O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected]
twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 11:23 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Thursday December 17 > Day 351 > > Hebrews 10 > The Sacrifice of Jesus > 1-10The old plan was only a hint of the good things in the new plan. Since > that old "law plan" > wasn't complete in itself, it couldn't complete those who followed it. No > matter how many sacrifices > were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete solution. > If they had, the > worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by > their sins. But instead > of removing awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated > over and over they actually > heightened awareness and guilt. The plain fact is that bull and goat blood > can't get rid of sin. > That is what is meant by this prophecy, put in the mouth of Christ: > > You don't want sacrifices and offerings year after year; > you've prepared a body for me for a sacrifice. > It's not fragrance and smoke from the altar > that whet your appetite. > So I said, "I'm here to do it your way, O God, > the way it's described in your Book." > When he said, "You don't want sacrifices and offerings," he was referring > to practices according to > the old plan. When he added, "I'm here to do it your way," he set aside > the first in order to enact > the new plan-God's way-by which we are made fit for God by the > once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. > 11-18Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old > sacrifices year in, year > out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a > single sacrifice for > sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for > his enemies to cave in. It > was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect > people. By that single > offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes > part in the purifying > process. The Holy Spirit confirms this: > > This new plan I'm making with Israel > isn't going to be written on paper, > isn't going to be chiseled in stone; > This time "I'm writing out the plan in them, > carving it on the lining of their hearts." > He concludes, > I'll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins. > Once sins are taken care of for good, there's no longer any need to offer > sacrifices for them. > > Don't Throw It All Away > 19-21So, friends, we can now-without hesitation-walk right up to God, into > "the Holy Place." Jesus > has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest > before God. The "curtain" > into God's presence is his body. > 22-25So let's do it-full of belief, confident that we're presentable > inside and out. Let's keep a > firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. > Let's see how inventive we > can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping > together as some do but spurring > each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. > > 26-31If we give up and turn our backs on all we've learned, all we've been > given, all the truth we > now know, we repudiate Christ's sacrifice and are left on our own to face > the Judgment-and a mighty > fierce judgment it will be! If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses > is physical death, what do > you think will happen if you turn on God's Son, spit on the sacrifice that > made you whole, and > insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned > us that he'll hold us to > account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: "Vengeance is mine, and I > won't overlook a thing" > and "God will judge his people." Nobody's getting by with anything, > believe me. > > 32-39Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were > the hard times! Kicked > around in public, targets of every kind of abuse-some days it was you, > other days your friends. If > some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in > and seized your goods, you > let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn't touch your real treasure. > Nothing they did bothered > you, nothing set you back. So don't throw it all away now. You were sure > of yourselves then. It's > still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan > so you'll be there for the > promised completion. > > It won't be long now, he's on the way; > he'll show up most any minute. > But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; > if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy. > But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and > survive, trusting all the way. > > Hebrews 11 > Faith in What We Don't See > 1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this > faith, is the firm foundation > under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we > can't see. The act of > faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. > 3By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we > see created by what we > don't see. > > 4By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It > was what he believed, not > what he brought, that made the difference. That's what God noticed and > approved as righteous. After > all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice. > > 5-6By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. "They looked all > over and couldn't find him > because God had taken him." We know on the basis of reliable testimony > that before he was taken "he > pleased God." It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? > Because anyone who wants to > approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to > respond to those who seek > him. > > 7By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned > about something he couldn't > see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His > act of faith drew a sharp > line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the > believing world. As a > result, Noah became intimate with God. > > 8-10By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an > unknown place that would > become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act > of faith he lived in the > country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and > Jacob did the same, living > under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen > city with real, eternal > foundations-the City designed and built by God. > > 11-12By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she > was at the time, because > she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how > it happened that from one > man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the > millions. > > 13-16Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what > was promised, but still > believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved > their greeting, and > accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live > this way make it plain > that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the > old country, they could > have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better > country than that-heaven > country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting > for them. > > 17-19By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. > Acting in faith, he was > as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to > receive him-and this after he > had already been told, "Your descendants shall come from Isaac." Abraham > figured that if God wanted > to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that's what happened when he > received Isaac back, alive > from off the altar. > > 20By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob > and Esau. > > 21By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph's sons > in turn, blessing them > with God's blessing, not his own-as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff. > > 22By an act of faith, Joseph, while dying, prophesied the exodus of > Israel, and made arrangements > for his own burial. > > 23By an act of faith, Moses' parents hid him away for three months after > his birth. They saw the > child's beauty, and they braved the king's decree. > > 24-28By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian > royal house. He chose a > hard life with God's people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin > with the oppressors. He > valued suffering in the Messiah's camp far greater than Egyptian wealth > because he was looking > ahead, anticipating the payoff. By an act of faith, he turned his heel on > Egypt, indifferent to the > king's blind rage. He had his eye on the One no eye can see, and kept > right on going. By an act of > faith, he kept the Passover Feast and sprinkled Passover blood on each > house so that the destroyer > of the firstborn wouldn't touch them. > > 29By an act of faith, Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. The > Egyptians tried it and > drowned. > > 30By faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven > days, and the walls fell > flat. > > 31By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies and > escaped the destruction > that came on those who refused to trust God. > > 32-38I could go on and on, but I've run out of time. There are so many > more- Gideon, Barak, Samson, > Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets....Through acts of faith, they > toppled kingdoms, made justice > work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, > fires, and sword thrusts, > turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women > received their loved ones > back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give > in and go free, preferring > something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, > chains and dungeons. We > have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold > blood; stories of vagrants > wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless-the > world didn't deserve > them!