19 November: Gullible vs. Pure

If you’re concerned that you may be gullible when it comes to faith, hope and trust, I’ve just spotted the difference between the accusation of being gullible vs. the declaration of being “pure”…

READ TITUS 1  Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

If you’re anything like me, then, up until this morning, you too will probably be thinking that this trait of belief is a fault – a fault that’s left you many times feeling like a gullible idiot for believing. But, yet again, I’ve found that the Creator God sees things from the upside down. Since He is the God who can be trusted because He never lies [v2], and since He created me in His own image to be like Him, to live like Him and operate in His likeness[a], He doesn’t think I’m an idiot for having the ability to trust, hope and believe in good faith. While I may not have the rule book for the games people play, I certainly have His Guidebook for LIFE that contains “knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness”. [v1] At His appointed season, He brought His Word to light showing me who I am in Him. [v3]

So, in this first century letter to Titus, a Jewish academic and lawyer named Paul writes: “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.” [v15] Wow! All these years I’ve wanted to protect myself from feeling foolish by being the sort of person who can “smell a rat”. But if holding to an idea that “nothing is pure” is actually a negative trait and result of a mind and conscience being corrupted [v15], then I think I’ll just live with humans accusing me of being gullible in order for my Maker to declare me pure! …Read more?… CLICK to follow “19 November – Additional Notes”

But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.

Wanting to connect with your Maker who sees things differently? The rest of this web page uses Jesus’ own prayer to help[b]

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

1. Praise: “Our Father in Heaven, how great is Your Name! Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven…”

Lord, my Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth! [Psalms 8:9]

2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”

• The World: Victims of the sex-trade in Thailand[c]

• Your Nation: God’s Will to be done on earth

• Yourself: Your financial needs

• Your concerns for today

In answer to my prayer, I’ll praise Your Name for You have worked wonders for me. Never again Lord, will Your people be shamed. [Joel 2:26]

3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us…”

Holy Spirit, help me to obey the Lord my God by keeping all His commands that have been given and doing what is right in His eyes. [Deuteronomy 13:18]

4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one…”

Jesus said: “…whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” [John 4:14]

“ For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory for ever and ever. Amen”

When questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, Jesus spoke what was previously written in God’s Word.[d] So, the final section on this page is about memorizing the script through 10 topics. Following these will help you learn 52 portions from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Topic = Spiritual CONFLICT

Watch out! Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [1 Peter 5:8]

[a] Genesis 1:26-28

[b] Matthew 6:9-13

[c] https://www.operationworld.org/country/thai/owtext.html

[d] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31