DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR TUESDAY DECEMBER 12:
WORD OF WISDOM
When a man loses his vision for the future, he dies.
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DAILY DEVOTION
The Practice of Praise
"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne
and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times
ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and
strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
Revelation 5:11-12
When the first angel appeared to the shepherds in the fields outside
Bethlehem, he brought the message for which Israel had been waiting for
thousands of years-that the Messiah and Saviour had come into the world. But
such good news could not be adequately conveyed by a single angel. Instead,
a multitude of angels appeared to give praise and glory to God. This should
not be a surprise, because each time the Bible reveals a glimpse of what is
happening in Heaven, we see angelic praise being offered to God.
If the angels, who do not receive God's gift of salvation praise Him, how
much more should those of us who had no hope of entering His presence apart
from the coming of Christ as our Saviour praise Him? We are the recipients
of the greatest gift of history when we accept salvation by grace through
faith. It is the height of ingratitude not to continually thank and praise
God for what we have received.
Yet too often that is not the case. The Psalmist expressed his desire to see
praise from those who had benefited from God's blessings. "Oh that men would
praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the
children of men!" (Psalm 107:8). There should be a constant stream of praise
proceeding from our lips, not just at Christmas but throughout the year. The
people of God have been granted that status because of His grace and the
gift of His Son, and we should devote our lives to honoring and glorifying
Him.
Those who rightly understand the meaning of Christmas will have hearts and
mouths filled with praise.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Titus 1-3New King James Version (NKJV)
Greeting
1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to
the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords
with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie,
promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word
through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of
God our Savior;
4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ[a] our
Savior.
Qualified Elders
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the
things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded
you- 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful
children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop[b]
must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered,
not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a
lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding
fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound
doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
The Elders' Task
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers,
especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who
subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake
of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans
are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true.
Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not
giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the
truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and
unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable,
disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
Qualities of a Sound Church
2 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2
that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love,
in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior,
not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- 4 that
they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their
children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own
husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things
showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing
integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,[c] 8 sound speech that cannot be
condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil
to say of you.[d]
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well
pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing
all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all
things.
Trained by Saving Grace
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the
blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus
Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every
lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good
works.
15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one
despise you.
Graces of the Heirs of Grace
3 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready
for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle,
showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice
and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the
love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the
washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured
out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been
justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of
eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm
constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Avoid Dissension
9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about
the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man
after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is
warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Final Messages
12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at
Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the
lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.
14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent
needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Farewell
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes:
a.Titus 1:4 NU-Text reads and Christ Jesus.
b.Titus 1:7 Literally overseer
c.Titus 2:7 NU-Text omits incorruptibility.
d.Titus 2:8 NU-Text and M-Text read us.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
