Daily Gospel

GENESIS 1:26-27; PSALM 8:3-8
God made us in his image or likeness, the first sign of the value he places on us. No other creature on earth is made in the image of God. The second sign of the value God places on us is that he placed people over all creatures on earth.

PSALM 139:13-16; JEREMIAH 1:5
God made us with great skill; he crafted us with loving care. He showed how much value he places on us by the way he made us.

PSALM 139:17
Almighty God thinks wonderful thoughts about us all the time. He looks inside of us and sees our real value.

PSALM 139:1-3, 6
God values you so much that he watches over you no matter where you are or what you are doing. This truly is wonderful, too wonderful to believe. But it tells you how special he thinks you are. God cares about everything we do because he loves us so much.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20
God values you so much that he even allows your body to become a temple in which he lives. God does not need to live in you. He can live anywhere. But by choosing to live within you, he declares you his temple, his dwelling place. What a great value he places on you to do that!

GALATIANS 3:26; GALATIANS 4:7
God values you so much that he thinks of you as his child.

MATTHEW 28:20
God promises to be with us always; why would he want to be with us if he didn’t value us?

“Hey, why did you cut your hair short? Sayang hair nimo… But I like your hair now…” That’s what I always heard the next day I cut my hair. One of the reasons why I cut it, is because about what I read in this verse in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

² _ I am so glad, dear friends, that you always keep me in your thoughts and you are following the Christian teaching I passed on to you. ³ _ But there is one thing I want you to know: A man is responsible to Christ, a woman is responsible to her husband, and Christ is responsible to God. ⁴A man dishonors Christ^£ if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. ⁵But a woman dishonors her husband^£ if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. ⁶Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair. And since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, then she should wear a covering.^{£ 7}A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is God’s glory, made in God’s own image, but woman is the glory of man. ⁸For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. ⁹ _ And man was not made for woman’s benefit, but woman was made for man. ¹⁰ _ So a woman should wear a covering on her head as a sign of authority because the angels are watching.

¹¹But in relationships among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. ¹²For although the first woman came from man, all men have been born from women ever since, and everything comes from God.

¹³What do you think about this? Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? ¹⁴ _ Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? ¹⁵And isn’t it obvious that long hair is a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. ¹⁶But if anyone wants to argue about this, all I can say is that we have no other custom than this, and all the churches of God feel the same way about it.

This is Paul’s message to the Corinthians. In many cultures long hair on men are acceptable like in the Philippines today and is considered appropriate and masculine. In Corinth, it was thought to be a sign of male prostitution in the pagan temples. And women with short hair were labeled prostitutes. Paul was saying that in the Corinthian culture, Christian women should keep their hair long. If short hair on women was a sign of prostitution, then a Christian woman with short hair would find it difficult to be a believable witness for Jesus Christ. Paul wasn’t saying we should adopt all the practices of our culture but that we should avoid appearances and behavior that detract from our ultimate goal of being witnesses for Jesus Christ. Though it is acceptable in our culture today to have a long hair for man and I have no problem with that for a man to have long hair.

But the main reason why I cut my hair short is because of the Formal Monday we practice in the office. I didn’t say it’s not appropriate to wear formal attires for man with long hair, it’s only because I feel not suitable for me to wear formal and a pony tail hair.

There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,
"Quality time" is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down! and take a breather-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our cares,
And He'll respond to all your needs
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

PSALM 95:9
9 For there your ancestors tried my patience;
they courted my wrath though they had seen my many miracles.
10 For forty years I was angry with them, and I said,
‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me.
They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11 _ So in my anger I made a vow:
‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”

God gives us plenty of evidence to believe in him. Doubt comes when we fail to stop long enough to observe all the evidence. And when doubt turns to lack of trust, we are in danger of ignoring God altogether.

JOHN 20:27-29

27 _ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
28“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
29 _ Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”
30 _ Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. 31But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.

Doubt can be healthy or destructive, depending on how we use it.

GENESIS 3:4-6
4“You won’t die!” the serpent hissed. 5 _ “God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.”
6 _ The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too.

One of Satan’s tactics is to get us to doubt God’s goodness. He tries to get us to forget all God has given us and focus on what we don’t have. If you are spending much of your time thinking about what you don’t have, you may be slipping into unhealthy doubt.

1 TIMOTHY 3:1-12
In these verses Paul lists numerous characteristics for anyone in church leadership.

1 It is a true saying that if someone wants to be an elder, he desires an honorable responsibility. 2 For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exhibit self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be able to teach. 3He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, peace loving, and not one who loves money. 4 He must manage his own family well, with children who respect and obey him. 5For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
6 An elder must not be a new Christian, because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and the Devil will use that pride to make him fall. 7Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not fall into the Devil’s trap and be disgraced.
8 In the same way, deacons must be people who are respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers and must not be greedy for money. 9They must be committed to the revealed truths of the Christian faith and must live with a clear conscience. 10Before they are appointed as deacons, they should be given other responsibilities in the church as a test of their character and ability. If they do well, then they may serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not speak evil of others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.
12A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.


