Category Archives: Passages of the Bible

Bible Studies, Passages of the Bible, Scripture Memory

Working, Sleeping, and “Baking some Bread.”

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In my early years as a Christian, I memorized this passage. Since then I’ve quoted it as inspiration to get out of bed – many times.

I thought I’d post it real quick, and paste some commentary on it from a couple of different sources. Enjoy, be blessed, and may the Lord grant you rest when it’s time to sleep, and energy when it’s time to work. Your labors will be rewards both Spiritually and physically.

(See also Proverbs 10:4; 20:4; 23:21)

Hebrew Bible Study App, “The expression “you shall be satisfied with bread” means you will have enough to eat; you will be sustained and your basic needs will be met. In the context of the verse, King Solomon is teaching us about the importance of diligence and effort:

• “Do not love sleep” — Don’t be lazy or spend all your time sleeping (or by extension, being idle).

• “Lest you come to poverty” — If you avoid work and effort, you may fall into poverty.

• “Open your eyes” — Be alert, active, and seek opportunities to be productive.

• “And you shall be satisfied with bread” — If you put in the effort and are diligent, you will have your needs provided for; you’ll have (at least) enough bread to satiate your hunger, meaning your sustenance is secured.

Deeper meaning: “Bread,” in Jewish tradition, symbolizes the basic necessities of life. The verse is not just about food, but a metaphor for being provided for in all ways—physical and perhaps even spiritual.

Perek Shirah—which is a collection of praises recited by natural creatures—references this verse in one of the calls of the rooster, according to some versions. The rooster calls upon people not to oversleep and miss Torah study or mitzvot.

In summary:
“…you shall be satisfied with bread” means: If you are alert and industrious, God will provide that you have your fundamental needs met.

Gill, “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; sleep is a very great natural blessing; it is a gift of God, what nature requires, and is desirable; it is to be loved, though not immoderately; it is sweet to a man, and what he should be thankful for; yet should not indulge himself in to the neglect of the proper business of life; nor to be used but at the proper time for it; for the eye is made for sight, and not for sleep only, as Aben Ezra observes, connecting the words with the preceding; and therefore should not be kept shut and inattentive to business, which must necessarily end in poverty and want; see Proverbs 6:9; and so spiritual sleep and slothfulness bring on a spiritual poverty in the souls of men, both as to the exercise of grace and the performance of duty;

Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread; that is, open thine eyes from sleep, awake and keep so, and be sedulous and industrious in the business of thy calling; so shalt thou have a sufficiency of food for thyself and family; see Proverbs 12:11. It may be applied to awaking out of sleep in a spiritual sense, and to a diligent attendance to duty and the use of means, whereby the souls of men come to be satisfied with the goodness of the Lord, and the fatness of his house; see Ephesians 5:14.”

Faith, From my Devotional Reading, Instagram Post, Passages of the Bible

God’s Power is Needed and Available

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I don’t know about you, but I’m bombarded – daily – with situations that can easily and swiftly overpower me.

Next thing you know, I’ve given in to sin, to anger, to depression, to laziness, to throwing myself a massive “pity party,” and yet, I know better. I’ve learned that pity parties are not productive!

Isaiah writes about waiting on the LORD (Isaiah 40:31). This means that I need to simply believe (from the heart), that the LORD knows my situation, and is working it all together for good (Romans 8:28).

I need to muster up that mustard seed of faith to pray and obey, and draw my strength from Almighty God, who will strengthen me to fly high in the heavenlies and soar over ALL that might come my way TODAY that tries to bring me down.

Praying for you too my friend, may God himself empower you with HIS strength to face every single challenge…and prevail!

Devotionals, Mission's, Passages of the Bible, Reflection, Travel

Paul’s Travels

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Acts 20:16 (NKJV) “For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.”
 

Did you know that Paul the Apostle traveled over 10,000 miles in his 3 missionary journeys and voyage to Rome? This is all before, trains, planes, and automobiles. Not a simple safari by any means, keep in mind back then the roads were bumpy, and the oceans were wild (still are)!
 
Did you know that this would be a minimum of 281 travel days? (And I thought a 14-hour flight to Cambodia was a lot!)
 
Paul’s journeys would cost at least 1,731 denarii (a denarii was a day’s wages). When you do the math (include 1 day off each week), this would be the equivalent of what a working man would earn in 5.5 years, somewhere around $302,500 in the year 2024. 
 
If you’re interested in an article on this, shoot me an email; all this is according to a study conducted by Harvard University. (manny@calvarychapelelmonte.com)
 
Why would Paul go so far? Why would he risk his life, time and time again? So many days, weeks, and months in hazardous conditions. Most of us can only handle a short vacation, much less long missions. We want to enjoy the creature comforts and familiarly of home. 

