Foot Notes from the Life Application Study Bible NIV
Ecclesiastes 6:2 "God does not enable him to enjoy them" probably means that the person has died. Even if he had lived a long life, it is ultimately meaningless in itself because all that he has accumulated is left behind. Every one dies, both rich and poor end up in the grave. Many people work hard to prolong life and improve their physical condition. Yet people don't spend nearly as much time or effort on their spiritual health. How short sighted it is to work hard to extend this life and not take the steps God requires to gain eternal life.
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Ecclesiastes 5:19,20 God wants us to view what we have (whether it is much or little) with the right perspective. Our possessions are a gift from God. Although they are not the source of joy, they are reason to rejoice because every good thing comes from God. We should focus more on the giver than the gift. We can be content with what we have when we realize that with God we have every thing we need.
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John 3:16 Some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life because their lives are miserable. But eternal life is not an extension of a person's miserable, mortal life; eternal life is God's life embodied in Christ given to all believers now as a guarantee that they will live forever. In eternal life there is no death, sickness, enemy, evil, or sin. When we don't know Christ, we make choices as though this life is all we have. In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity. Receive this new life by faith and begin to evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective.
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Acts 10:43 Two examples of prophets testifying about Jesus and his forgiveness of sins are Isaiah 52:13 -- 53:12 and Ezekiel 36:25,26.
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Romans 9:31-33 Sometimes we are like these people, trying to get right with God by keeping his laws. We may think that attending church, doing church work, giving offerings, and being nice will be enough. After all, we've played by the rules, haven't we? But Paul's words sting -- this approach never succeeds. Paul explains that Gods plan is not for those who try to earn his favor by being good; it is for those who realize that they can never be good enough and so must depend on Christ. We can be saved only by putting out faith in what Jesus Christ has done. It we do that, we will never be "put to shame" or be disappointed.
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John 1:12,13 All who welcome Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives are reborn spiritually, receiving new life from god. through faith in Christ. this new birth changes us from the inside out -- rearranging our attitudes, desires, and motives. Being born makes you physically alive and places you in your parent' family. Being born of God makes you spiritually alive and puts you in God's family. Have you asked Christ to make you a new person" This fresh start in life in available to all who believe in Christ.
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John 3:36 Jesus says that those who believe in him have (not will have) everlasting life. To receive eternal life is to join in God's life, which by nature is eternal. Thus, eternal life begins at the moment of spiritual rebirth.
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I Peter 2:6 Christians will sometimes be put to shame or face disappointment in this life, but their trust in God is never misplaced. God will not let them down, We can safely put our confidence in him because the eternal life he promises is certain.
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John 6:35,36 People eat bread to satisfy physical hunger and to sustain physical life. We can satisfy spiritual hunger and sustain spiritual life only by a right relationship with Jesus Christ. No wonder he called himself the bread of life. But bread must be eaten to sustain life, and Christ must be invited into our daily walk to sustain spiritual life.
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John 6:37 Jesus did not work independently of God the Father, but in union with him. This should give us even more assurance of being welcomed into God's presence and being protected by him. Jesus' purpose was to do the will of God, not to satisfy Jesus human desires. When we follow Jesus, we should have the same purpose.
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John 10:24 Many people asking for proof do so for the wrong reasons. Most of these questioners didn't want to follow Jesus in the way he wanted to lead them. They hoped that Jesus would declare himself Messiah for perverted reasons, They, along with the disciples and everyone else in the Jewish nation, would have been delighted to have him drive out the Romans. Many of them didn't think he was going to do that, however. These doublers hoped he would identify himself so they could accuse him of telling lies (as the Pharisees did in John 8:13)
The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; you testimony is not valid." John 8:13 NIV
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Ecclesiastes
11:1-5 In these verses, Solomon summarizes that life involves
both risk and opportunity. Because life has no guarantees, we must be
prepared. "Cast your bread upon the waters" means that life has
opportunities and we must seize them, not merely play it safe. Solomon
does not support a despairing attitude. Just because life is uncertain
does not mean that we should do nothing. We need a spirit of trust and
adventure, facing life's risks and opportunities with God directed enthusiasm
and faith.
