“And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My son.” - Matthew 2:15

What can this gospel writer’s phrase “spoken of the Lord by the prophet” teach us about how to read the Bible? We discover a clear pointer to interpreting Scripture and thus can have confidence that we can correctly understand what God is saying.

The pointer comes from Matthew’s emphasis on the prophet’s words as expressing what the Lord spoke. In today’s text, Matthew did not say that the prophet (Hosea) invented the message or that it merely might have included some divine content. Who said those words—the Lord or Hosea? Apparently, both! Hosea and the rest of the prophets wrote down the exact words the Lord wanted to say.

Fallible humans got to participate in the process of recording infallible words through this miracle of divine inspiration. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). Matthew’s confidence that Hosea penned the speech of God Himself can give us the same assurance. Other Bible authors reinforce this.

The prophet Daniel wrote, “In the first year of [Darius’s] reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (9:2). Here again we see complete confidence that a prophet—in this case Jeremiah—wrote down “the word of the LORD,” not words that any mere man made up.

Rest assured that the prophets who penned their portions of Scripture wrote our Lord’s exact words. BDT
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16109/

A post where people can post topics they wish for others to pray about, and where people can come and find topics and users to pray for.

"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." - Ephesians 2:3

PONDER THIS

I read about a missionary who went to the mission field. They showed her where the missionary residence was, and it was a nice little cottage, but the floor was filthy so she decided she would scrub the floor. And she scrubbed the floor, but she couldn’t get the dirt up. She proceeded to put on more water and more suds.

She got down on her hands and knees and kept scrubbing, but it was still dirty. Over and over again she’d scrub but it was still dirty. Finally, somebody said, “Madam, I hate to tell you, but that is a dirt floor.” She was scrubbing a dirt floor, and the more she scrubbed the more dirt came up. You can never take your sinful nature and clean it up because your sinful nature is like that dirt floor.

All people are sinful in their nature. You may think you have not done so many bad things, but God looks at your nature. This is why we all need Jesus.

- When have you tried to clean up your sin in your own strength?
- How does a right understanding of our nature help us understand the Gospel?

PRACTICE THIS

List the ways you have seen God transform you from being a slave to sin to being free in Christ. Pray and ask Him to keep transforming you from the inside out. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/you-cant-clean-up-what-only-jesus-can-change

(See Romans: 13) If so This also means that I should probably give my birthday money back because there's no point in spending it if there's no point on buying anything with it.

What am I going to buy with it? A DVD or Blu-ray that I want? Sure but again they can just make it illegal and therefore sinful to enjoy it so what's even the point? If that ever happens it will hit hard.

And if it does happen I will then be extremely conflicted on whether to just continue enjoying it or get rid of it just in case it is now sinful to enjoy it.

It could maybe even be argued that me spending the money is selfish due to me knowing that this could happen in the future, and if this does happen then I spent that money all for nothing pretty much and some could argue I straight up stole.

Yes They are the ones that gave it to me but that probably doesn't leave me without fault if anything I'm probably the one that is the most at fault because I easily could have just given the money back and could have been like "I don't need this."

This also applies to Christmas as there is no point in me getting literally anything including money.

Of course Christmas can still be celebrated but there's no point in me getting anything and maybe I should just tell my Mom and to tell everyone She knows to not get me anything for Christmas like anything at all.

Because again what's the point of buying something if they can be made illegal and therefore sinful.

This also means maybe I should not buy anything for myself ever again unless it is mandatory to live or survive.

Even something as simple as a plush or a book about cats would be pointless to buy because again they could make it illegal and therefore sinful and then I had just wasted money by spending my money on something that I should have known would one day probably be made illegal.

off topic but there are comics i want to read but i can't because they are not sold anymore meaning the only way for me to read them i think is piracy, is that sinful?

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” - Ephesians 6:4

This verse, together with the parallel passage in Colossians 3:21, is probably the key New Testament instruction specifically dealing with the training of children. “Nurture” is from the same Greek word that is translated “chastening” in Hebrews 12:5 and 7 and “instruction” in II Timothy 3:16. It has particular reference to carrying out child training with both firmness and gentleness, as needed and appropriate in each particular case.

The term “admonition” is from a Greek word meaning “putting in mind.” Thus, the “admonition of the Lord” implies teaching the ways of the Lord by using the Word of the Lord. There is no substitute for implanting a knowledge of God’s Word in the minds of our children. Even if they should drift away for a while in later life, the Lord can use His Word in their hearts to bring them back.

Both types of training—through action and through verbal teaching—are said in this passage to be primarily the responsibility of the father. The first reference in the Bible to training children deals with Abraham’s responsibility to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (see Genesis 18:19). Mothers, of course, also have much responsibility and ability in this ministry (see Proverbs 1:8, and the example cited by Paul himself of how Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him—II Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Fathers, too, sometimes delegate certain teaching responsibilities to tutors (Galatians 4:1-2), but the overall responsibilities are theirs.

