Day 1: "The Living Stone"

1 Peter 2:4-8 "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame. Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone, and A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed."

Psalm 118:22 "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone."

Acts 4:11, 12 "This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Ephesians 2:19-22 "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

Psalm 95:1 "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation."

Insight: Jesus is the precious, living cornerstone of our salvation. He is our strong foundation. Without Him, life crumbles and falls apart. Build on Him - His truth and His promises - and you won’t be disappointed.

Prayer: "Thank you for being the corner of our salvation, Lord. Thank you for being the foundation of solid lives. Help us to understand that we need You. Praise You for wanting to be involved in our lives. Lift us up and help us serve You. Thank you for giving us wisdom and mercy. Make us more like You. Praise You for making the entire Bible make sense. Let people see You in the Old Testament and discover how God chose a way to redeem us ever since the fall. Thank you for being our God. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Day 2: "The Priesthood of Believers"

Matthew 27:50, 51 "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split."

1 Peter 2:5 "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 2:9, 10 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."

Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Insight: Before Jesus came, priests generally mediated between God and man. However, after Christ gave His life for us, we are all considered priests because we can go straight to God. We are a part of the New Covenant.

Prayer: "Thank you for letting us come directly to You. Thank you for always having time to listen to us. Help us to ask for the right things and pursue You from a pure heart. Forgive us for asking amiss. Praise You for giving us your Holy Spirit and helping us see what is good, better and best. Sanctify us, Lord. Remind us that You are always there for us. Motivate us to never break communication with you. Let us be good listeners, so we can hear your voice. To You be all the glory, honor and praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Day 3: "The New Covenant"

Jeremiah 31:31-34 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

Luke 22:20 "Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you."

Hebrews 8:13 "In that He says, A new covenant, He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."

Hebrews 9:15 "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."

Insight: Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant and He give us permission to pray directly to Him. This covenant was foretold in the Old Testament and it was instituted by Christ. Be thankful you don’t have to sacrifice a lamb for your sins!

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us a new and better covenant! Thank you for being the same God with an awesome plan, but helping us know You better. Praise You for knowing how to reach humankind. Thank you for knowing everything from beginning to end and walking us through this life. Thank you for this present day. Help us to see how things are flying past and getting more complicated. Let us keep things simple and remain faithful to You. Increase our faith and our love, Lord. Remind us to read the Word and do your will. Thank you for your patience with us. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Day 4: "Hypocrisy Turns People Away From Christ"

Psalm 26:4, 5 "I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked."

Mark 7:6, 7 "He answered and said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! "

Insight: What could turn people away from God more than someone saying they know Him and how great He is, then totally disobeying Him and running into problems? Strive to thrive by obeying God; for you and for them.

Prayer: "Forgive the unrepentant believers. Help them to see their errors and how their sins are effecting unbelievers. Thank you for convicting us with your Spirit. Let people hear your Spirit clearly and cease evil activity. Praise You for knocking on our door and wanting the best for us. Let us be careful in these last days. Give us great spiritual discernment. Don’t let the Devil fool us, Lord. Let us see things exactly how You would. Remove our fears and worries. Lift us up and remind us that everything will be all right because You win in the end. Thank you for overcoming the world. You are an awesome God. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Day 5: "The Penalty For Unbelief"

Matthew 13:58 "Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

John 16:8-11 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

Titus 1:15 "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. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."

Hebrews 3:18, 19 "And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

John 20:27b "Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

Matthew 12:31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men."

Revelation 21:8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Insight: Unbelief is the one thing that separates people from God. If and when a person believes, they will have communion with God and even eternal life with Him!

Prayer: "Thank you for warning us about unbelief. Thank you for giving us faith and helping us know You. Forgive the ones that don’t believe or find it difficult to believe. Thank you for wanting us to believe without having to see great signs and miracles. Help us to be the believers You want us to be. Remind people that the only sin that won’t be forgiven is unbelief. Thank you for making salvation something that anyone can grasp and understand. Let kids get saved. Let old people get saved. Help them to come to You quickly before it’s too late. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Day 6: "By Faith"

Romans 5:1,2 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Hebrews 11 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented — of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us."

