Dan Gould

Category: Bible Challenge

  • Titus 3

    “But—’When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.[a] 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.’ 8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.” v. 5-8 (NLT)

    This is another big BUT that changes how we live.  The fact that God, through Jesus, would step out of Heaven to provide away for us to have a relationship with Him still blows me away.  But God chose to provide for me not based on my good works or my own righteousness, but by what Christ did on the cross on my behalf.  This means I can never be good enough for God to earn Gods forgiveness or love!  But it also means that I can never be bad enough to keep God from loving me.

    Now don’t think that gives us permission to do whatever we want and just ask God to forgive us.  One day we will be held accountable for the things we have done, both good and bad.  But, because of Gods generosity toward us, we should be living life in a different way, trying to learn and become more like Jesus everyday.

    Today, think about the difference God has made in your life.  Thank Him for stepping in and changing you from the inside out and providing a way for you to have a relationship with Him.

  • 2 Timothy 3

    “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” v. 1-5 (NLT)

    Are we living in the last days?  If you compare our world to the way Paul describes the last days you can see similarities. However no-one knows when their last day will be.  Because of this, we should have a since of urgency about how we live and who we live for.

    Two words sum up the attitudes and habits of people living in the last days, those two words are pride and selfishness.  Pride causes us to feel like we don’t need anyone, or we are good enough.  Selfishness causes us to always be looking for what makes me happy.  Both of these attitudes keep us from the Heart of God.  A prideful person doesn’t see the need for God and therefore doesn’t trust Him with the details of his or her life.  A selfish person lives a life totally opposite of the life God calls us to,  looking at themselves, instead of looking at others.  If you look at your life, would you see these two things anywhere?

    Today, will you read this passage and think about these two attitudes.  Will you ask God to help you deal with pride and selfishness? Then commit to begin to live each day as a gift taking advantage of each situation you are given.

  • 2 Timothy 1

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” v. 7

    Fear is a powerful thing.  It can keep us trapped in so many areas and even cause us to question God, ourselves, our family, and our friends.  Fear can cause us physical pain as well as emotional pain.  However, fear can be defeated, when we trust the Lord and turn to Him with all of our stuff, not just parts of it.

    When we realize that God doesn’t want us to fear but to have faith and trust in Him, He gives us the power to walk through every fearful situation, and we will experience His love and become more self-disciplined in the process.  Please hear me, I am not saying its going to be easy, but it is encouraging to know that we are not alone.

    Today, what fears are keeping you trapped?  Will you turn that fear over to God so you can experience His Power, Love, and Self-Discipline?

  • 1 Timothoy 6

    “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” v. 6

    What does it take for you to be content?  Do you find yourself always looking for possessions to make you happy?  We live in a materialistic world that says, whoever has more is happy.  This ideas that more equals a happy full life, leads people down the road of an unsatisfied life trying to always achieve that next great thing or looking to that next great gadget to make them feel happy and content.  Sadly this cycle is a never ending cycle.  Stuff gets old, breaks, and something new is always around the corner to replace it, just look at the ipod for that matter.

    Paul tells Timothy that true contentment comes from God?  Some people may diagree with this because it requires us to have faith and not strive for earthly things.  If true contentment comes from God, these questions have to be asked, how content are you?  What are you doing to find this contentment, or what are you doing to stay content?  These are the questions I am asking myself today and hope you will think through also.

  • 1 Timothy 4

    “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” v. 16

    What you believe affects how you live and how you live affects what you teach.  Therefore we need to watch these things closely.  We must be on constant guard against falling into sin that can so easily destroy us.  Yet we must watch what we believe 9teaching) just as closely.  Wrong beliefs can quickly lead us into sin and heresy.  We should be on guard against those  who would persuade us that how we live is more important than what we believe.  We should keep a close watch on both, staying true to the truth.

    Today, think about your beliefs and how they impact you live and what you teach.  Is your life style matching up to what you believe and what you try to teach with your words?