-making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world. > > 39-40Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were > exemplary, got their hands on > what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our > faith would come together > to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from > ours. > > Hebrews 12 > Discipline in a Long-Distance Race > 1-3Do you see what this means-all these pioneers who blazed the way, all > these veterans cheering us > on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and > never quit! No extra > spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began > and finished this race > we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was > headed-that exhilarating > finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, > shame, whatever. And now > he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find > yourselves flagging in your > faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of > hostility he plowed through. That > will shoot adrenaline into your souls! > 4-11In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than > you, to say nothing of > what Jesus went through-all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for > yourselves. Or have you > forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his > children? > > My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, > but don't be crushed by it either. > It's the child he loves that he disciplines; > the child he embraces, he also corrects. > God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating > you as dear children. This > trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience > of children. Only > irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you > prefer an irresponsible God? > We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not > embrace God's training so we > can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best > to them. But God is doing > what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, > discipline isn't much fun. It > always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays > off handsomely, for it's > the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with > God. > > 12-13So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear > the path for > long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in > a hole and sprain an > ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! > > 14-17Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll > never get so much as a > glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a > sharp eye out for weeds > of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole > garden in no time. Watch out > for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to > satisfy a short-term appetite. > You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's > blessing-but by then it > was too late, tears or no tears. > > An Unshakable Kingdom > 18-21Unlike your ancestors, you didn't come to Mount Sinai-all that > volcanic blaze and earthshaking > rumble-to hear God speak. The earsplitting words and soul-shaking message > terrified them and they > begged him to stop. When they heard the words-"If an animal touches the > Mountain, it's as good as > dead"-they were afraid to move. Even Moses was terrified. > 22-24No, that's not your experience at all. You've come to Mount Zion, the > city where the living > God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive > angels and Christian > citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us > just. You've come to Jesus, > who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the > Mediator of this covenant. > The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel's-a homicide that cried out for > vengeance-became a proclamation of > grace. > > 25-27So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who > ignored earthly warnings didn't > get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly > warnings? His voice that > time shook the earth to its foundations; this time-he's told us this quite > plainly-he'll also rock > the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern." The > phrase "one last shaking" > means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and > religious junk so that the > unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered. > > 28-29Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how > thankful we must be? Not > only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For > God is not an indifferent > bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, > and he won't quit until > it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire! > > Hebrews 13 > Jesus Doesn't Change > 1-4Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready > with a meal or a bed when > it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever > knowing it! Regard prisoners > as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what > happened to them had > happened to you. Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual > intimacy between wife and > husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex. > 5-6Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with > what you have. Since God > assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we > can boldly quote, > > God is there, ready to help; > I'm fearless no matter what. > Who or what can get to me? > > 7-8Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a > good look at the way they > live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their > truthfulness. There should be a > consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn't change-yesterday, > today, tomorrow, he's > always totally himself. > > 9Don't be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The > grace of Christ is the only > good ground for life. Products named after Christ don't seem to do much > for those who buy them. > > 10-12The altar from which God gives us the gift of himself is not for > exploitation by insiders who > grab and loot. In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies > disposed of outside the > camp. The blood is then brought inside to the altar as a sacrifice for > sin. It's the same with > Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates-that is where he poured out > the sacrificial blood > that was brought to God's altar to cleanse his people. > > 13-15So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is-not trying > to be privileged insiders, > but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This "insider world" is not > our home. We have our eyes > peeled for the City about to come. Let's take our place outside with > Jesus, no longer pouring out > the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from > our lips to God in Jesus' > name. > > 16Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for > the common good; share > what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of > worship-a different kind of > "sacrifice"-that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets. > > 17Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They > are alert to the condition > of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to > the joy of their > leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for > them? > > 18-21Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but > it's hard going and we need > your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we > may be together soon. > > May God, who puts all things together, > makes all things whole, > Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus, > the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant, > Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, > up and alive from the dead, > Now put you together, provide you > with everything you need to please him, > Make us into what gives him most pleasure, > by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah. > All glory to Jesus forever and always! > Oh, yes, yes, yes. > > 22-23Friends, please take what I've written most seriously. I've kept this > as brief as possible; I > haven't piled on a lot of extras. You'll be glad to know that Timothy has > been let out of prison. If > he leaves soon, I'll come with him and get to see you myself. > > 24Say hello to your pastoral leaders and all the congregations. Everyone > here in Italy wants to be > remembered to you. > > 25Grace be with you, every one. > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > Also, follow my tweets on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Donnie1261 > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. 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