Bible League: Living His Word Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.We are usually less concerned with what we are thinking about than with what we are doing. No one really knows what we're thinking about, but it's a lot easier to find out what we're doing. If our only concern is what people think of us, then taking care of what we do will usually do the job. We won't have to trouble ourselves with cleaning up our thought life in order to keep up appearances. The Apostle Paul in our verse for today, however, wants to encourage us to live up to a higher standard. We should not just clean up our outward life, but also our inward life. Those of us in Christ live by the Spirit and "those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5). If we're Christians who live by the Spirit, then our minds should reflect that fact. If our minds are fixed on things other than what's on Paul's list, then something is amiss. Sometimes all it takes to clean up our inward life is to simply become aware of what we're thinking about. At those times becoming aware of any thoughts of hatred, jealousy, unforgiveness, bitterness, lust, etc. affords us the opportunity to deal with them quickly. We should always be sensitive to what we're thinking about so that we can make a course correction in our thought life if necessary. Sometimes, on the other hand, it's a lot more difficult to gain control of our thoughts. At those times we must turn to the Lord to repent, ask for forgiveness, and help. Our prayer should be the prayer David prayed after his exposure as an adulterer and murderer: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Let's not allow discouragement into our minds if things don't progress as quickly as we would like. After all, discouragement is not one of the things on Paul's list. Getting our minds right is a life-long process. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 24, 25 Leviticus 24 -- Lamp and Bread; Blasphemer Stoned; Eye for Eye NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 25 -- The Sabbath Year and Year of Jubilee NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 1:23-45 Mark 1 -- John the Baptist Preaches, Baptizes Jesus; Jesus Tempted, Calls First Disciples, Preaches, Heals and Prays in Galilee NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Show me the right path, O LORD;point out the road for me to follow. Insight David expressed his desire for guidance. How do we receive God's guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God's primary guidance system is in his Word, the Bible. By reading it and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God's direction for our lives. We may be tempted to demand answers from God, but David asked for direction. Challenge When we are willing to seek God, learn from his Word, and obey his commands, then will we receive his specific guidance. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Genesis 25:11 Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.Hagar had once found deliverance there and Ishmael had drank from the water so graciously revealed by the God who liveth and seeth the sons of men; but this was a merely casual visit, such as worldlings pay to the Lord in times of need, when it serves their turn. They cry to him in trouble, but forsake him in prosperity. Isaac dwelt there, and made the well of the living and all-seeing God his constant source of supply. The usual tenor of a man's life, the dwelling of his soul, is the true test of his state. Perhaps the providential visitation experienced by Hagar struck Isaac's mind, and led him to revere the place; its mystical name endeared it to him; his frequent musings by its brim at eventide made him familiar with the well; his meeting Rebecca there had made his spirit feel at home near the spot; but best of all, the fact that he there enjoyed fellowship with the living God, had made him select that hallowed ground for his dwelling. Let us learn to live in the presence of the living God; let us pray the Holy Spirit that this day, and every other day, we may feel, "Thou God seest me." May the Lord Jehovah be as a well to us, delightful, comforting, unfailing, springing up unto eternal life. The bottle of the creature cracks and dries up, but the well of the Creator never fails; happy is he who dwells at the well, and so has abundant and constant supplies near at hand. The Lord has been a sure helper to others: his name is Shaddai, God All-sufficient; our hearts have often had most delightful intercourse with him; through him our soul has found her glorious Husband, the Lord Jesus; and in him this day we live, and move, and have our being; let us, then, dwell in closest fellowship with him. Glorious Lord, constrain us that we may never leave thee, but dwell by the well of the living God. Daily Light on the Daily Path Leviticus 4:12 that is, all the rest of the bull, he is to bring out to a clean place outside the camp where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.John 19:16,18 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. • There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Hebrews 13:11-13 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. • Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. • So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 1 Peter 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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