Daily Bible Readings:
Monday, October 8. Read Ecclesiastes 4:4-6.
Monday, October 8. Read Ecclesiastes 4:4-6. 1) This was last week’s sermon text. 2) What does the writer say that motivates people and how does he describe it? 3) What does he say about the value of quietness?
Tuesday, October 9. Read Matthew 11:28-30. 1) To what people does Jesus appeal? 2) What does he say about the yoke he offers? 3) How may this be appealing to you or to the folks around you?
Wednesday, October 10. Read John 4:1-15. 1) What did Jesus ask for from a Samaritan woman? 2) Why was this unusual? 3) What did Jesus offer to the woman, and what was her response to that offer?
Thursday, October 11. Read John 6:43-51. 1) What OT image does Jesus use to describe himself? 2) What did Jesus mean when he talked about eating bread? 3) What hungers does Jesus satisfy in us?
Friday, October 12. Read John 8:12-20. 1) What claim did Jesus make about himself in this text? 2) How did the Pharisees react to this? 3) In what way does Jesus function, as light, to make our lives easier and better?
Saturday, October 13. Read 1 Timothy 3:1-9. This is Sunday’s sermon text.
Prayer for the Week:
Oh Lord, you and you alone are the source of life and fulfillment. But I acknowledge that I often struggle to find contentment in other places. I forget that you have graciously provided me with every spiritual blessing and everything I need for life and godliness.
Help me to be content in You with what You have given me and to not focused on what the world tells me I should have. Protect me from coveting possessions or people, talent or influence, relationships or prestige. Keep my heart from being anxious for what I don’t have and make me thankful for what I have.
Fill me with the joy and satisfaction of knowing you. Help me learn to be content in any situation and to quickly reject the idolatry of the world. And may I be humbled and changed by Christ who became poor in order that I could become rich, going to the Cross to rescue a people for Himself who can be free from discontent and zealous for good works.
I pray this in Jesus’ name Amen.
Hymn of the Week:
Many Weary Years
by Anonymous
Many weary years I vainly sought a spring,
One that never would run dry;
Unavailing all that earth to me could bring,
Nothing seemed to satisfy.
Drinking at the Fountain that never runs dry,
Drinking at the Fountain of life am I;
Finding joy and pleasure
In abounding measure,
I am drinking at the Fountain of life.
Through the desert land of sin I roam no more,
For I find a living Spring
And my cup of gladness now is running o’er,
Jesus is my Lord and King.
[Chorus]
Here is sweet contentment as the days go by,
Here is holy peace and rest;
Here is consolation as the moments fly,
Here my heart is always blest.
[Chorus]
Here I find a never ending, sure supply,
While the endless ages roll;
To this healing Fountain I would ever fly,
There to bathe my weary soul.
[Chorus]
Devotional Article of the Week:
All That Stuff
How are we going to define ourselves?
by Max Lucado
A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it
All that stuff you have? It’s not yours!
And you know what else about all that stuff? It’s not you!
Jesus said it this way:
Speaking to the people, he [Jesus] went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot” (Luke 12:15 Message).
Heaven doesn’t know you as the fellow with the nice suit or the woman with the big house. Heaven knows your heart. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Bible says the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:17). When God thinks of you, He may see your compassion, your devotion, your tenderness or quick mind, but He doesn’t think of your things.
Define yourself by your stuff, and you’ll feel good when you have a lot and bad when you don’t. Contentment comes when we can honestly say with Paul who said:
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little(Philippians 4:12).