  • 2 Thessalonians 3

    “May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” v.5

    Yes Lord my this verse seep deep into my heart so I can know you more, represent you in a way that influences the people you have placed in my life t want to know you more.  That’s the desire of my heart!

    Today, think about what it means to have a full understanding of God’s love and how it affects you personally.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1

    “So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.”[d] v. 11-12

    Powerful passage on the importance of prayer, vision, faith, and lifestyle.  When I read a passage like this I underline important verses.  Today I underlined these two verses.  Here is are the questions I ask myself after reading so I can begin to take what i read and apply it to my life.  Today, I want to challenge you with theses questions.  I would love to see a dialogue happen, feel free to answer any of the questions you want.

    Today’s questions: How do these things impact your life?  How often do you pray for these things for others and for yourself?  When you read this, what comes to mind, what might the Lord be teaching you that we could learn from?

  • 1 Thessalonians 4

    “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body[b] and live in holiness and honor—5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife,[c] for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” v. 3-8

    Strong words with deep meaning.  When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are made Holy.  However, to live in Holiness means to live pure in a sinful world.  Almost every passage of scripture that encourages us to turn from sin starts with sexual sin.  If you look at our world today the number 1 temptation we face involves sexual thoughts and or actions.  Why, because because sex sells! Therefor, its everywhere.

    If we are going to live pure in a dirty world we have to begin by examining our thoughts, what we watch, and what we listen too.  Have you ever listened to what some of the main stream music is talking about?  I am guilty here of getting wrapped up in a song and not thinking about what it is talking about.  My wife pointed out one of theses to me two weeks ago.  Then two days ago my 5 year old was singing along with a song that had the phrase “give you hell” in it.  I had to apologize to him and tell him not all the songs on the radio are good songs and asked him not to sing that song again.  He replied, well change the channel to a song i can sing.  That’s innocence by the way.

    Now please hear me, I am not saying that you need to only listen to Christian Music.  What makes it Christian music by the way?  That’s probably another topic.  However, what you listen too, what you watch, and how you think, begins to be seen in your actions.  If you don’t believe me take a look at this.

    Today, will you examine your life and begin to surrender the areas that are keeping you from living in holiness.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

    “And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God.” v.8

    When you aren’t around, how would people describe you?  Would they say you were a person with strong faith and love for God or would their description include something else?  When Paul writes to the Thessalonians, he commends them on their faith.  In fact their faith was so strong that other people were beginning to hear about them.  How did this happen?

    Paul says that in the midst of severe suffering these people accepted the Gospel with Joy.  WOW!  Here is a lesson for us.  The way we respond to the Gospel is important.  In spite of their present surroundings or situations, the Thessalonians received the Gospel with joy. Because of this, they experienced God in new ways and God was using them to influence and inspire others for His Kingdom throughout a region.

    Wow, what would that look like today?  I can only speak for myself, but I so badly want to receive every-part of the Gospel with Joy.  I know that it will penetrate the deepest parts of me, changing me from the inside out.  When this happens, I become available for God to use in ways that I never thought possible.

    Today, will you join me in asking God to be that type of person.  A person that loves God with all my heart, and who has strong faith that inspires others for His Kingdom.  My prayer is that it starts right here with me, and that it starts right here with you.

  • Colossians 3:1-17

    “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your[a] life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

    5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

    12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 1415 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

    16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” v. 1-17 (NLT)

    What does it mean to put on the new nature?  It means that your conduct should match your faith.  If you are a Christian, you should act like it.  To be a Christian means more than just taking the right actions.  This is a straightforward step that is as simple as putting on your clothes.  You must rid yourself of all evil practices and immorality.  Then you can commit yourself to what Christ teaches.  If you have made such a commitment to Christ, are you remaining true to it?  What old clothes do you need to strip off?

    In this passage Paul offers a strategy to help us live for God:

    1. Imitate Christ’s compassionate forgiving attitude
    2. Let love guide your life
    3. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart
    4. Always be thankful
    5. Keep Gods Word in you at all times
    6. Live as a representative of Jesus Christ