Military snipers keep their eyes half shut to protect their night vision when needed. This makes me wonder how many of us go through life with “our eyes closed” and “blind to The Light”…
READ ACTS 9 then, if you’d like, make notes in the “Comments” box (below) on what stands out for you.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Imagine saying to someone you love: “Nice face, shame about the rest!” Or, “I accept your head but everything from the shoulders down, I’m rejecting.” If we love someone, we accept the whole package. We can’t severe their head from their body. In this same way, we can’t approach life like at night sniper, with eyes closed for protection. We need to approach the most perplexing things in life with eyes wide open to see, using the light that’s been provided, what’s right in front of us.
From “breathing out murderous threats” [v1] and blind to The Light, to a life turned upside-down, Saul, a young Jewish zealot, experiences a close encounter with the risen Jesus. [v3-5] Previously, Jesus called Himself “the bridegroom”.[a] If so, His Followers are His “bride”.[b] With Christ as the Head, the global Body of Believers are His Body.[c] If we dislike His Followers in any way – weather vehemently, as Saul did, or subtly avoiding them – we’re rejecting the whole package including the head that’s attached to that body [v4-5] – and we risk being blind to the light that He’s providing.[d]
Read more? … CLICK “09 September – Additional Notes”
What about you? Can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below with what you think of today’s chapter.
Wanting to speak directly with the Light of the World. The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[e]
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…”
I’ll praise You, Lord – the One who counsels me. Even at night when my heart instructs me, I’ll keep my eyes always on You. With You at my right hand, I’ll not be shaken. [Psalm 16:7-8]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The world: Government decisions in Myanmar[f]
Your nation: Those caught in addictions.
Yourself: Inner Strength for serving your Maker
Your concerns for today
As the rain and snow come down from heaven and don’t return to it without watering the earth; making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is Your word, Father God, that goes out from Your mouth. It’ll not return to You empty, but will accomplish what You desire to achieve: the purpose for which You sent it. [Isaiah 55:10-11]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us…”
As I make my choices today, Lord, help me to watch and wait until You come. May I live like the farmer who waits for the land to yield its valuable crop. In obedience, I patiently wait for the autumn and spring rains. [James 5:7]
4. Protect: “… Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one…”
Thank-you, Father God, that for those who revere Your Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. We’ll go out and skip about like well-fed calves released from the stall. [Malachi 4:2]
“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.[g] 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 = A Good Caretaker
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” [Hebrews 13:5]
[a] Matthew 9:14-15 (See also Mathew 25:1-14)
[b] Revelation 19:6-9; 22:17 (See also John 3:27-30)
[c] 1 Corinthians 12:27
[d] Matthew 5:14-16
[e] Matthew 6:5-15
[f] http://www.operationworld.org/country/myan/owtext.html
[g] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31