Dan Gould

  • Bible Challenge – Hebrews 6

    “For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.” v. 10 (NLT)

    Have you ever felt discouraged? You work hard, serve in love, but feel like the people around you don’t even notice. I wish I could say that when you reach out to others by teaching, serving, mentoring them that you will always feel like you are making a difference. But truthfully, I can’t say that. There are times that I feel like I am ineffective, there are times that I get discouraged, there are times that I even want to quit. But it is in these times that I have to look beyond my feelings and trust that the Lord is using me. Besides, it’s not about how I feel! The enemy want me to feel these things so I give up and not trust that the Lord is using me. It’s not about my feelings but about Him being glorified by what is happening. This verse is a great reminder to all of us today.

    It’s easy to get discouraged, thinking that God has forgotten us. But God is never unjust. He never forgets or overlooks our hard work for Him. Presently you may not be receiving rewards and acclaim, but God knows your efforts of love and ministry. Let His love for you and His intimate knowledge of your service for Him encourage and strengthen you as you face disappointment and even rejection here on earth.

    Today, let’s find our hope and encouragement from the Lord and love, serve, teach, and model what it means to be a Christ Follower, even when we feel discouraged. Remember, He is Faithful, lets not give up, but press in!

    When you read Hebrews 6 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Hebrews 5

    “There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.[c] You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” v. 11-14 (NLT)

    What keeps you from growing?  This is probably a question we don’t ask ourselves very often.  In fact, as I sit here and reflect on this question, there isnt’t just one answer that comes to mind.  I have several things that keep me from growing in my relationship with Christ here are a few:

    • I’m to busy
    • I am tired
    • I’ll do it tomorrow
    • I don’t want to …
    • It’s hard
    • My church isn’t deep enough
    • I’ve read it before

    These are just seven of many things that keep me from growing in my relationship with Christ.  Have you caught yourself saying any of these? But I have to be honest, these are just excuses. Everyday I have an opportunity to grow, but it starts with a desire and it takes discipline!  Let me break it down for you

    Desire – When you desire to have something you do whatever it takes to get it.  It may mean that you work hard to get it! But it may also mean that you sacrifice somethings in order to get the thing you desire.  Sadly, when it comes to Spiritual Growth, many of us don’t desire it.  That seems harsh to say, but look at our churches today.  Many of us are just content with coming to church, singing songs, listening to powerful messages, as long as we get home in time for the football game.

    We will continue to be immature believers until we truly desire to grow.  We have to desire to let God transform us into that new person.  This growth happens when we spend time alone with God.  Yes, God can stir your affections for Him in a service, He can convict you of your sin and break your heart for the things that break His, but if you don’t begin to spend time with Him in a personal way, be careful . . . you could begin to stunt your spiritual growth.  Jesus understood this!  Many times in scripture we see him leave crowds to spend time with God.  He understood how much He needed time alone with God.

    Discipline – This is the part where you begin to make time for growth.  This is where you do the hard things of getting up earlier, staying up later, or adjusting your schedule to spend time with God.  This is also the part where you begin to apply the truths you hear from Gods Word in your personal time and from your public worship times.  It will take discipline for this to happen! There will be times it’s easy, and there will be times it’s hard, but you have to discipline yourself to do these things.  It’s in these times that God is growing you, stretching you, and transforming you to be more like Christ.

    No great sports team wins championships without being disciplined.  They work hard, practice long, study their plays so they can execute effectively on game day.  The same is true for believers.  We need to spend time with God, so we can wrestle with the Truth of Scripture, understand it so we can apply it, live it so people will see it, so when we explain it they will receive it.

    Today, will you stop making excuses?  Let’s put that desire for spiritual growth into action and start being disciplined in the truth, so we can effectively execute the Gospel to the world around us!

    When you read Hebrews 5 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Hebrews 4

    “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” v.12-13 (NLT)

    The Word of God is not simply a collection of words from God, it’s a love letter from God written to us.  The Word of God is living, life-giving and dynamic as it works in us.  Sometimes it’s work is easy and other times it’s work is hard.  Regardless, Gods Word has the sharpness of a surgeons knife, it reveals who we are and what we are not.  It penetrates deep into the core of who we really are and discerns what is in us both good and evil.  However, the demand of Gods Word require decisions.  We must not only listen, sometimes this is the easy part, we must allow it to shape our lives, many times this is the hard part.  What we choose to do with the Word of God will determine how we live our life and who we live our life for.

