Deuteronomy 21:1-3 (KJV)
If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

The city officials took responsibility for the loss of life if the guilty party could not be found. Our cities would be better places if those in authority took responsibility before God for the crimes of the city.

Notice that they didn’t write new laws to restrict the freedoms of their citizens. Such an action ultimately puts the blame on the citizens rather than the officials. What they did was appeal to God for mercy. Here is our country’s great problem. Our leaders are:

• Moving farther away from God 
• Refusing to accept spiritual accountability and therefore 
• Blaming the problems on everyone other than those God made accountable

We need a spiritual revival in government. We need officials who:

• Confess their sins 
• Own the sins of their citizenry and 
• Seek God for mercy

To my readers:
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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Deuteronomy 21:1-3 (KJV) Revival In Government

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Deuteronomy 19:4-5 (KJV)
And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:

More modern versions of the Bible change the Ten Commandments to read, “Thou shalt not murder” rather than the King James, Thou shalt not kill.

Invariably they will claim the more modern version is more accurate. They will also likely point out that the newer translation solves a problem with the King James; that being that “kill” includes other times when the Bible approves death such as in war or in the case of the death penalty. No such problem exists for the one who will but read all of God’s Word. Thou shalt not kill is completely appropriate. No modern improvement is necessary. All we need to do is compare Scripture with Scripture. Here we have but one example where the Word of God defines that sort of “kill” that is against the commandments and that which is not.

Just read your Bible. The King James Bible will make plenty of sense if you will do that.

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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Deuteronomy 19:4-5 (KJV) Just Read Your Bible

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1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 (KJV)
But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

Paul was a man, subject to like passions as we all. God used him in marvelous ways and blessed his work supernaturally. I am certain he was a man of God and, though not perfect, a perfect example for the preacher.

Paul’s ministry was attacked again and again in his day, yet he held firm that he preached, “not as pleasing men but God, which trieth our heart.” Still, he hurt when those he loved chose not to love him and he rejoiced whenever he learned that those he had preached to held on to their love for him. When he received word from Timothy that the church in Thessalonica “greatly desired” to see him his soul was lifted in joy. He too longed to see them.

I personally know a great many Christians that I would love to see again. Many of them I will likely not see this side of eternity. Some of them have no desire to see me and, in fact, avoid me. But those who, ever so often, communicate their love for me and that they miss me – those Christians rejoice my heart.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 (KJV) I Would Love to See You Again

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1 Thessalonians 2:2 (KJV)
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

Paul was quite the man.

Years of ministry had left him with a litany of adventures to rehearse, whenever the circumstances warranted. In this case he recalled to the church in Thessalonica his introduction to them.

He had just come from Philippi where he said he and his companions had been shamefully treated. Paul and Silas had been beaten there and thrown into prison. God used the experience but it would have been a tough one.

Now he comes to Thessalonica. Paul reminded them that, though they had suffered in Philippi, his entrance in Thessalonica was with boldness and contention. A battle in Philippi in no way left him reticent to battle in Thessalonica.

I just received a periodical whose current edition is on the manly church. A manly church requires but one thing, a manly preacher. That manliness is not defined in guns, weight lifting or tattoos. Manliness is defined as boldness in preaching the gospel and willingness to engage the unsaved with the Word of God.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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1 Thessalonians 2:2 (KJV) Manliness

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1 Thessalonians 1:1 (KJV)

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Cambridge Bible notes calls the phrase, “in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ” the definition of a true church. The word for church, ecclesia, was a common word. It refers to an assembly. Paul meant to distinguish his audience in Thessalonica from other assemblies that may have existed in that city at that time.

This assembly is,

In God the Father

• It is not a city counsel meeting
• It is not a fraternal order
• It is not a pagan gathering

This assembly is recognized as existing in God the Father:

• His plan,
• His glory and
• His purpose

Further this assembly is,

In the Lord Jesus Christ

This distinguishes it from any Jewish gathering or synagogue. This assembly is:

• Bought by Jesus
• Built by Jesus belongs to Jesus and is
• Beloved by Jesus

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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1 Thessalonians 1:1 (KJV) The Definition of a True Church

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Colossians 4:1 (KJV)
Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

The founders of the United States said often that the Constitution and government they had created would only work for a Christian people. They knew that the nature of man could not be forced to do right but must choose it. They knew that the only motivation that could consistently lead men to choose right is faith in the God of the Bible. No other god leads men to such heights of self sacrifice. Most other gods, as they are described in their religious teachings, are themselves petty and immoral.