Waiting for perfect conditions will mean inactivity.
This practical insight is especially applicable to our spiritual life. If
we wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible reading, we will never
begin. If we wait for a perfect church we will never join. If we
wait for the perfect ministry, we will never serve. Take steps now to grow
spiritually. Don't wait for conditions that may never exist.
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Ecclesiastes 12:7,8 Stripped of God's spirit, our bodies return to dust. Stripped of God's purpose, our work is in vain. Stripped of God's love our service is futile. We must put God first over all we do because with out him we have nothing. Knowing that life is futile without God motivates the wise person to seek God first.
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Song of Songs 2:1 The Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valley were flowers commonly found in Israel. Perhaps the girl was saying, "I'm not so special; I'm just an ordinary flower," to which Solomon replied, "Oh no, you are extraordinary -- a lily among thorns." Solomon used the language of love. There in nothing more vital than encouraging and appreciating the person you love. Be sure to tell your spouse "I Love You" every day and show that love by your actions.
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Ecclesiastes 8:15 Solomon recalls the remedy for life's unanswered questions. He recommends joy and contentment for us along life's pilgrimage. We must accept each day with its daily measure of work, food, and pleasure. Let us learn to enjoy what God has given us to refresh and strengthen us to continue his work.
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Mark 9:23 Jesus' words do not mean that we can automatically obtain anything we want if we just think positively. Jesus means that any thing is possible if we believe, because nothing is too difficult for God. We cannot have everything we pray for as if by magic; but with faith, we can have everything we need to serve him.
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Genesis 1:1 The simple statement that God created the heavens and the
earth is one of the most challenging concepts confronting the modern mind.
The vast galaxy we live in is spinning at the incredible speed of 490,000 miles
an hour. But even at this breakneck speed, our galaxy still needs 200
million years to make one rotation. And there are over one billion other
galaxies jus like outs in the universe! Some scientists say that the
number of stars in creation is equal to all the grains of all the sands on the
beaches of the world. Yet this complex sea of spinning stars functions
with remarkable order and efficiency. To say that the universe "just
happened" or "evolved" requires more faith than to believe that
God did not need to create the universe; he chose to create it. Why?
God is love, and love is best expressed toward something or someone else - so
God created the World and people as an expression of his love. We should
avoid reducing God's creation to merely scientific terms. Remember that
God created the universe because he loves each of us.
The creation
story teaches us much about God and ourselves. First, we learn about
God: (1) he is creative; (2) as the creator he is distinct
from his creation; (3) he is eternal and in control of the world.
We also learn about ourselves: (1) Since God chose to create us, we
are valuable in his eyes; (2)we are more important than the
animals. See Genesis 1:28 for more on our role
in the created order.
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Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in
the Lord, "Commit your way to the Lord" (Psalm 37:5), with all
your heart. Like Caleb (Numbers 14:24), (Deuteronomy 1:36), (Joshua
14:6-14), or the godly King Hezekiah (Isahiah 38:3). David challenged
Solomon to serve God "with wholehearted devotion"
(I Chronicles 28:9). acknowledge him. Be ever mindful of God
and serve him with a willing and faithful heart. He will make your
paths straight He will remove the obstacles from your pathway and
bring you to your desired goal.
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Genesis 1:28 God blessed
them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth
and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and
over all living thing that moves on the ground."
Foot Notes
To "rule over" something is to have absolute
authority and control over it. God has ultimate rule over the earth, and
he exercises his authority with loving care. When God delegated some of
his authority to the human race, he expected us to take responsibility for the
environment and the other creatures that share our planet. We must not be
careless and wasteful as we fulfill his charge. God was careful how he
made the earth. We must not be careless about how we take care of it.