And all of this training should be done in love. “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Then we trust the Lord and pray. HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16108/

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." - Matthew 5:13

PONDER THIS

Salt speaks of the saving life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And what does salt do? Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” He was speaking to fishermen who preserved their fish with salt. For one thing, salt decontaminates. There’s a purifying element to salt. It is the salty ocean that bathes the shores of this world, that keeps this Earth from decaying. If you took the salt out of the ocean, everything would turn to a stench.

We need the decontamination of the salty Gospel in our world today. We can try to point to many different things, but the problem in our world is bigger than one issue. It is saltless saints. That’s where the problem is. The problem is in churches all around—salt that has lost its flavor in a world that is rotting. Jesus said, “You’re to be the salt of the Earth.” How will you respond?

- What are some ways you can live as the “salt of the Earth?”
- Who has shown you the hope and joy of the Gospel? How are those people like salt in your life?

PRACTICE THIS

Think about one person you can share the joy of being a follower of Christ with today. Share the hope of God’s cleansing Word. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/is-your-life-still-making-a-difference

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" "who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Two vivid contrasts are highlighted in this text: we now have a vile body that will be changed into a glorious body. Our Lord Jesus will fashion us after the pattern of His own body.

There is ample evidence, both in Scripture and in our own experience, that our present physical bodies are “vile.” The English word seems more intense than the Greek, which simply means “lowly” or “humble.” Christ humbled Himself when He took on our flesh (Philippians 2:8). The Virgin Mary saw herself in a “low estate” as she compared herself to the wonder of what was happening to her (Luke 1:48).

But one glorious day, the Lord Jesus will change our humble bodies into that which reflect His own. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2). What a marvelous thought! Even “after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26).

The exciting description of those absolute changes are encapsulated in I Corinthians 15:42–58. We have a mortal body now, but then it will be imperishable. There is no honor to our bodies now, but then they will be glorious. Weakness is our burden now, but in eternity we will be endued with power. Thank You, heavenly Father, for this majestic promise. HMM III
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16107/

Hi everyone

I've been thinking about getting a tattoo for a while now like a small cross etc , but I'm hesitant because I'm a believer in Jesus Christ, and I don't want to do anything that goes against God's will.

I've heard people quote Leviticus 19:28, which speaks about not marking your body with tattoos. However, I've also seen Christians argue that we need to understand the context of the Old Testament law and how it applies to Christians today.

I'm genuinely confused and would love to hear different perspectives, especially from fellow Christians who have studied the Bible on this topic.

Please share your thoughts, biblical references, and personal experiences. I'm open to hearing different viewpoints, as long as we can discuss this respectfully.

Thank you, and God bless you all. 🙏

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." - James 1:22

PONDER THIS

I heard of a famous actor who was in a crowded theater when a fire broke out in the wings of the theater prior to his performance. The manager came to the actor and asked him to tell the audience to calmly leave the theater in an orderly fashion.

This actor followed the instructions. He came forward and told everyone about the fire and asked everyone to leave calmly. They applauded. They thought it was part of the act. So, he came back a second time and shared the same message. But still, they did not understand. Then, realizing the gravity of the situation, he got down on his knees and with tears he said, please for your safety, leave the theater. The audience was moved by his performance but never understood that the message was for them. This illustrates how many people hear the Word of God from the preacher. But God said consider yourself deceived if you read the Word and hear the Word but don’t heed the Word. Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

- What is the difference between being a hearer and a doer of the Word?
- How can you prioritize being a doer of the Word this week?

PRACTICE THIS

Think of someone you know to be a doer of the Word. Tell that person you see God at work in his or her life, and ask for insight on how to apply the Word to everyday circumstances. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/

If you were baptized as an infant, do you need to be rebaptized as an adult?

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” - Acts 2:42

Much goes on in Christian churches today under the name of “fellowship.” Usually this consists of coffee and donuts, church socials, or sports. As delightful as these functions may be, they should not be confused with biblical fellowship.

Nowhere in the New Testament do any of the Greek words translated “fellowship” imply fun times. Rather, they talk of, for example, “the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (II Corinthians 8:4) as sacrificial service and financial aid. (See, for example, I Timothy 6:18.)

Elsewhere, Paul was thankful for the Philippian believers’ “fellowship in the gospel” (Philippians 1:5), for he knew that “inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers [same word as fellowship] of my grace” (v. 7). This sort of fellowship may even bring persecution.

We are to emulate Christ’s humility and self-sacrificial love (2:5–8) through the “fellowship of the Spirit” (v. 1). In some way known only partially to us, we have the privilege of knowing “the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (3:10), and even “the communion [i.e., fellowship] of the blood” and “body of Christ” (I Corinthians 10:16).

