Psalms 1

Dear Brethren,

Good Thursday Morning!

There is a great deal to be said about the importance of a proper attitude within the life of a Christian. A Christian's attitude towards God and His word will make the difference between living a faithful life and an unfaithful life. In the end, the attitude will either "make or break" a Christian.

Consider for example the thoughts of David found in Psalms 1. According to David, our attitude towards the "counsel of the ungodly," the "path of sinners," and the "seat of the scornful" should be that of complete avoidance. Whereas, our attitude toward the law of the Lord should be "delight." We should be willing to meditate "day and night" upon God's law.

If we possess the right attitude, then, as David wrote, we "shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Yes, our attitude towards God and His wonderful Word is essential to you and me living faithful lives to God in heaven. How is your attitude today?

Here is Psalms 1 presented for your consideration.

Psalms 1

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

In Love,

John Duvall

Colossians 3:5-11

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning.

Change is a part of life. Every day of our lives, we face changes of one type or another. Some people do their best to avoid changes, but in the end, changes do come. The changes in some people's lives are as simple as changing clothes, eating habits, etc. But the changes in other people's lives can be as great as changing spouses, families, jobs, etc. There are times when change is good. There are also times when change is bad.

In our lives as Christians, there are changes that must take place if we are to be pleasing to God. First, we must walk away from the sinful life we lived before becoming Christians. Secondly, we must work to keep sin out of our lives. In his letter to the church in Colosse, Paul addressed this need to change. According to the apostle Paul, we are to put off (put out of our lives), "anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth" and lying. The reason for this change is because we put on the "new man" when we were baptized into Jesus Christ. As a result, we must make the necessary changes within our lives.

Here is Colossians 3:5-11 presented for your consideration.

Colossians 3:5-11

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

In Love,

John Duvall

John 17:20-26

Dear Brethren,

Good Tuesday Morning!

Prayer is a valuable tool and asset in the life of a Christian. With prayer, we pray for others, we pray for ourselves, we offer thanks to the Lord, etc. Throughout the Bible, there are numerous examples of followers of God praying. One such example is found in John 17. In John 17, we see Jesus Christ praying to His heavenly Father.

In John 17:20-26, Jesus, towards the close of His prayer, prays for you and me. Jesus did not pray for His apostles alone. Jesus prayed for those who would believe in Him through the words of His apostles. Jesus prayed that all who believed in Him would be one as He was one with the Father. As such, the glory which God gave Jesus, Jesus would give to those who believe on Him. Such unity would show the world that God the Father did truly send Jesus to this world.

Did God answer Jesus's prayer? Is God answering Jesus's prayer today? The answer is a resounding, "Yes." Not everyone who professes a belief in Jesus truly believes in Jesus and all His word. But those who do truly believe in Jesus, accepting and obeying His word, are one as Jesus and the Father are one. Let us, you and me, do our part in making certain that we truly believe and obey the Words of Jesus Christ. Let us also make certain that we are doing our part in teaching others about the necessity of belief and obedience, so they too might be one with us.

Here is John 17:20-26 presented for your consideration.

John 17:20-26

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;

21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:

23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.

26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

In Love,

John Duvall

Proverbs 1:1-7

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

Some people seem to never learn. When life throws them a lesson, they reject it and blame the consequences upon other people. There are people in their sixties who are just as foolish as they were when they were children. They close their eyes to the treasures found in learning and heeding the lessons of life. Such self-imposed ignorance is unnecessary and tragic.

In the beginning of the book of Proverbs, Solomon itemizes for us some of the elements of this wonderful treasure. For instance, the treasure of wisdom is composed of instructions, understanding, justice, judgment, equity, prudence, knowledge, discretion, wise counsel, etc.

Wisdom is a treasure available to all who will seek to find it. This treasure is available to both the young and the old. Much of this wisdom comes with time, study, experience, and learning. To those who choose to fear God, they will obtain this great treasure. It will be the foolish ones who choose to reject wisdom and instructions.

Here is Proverbs 1:1-7 presented for your consideration.

Proverbs 1:1-7

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;

4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—

5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In Love,

John Duvall

Philippians 2:1-8

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

How would you describe your relationship with fellow Christians? Would you say that you have a good relationship with your brethren, always putting them first and considering their well being? Within my own life, I know that I can work better in putting my brethren first. There are times when I do not always check on my brethren as regularly as I should.

However, to be pleasing to Christ, I must work to do better. There are two things I must do to improve my effeciency in checking on my brethren. Firstly, I must be better organized in my efforts to check up on others, making a plan and working the plan. (However, the first part fails if I do not follow the second part.) Secondly, I must follow the words of the apostle Paul and "esteem others better" than myself. I must work to be "like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" with my brethren. I must look out not only for my own interest, but for the interest of others. I must strive to have the mind of Christ, who put all others before Himself when He died upon the cross of Calvary.

Here is Philippians 2:1-8 presented for your consideration.

Philippians 2:1-8

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

In Love,

John Duvall