Dan Gould

Category: Bible Challenge

  • 1 Peter 1

    “‘So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.'[c]” v. 13-16

    Are you a person of self-control?  Many of us would probably say that we were so lets just take a little test to see how well we do in this area:

    1. Can you sort between needs and wants, when buying things?
    2. Do you find yourself getting caught in the moment?
    3. When you are tired, do you say things without thinking or worrying about how they sound or come across?
    4. Do you have a short fuse?
    5. Are you the same person in public as you are in private?

    I m sure the list goes on, but the Bible says to think clearly and use self-control.  A person with Self-Control thinks before they buy, speak, act or re-act.  A person with Self-Control is a person who can be used by God in great ways.

    Could you be described as a person of Self-Control?

    Today, lets THINK before we do that thing we are thinking about doing and lets show some Self-Control!

  • 2 Peter 1

    “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

    8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.”  v. 5-9

    Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it must result in action, growth in Christian character, and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away.  Peter lists several of faith’s actions, learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God’s will, loving others.  These actions do not come automatically; they require hard work.  They are not optional; all of them must be a continual part of the Christian life.  We don’t finish one and start on the next, but we work on them all together.  God empowers and enables us, but he also gives us the responsibility to learn and to grow.

    Today, is your faith more than a belief in certain facts, or is it changing your actions?

  • 1 Peter 3

    “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” v. 15

    Some Christians believe that faith is a personal matter that should be kept to themselves.  It is true that we shouldn’t be boisterous or obnoxious in sharing our faith, but we should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our life-style, or our Christian perspective.  The question we must ask ourselves is this . . . Can others see Christ in you?  Is there enough evidence by the way you live, not what you say, that would cause others to see that you are a Christ Follower?

    Today, let examine ourselves and ask God to speak though our actions.  This might mean we have to ask differently.  If God exposes or convicts you of an attitude or an action, don’t be afraid to acknowledge that, ask for forgiveness, and start heading in a new direction.  Jesus, be with us today, and allow us to represent you to others.

  • 1st Peter 2

    “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” v. 11-12 (NLT)

    As believers, we are “temporary residence and foreigners” in this world because our real home is with God.  However, it is very easy to get caught up in this world and forget that the world we know right now is only temporary.  Our true loyalty should be to our citizenship in Heaven, not to our citizenship here, because the earth will be destroyed.  Our loyalty should be to God’s truth, his way of life, and his dedicated people.  Because we are loyal to God, we often will feel like strangers in a world that would prefer to ignore God. Thus, the battle for how we live and what we live for rages on the inside of us.  There is always the temptation to put God on pause and live for ourselves in “the moment.”  The enemy will try to convince us to live how we want and ask God for forgiveness latter.  This type of lifestyle cheapens what Christ did on the cross.  Because of the cross and my love and dedication to Christ should cause me to live my life differently.

    Today, lets focus on the coming kingdom and not just the worldly kingdom we see here and now.  Depending on how we live now, in this world, will determine how and where we live in the future.  Don’t cheapen the cross by believing the temptation to live how you want now, and ask for forgiveness later.  Choose today to live for Christ, not for yourself or for anyone else, and you will experience God in ways you never thought possible!

  • James 3

    “Dear brothers and sisters,[a] not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.” v 1-2 (NLT)

    What you say and what you don’t say are important.  To use proper speech you must not only say the right words at the right time but also not say what you shouldn’t. Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying.  Our words have the ability to build people up or tear them down.

    I have found that if I think before I speak, I use better words.  This forces me not to spout off in the moment. (i am still working through this).  Before you speak ask yourself are my words . . .

    TRUTHFUL – is this fact or gossip?

    HELPFUL – Do my words help them or hurt them? Constructive criticism is helpful when it’s done in love. When its not done in love that’s just criticism.

    INSPIRATIONAL – Does it bring them closer to God or push them further from God? Does it inspire them to do grater things?

    NECESSARY – Do I need to even say anything? Sometimes we are smarter with our mouth’s shut!

