Be repentant

Explore the Bible
February 19, 2012

Bill Scroggs, pastor
First Baptist, Petit Jean 

Scripture passage:
Deuteronomy 27:1-30:20  

Proverbs 16:7 (KJV) tells us, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” 

This lesson reminds us to return to God that it may be well with us, with our families and with our nation. Moses told the children of Israel to record the Law that had been given to them on stones covered by plaster. They were to write it clearly so it could be seen and plainly understood. 

In Deuteronomy 27:9-10, Moses told them to “be silent (shut up) and listen” and to obey the commands he is giving them. He wanted them to remember the words of the Law and be obedient. He told them they had become the people of the Lord God that day. 

Not only were the Laws recorded on the stone, they were also to be proclaimed in a loud voice by the priests (Levites) to every Israelite. Moses understood the severity of the curses of the Law and wanted to make sure everyone heard and understood. As each Law was read, each of the children of Israel was to say “amen” in agreement. 

In Deuteronomy 28, Moses gave the children of Israel a list of blessings for being obedient to God. He told them if they obeyed, neither turning right or left from what they are commanded, they and their families, cities and country would be blessed. Why are these words not enough to cause us to stand tall and follow God? 

Then the “but” comes. If you do not remain obedient to God, curses will come on you, your families, your cities and your country.

Deuteronomy 29 encourages renewing the Covenant with God and warns against abandoning God’s Commands and Covenants. Moses reminded them not to choose the idols of the inhabitants. 

In chapter 30, Moses reminded them God had set before them blessings and life if they would but choose to serve God and encouraged them to choose life by obeying God.

Christ the center of my belief

Bible Studies For Life
February 19, 2012

Claud Williams, pastor
Boxley Baptist, Ponca

Scripture passage:
Colossians 2:8-23

In today’s world, it is easy to be led astray with philosophy and beliefs that entice us to believe in traditions, worldly wisdom, legalism and even demonic heresy. The only way to not get caught up in these beliefs is to stay focused daily on God’s Word and on Christ the Living Word!

Verse 9 is an affirmation of the deity of Jesus Christ. In Him, all the unbounded powers and attributes of God are found. This strongly counters the gnostic view that says Jesus did not have an actual body, but only a phantom body, and that the essence of God came upon Jesus the man at His baptism and left Him on the cross. The true belief is that from conception throughout His life, death and resurrection, Jesus was God in the flesh. 

Our text reminds us that in Christ dwells “the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9, KJV) and we are complete in Him when we believe in that fact. We are “buried” with Him in baptism and raised with Him through simple faith (belief) when we believe on Christ for salvation (Col. 2:12, KJV). Even the Law of Moses was not sufficient to save us, but only to point us to Christ (Col. 2:17, KJV). 

When I was young in age and also in knowledge of the Bible, I tended to hold to other “spiritual things” to cement my belief in Christ. 

I would look to my works as a basis for my faith and to actions I did to worship God, rather than to my Lord Jesus Christ. I even used the “commandments and the doctrines of men” (Col. 2:22, KJV) in a local church as a basis for peace and assurance. 

Thank the Lord that I have grown in faith to know that it is in Christ and Christ alone that my hope, assurance and belief rest!

The fact is what I believe will directly affect my actions. 

In other words, my worldview of life will determine what I do, what I look at and where I go. If my belief system is found in Christ, my life will be focused on pleasing Him. Yes, Christ, I believe in You for all things! 

Be positive

Explore the Bible
February 26, 2012

By Bill Scroggs, pastor
First Baptist, Petit Jean 

Scripture passage:
Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12

God has never left His children unprepared or without instruction. Even as Moses prepared for the end of His life, God was giving him the Law for the children of Israel to obey. Moses loved the children of Israel even as God loved them, having led them through the trials and struggles of wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses shared with them honestly from his heart, having seen their tendency to wander away from following God. 

In Deuteronomy 31, Moses summoned Joshua to commission him for the rest of the journey into the Promised Land. God had told Moses he would not be leading the children of Israel the rest of the way into the Promised Land, but that at 120 years of age, he would step aside for Joshua to finish the task. Moses challenged Joshua to be strong and courageous in the task. He wrote down the Law on a scroll to be given to the Levites to read to the children of Israel when they crossed over the Jordan River into the land promised to their forefathers. 

