4-29-06 2 Timothy 2:24

2 Timothy 2:24 (KJ21)
And the servant of the Lord must not engender strife, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

2 Timothy 2:24 (NAS)
And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

2 Timothy 2:24 (NIVUS)
And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

2 Timothy 2:24 (NLT)
The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people.

You have been bound to the Lord God and are obligated to Him. You are devoted to Yeshua the Messiah and have given your will over to Him.

As a servant of the Lord, you must walk as He would walk and talk as He would talk. You should not quarrel, wrangle, or dispute with others. Contention and fighting only leads to more struggles and strife. You will feel that you have been bound in chains.

Let your words be mild and gentle. Teach and instruct others to be kind and affable, patient and forbearing. You should not be troublesome, injurious, and destructive to others, but you should sustain and hold them up. Through this, you represent your Lord well.

4-28-06 Ezekiel 3:21

Ezekiel 3:21 (KJ21)
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Ezekiel 3:21 (NAS)
However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.

Ezekiel 3:21 (NIVUS)
But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.

Ezekiel 3:21 (NLT)
But if you warn them and they repent, they will live, and you will have saved your own life, too.

After you are born again and have made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, you desire to please Him. You may not realize that even though you used to walk in darkness, you now are a child of the Light. You gleam and shine with the presence of God. Your life becomes an admonishment, teaching, and warning to others. Like your brothers and sisters in the Lord, you have been made righteous and justified. You are cleansed and cleared of the sins that you have committed.

However, you are often presented with opportunities to go astray. Every member of the Body of Christ misses the way sometimes. At those times, other members should rally around them and lead them back to the path of repentance and reconciliation. You should choose to let your light shine and try to enlighten others, so that they are revived, repaired, and restored. Your warnings will preserve others and keep them alive. They will be made whole once more.

When you help others to stay on the straight way, you yourself will be rescued and delivered. When you snatch others from the flames of sin, you will not be burned. The Lord your God will defend and save you; He will always provide a way of escape for you. Your soul will rest in contentment.

4-27-06 Ezekiel 33:5

Ezekiel 33:5 (KJ21)
He heard the sound of the trumpet and took not warning: his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

Ezekiel 33:5 (NAS)
He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life.

Ezekiel 33:5 (NIVUS)
Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself.

Ezekiel 33:5 (NLT)
They heard the warning but wouldn’t listen, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.

Some communities have sirens that are used to warn people of impending, perilous storms such as tornadoes. When people hear their sound, they know that they need to quickly find safety and shelter. If they do not heed the warning, they could be maimed or killed.

Adonai, the Most High God, loves you so much that He brings warning and correction to you. He does not want you swallowed up in the storms and trials of life. He does not want you to continue following the wrong path. You, therefore, should listen for the sound of His trumpet; if you are attentive, you will clearly hear its distinct call. God's warning and admonition will enlighten you, so that you proceed with caution.

If you fail to heed the warning voice of the Lord, you can bring death and destruction on your own head. Your guilt may require the shedding of your own blood to pay for your sins. This, however, is not God's plan and purpose for your life. Through Yeshua, the son of God, and His shed blood, the Lord God has provided a way of escape from your guilt. When you heed the advice and counsel of the Most High, your path will be smooth and not slippery. You will find rescue and escape from what is troubling you. In deliverance, you will find vitality and life.

4-26-06 1 Thessalonians 5:14

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (KJ21)
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NAS)
And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIVUS)
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT)
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

Scarlet O'Hara, the heroine of Gone With the Wind, is famous for the expression "I will think about that tomorrow." When she was confronted with an upsetting, troubling situation, she would put it off, because she did not want to deal with it. In the Christian walk, the Lord wants you to deal with things as they come up and not put them off until tomorrow. He uses the word "now" many times in His word. His name is "I Am". He is in the present, in the now. So now is when you should deal with whatever you confront.

Sometimes you may need to gently reprove, admonish, or warn a brother or sister in Christ. They may have an insubordinate and unruly attitude that needs to be dealt with "now". Adonai has designed us to live orderly lives, arranged according to what is right. We cannot live according to our emotions and feelings, for they will lead us in a way of confusion and strife. Therefore, a mild rebuke is actually a blessing to those who are going astray.

