Psalms 19:7-11

Dear Brethren,

Attitude! Our study of God's Word and the frequency with which we study is all about our attitude toward's God wonderful word. Consider carefully your life and your Bible study habits. Do you study your Bible everyday? Do you consider the Lord's teachings before making decisions within your life? Do you contemplate the way of the Lord? With the right attitude, you will study as your should.

Presented for your consideration is Psalm 19:7-11 which shows us King David's attitude towards God's wonderful word.

Psalms 19:7-11

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

In Love,

John Duvall

John 13:31-35

Dear Brethren,

Good Thursday Morning!!

For a moment in time, try to imagine what it must have been like to have been a disciple of Jesus Christ when He walked the earth. Imagine what it might have been like to have heard Jesus' voice, to see His facial expressions as He talked, to watch His eyes as He looked at you. Imagine being present when Jesus fed the five thousand people, or when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Is it not easy to understand why the disciples of Jesus followed Him, desiring to be near Him?

Having imagined yourself present with Jesus, consider now your feelings knowing that Jesus would soon leave your presence. Before Jesus was crucified, He told His disciples that He would be with them for a short time, then He would leave. Jesus explained to His disciples that while they may "seek" Him, they would not find Him because where Jesus was going, His disciples could not go. Jesus would leave His disciples behind to do His work, to follow His word.

In John 13:34-35, Jesus gave His disciples a "sign" by which all the world would know that they were Jesus' disciples. What is that "sign" and do you possess it as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Do you love your fellow brethren in Christ? If so, then let the love which Jesus taught be seen in your actions toward your brethren. Live as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Here is John 13:31-35 presented for your consideration.

John 13:31-35

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.

32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In Love,

John Duvall

Colossians 1:19-23

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

The greatest blessing shared by all Christians is the salvation of their souls. When Jesus died upon the cross of calvary, He reconciled "all things to" the Father, "having made peace through the blood of His cross." The greatness of this blessing is seen in the fact that all Christians, at one time, "were alienated and enemies . . . by wicked works." Because of the blood of Christ, a Christian's past does not prevent his reconcilation with the Father in heaven.

Once a person has been reconciled to the Father, this new Christian should strive to be holy, blameless, and above reproach in the sight of God. This can only be accomplished if the Christian will "continue in the faith" and remain "grounded and steadfast", not moving "away from the hope of the gospel" of Jesus Christ.

Here is Colossians 1:19-23 presented for your consideration.

Colossians 1:19-23

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

In Love,

John Duvall

Proverbs 6:12-19

Dear Brethren,

Good Monday Morning!

In your life, you will find many hazzards which you must avoid in order to remain safe. An improperly inflated care tire could present a driving hazzard. A natural gas leak in your home would definitely be a hazzard to your health. Whatever the hazzard may be, you must either fix the hazzard or avoid the hazzard.

Within our lives as Christians, we will likewise face many hazzardous situations and hazzardous people. Thankfully, the Bible warns us of such hazzards. Consider, for instance, the writings of Solomon in Proverbs 6:12-19. In this passage Solomon warned the reader about a "worthless person, a wicked man" who walks with a perverse mouth. This type of person will attempt to deceive you by shifting the blame and focus upon others. This worthless person will plan wicked deeds and actions. He tries to turn one person against another.

We must not allow ourselves to fall victims to such worthless people. Let us consider carefully those with whom we have association. Let us also consider ourselves so as not to become that worthless person. Let us remove from our lives those seven things which are an abomination to the Lord.

Presented for your consideration is Proverbs 6:12-19.

Proverbs 6:12-19

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

13 He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;

14 Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

In Love,

John Duvall

Acts 20:1-12

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

Today is Sunday, the first day the week. It is the day when saints throughout the world assemble together in their respective areas to worship the Father in heaven. It is the day when saints proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. It is the day the Lord arose from the grave.

During the first century, the apostles taught the Christians to assemble upon the first day of the week to "break bread." While we do not have a specific verse showing a command to assemble upon the first day of the week, we do have an example of the saints assembling upon the first day of the week. In Acts 20:7, we see a simple record of the saints assembling together on the first day of the week to break bread. (From other studies within the New Testament, we understand that to "break bread" is to partake of the Lord's Supper as instituted by Jesus Christ.)

What are your plans for today? Make certain that your plans include assembling with the saints in your area. Assemble together to break bread and to worship your Father in heaven.

Here is Acts 20:1-12 presented for your consideration.

Acts 20:1-12

1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.

2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece

3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas.

6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.

9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.

10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”

11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.

12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.

In Love,

John Duvall