Insight: We must have faith. By faith, God is seen. By faith, we are forgiven and saved. By faith, we will do mighty and great things in God’s holy name. Only by faith.

Prayer: "Thank you for reminding us of the awesome examples of faith. Help us to live in a way that our life will be an example of great faith. Forgive us for our doubts, worries, fears and hang-ups. Let us see things like You do. Help us to tackle challenges. Let us believe that You will catch us when we walk in faith. Help us to attempt things that will surely fail without your divine help. Show us that You will help and our faith will glorify You. Thank you for wanting us to trust and believe in You. Thank you for being so worthy of our trust and devotion. Let us trust ourselves less and You more. We must become less and You must become greater. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Day 7: "Emulate Jesus’ Compassion"

Matthew 9:36 "But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."

Matthew 14:14 "And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick."

Mark 1:41 "Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I am willing; be cleansed.'"

Psalm 78:38 "But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath."

Psalm 86:15 "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth."

Psalm 135:14 "For the LORD will judge His people, and He will have compassion on His servants."

Zechariah 7:9 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.’"

1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing."

Insight: Compassion is essential for Christians because it was essential in Jesus’ life. How do you feel when you see people in need? Do you make attempts to meet their needs or at least pray for them? Let yourself feel the compassion that Jesus felt and let Him move you.

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us great examples of compassion. Let us love people like You do, Lord. Thank you for healing people that would otherwise go unhealed. Thank you for taking the time to help people that could not help themselves. Give us your power, Lord. Let us not doubt You and what You can do through us. Give us great compassion for the lost and hurting. Send us where You may, Lord. Praise You for wanting to take us as far as we will let You. Help us to give up our lives for You. Thank you for wanting to give us more than we understand. Help us to let go of the things that are keeping us down and away from You. Show us how free and strong we can be by submitting everything to You. To You be all the glory, honor and praise, forever and ever. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Don’t flush your toilet!

Ok, flush your toilet, but try flushing your toilet less. Do you realize how many gallons of water you waste by flushing your toilet all the time?

People who live in drought-like conditions know how to conserve water. You may not be living in a drought now, but why wait until then to start saving water? Someone is paying for the water you waste, so you’ll be saving money, too.

I’m not saying that you need to leave your toilet a mess. However, you could consider flushing it less when company isn’t around. You could even consider getting a newer toilet that conserves water!

God bless you as you meet this week’s challenge!

P.S. There are many other ways to save water. You could also try: not running the water when you shave, taking shorter showers, filling the sink when you wash dishes, watering at night, etc.

How do you measure success? How should you measure success? How would God measure success?

miseo: hate or to love less

Luke 14:26 is a famous passage of scripture. It’s famous because it has been taken out of context by people who settle for a superficial reading of the scriptures. Here is the verse: "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."

The word "hate" is miseo. It simply means "to love less". In some modern translations, they correct this oversight.

Those who choose Jesus won’t be disappointed.

When unbelievers stop listening to us, they’ll probably still be watching how we act.

We are never good for nothing.

Jesus has called Christians to engage their world with Christ.

The church is the only organization that exists to serve it’s non-members.

How do you measure success?

These quotes came from God, myself and Joseph Stowell.

These quotes can be used for sanctification and fun. Most of them are directly based on scripture and scriptural principles. Some of my quotes are humorous or rhetorical. Some are written from sermons and Bible studies. Others are lyrics from songs. If you’d like me to go into more detail on any of them, please email me.

Like most verses in the Bible, they can be debated. To use what I’ve written in the most beneficial way, try and trace them back to the scriptures and apply the true principles to your life in a meaningful way! Please don’t sell my quotes or publish them for profit. If English is not your first language, you may not understand some of the quotes. I'm sorry, but some of them are English metaphors and deal with multiple word meanings. God bless you all!

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Jesus loves you!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should have everlasting life."