Psalms 6 : Bible Reading Only

Psalms 6

1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.

2 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

3 My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD—how long?

4 Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!

5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.

7 My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer.

10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

1 Peter 3:13-17

Dear Brethren,

There will be times within our lives as Christians when people will question our faith. Because we follow only the Bible, we do things the people of the world do not understand. We refrain from things that are wrong and insist upon doing what is right. This is our duty as Christians, as children of God.

When our friends, family members, or even strangers question us as to our standard of right, we must be able to and willing to give them Bible answers. For instance, if someone asks us why we do not tell lies, we can say, "Ephesians 4:29 tells me that lying is wrong." If someone asks us why we "always" go to church services, we can say, "Hebrews 10:24-25 tells me not to forsake the assembling of the saints." We should use these opportunities to teach other people about the Word of God and our Christianity.

It is possible that you and I will encounter people who will say mean things to us and about us. They will not understand our righteous decisions. There will be times when our friends and our families may even turn their backs on us because of our Christianity. No matter what happens to us, we must always remain faithful to the Lord. We must always be able to "give a defense to everyone who asks."

Here is 1 Peter 3:13-17 presented for your consideration.

1 Peter 3:13-17

13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

In Love,

John Duvall

Matthew 15:21-28

Dear Brethren:

Often in life, a single event can yield multiple lessons. In Matthew 15:21-28, Matthew recorded a story of a woman whose daughter Jesus healed. This event in the life of Jesus yields at least two lessons for you and I.

The first lesson is seen in the faith of the woman of Canaan. The woman had a "severely demon-possessed" daughter. This woman believed that Jesus could heal her daughter. Because of her faith in Jesus' power and ability, the woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter. Is our faith the same as the faith of this trusting woman?

The second lesson is seen in the apostles reaction to the woman. When Jesus initially did not answer the lady, the apostles said, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." Although the apostles were walking with Jesus, they still had many lessons to learn. Jesus said to the apostles, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Let us consider our attitude toward those lost in sin. Are we guilty of sending the lost away or do we seize the opportunity to teach them the truth of God's word?

Here is Matthew 15:21-28 presented for your consideration.

Matthew 15:21-28

21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

In Love,

John

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Dear Brethren:

Continuing on a single path is crucial to you and I living a faithful life to the Father in heaven. During our lives as Christians, we will face many temptations to detour from our God given path. We must stay constant and true to the path which leads to heaven.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul told Timothy to "continue in the things which you have learned." Like you and I, Timothy had learned the "Holy Scriptures" which had made Timothy "wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Paul conveyed to Timothy the importance of continuing in the path established by God's word.

The word of God prepares us for a life of serving Him. The word of God provides us with a doctrine to believe and follow, reproof for those times when we do wrong, correction for changing when we do wrong, and instructions in living righteously. By providing us with these four crucial elements, God's word will make us complete, equipping us for "every good work."

Consider your life and your service to God. Are you continuing in those things which you have learned? If your answer is no, then return to God's word and remind yourself of the path given to you by God.

Here is 2 Timothy 3:14-17 presented for your consideration.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In Love,

John Duvall

Philippians 2:12-18

Dear Brethren,

Every Christian has a personal responsibility regarding his own salvation. While the church, the body of Christ, is designed with the mutual edification of individual saints in mind (that is to say that Christians help each other to be strong and to grow), every Christian must eventually answer for his own life and actions. As a result Christians must "work out" their "own salvation with fear and trembling."

In Philippians 2:12-18, the apostle Paul instructed the saints on how to "work out their own salvation." Consider the following instructions to be remembered and applied within our lives.

• Let us do "all things without complaining and disputing."
• Let us be "blameless and harmless."
• Let us be without fault in the "midst of a crooked and perverse generation."
• Let us "shine as lights in the world."
• Let us "hold fast the word of life."

If we, as children of God, will serve the Lord daily, then the Lord will find us faithful when He comes again. The Lord will find us blameless and without fault, shining as lights in this world. Let us continue to "hold fast the word of life" so that we may spend eternity with our Father in heaven.

Here is Philippians 2:12-18 presented for your consideration.

Philippians 2:12-18

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

In Love,

John Duvall