The word elder can refer to a pastor, church leader, or presiding overseer. It is good to want to be a spiritual leader, but the standards are high. Paul enumerates some of the qualifications here. Do you hold a position of spiritual leadership, or would you like to be a leader some day? Check yourself against Paul’s standard of excellence. Those with great responsibility must meet high expectations.

The lists of qualifications for church office show that living a blameless and pure life requires effort and self-discipline. All believers, even if they never plan to be church leaders, should strive to follow these guidelines because they are consistent with what God says is true and right. The strength to live according to God’s will comes from Christ.

To be a church leader (“elder”) is a heavy responsibility because the church belongs to the living God. Church leaders should not be elected because they are popular, nor should they be allowed to push their way to the top. Instead, they should be chosen by the church because of their respect for the truth, both in what they believe and in how they live.

When Paul says that each elder should be faithful to his wife, he is prohibiting both polygamy and promiscuity. This does not prohibit an unmarried person from becoming an elder or a widowed elder from remarrying.

PROVERBS 5:18-19;
18 _ Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 _ She is a loving doe, a graceful deer. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.

SONG OF SONGS 7:6-12;
6 _ “Oh, how delightful you are, my beloved; how pleasant for utter delight! 7You are tall and slim like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters of dates. 8 _ I said, ‘I will climb up into the palm tree and take hold of its branches.’ Now may your breasts be like grape clusters, and the scent of your breath like apples. 9 _ May your kisses be as exciting as the best wine, smooth and sweet, flowing gently over lips and teeth.”
6. The bride’s tender appeal
Young Woman: 10 _ “I am my lover’s, the one he desires. 11Come, my love, let us go out into the fields and spend the night among the wildflowers. 12Let us get up early and go out to the vineyards. Let us see whether the vines have budded, whether the blossoms have opened, and whether the pomegranates are in flower. And there I will give you my love.

EPHESIANS 5:28, 33
28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife. 29No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body, which is the church. 30And we are his body.
31 _ As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

God clearly shares with us the love and delight dimensions of sex in marriage. Sex is not for reproduction only, but for a bonding of love and enjoyment between husbands and wives.


SONG OF SONGS 5:2-8

Young Woman: 2 _ “One night as I was sleeping, my heart awakened in a dream. I heard the voice of my lover. He was knocking at my bedroom door. ‘Open to me, my darling, my treasure, my lovely dove,’ he said, ‘for I have been out in the night. My head is soaked with dew, my hair with the wetness of the night.’
3“But I said, ‘I have taken off my robe. Should I get dressed again? I have washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?’
4“My lover tried to unlatch the door, and my heart thrilled within me. 5I jumped up to open it. My hands dripped with perfume, my fingers with lovely myrrh, as I pulled back the bolt. 6I opened to my lover, but he was gone. I yearned for even his voice! I searched for him, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. I called to him, but there was no reply. 7 _ The watchmen found me as they were making their rounds; they struck and wounded me. The watchman on the wall tore off my veil.
8“Make this promise to me, O women of Jerusalem! If you find my beloved one, tell him that I am sick with love.”

When marriage becomes routine, it is important to restoke the fires of sexual intimacy.



TRIVIA
Where in the world? What city in Revelation was seen as a place that would never again hear the voices of brides and grooms?

Answer:

Where? Babylon (Revelation 18:23)

God’s mighty power is evident in creation.

Psalm 65:5-13

⁵ You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.

⁶ You formed the mountains by your power
and armed yourself with mighty strength.

⁷ You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.

⁸ Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.

⁹ You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The rivers of God will not run dry;
they provide a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.

¹⁰ You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.

¹¹ You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.

¹² The wilderness becomes a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.

¹³ The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy!

What sweet substance was part of John the Baptist’s diet?

Answer:

Honey (Matthew 3:4)

⁴ John’s clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey.

Carol S. Wimmer

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting, "I am saved!"
I'm whispering "I was lost"
"That is why I chose this way."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble needing
God to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
Asking humbly to be taught.

When I say... " I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are too visible.
But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
Which is why I seek His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I'm loved!

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20."

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him.

Psalm 17:8 states that God will keep us, "as the apple of His eye."

THOUGHT: The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we are but by WHOSE WE ARE! You are special - Don't ever forget it!

For your part, son of man, I have set you as a watchman for Israel, and when you hear my word, you must give them my warning. When I say to the wicked: ‘Wicked man, you shall die for sure,’ if you do not warn the wicked man to turn from his ways, he will die because of his sin, but I will also call you to account for his blood. If you warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you yourself will be saved.

Romans 13:8-10

For this passage, it is clear that whenever you hear God’s words and wisdom, it is your responsibility to tell it to everybody. It means you must win souls to be brought back to Jesus and make disciples to let everybody know Him the Lord our savior.