    Today, how are you going to handle the Word of God? For me, I want to read it, listen to it, think about it, effectively apply it, so I can ultimately benefit from it! Will you join me?

    When you read Hebrews 4 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Hebrews 3

    “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.  Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” v.12-14 (NLT)

    The condition of your heart is important, not just in a physical sense but in a spiritual and eternal sense.  I have been thinking about this statement and even see this fleshed out in my own kids lives – What you hear, you believe, and what you believe you become!  I think these words are so true, that is why this warning is something we need to hear and pay attention to so we don’t become a “remember when … ?” type of person.

    Here’s what I mean by that last statement, I have seen people get excited for God at a camp, a retreat, a church service, but something happens and they seem to have lost their excitement for God.  When I talk with them or see them I always want to ask, “Remember when …? What happened?”  I have asked some people this question and they have told me they didn’t know, it just happened.  Or they go on to list all the things that have caused them to loose their excitement, their dedication, and discipline to, and for, the things of God.  It always sadden me when this happens.  But I have to be honest, this is something, if I am not careful, WILL happen to me.  It is, something if you’re not careful, WILL happen to you.

    You see our hearts turn away from the Living God when we stubbornly refuse to believe him, refuse to listen to him, and refuse to surrender completely to him. (there’s a sermon right there) The scary result is this, if we continually refuse to believe, listen, and surrender, God will eventually leave us alone in our sin.  It’s a scary place when we are calloused to the things of God.  But how do we know if this has happened and is true in our own lives.  Great question, and here is my answer.  You have to ask yourself, “Are there things in my life now, that use to cause conviction but don’t anymore?”  This is a question you need to give a lot of thought to on a regular basis.  You have to wrestle with this question on your own, not in a legalistic way, but in an honest way.  That’s why we have to be careful.

    The good news is this, you can prevent this from happening in your life.  Here’s how,

    • Spend time with God on your own!
    • Be careful where you spend your time, what you hear and watch!
    • Connect with other Christians who are seeking the Lord! (there is a difference)
    • Talk about your faith and what God is teaching you with others!
    • Be aware of your temptations and the attractiveness, deceitfulness, and destruction that sin has and causes!
    • Encourage others! I call this words of life.

    It’s going to take work, bu I believe, if we will do these things, we begin to guard our hearts as it says to do in Proverbs 4:23

    “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

    Today, Be Careful, Guard your Heart, and stay Faithful … the little things matter!

    When you read Hebrews 3 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Hebrews 2

    “We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” Hebrews 2:16-18 (NLT)

    In the Old Testament, the high priest was the mediator between God and his people.  His job was to regularly offer animal sacrifices according to the law and to intercede with God for forgiveness of the peoples sins.  Jesus Christ comes on the scene, stepping down from Heaven and to our world, to represent us on our behalf as our high priest.  Our mediator …. the person who stand before God on our behalf. Because he came to earth as a human being, he understands our weaknesses and shows mercy to us.  He has once and for all paid the penalty for our sins by his own sacrificial death, and he can be depended on to restore our broken relationship with God.  e are released from sin’s domination over us when we commit ourselves fully to Christ, trusting completely in what he has done for us.

    Knowing that Christ suffered pain and faced temptation helps us face our own temptations.  Jesus understands our struggle because he faced the same things.  We can trust Christ to help us survive and overcome temptation.  When you face trials, go to Jesus for strength and patience.  He understands your needs and is able to help.

    Today, when you are tempted, remember that Jesus was tempted also, but resisted the temptation.  Ask him to give you the strength you need to get past the temptation with out giving in!

    When you read Hebrews 2 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Hebrews 1

    “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3

    WOW, what a picture! Jesus, fully man and fully God, forgiver of sin and mediator for man, who now sits at the right hand of God.

    As Christ Followers it’s easy to hear something, believe it to be true but then not apply that belief to our own life and situation.  I am guilty of this also.  But these two verses are so powerful in revealing the power of Christ, not only in creation, but in the power to forgive us of sin and impact the day to day details of our lives.

    Hebrews is written not only to defend who Jesus is, but to reveal why Jesus is the Messiah.  This one fact is what separates Christianity from all other religions/cults/beliefs.  Jesus claim in John 14:6 is a bold claim that all of us have to wrestle with.  Look at Jesus words,

    “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 (NLT)

    How do you deal with these words of Jesus?  Do you ignore these words as if you never heard them? Do you deny these words saying that you don’t believe them? Do you believe these words and try to apply them?  How you answer this statement from Jesus is very important!

