September 22, 2012   

Today's Photograph . . . . Make Up Your Mind To Live As God Directs  (MQ)

Bible Study Verse

Numbers 32:23

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. (NASB)

 

Thoughts

Dogs have amazing ability to smell. They infinitely surpass the ability of the human nose. 

My son purchased a blood hound puppy last winter. It has incredible abilities of scent tracking already. He intends to train Major to track down wounded deer. This is legal where he lives. 

As he began the training, some blood on a rag was used to set a scent trail. At the end of the blood trail he would leave a piece of hot dog to reward Major. 

It became a problem when Major followed the scent from the package of hot dogs in Caleb's pocket straight to him instead of following the blood trail! Major went directly to the prize!

(Jack M)

Action Point

We have to understand there are no victimless sins. Some say, "What happens in ________ stays in ________." This is the Devil's own lie. 

Every sin affects our own self and others as well. God displays His displeasure of sinful actions by consequences that are built into those actions. Some call this retributive justice.

1. Choose ahead of time that you will not sin. Make up your mind to live as God directs and declares as to what is right and wrong.
2. Let the consequences of sinful actions and activities serve as an additional motivation to avoid sin and to choose to do what is right as declared by God.
3. When you sin, determine to immediately confess that sin, seek forgiveness, and determine not to sin again. 1 John 1:7 directs,  "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin," (NIV). This is God's promise to us.
4. Ask God to make you love what is right and hate what is sinful.  "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose," Philemon 2:13 (NIV).

Sportsmen's Tip of the Day

Do your best to retrieve wounded game. Take training to learn the skills of tracking. Invest in some of the newer tools that help with game retrieval such as thermal imaging and lights that highlight blood trails. Do some research ahead of time about the use of dogs to track down wounded animals. If legal in your area, locate ahead of time such a resource.