AME Christian Education - Into God's Word

Daily Spiritual Vitamin

A Covenant of Forgiveness // Hebrews 10:11–18

Monday, October 31, 2011
First, he says, “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
Hebrews 10:16-18

Blessed by God // Matthew 5:1–12

Sunday, October 30, 2011
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:3-6

The Strength of My Heart // Psalm 73:10–26

Saturday, October 29, 2011
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:24–26

Be Merciful // Luke 6:32–36

Friday, October 28, 2011
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35–36

The Way of Righteousness // Isaiah 26:7–11

Thursday, October 27, 2011
The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:7–9

The Inheritance of the Meek // Psalm 37:10–17

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Less is more and more is less. One righteous will outclass fifty wicked, For the wicked are moral weaklings but the righteous are God-strong. Psalm 37:10–17

Comfort for All Who Mourn // Isaiah 61:1–7

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace - a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies - and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory. Isaiah 61:1–3

A Lowly Spirit // Proverbs 16:16–20

Monday, October 24, 2011
Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed, than to share plunder with the proud. Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers; and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. Proverbs 16:19–20

How Sweet Is Love! // Song of Solomon 4:8—5:1a

Sunday, October 23, 2011
How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice! I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey. Song of Solomon 4:10; 5: 5:1a

The Expectations of Love // 1 Corinthians 13

Saturday, October 22, 2011
Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The Source of Love // 1 John 4:7–12

Friday, October 21, 2011
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7–8

A Covenant of Love // Hosea 2:16–23

Thursday, October 20, 2011
In that day, I will make a covenant for them . . . so that all may lie down in safety. I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD. Hosea 2:18–20

The Consequences of Unfaithfulness // Jeremiah 3:1–5

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame. Jeremiah 3:2–3

One Flesh // Genesis 2:18–24

Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." For this reason . . . they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:22-24

God Blessed Them // Genesis 1:26–31

Monday, October 17, 2011
God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals." Genesis 1:28

Remember Your Creato //Ecclesiastes 11:9—12:7, 13

Sunday, October 16, 2011
Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living. It will be too late then to remember him, when the light of the sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. Ecclesiastes 12:1-2, 13b

Ignorance of God’s Work // Ecclesiastes 11:1–9

Saturday, October 15, 2011
God's ways are as hard to discern as the pathways of the wind, and as mysterious as a tiny baby being formed in a mother's womb. Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow -- perhaps they all will. Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.
Ecclesiastes 11:5–6, 9b

Everything Has Its Time // Ecclesiastes 3:1–8

Friday, October 14, 2011
God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God's purpose in this is that people should fear him Ecclesiastes 3:11–14

Toiling for the Wind // Ecclesiastes 5:10–20

Thursday, October 13, 2011
It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work -- whatever they do under the sun -- for however long God lets them live. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life -- that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy. Ecclesiastes 5:18b–20

Nothing to Be Gained // Ecclesiastes 2:1–11

Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I said to myself, "Come now, let's give pleasure a try. Let's look for the 'good things' in life." But I found that this, too, was meaningless. Anything I wanted, I took. I did not restrain myself from any joy. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? Ecclesiastes 2:1, 10–11, 24-25

Nothing New under the Sun? // Ecclesiastes 1:1–11

Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. The rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows again to the sea. Everything is so weary and tiresome! No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Ecclesiastes 1:4–9

Do Not Forsake Me // Psalm 71:1–12

Monday, October 10, 2011
O LORD, you are my refuge; never let me be disgraced. Rescue me! Save me from my enemies, for you are just. Turn your ear to listen and set me free. Be to me a protecting rock of safety, where I am always welcome. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:1–3

Wisdom Is Better than Might // Ecclesiastes 9:13–18

Sunday, October 9, 2011
Then I realized that though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long. But even so, the quiet words of a wise person are better than the shouts of a foolish king. A wise person can overcome weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good. But even so, the quiet words of a wise person are better than the shouts of a foolish king. Ecclesiastes 9:16–17

Wisdom with Words // Ecclesiastes 10:12–20

Saturday, October 8, 2011
It is pleasant to listen to wise words, but the speech of fools brings them to ruin. Since fools base their thoughts on foolish premises, their conclusions will be wicked madness. Foolish people claim to know all about the future and tell everyone the details! But who can really know what is going to happen? Ecclesiastes 10:12–14

Wisdom and Success // Ecclesiastes 10:5–11

Friday, October 7, 2011
When you dig a well, you may fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake. When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you! When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax! Such are the risks of life. Since a dull ax requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. It does no good to charm a snake after it has bitten you. Ecclesiastes 10:8–11

Consider the Work of God // Ecclesiastes 7:1–14

Thursday, October 6, 2011
Being wise is as good as being rich; in fact, it is better. Wisdom or money can get you almost anything, but it's important to know that only wisdom can save your life. Notice the way God does things; then fall into line. Don't fight the ways of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked? Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life. Ecclesiastes 7:11–14

Fear God! // Ecclesiastes 5:1–7

Wednesday, October 5, 2011
So when you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don't follow through on. In such cases, your mouth is making you sin. And don't defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved. And there is ruin in a flood of empty words … Fear God instead. Ecclesiastes 5:4–7

Two Are Better than One // Ecclesiastes 4:4–12

Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

Hope in God’s Steadfast Love // Psalm 33:13–22

Monday, October 3, 2011
The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory for all its strength it cannot save you. But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.
Psalm 33:16–22

Wisdom in Practice // Proverbs 29:16–27

Sunday, October 2, 2011
To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. When the wicked are in authority, sin increases. But the godly will live to see the tyrant's downfall. Discipline your children, and they will give you happiness and peace of mind. Proverbs 29:15-17

The Wisdom of the Righteous // Proverbs 29:2–11

Saturday, October 1, 2011
When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted. A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it. To flatter people is to lay a trap for their feet. Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy. Proverbs 29:2–6