And so much money! Think of the fancy clothes, gold bling, choice chariots, or even the mansion Paul could have secured in Tarsus or Rome with that amount of money!
 
The answer to all these questions of why, is primarily Who? Jesus!
 
Jesus led Paul…all the days of his life. Jesus really was His Lord, for Paul had embraced Him – loved Him as Savior. 

In our text for today, we read that Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus. It would have been much easier to stay in Ephesus, rest a while, he had plenty of friends there. But Jesus wanted him to keep the feast in Jerusalem. So, he kept it. I’ve definitely discovered over the years that obedience and inconvenience are often siamese twins. (Selah)
 
Let’s learn from Paul, the bondservant of Jesus Christ. Let’s be willing to surrender time and treasure, to sacrifice comfort when He calls, and pleasure to please Him. As we are dispatched at times to sail past our own personal desires, to do His will, I promise you, so many will be blessed…even you.
 
Safe travels my friend!
 
Your brother in Christ,
– Manny

Devotionals, Jesus, Passages of the Bible

Jesus

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Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

Imagine that! Your prayer meeting moves God to move the world – the earth quakes and shakes; but that’s not the best part. Next thing you know all the people in the prayer meeting are FILLED with the Holy Spirit and they speak God’s word with boldness!
 
What an awesome event – especially considering the events that led up to it.
 
Peter and John had been arrested for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Jewish authorities commanded the Apostles “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18)
 
Of course, the Christians knew this was a clear contradiction of commands – so they were set to obey God rather than man – but they didn’t pout about it; they didn’t picket, protest, or throw a pity-party…they simply prayed. 
 
They prayed passionately, and God answered immediately and miraculously.
 
The earthquake happened because the Holy Spirit “arrived” with greater measure… there was more power from on high, so that they freely preached the name of Jesus and His Word with boldness – unequivocally and unintimidated by the threats of men.
 
Wow!
 
Some things never change. The enemy doesn’t want you to share the name of Jesus, and he daunts and distracts in different ways.
 
Can I ask you a question?
 
Have you shared Jesus with anyone lately? A few of you have, but I have a hunch that some of you haven’t. What difference does it make if we’re silent due to legislation, intimidation, or a lack of concentration? My friend don’t let the enemy silence you. Don’t let that cat get your tongue. Let’s determine to speak the Name of Jesus – for He is the only answer to every problem.
  
I hope we learn from the example of the disciples…and pray passionately.
 
I hope we emulate the disciples and speak Jesus and His Word with boldness.

Acts 16:30–31, And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Until the whole world hears, your brother in Christ,
– Manny

From my Devotional Reading, Passages of the Bible

From this Morning’s Devotions

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I read Hebrews 8 and Jeremiah 1-5

Some verses that stood out to me; along with brig thoughts.

Hebrews 8:1 (NKJV) “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV) “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

This is the main point, the writer says, we have Jesus. We have Jesus as our personal High Priest in the heavenlies, who has offered Himself on the cross, and because He ever lives, continues to minister on our behalf…every day. This better covenant with better promises – promises to wash away my sins so thoroughly, that God will remember them no more. WOW!

Hebrews 8:13 (NKJV)

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.

The Hebrews were going back to Judaism. Why would anyone go back to the law and religion? Why would they leave Jesus thinking that He is insufficient?

O Lord, that I would never go back, that I would never, ever leave You!

—

Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

God ordained beforehand the what, and where, and to whom for the life of Jeremiah. He’s done the same for us!

Do not be afraid, God would say, over and over again, “for I am with you.”

Jeremiah 2:13 (NKJV)

13 “For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Which means they would die of thirst! Suffer from dehydration. Dehydration makes us delirious.

Judah would have appearances of revival, but they did not return nationally, with her whole heart (Jeremiah 3:10).

Jeremiah 3:15 (NKJV)

15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

A promise and a prayer. O Lord, that we would have Your heart; that we would feed the flock Your Word…faithfully.

Over and over again God invites His people to return to Him; He would pardon and receive.

Jeremiah 4:14 (NKJV)

14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

So much of our mannerisms begins in the mind. O Lord, please weed out all wickedness! Please help us to set our minds on You.

Jeremiah 4:22 (NKJV)

22 “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”

Many people know how to connect the dots of evil, but Lord, how do we apply Your Word for good? Please show me.

Jeremiah 5:25 (NKJV)

25 Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you.

O Lord, please help me, make me strong and set apart from sin. Not to sound selfish, but the last thing I want is for You to withhold good things from me, my family, and the flock.

Jeremiah 5:30–31 (NKJV)

30 “An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?”

What a horrible thing, that we continue to see, even today. Prophets and priest speaking their own word by their own power…and to think that the people love it. What will they do in the end? O Lord, may I speak Your Word with Your power, please Lord!