As we can see, this fellowship is serious business. As in our text and subsequent verses, fellowship should be accompanied by teaching, prayer, and ministry to the poor (Acts 2:45). This kind of fellowship will be in “favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). JDM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16106/

I find it very strange that this sub is not active at all when compared to the Catholicism sub. Is it because there are soooo many different denominations in Protestantism that people are in general at odds with each other?

Is it normal to feel alone with family and friends? I used to feel close to God, but in trying to resist the trend of estrangement from relatives and having no friends, I think I’ve surrounded myself with people only to feel very lonely in life. I’d prefer to walk with God alone than to have a social network where I’m always sad inside.

My father grew up in Heidelberg, and he holds to the Heidelberg catechism: my only comfort is that I belong to God. Is this actually literal? I am starting to think this life really is a shadow, and while I need to care for it, especially respecting relatives and friends, and my church, God is my only attachment. As Augustine distinguished use and enjoyment. I can only really enjoy God. The problem is, I think I was greedy, and wanted a broader enjoyment and now it’s a life of no joy at all.

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." - James 1:21

PONDER THIS

Do you know what the word filthiness is in the original Greek? It means, “ear wax.” God says if you want to hear, you’ve got to clean your ears. You can’t hear if your ears are stopped. God says sin in your life is like wax in your ear. You need to get rid of it. The reason God’s truth does not come to us is that we’ve got spiritual wax in our ears. As a result, it is absolutely crucial that when you study the Bible, you make a full confession of sin and ask God to search your heart and see if there is some wickedness in you. Get your heart clean; get your heart right with God.

If you’re going to a garden, before you plant the seed, you weed the garden. That’s what it’s all about—get your heart right. After we weed the garden, then the seed will grow. After we get the wax out, then we can hear. Do you understand that? Receive the Word. Welcome the Word with a repentant heart.

- What does it look like to lay aside all filthiness?
- When has sin stopped up your ears from understanding the Word of God clearly?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time for intentional repentance during your time in the Word today and find a way to add this to your regular Bible reading routine. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/clear-out-whats-blocking-you-from-hearing-god

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.” - Isaiah 53:10

The very concept of God having pleasure in things that take place on Earth staggers the imagination. Most amazing of all is the revelation that it pleased Him to put His own Son through a terrible, bruising death, as the tremendous messianic prophecy of our text reveals.

Nevertheless, this was the only possible way whereby “the pleasure of the LORD” could be accomplished in the redeemed lives of lost men and women, whom He had created for eternal fellowship with the triune God. “For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation” (Psalm 149:4).

Five times we read in the New Testament that God the Father spoke from heaven assuring us that He was “well pleased” with His “beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; II Peter 1:17). “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him”! This is almost impossible to understand, but had it not been so, none of us ever could have been saved. The Lord Jesus Himself has confirmed to His own “little flock” that “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

Thus, not only have we been created “for Thy pleasure” (Revelation 4:11), but we have also been “predestinated . . . unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:5). This is far beyond our comprehension, so we merely rest in the great truth that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). We know that “the LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him,” and we rejoice with thanksgiving (Psalm 147:11)! HMM
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by the Institute of Creation.

https://www.icr.org/article/16105/

How do you deal with ecclesial anxiety?

Rome and the East make big claims of authority over one's soul and life.

We who have been raised in these environments tend to develop anxiety and fear when we leave.

Personally my urge to return to Catholicism comes when I'm depressed and I get that urge for the smells and bells.

Then I get mentally stable and reaffirm my reasons to stay away from this institution:

Marian dogmas, purgatory, works salvation, popular piety and devotions, clericalism, abuse problems, glorification of suffering etc.

Please tell me I’m not the only one.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." - Matthew 23:23

PONDER THIS

The Pharisees had heads full of Scripture but hearts full of sin. They had religion, but they didn’t have reality. They had laws, but they didn’t have life. Oh, they were careful all right. They would dot every i and cross every t, but they didn’t understand Christ. They did not have the love of the Lord Jesus Christ in their hearts. Legalism is not the answer.

I am a Bible-believing Christian. I believe all of the Bible. I believe it is absolutely true. I believe all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, but I am not a legalist. I pray to God that He will save me and you from the loveless leaven of legalism. Legalism is not what our world needs today. The Bible is a wonderful sword, but it is a terrible club.

- How do you relate to the Pharisees? Where are you prone to legalism?
- What is dangerous about legalism? How does it cause us to miss Jesus?

PRACTICE THIS

Discuss with a brother or sister in Christ what it looks like to walk in step with Christ instead of walking in legalism. APR
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I did not write this, it comes from a devotional that is offered as a free email daily by Love Worth Finding.

https://www.lwf.org/daily-devotionals/do-you-know-the-bible-but-miss-its-heart