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John 20:29 Some people think they would believe in Jesus if they could see a definite sign or miracle. But Jesus says we are blessed if we can believe without seeing. We have all the proof we need in the words of the Bible and the testimony of believers. A physical appearance would not make Jesus any more real to us than he is now.
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John 6:47 Believes as used here means "continues to believe." We do not believe merely once; we keep on believing in and trusting Jesus. The religious leaders frequently asked Jesus to prove to them why he was better than the prophets them already had. Jesus here referred to the manna that Moses had given their ancestors in the desert (see Exodus 16). This bread was physical and temporal. The people ate it, and it sustained them for a day. But they had to get more bread every day, and this bread could not keep them from dying, Jesus, who is much greater than Moses, offers himself as the spiritual bread from heaven that satisfies completely and leads to eternal life.
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Acts 16:31 Paul and Silas's
reputation in Philippi was well known. When the jailer realized his own true
condition and need, he risked everything to find the answer. The Christian
good News of salvation is simply expressed. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and
you will be saved. When we recognize Jesus as Lord and trust in him with
our entire life, salvation is assured to us. If you have never trusted in
Jesus to save you, do so quickly. You life can be filled with joy,
just as the jailer's was.
Paul and Silas took the family unit
seriously, so the offer of salvation was made to the jailer's entire household -
family and servants. Yet it was not the jailer's faith that saved them;
they all needed to come to Jesus in faith and believe in him in the same way the
jailer had. Yet his entire family did believe and all were saved.
Pray that God will use you to introduce Jesus to your family and that they will
come to believe in him.
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Psalm 41:1 The Bible often speaks of God's care for the weak, poor, and needy, and of his blessing on those who share this concern. God wants our generosity to reflect his own free giving. As he has blessed us, we should bless others.
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Proverbs 19:17 Here God identifies with the poor as Jesus does in Matthew 25:31--46. As our Creator, God values all of us, whether we are poor or rich, when we help the poor, we honor both the Creator and his creation. God accepts our help as if we had offered it directly to him.
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Luke 14:15-24 The man sitting at the table with Jesus saw the glory of God's kingdom, but he did not yet understand how to get in. In Jesus' story, many people turned down the invitation to the banquet because the timing was inconvenient. We too can resist or delay responding to God's invitation, and our excuses may sound reasonable - work duties, family responsibilities, financial needs, or whatever they may be. Nevertheless, God's invitation is the most important event in our lives, no mater how inconveniently it may be timed. Are you making excuses to avoid responding to God's call? Jesus reminds us that the time will come when God will pull his invitation and offer it to others - then it will be too late to get into the banquet.
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John 6:51 How can Jesus give us
flesh as bread to eat? To eat living bread means to accept Christ into our
lives and become united with Him. We are united with Christ in two ways:
1. By believing in His death
(the sacrifice of His flesh) and resurrection.
2. By devoting ourselves to
living as He requires, depending on His teaching for guidance and trusting in
the Holy Spirit for Power.
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John 9:1-3 A common belief in the
Jewish culture was that calamity or suffering was the result of some great
sin. But Christ used this mans suffering to teach about faith and to
glorify God, We live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always
rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished. Therefore innocent
people some times suffer. If God took suffering away when ever we asked,
we would follow Him for comfort and convenience, not out of love and
devotion. Regardless of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power
to help us deal with it. When you suffer from a disease or disability, try
not to ask, "Why did this happen to me?" or "What did I do
wrong?" Instead, ask God to give you strength for the trial and a
cleaner perspective on what is happening.
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John 11:25,26 Jesus has the power over life and death as well as power to forgive sins. This is because He is the Creator of Life. He who is life can surely restore life. Whoever believes in Christ has a spiritual life that death cannot conquer or diminish in any way. When we realize His power and how wonderful His offer to us really is, how can we help but commit our lives to Him. To those of us who believe what wonderful assurance an certainty we have: "Because I live, you also well live."
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