MICAH MANDATE’S WEEKLY BIBLICAL CHALLENGE
Monday, 17 November 2008
”My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2 (NIV)
Jesus Christ - the atoning sacrifice for our sins and our advocate in heaven - what more could He do for us?
Monday, 10 November 2008
”How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him” 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
Children of God - What a privilege! What a responsibility!
Monday, 3 November 2008
”Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.” Psalm 40:11 (NIV)
When we have confessed a particular sin of which we are ashamed, and have received God's forgiveness, we may want to make this verse our prayer. God will always answer!
Monday, 27 October, 2008
”My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” Luke 1: 47 (NIV)
Are these words of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, applicable to our own Christian life?
Monday, 20 October 2008
Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NIV)
God commands us to SUBMIT to Him, and to RESIST the devil. Unfortunately, we so often RESIST God and SUBMIT to the devil.
Monday, 13 October, 2008
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God. Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4 (NIV)
The world - POWER, POSITION, POSSESSIONS, PLEASURE - when used in selfish ways. “What a friend we have in Jesus.” What sort of a friend does He have in us?
Monday, 6 October, 2008
”You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salt again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out, and trampled by men.” Mathew 5:13 (NIV)
Salt is used for FLAVOURING and PRESERVING. Wherever we go, we should seek to bring the presence of Jesus Christ with us. Also, we should always be ready to stand up for what we believe to be right, whatever the cost may be. Note what happens if we lose our saltiness!
Monday 29 September, 2008
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
”You do not want to leave me too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6 : 66-68 (NIV)
Jesus gives us permission to leave him. But, “to whom shall we go?” We are bound to him, not by chains of LAW but by chains of LOVE.
Monday 22 September, 2008
Like a cowbird that cheats by laying its eggs
in another bird's nest
Is the person who gets rich by cheating.
When the eggs hatch, the deceit is exposed.
What a fool he'll look like then!
Jeremiah 17:11 (The Message)
A clear warning that we must be honest in all that we say or do, including our financial dealings.
Monday 15 September, 2008
" The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,
a puzzle that no one can figure out.
But I, GOD, search the heart
and examine the mind.
I get to the heart of the human.
I get to the root of things.
I treat them as they really are,
not as they pretend to be."
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (The Message)
We cannot bluff or bargain with GOD.
We need to pray:
"Change my heart, O GOD,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O GOD,
May I be like You."
Monday 08 September, 2008
This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)
Can we boast about anything? What kind of exercises are we performing? Do we delight in these exercises?
Monday 01 September, 2008
‘for they (the Pharisees) loved praise from men more than praise from God.’ John 12:43 (New International Version)
We must not fail to say “Thank you!” or “Well done!” when the appropriate occasions arise. However we should not be hurt or offended when others do not respond to us in the same way. Our one and only aim is to please God.
Monday 25 August, 2008
‘Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion:
eyes that are arrogant,
a tongue that lies,
hands that murder the innocent,
a heart that hatches evil plots,
feet that race down a wicked track,
a mouth that lies under oath,
a troublemaker in the family.’
Proverbs 6:16-19 (The Message)
We major on God’s love. However we also need to know and avoid what God hates.
Monday 18 August, 2008
‘I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.’ Isaiah 43:25 (New International Version)
If we truly repent and confess our transgressions and sins, God promises that he will blot them out and remember them no more. It is amazing that he does this, not primarily for our own sake, but FOR HIS OWN SAKE.
Monday 11 August, 2008
‘A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.’ Proverbs 14: 5 (New International Version)
May the Lord root out deceit in our own lives and in the lives of those who pour out lies.
Monday 4 August, 2008
‘A family that’s in a constant squabble disintegrates.’ Matthew 12:25 (The Message)
This also applies to local churches, political parties and alliances!
Monday 28 July, 2008
‘Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive, it takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth”.’ Matthew 4:4 (The Message)
We will be truly alive when we are nourished both by daily bread (or rice!) and the Word of God.
Monday 21 July, 2008
‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ John 14:27 (New International Version)
Jesus has bequeathed us his peace and, though it is not always easy, this peace should enable us to overcome trouble and fear.
Monday 14 July, 2008
‘It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season.’ Matthew 12:34 (The Message)
‘Goodness’ is a fruit of the Holy Spirit which must be displayed in our deeds and words.
Monday 7 July, 2008
‘He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’
Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
God has shown us both what is good and what he requires of us concerning our actions, our love and our walk and so we can never plead ignorance!
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