Hi Friends,I have been enjoying our daily Bible reading calendar so much this year. Many of you have expressed that you are following along as well. If you’ve struggled a bit, don’t worry, don’t give up! If you have not been using it yet, but would like to start, July 1 would be a perfect time to start! We will be starting over with Psalm 1, Proverbs 1, and Matthew 1. See me or let me know if you want one of the calendars we have left.
It’s always interesting when we are reading from 4 different places in the Bible, and we find verses corresponding with other verses on the same day. For example, in today’s reading in 1 Kings, we read Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple. Included in the prayer was this statement: “If they sin against you– for there is no one who does not sin– and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, (1 Kings 8:46)
A direct cross-reference to that verse is a verse we read in Proverbs today: Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? (Proverbs 20:9)
That is a critical point that is referred to throughout Scripture. Notice a few similar passages:
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. (James 3:2)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)
As you read the Bible, pay attention to the ways in which you see how it all ties together throughout the whole Book. The point of the above verses is that everyone has sinned; nobody can claim that they haven’t. But when we turn to God for forgiveness through Jesus Christ, He forgives and cleanses!
Please be in prayer for our “Kingdom Rock” Vacation Bible School (July 8-12)! Be looking for children you can invite to be a part of this great week. Remember this Saturday is the Pioneer Picnic Parade at 10am in Brownsville. If you are going to be a part of our float, be there between 8:00 and 8:30. Judging will be at 9:00. We will promote the VBS, pass out flyers, and toss candy! This Sunday, Elizabeth will have a bulletin board with supplies needed for crafts and snacks. Please stop by and sign up to help with as much as you can. Also remember there is a meeting for everyone interested in working at VBS at 4pm this Sunday.
Our message Sunday morning will be from Galatians 4:8-20. I trust you will read it ahead of time. The message is called, “You Perplex Me!” Have you ever been perplexed by someone’s behavior? (You don’t need to answer that if you’re a parent!) Paul’s tone changes a bit at this point of the letter, and he begins a personal appeal to his converts in Galatia. We are going to try and say another memory verse together before the sermon this week:
Also, you may want to consider joining the evening Bible study group that meets at the church on Sunday at 5:30pm. This week they will be starting a 5 week video series by Alistair Begg called “Here is Your God” from the book of Isaiah. It will be sure to be an inspiring time.