Day 275 Bible Readings for October 3 – Philippians 3:7 (ESV)

Jeremiah 4:10-31, Jeremiah 5, Philippians 3, Proverbs 1:20-33

Philippians 3:7 (ESV)

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”

Verse 7 from Philippians 3 is a famous verse from Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, a city in Macedonia. This verse from Paul challenges believers to evaluate everything we consider valuable in our lives compared to what we have as followers of Jesus Christ. Paul evaluated all the things in his life before his experience with Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul had everything that society considered successful in the life of a Hebrew male at the time. He was a Pharisee who was a zealous follower of the law and would have held a leadership position in the ruling body of the Hebrews had it not been for his encounter with Jesus Christ. After Paul’s conversion to Christianity, he let go of all the things in his life that might hinder his relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul asks believers to redefine success in life as knowing and serving Jesus Christ, because our identity needs to be rooted in Christ rather than in our achievements and possessions in the world.

I went through a similar evaluation of my life when I became saved, and I am still going through that process now. I always try to ask myself, Am I placing Father-God above all else in my life? Am I willing to let go of the things that seem to get in the way of my relationship with Father-God? Do I value temporary happiness and gains more than my eternal rewards in following Father-God’s plan for my life? As I become more focused on following the Lord’s plan for my life, my contentment and joy have increased. Feeling contentment with my life is what I now consider my most valuable possession.

If you found encouragement in my reflections on this Bible verse, and you want the feeling of happiness and contentment with your life because you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, then I invite you to pray the following prayer aloud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Vacationing in Northern AZ with no cell service

I went up into the mountains for a few days in northern Arizona to camp in the Tonto National Forest, located about an hour outside of Payson. It was warm during the day and freezing at night. And there was no cell service, so no blogging. I climbed up to the highest spot, and still no bars, so I had to just enjoy the views. After midnight, the elk were mating, and the coyotes were howling, which made for sleepless nights. But I was with friends, and it was fun to share meals, talk, and warm ourselves around a large campfire every night.

So I'll be posting the Bible readings that I missed until I'm caught up for the day. 

Day 274 Bible Readings – Jeremiah 3:12-13 (ESV)

Jeremiah 2:31-37, Jeremiah 3, Jeremiah 4:1-9, Proverbs 1:8-19

Jeremiah 3:12-13 (ESV)

“Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord.”

In Jeremiah 3:12-13, the prophet Jeremiah instructs the northern kingdom of Israel to return to the Lord. The northern kingdom had turned away from Father-God by worshiping other deities. Jeremiah urges them to recognize their guilt, rebellion, and disobedience to the Lord’s authority and guidance. He emphasizes that if they repent, Father-God will not remain angry and will show his mercy.

These verses remind us that as followers of Jesus Christ, we serve a merciful God who continually calls us to return to him. He desires a relationship with us, and even when we are unfaithful and disobedient, he is ready to forgive. To restore our relationship with the Lord, we must recognize and admit our sins to Him and truly repent. True repentance requires a genuine change of heart and a commitment to obeying the Lord’s laws and guidance. Father-God’s desire is for restoration of our relationship and healing, and not punishment. He is always prepared to forgive and restore those who return to him.

If my reflections on these Bible verses have inspired you, and you are looking for a Father-God who is always ready to forgive and restore you, even in times of disobedience, I invite you to pray the following prayer aloud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Day 273 Bible Readings – Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah 2:1-30, Philippians 2:1-11, Proverbs 1:1-7

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Solomon, the son of King David, wrote the book of Proverbs, which was divinely inspired by Father-God, to guide His people in moral behavior. "Proverbs" are short sayings that express practical truths. These proverbs emphasize the application of the Lord’s wisdom in everyday life, enabling individuals to live in alignment with Father-God’s will. In verse 7, Solomon states that fearing the Lord provides a foundation for acquiring knowledge, as Father-God is the source of all wisdom. The only individuals who seem to reject the Lord’s ways are fools, who prefer to live according to their own understanding. A "fool" willfully disregards any correction, instruction, or training that could lead to wisdom.

This verse resonated with me this morning because I appreciate Solomon's assertion that Father-God is the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. Those who do not believe in the Lord risk becoming "fools," suffering the consequences of rejecting divine principles in their lives. We all know people who resist correction or instruction, and we can observe the problems that arise from their behavior. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit to help us align our lives with Father God’s will. When we do so, we mature and develop a deeper relationship with Him. However, this growth can only occur when we actively apply biblical principles to our daily lives.

If you found encouragement in my reflections on this Bible verse, and through your faith in Jesus Christ, you want the guidance of the Holy Spirit to apply biblical principles to your life so you can deepen your relationship with Father-God, then I invite you to pray the following prayer aloud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen. If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.