And so we see, in our text, one of the greatest motivators for being just with our fellow man; knowing, not merely believing but knowing, we all have a master in heaven.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Colossians 4:1 (KJV) A Master In Heaven

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Colossians 3:3-4 (KJV)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

We, who are Christians, are dead. But we are alive.

We likely do not spend anywhere near enough time contemplating our spiritual death.

Romans 6:2
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?[1]

Christ is here said to be our life.

• He is the breath of it, the spoken Word that created all things.
• He is the sustainer of it, the one by whom all things consist 
• He is the Saviour of it, the Redeemer of our sin 
• He is the director of it, the guide from darkness into light
• He is the passion of it, the purpose for which we live
• He is the hope of it, the blessed hope for which we long and with whom we will live eternally 

[1] A good meditation on the whole of Romans chapter six would do well to complement this passage. It addresses in detail the implications of both our death with Christ and our life in Christ.

To my readers:
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For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Colossians 3:3-4 (KJV) Dead, But Alive

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Colossians 2:5 (KJV)
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Some students of the Bible believe that Paul did not plant the church in Colossi. They believe he led some key members of that church to the Lord while working in Ephesus and that they returned home to plant this church.

Consider then when Paul says he is absent in the flesh but present in the spirit. He does not mean he misses them personally. He means they are of the same spirit. When he says he beholds their order and their steadfastness in the faith he means that, though he has never witnessed it personally he knows exactly what it looks like because he has seen it in like churches in other places.

• Order refers to their practice in the church. 
• Faith refers to the doctrines they preach. 
• Steadfastness speaks of their unwavering dedication to them both. 

Some people complain about tradition. I, like Apostle Paul, rejoice in tradition. It is the steadfastness of our order and faith.

Fellowship stems from these. With like order and faith we may rejoice with congregations we will never see in the flesh but share with frequently in the spirit.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Colossians 2:5 (KJV) Stedfast in Faith and Order

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Colossians 1:15-18 (KJV)
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

He is….

• He is the image of the invisible God
• He is the firstborn of every Creature
• He is the creator of all things 
• He is before all things 
• He is the head of the body, the church 
• He is the beginning 
• He is preeminent 

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Colossians 1:15-18 (KJV) He Is…

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Philippians 4:1 (KJV)
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

The word, “therefore” always draws us back to a previous doctrine. In this verse that doctrine supports the reason we ought to stand fast in the Lord.

Philippians 3:20-21
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Here is the truth that is meant to be the motivation for all Christian behavior, our heavenly promises. Frankly if a person is not willing to live for them he has no rightful claim to faith at all.

Stand fast in the Lord today because of His promises for you then.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Philippians 4:1 (KJV) The Motivation of the Believer

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Philippians 3:3 (KJV)
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

True Israel is those who:

• Walk by faith as Abraham, are 
• Born of a promise as Isaac and 
• Rejoice in Christ as Paul

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Philippians 3:3 (KJV) True Israel

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Philippians 2:27 (KJV)
For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Sorrow upon sorrow.

The book of Philippians is one of the most positive things Paul wrote; maybe the most positive. Yet even in this book he admits he had sorrow and that, had Epaphroditus died, the sorrow added to his sorrow may have been more than he could bear.

Here is the lot of the Biblical preacher. He bears a burden that is overwhelming, except Christ sustain him. Spurgeon once wrote, “Depression is the lot of the preacher. God will not share His glory.” The preacher wisely seldom reveals his heartache. He lives above the burden only through Christ lifting him over it. But it is there.

• His weakness
• His inability to win the souls of all he would like
• His heartbreak over the backslider
• His sense of failure that his message was not sufficient to minister to one or another in the congregation

These things weight on him.

But God has mercy. The burden is never so much he cannot continue. Only enough that he must rest in Jesus to carry on.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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Philippians 2:27 (KJV) The Preacher’s Lot

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Philippians 1:12 (KJV)
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Every preacher could use some friends like those Paul had in Philippi. He likely never saw their faces again (though he did pray it would happen). But the memory of them stirred his soul with joy until the very end of his life.

Turning from the subject of his love and appreciation for them, Paul addresses his imprisonment. He was concerned that they understood he was not concerned. This was to the glory of God.
The healthiest view any of us can have in a time of struggle is the view that God’s plan is to turn it for good. Paul even knew that some were mocking and spiting him. It made no matter to him. He held no grudge because God’s Word was still preached.

The best way to avoid bitterness, defeat and depression and stay victorious in your Christian life is to trust that, in whatever circumstance, God is working out His glory.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.
For this and more than 4000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.
If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.
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Philippians 1:12 (KJV) The Best Way To Avoid Bitterness

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