God, knowing the hearts of the people, gave Moses a song to teach the people so when they rebelled and went to other gods and trouble came upon them because of their sin, they might remember and turn back to worship Jehovah God instead of the idols of the people of the land they were entering.

In Deuteronomy 32, Moses gave them the song to learn and rehearse for future generations to remember and turn back to God. 

Moses read all the Law to the people and challenged them to take to heart all of the words of the Law and to teach them to their children, as they are not meaningless words, but words to bring them long life in the land God was giving to them.

In Deuteronomy 33, Moses blessed each of the tribes as they were getting ready to enter the Promised Land and he was nearing the end of his journey into the arms of God and the eternal rest. 

This section ends in Deuteronomy 34 as Joshua assumes leadership with the children of Israel listening to Moses’ words and obeying as God had commanded them. 

Christ the center of my life

Bible Studies For Life
February 26, 2012

Claud Williams, pastor
Boxley Baptist, Ponca

Scripture passages:
Colossians 3:5-10, 14-15, 17-21; 4:5-6

Imagine a big circle, like a huge wheel, and all around this circle on its edges are the cares of this life. There are the cares of finances, raising children, marriage and caring for an elderly parent or disabled child. There is the care that comes from a wayward child or a critically ill family member. There is the care of doing a good job in the marketplace, and then there is the ongoing care of overcoming the temptation to sinfulness. 

Next, imagine that all these cares are connected to spokes that point to the center of the wheel and that you are the one in the center who holds all these cares together and is responsible to see that each need is successfully met. What a heavy burden that would be for one human to deal with! 

Our text reminds me that when Christ is the center of my life, my cares and needs are dealt with by His power and His wisdom. He is strong enough to bring me through each care with victory. 

Our Bible verses here convey the message that when Christ is the center of my life, I will put aside sin, worry and frustration to the point that it will become dead to me, and by so doing, Christ becomes the focus of my entire life and relationships. 

Sin is easily destroyed by the power of Christ! A good marriage can only be experienced when we follow Christ’s will for that marriage (Col. 3:18-19). Successful parenting only comes through the power of Christ (Col. 3:21). The peace of God fills the soul that is centered in Christ (Col. 3:15). Our life on the job is easier when Christ is the center of those relationships (Col. 3:22). And only true wisdom comes from God when we make Christ the center of our lives (Col. 4:5-6).

When Christ is the center of my life, I am at peace with Him, my family, my co-workers, my children and my spouse. 

But when Christ is not the center, my wheel can break and life becomes very hard. I pray you will make Christ the center of your life! 

Be different

Explore the Bible
February 5, 2012

Bill Scroggs, pastor
First Baptist, Petit Jean 

Scripture passage:
Deuteronomy 12:1-16:17 

From iPhones to vegetarian meals, many products claim to be “just like the real thing.” In fact, a vegetarian producer was found using an edited picture of meat on one of their advertisements. There is none “just like” God, for He is the real thing. We are to choose to do the right thing as the writer of Deuteronomy 12:1 says.

“Be careful to follow these statutes and ordinances in the land that Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess all the days you live on the earth” (Deut. 12:1, HCSB). 

As the children of Israel are challenged in Deuteronomy 12:8, we are to be different in our worship. We must stay with the original, worshiping the Lord God as He laid out the place, the method and the Who of worship. This does not mean we can’t sing a new song or use new melodies, but we must keep God as the center of all worship. We are neither to accept substitutes nor watered-down versions of the object of worship, which is Jehovah God. 

We are to be different in our bodies, keeping ourselves pure and not following after the world and its traditions (Rom. 12:1-2). The world desires to lead us into the temptations of conformity to its traditions and the traps that go with it. God desires that our thoughts learn of Him and His Word.

We are to be different in the dispensing of our money. Deuteronomy 14 is one place in God’s Word where we are taught to tithe (10 percent), which is different from the way the world chooses to live and spend for itself. We are to be different by giving of the firstfruits, rather than giving of the leftovers, which is the way the world would have us give. Deuteronomy 15-16 continues reminding us to be different in the stewardship of our resources. We are to save our resources and to use that with which we have been blessed to honor God. Also, we are reminded by this challenge: “Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you” (Deut. 16:17, HSCB). 

Now – isn’t that different?