.
How then is your heart before God?
Belief: "Everything I own or have belongs to God."
_______
Text:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in
wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm
foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
_______
Take a minute:
Where your treasure is, that is where your heart truly lies.
How then is your heart before God?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Day 54: Humility
July 4 • Bible reading from James 4:1-10 Humility
Character: "I choose to esteem others above myself."
______
Text:
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle
within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what
you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend
what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with
the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an
enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live
in us envies intensely?
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God
and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, & purify your hearts, you
double-minded.
Grieve, mourn & wail. Change your laughter to mourning & your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, & he will lift you up.
________
Take a minute:
What difference does humility make to our relationships with others?
Character: "I choose to esteem others above myself."
______
Text:
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle
within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what
you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend
what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with
the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an
enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live
in us envies intensely?
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God
and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, & purify your hearts, you
double-minded.
Grieve, mourn & wail. Change your laughter to mourning & your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, & he will lift you up.
________
Take a minute:
What difference does humility make to our relationships with others?
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