Better: Better Is One Day

BETTER – 1

BETTER IS ONE DAY

“For what does it profit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”  Mark 8:36 (NASB)

“How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the LORD, my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God . . . . Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”  Psalm 84:1-2, 10 (NIV)

How can I live in the “presence of God”?

(1) KNOW GOD THROUGH HIS SON 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

(2) DAILY TIME WITH GOD THROUGH THE BIBLE AND PRAYER

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.  And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB).

“The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul.” Psalm 19:7a (NASB).

“Those who love your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165 (NASB).

Principle: Experiencing God’s presence on a regular basis requires that we spend regular time in the Bible.

“Rejoice always. Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NIV)

(3) REGULAR TIME WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS (BIBLICAL COMMUNITY)

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 (NIV)

REASONS:

• Spiritual growth

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

• Strength for life’s storms

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

• Wisdom for important decisions

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”  Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

• Context for obeying the “one-another” texts of Scripture (there are 59 “one-another” passages in the New Testament)

“Love one another.” John 15:12 (NASB)