All Entries Tagged With: "pure"

James 1:2

Welcome to Online Bible Studies

Today’s Bible verse is
James 1:2 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

Let’s read the verse in context:
James 1:2-12 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Today’s Quiet Time with God

Today’s verse is very challenging. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” How are we supposed to consider facing trials of many kinds as joy? It has to do with perspective. We have this underlying idea that life should be easy. It is one of the false beliefs that most of us hang on to. Life should be easy; everything should work out the way I want it to. The truth is that life is difficult. Instead of embracing the truth that life is difficult, we choose to complain about our problems, as if they represent some unique kind of affliction that is only visited upon us or our families. Life is difficult. We live in a fallen world on a broken planet. Life in a fallen world presents us with a series of problems. Sometimes we think that experiencing problems means we are being punished. God isn’t happy with us and therefore He is causing us problems. He isn’t. He uses problems but He isn’t causing them. Problems come from living in a fallen world, from being an imperfect human being and living with other imperfect human beings, and sometimes from a very real enemy. Here is the amazing thing, once you reject the false belief that life should be easy, and accept the truth that life is difficult, then, life is no longer difficult. Because you are no longer struggling against the false belief, the reality that life is difficult isn’t such a huge issue. Take some time today to ask God to help you get His perspective, you will be blessed as you do!

Check out Fifteen Minutes With God

Check out our latest feature on God’s Daytimer, Fifteen Minutes With God. This is an opportunity for you to spend fifteen minutes with God by following the Lord’s Prayer as a model. Click here to go to the Fifteen Minutes With God page. This will help you to develop a consistent daily prayer time.

Check out Christian World News

As you end your quiet time don’t forget to check out what’s happening in the world. Click here to go to the Christian World News stories page. This will help you to direct your prayers more effectively.

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Come back tomorrow for another edition of Online Bible Studies. You should also sign up for either the Free RSS subscription or if you aren’t familiar with RSS, sign up for the free email subscription. That way whenever a new Bible Study is posted you will be notified. You can sign up at the top right of the page.

Check out the Christian Book Club

The Christian Book Club is a great site where you can get involved in an online Christian Book Club. A new book and discussion are started the 1st of every month. Come and join us for this month’s book. Click here to go to the Christian Book Club site.

Check out Internet Pastor Online

Internet Pastor Online is an interesting site where you can find answers to questions about the Bible and some advice for Christian living.

Check out Church Growth Consulting

Church Growth Consulting is a site for Pastors and Ministry Leaders about ways to advance the Kingdom of God and help to grow the Church.

Check out My Newbie Blog

If you would like to learn how to create a blog of your own then this would be a good site for you.

Philippians 4:8

Welcome to Online Bible Studies

Today’s Bible verse is
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

Let’s read the verse in context:
Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Today’s Quiet Time with God

I was recently in a discussion with a group of people and we were talking about things that we thought we had control over. My initial thought was that I really didn’t have control over anything. That ultimately God is in control. But as I discussed the idea with the group, we decided that there were some things we had control over. We could choose what we watched, or what we read. We could choose whether to speak or not to speak. We could choose how to use our words. And we could choose what we would think about. Today’s verse is all about choosing what we are going to think about. Throughout the day we are bombarded with all sorts of ideas and thoughts. Sometimes the thoughts are not good. But the thought itself isn’t the problem, it’s what we choose to do with the thought. All sin begins with a thought. Our verse today encourages us to only think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. If a thought doesn’t pass this filter, don’t think about it. This is one of those verses that you should really memorize. Let’s keep our thoughts on Jesus today, you will be blessed as you do!

Check out Christian World News

As you end your quiet time don’t forget to check out what’s happening in the world. Click here to go to the Christian World News stories page. This will help you to direct your prayers more effectively.

Get a Free Subscription to God’s Daytimer

Come back tomorrow for another edition of Online Bible Studies. You should also sign up for either the Free RSS subscription or if you aren’t familiar with RSS, sign up for the free email subscription. That way whenever a new Bible Study is posted you will be notified. You can sign up at the top right of the page.

Check out the Christian Book Club

The Christian Book Club is a great site where you can get involved in an online Christian Book Club. A new book and discussion are started the 1st of every month. Come and join us for this month’s book. Click here to go to the Christian Book Club site.

Check out Internet Pastor Online

Internet Pastor Online is an interesting site where you can find answers to questions about the Bible and some advice for Christian living.

Check out Church Growth Consulting

Church Growth Consulting is a site for Pastors and Ministry Leaders about ways to advance the Kingdom of God.

Check out My Newbie Blog

If you would like to learn how to create a blog of your own then this would be a good site for you.

Proverbs 15:33

Welcome to Online Bible Studies

Today’s Bible verse is
Proverbs 15:33 (NIV)
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Let’s read the verse in context:
Proverbs 15:26-33 (NIV)
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him. A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Today’s Quiet Time with God

Today’s verse talks about the fear of the Lord. I have talked to people who get really offended by the idea of the fear of the Lord. That we never have to fear the Lord and that the idea brings up a bad image of God. When the bible talks about the fear of the Lord, it is talking about respecting God, not shying away from Him. It doesn’t mean that He isn’t loving and that we aren’t supposed to run to him crying “Abba” daddy. It means that we understand that God is in control, and we’re not. I don’t know how many of you ever watched Chevy Chase when he was on Saturday Night Live years ago. He had this bit where he would say “I’m Chevy Chase and you’re not”. I have this image of God saying “I’m God and you’re not”. That is the context for the fear of the Lord. He loves and cares for us, but He is God and we are not. The great promise for understanding the fear of the Lord is wisdom. Godly wisdom is a wonderful thing. Spend some time today thinking about the goodness of God. You will be blessed as you do!

Check out Christian World News

As you end your quiet time don’t forget to check out what’s happening in the world. Click here to go to the Christian World News stories page. This will help you to direct your prayers more effectively.

Get a Free Subscription to God’s Daytimer

Come back tomorrow for another edition of Online Bible Studies. You should also sign up for either the Free RSS subscription or if you aren’t familiar with RSS, sign up for the free email subscription. That way whenever a new Bible Study is posted you will be notified. You can sign up at the top right of the page.

Check out the Christian Book Club

The Christian Book Club is a great site where you can get involved in an online Christian Book Club. A new book and discussion are started the 1st of every month. Come and join us for this month’s book. Click here to go to the Christian Book Club site.

Check out Internet Pastor Online

Internet Pastor Online is an interesting site where you can find answers to questions about the Bible and some advice for Christian living.