Verse of the Day 4/21

Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 4-5, Luke 19:11-27

Good morning,
For the last couple of Sunday's our High School Sunday School class has been looking at the importance or our attitudes (last week) and the Lord's prayer (this week) and how they relate to one another.
Last week one of the students said that she had seen a statement on a church sign that week which read "don't use God, ask God to use you".
Another student closed in prayer. I had to write down something that he prayed, "teach me to know how to let you use me". Those two things stuck with me, were in my mind, all of this past week.
As part of my devotions I normally read a devotion from Tabletalk Magazine which is put out by R.C. Sproul's "Ligonier Ministries". They don't put out a verse or devotion for Sunday's and I normally read one of the short articles in the devotional. Today's article was on the Heidelberg Catechism.
The catechism came about when the political leader of the "Palatinate" (one of 300 small states that made up the Holy Roman (German) Empire in the 16th century), Elector Frederick III, came to power in 1559. Dr. Bierma writes, " He conducted a visitation of the churches in his realm to assess their spiritual progress. What he found was disheartening. The young people were growing up "without the fear of God and the knowledge of His Word". Where doctinal instruction was being offered, teachers and preachers were using a variety of catechisms, and some of the instructors were even confusing their students with irrelevant questions and unsound teachings. If we are really to bring about a reformation in our territory, Frederick III concluded, the place to begin is with the training of our children - youth ministry. And for that we need a single, clear guide to biblical truth and instructors who teach and live by that guide."Couldn't that be written in this country today?
Today's verse comes from Romans 14, a couple of verses which are the first referrenced in this catechism.
Rom 14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. NKJV
The catechism starts with the question, "What is thy only comfort in life and death?". The answer is as follows:
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)
The focus of our Christian lives should not be on ourselves, but to please our Lord and Saviour, submitting our will to His.I've attached the references to question 1.. If you have the time, read through them, may the verses inspire you to live to the Lord this week.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net

Romans14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

(a) Rom.