    KIND – Are my words kind?

    Today, let’s think twice before we speak once.  Words are powerful … use them wisely!!!!

  • James 2

    “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?  Can that kind of faith save anyone?” v. 14 (NLT)

    We have all heard it, actions speak louder than words.  If you never spoke a word, would people know that you are a Christian by the things you do.  The reality is, the things we believe begin to change our actions.  “When someone claims to have faith, what he or she may have is intellectual assent – agreement with a set of Christian teachings – and as such it would be incomplete faith.  True faith transforms our conduct as well as our thoughts.  If our life remains unchanged, we don’t truly believe the truths we claim to believe.” (Life Application Study Bible)

    Today, let’s begin to put our faith into action and show others our faith instead of something we talk about.  It’s easier to talk the talk, but the challenge and question today is can we walk the walk?

  • James 1

    “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” v. 22-25 (NLT)

    When I first started reading the Bible at the age of 18 James was the place I started.  I think I picked it because it was short and I wanted to say that I had read a book in the Bible.  The Bible can be intimidating, especially if you are not a good reader or don’t like to read.  Those usually go hand in hand.  Well it did for me.  But I still remember the first time I read these verses.  They were so convicting, but encouraging at the same  time.  You see I was guilty of hearing and knowing a little bit about the Bible, but I didn’t live out or reflect the things I had heard or learned.  (this is still a challenge today)  But the secret to the Life that God wants us to live is found in the pages of the Bible, His Word.  When we read, or hear them they should move us to a different place in our thoughts and actions.  What we truly believe will be seen in the everyday life we live.  My prayer today is that I would practice the things I read and hear, so I can live the life God desires me to live.  One filled with adventure, challenges, and victories!

    Today, will you ask God to help you to apply the things you have heard and read so you can live the life He has created for you.  If you aren’t or haven’t read or listend to the words written in the Bible, I want to encourage you to grab a Bible, and start reading one chapter a day.  Highlight the things that speak to you and commit those to memory and action.

  • Hebrews 12

    “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” v.1 (NLT)

    The Christian life involves hard work.  It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run with endurance, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit.  To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus.  We will stumble if we look away from him to stare at ourselves or at circumstances surrounding us.  We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep Him in sight.

    Today, lets keep our eyes on Jesus, and surrender every circumstance and decision to Him.

  • Hebrews 11

    “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” v 1-2 (NLT)

    What or who do you put your faith in?  When things are going good, who do you thank?  When things aren’t going good, where do you turn?  These are just a few questions to get you thinking.  Who or what you are put your faith in is important because it will define how you live and what you believe.  Faith is more than a pleasant day dream of a perfect world.  In fact, faith isn’t always easy and sometimes it is questioned and challenged.  I have found these times to be scary, but in this process God tends to teach me the most about His love, His provision, and His promises.  He also gives me the strength I need to stand in Faith that He is still in control even though things aren’t going the way I want them to go.

    Today, who or what are you putting your faith in?  For me, I am trusting Jesus with the details of my life and standing in Faith that God will do what He says He will do.  To be honest, sometimes that’s easier to say than to do, but everyday I pray for God to give me the strength I need to stand in Faith!

  • Hebrews 10:19-39

    “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” V 35-36 (NLT)

    The Bible gives us a clear choice between two life directions.  Because life often forks of in two directions, you must take the higher road, even though it looks more difficult and treacherous.  The road gets steep in places.  The climb takes a toll on your energy.  It gets lonely.  Not many many on it, but more than you imagined, and some because of your example.  Sometimes itt gets slippery because the devil blows ice on the narrow passages.  Despite its dangers, the higher road is bound for the peak, and you’ll make it – God has a lifeline around you.  When you are tempted to falter in your faith or turn back from following Christ, keep focused on what he has done for you and what he offers in the Future . . . then keep climbing.

    Today, which road will you choose to go down?  Lets take the high road even if it may seem more difficult!