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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Easter Reflections: Day 16

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 16: Matthew 6-7 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 6) Do Good to Please God 1“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. The Model Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you … [Read more...]

Easter Reflections: Day 15

As Easter approaches, the Baptist Message team invites you to pause daily from the hustle and bustle of life to focus on the days leading up to Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Join us in this challenge to read through the Gospels to get a greater understanding of Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Day 15: Matthew 3-5 (NKJV) ========================= (Matthew 3) John the Baptist Prepares the Way 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to … [Read more...]

What matters in prayer

By Waylon Bailey When we pray, we please God. God’s Word tells us to pray in all times and in all things. Paul said that prayer is the antidote for anxiety. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). What matters in prayer? First, it’s not your eloquence in prayer and certainly not the length of your prayers. Prayers are often awkward or feeble. At least that is the way I view many of my prayers. Jesus taught us to pray in profound ways, but the amazing part of the prayer is the sincerity and heart’s desire. He taught us to pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The words of devotion and the attitude of submission matter in prayer. Second, what matters most is the One to whom we pray. It is not prayer that changes things (although I understand the meaning and sentiment behind those words); it is the God to whom we pray that makes all the difference. Remember, God tells us to pray fervently, believing, and in faith, but those are not transactional words. It is not … [Read more...]