    I have to be honest, I am really excited to spend some time in the book of Hebrews. I know I have much to learn and hope to share some of these learning each day on this blog.

    Today, who do you say Christ is with your words, thoughts, and actions.  Do you feel like you know him better today than you did yesterday?

    When you read Hebrews 1 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 16

    “Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.” Romans 16:17

    Paul’s final warning to the Christians in Rome is one that we should take to heart also. We have to be careful to know the truth of God’s Word so when we hear something that’s not true we won’t be swept away by smooth talking or deceptive words. We should always test what is said to see that it a lines with what the Bible says.  It’s easy for scripture to be taken out of context, twisted, and sometimes even misinterpreted by accident.  It doesn’t mean you have to be a scholar to read the Bible, it just means you need to take time to read it and know it for yourself instead of letting other people tell you what it says.  God want’s to speak to you directly and the greatest way He will do that is through His Word.

    Father, I want to know your Word so I will live by it, teach it correctly, and see others impacted by it.  I pray this short and simple prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

    When you read Romans 16 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 15

    “May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.” Romans 15:5 (NLT)

    What does it mean to live in complete harmony with each other? That can be a tuff questions! Does it mean that I let people take advantage of me? Does it mean that I let things go that should be addressed? Do I turn a blind eye to someone who is struggling with sin? The answer is no! To live in complete harmony with others is to live is harmony with God! That’s a big statement. But we have to understand that as believers, we are called to live above reproach. As believers, if we let a ourselves, or another person continue to live in sin, act harshly toward others, live legalistically and not address it in a loving way, we are threatening the harmony of the church.

    As Christ Followers, we are called to Love! Love God and Love others! Sometimes the deepest form of love comes in holding ourselves and others accountable and challenging them to be more like Christ. Now there are right ways and wrong ways to do this. Galatians 6:1 says,

    “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”

    In Matthew 18:15-17 it says,

    “‘If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.’”

    You see, harmony has to be protected as much as it is to be encouraged. Yes it can be difficult, but in the end, it can make everyone closer and stronger when done it’s done in the way the Bible tells us to do it!

    Father help me live in harmony with others! Help me challenge others to live above reproach first by doing so myself. Let me be an encourager and protector so I can live in harmony with you and others. I pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen! 

    When you read Romans 15 what speaks to you?

     

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 14

    “For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.” Romans 14:7-9 (NLT)

    Let’s face it, it’s easy to major in the minors and minor in the majors.  You may have to read that twice.  It’s easy for me to get caught up in the things that don’t matter as much as the things that do matter. In college I avoided many “conversations” (because Bible Students don’t argue … yea right) that wanted to shift the focus on things that we may never know until the day that Christ Returns. Now please hear what I am not saying, you should know what you believe, and should continue to learn, but not at the expense of what Jesus has called us to be and do.

    Remember, our first priority as Christ Followers is to “Love the Lord our God with ALL of our Heart. The second is to “Love others as I love myself.”  When I get caught up in holier than thou “conversations” it’s easy to loose focus of these two things.  Let’s not minor in the majors and miss out on the most important things. Lets focus on living each Day for the Lord, loving the people around us, and when those conversations come up, lets not let them take center stage causing us to forget that in the end, all who have called on the name of the Lord will be saved!

    Father help me to love you with all my heart, and to love others the way I love myself.  Help me to stay focused on the things that really matter and not on things that can cause debate. Let me live today with no regret taking advantage of every opportunity you give! I pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen!

    When you read Romans 14 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 13

    “Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” Romans 13:14 (NLT)

    Everyday we pick out clothes from a closet or draw to be presentable for the day.  Our close may reflect what the day looks like whether is be a work day, play day, or church day. Sadly, many Christians only wear the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday when they pick out their Church clothes. I remember how I used to act different on Sunday’s than I did any other day of the week, why, because I was putting on the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, but sadly, Monday morning would come and I would change into my everyday but Sunday clothes.

    Maybe you were/are like I was.  However, one of the things that I have learned over the years, is to simply ask God to go with me throughout the day. By doing this I am putting on the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. It changes the way I think, talk, and act.  I begin to see thing s the way Jesus see’s them and I begin to listen to God’s whispers as I go though my day.

    Father, today, I want to be clothed with the presence of Lord Jesus Christ. May my thoughts, my talk, and my walk, be impacted because of the silent surrender of my heart to His presence in my life.  May others see Him in me, so you can be given all  the glory. I pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen.

    When you read Romans 13 what speaks to you?