There are other times when you will need to encourage, comfort, and console another. Perhaps they feel faint-hearted and feeble-minded. Now is not the time for reproof and rebuke. Now is the time to draw near with love and compassion. Those who are weak and puny need support. Perhaps these feeble and strength-less ones simply need you to hold them for a little while. You can help them recover, as you guide them back into rest. Then they will be able to reign once more.

Patiently endure and be long suffering with the people in your life. As you bear with another's weaknesses, you will find that others will treat you in like manner. The seeds of kindness, mercy, and patience that you sow in another will reap a good harvest for you

4-25-06 Exodus 24:7

Exodus 24:7 (KJ21)
And he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the audience of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient."

Exodus 24:7 (NAS)
Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!"

Exodus 24:7 (NIVUS)
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey."

Exodus 24:7 (NLT)
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They all responded again, "We will do everything the LORD has commanded. We will obey."

Jehovah the Lord your God wanted you to know and understand the covenant that He established with you. He, therefore, had it written in a book. It is evidence of His love and concern for you. In it, He recounts and enumerates His intentions and desires for you. Through His book, He communes with your heart and soul. It is His personal letter to you.

When you read Adonai's book or someone reads it to you, you encounter your God. He calls to you, addressing you by name, with every word. When you give audience to what the Most High proclaims, even if it displeases your ear, it will bring you into a broader place. It is the Lord's will to expand your borders. Weigh and ponder all that you hear.

Not only should you read and hear God's word, you should also agree with it. Declare the promises that Adonai has spoken to you. Talk of the arrangements that He has made for you, for He has appointed and ordained good for your life.

Then you should decide to do what He commands. When you do so, you will accomplish much and advance in your walk with the Lord. You will be industrious in your journey. Your obedience will produce a yield that you did not expect. You will receive contentment and discernment. Your obedience to God's word will bring you abundant blessing.

4-24-06 Psalms 25:10

Psalms 25:10 (KJ21)
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, unto them that keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalms 25:10 (NAS)
All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalms 25:10 (NIVUS)
All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

Psalms 25:10 (NLT)
The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all those who keep his covenant and obey his decrees.

When you think of Jehovah the Lord, do you see Him as an unjust tyrant who only wants to punish your sins? If this is how you think, then your perceptions are false. Though the Lord God is a God of justice, He is also full of love and mercy for you. In fact, the path to His throne is lined and paved with goodness and kindness. In your journey, you will find mercy that flows to you like streams of water.

Balancing Adonai's love and mercy is His Truth and faithfulness. As you travel with the Most High God, you will see that He is sure and reliable. The Truth of His Word will make you stable. It supports you like the pillars of a doorpost. It will carry you like a nurturing nurse. You can trust and believe in God's truth.

You, therefore, should guard and keep God's covenant with you. As the Almighty is faithful to you, you should also show Him your fidelity. Keep His Word close to your heart. Your life is a testimony and witness to His treaty and alliance with you. Others can see how God's lovingkindness and truth have restored you and relieved you of the burdens that you bore.

4-23-06 Psalms 89:34

Psalms 89:34 (KJ21)
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the things which have gone out of My lips.

Psalms 89:34 (NAS)
My covenant I will not violate, Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.

Psalms 89:34 (NIVUS)
I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.

Psalms 89:34 (NLT)
No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said.

In today's society, keeping one's word is very rare. Therefore, attorneys are kept busy drawing up written contracts, so that there is legal recourse for failure to abide by the agreement. There is someone, however, who always keeps His word. When He pledges something to you, it is a promise that will not be broken.

The Lord your God is holy and righteous. You can find nothing profane or polluted in Him or His Kingdom. He will never dishonor you nor treat you as common. He will never violate the covenant that He has made with you. He will not injure you, so that you become weak and sick. Suffering and torture is not part of His covenant.

When Jehovah speaks something to you, He will not change nor alter it. What goes forth from His mouth will not come to you disguised. He has fashioned and formed special things that He has commanded to come to pass. You can trust His word.