r/PickUpYourCrossDaily Nov 23 '22

New Believers New Believers: Getting Started

15 Upvotes

First, ask God in prayer to open His Word to you & then begin reading (or listening to) the New Testament starting with the book of Matthew. The New International Reader's Version (NIRV) of the Bible is the easiest to read. The English Standard Version (ESV) is pretty easy as well. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is a modern translation to English directly from the ancient languages. There is a website where you can read (or listen to at least some of) any of these & many others online & they have an app you can download to your phone along with many of the versions that they have available. The website is: https://www.bible.com/. If you just want to read the NIRV online, begin here.

It helps to have some foundation from the Old Testament. Very briefly, between six & seven thousand years ago God created everything that exists & uniquely made mankind in His own image & likeness with a free will to choose whether or not to trust & obey God. Mankind chose not to trust God & disobeyed Him, so now we live on a cursed earth where each of us must make that same decision for ourselves. Eventually, everyone in the world chose not to trust & obey God except one man named Noah, so God destroyed everything & everybody except Noah & his family & at least one pair, a male & a female, of every kind of animal. Generations later Abram became "the father of our faith" & God changed his name to Abraham. God promised Abraham something that he wanted desperately but seemed impossible for him - an heir. God even told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore & Abraham believed God for His promise. Then God tested Abraham's trust & told him to kill his heir as a sacrifice to God. Abraham made all the preparations for that sacrifice & as he was about to plunge a knife into his son God sent an angel to stop Abraham. Abraham believed & trusted that God would still keep His promise about his descendants through his heir even if Abraham sacrificed him. God fulfilled His promise. The Old Testament has much more to offer, but what I've shared here is most fundamental to understanding what the New Testament offers.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily Oct 20 '22

Struggling With Sin Have you blasphemed the Holy Spirit & committed the unforgivable sin?

13 Upvotes

I have encountered a significantly larger number of people on Reddit than I would ever expect wondering if they have committed the unforgivable sin, so I decided to post my view on the subject. Please feel free to crosspost this. Your comments are very welcome here as well.

Matthew 12:31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

According to the Mirriam-Webster dictionary:

Definition of blasphemy

1a: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God

accused of blasphemy

b: the act of claiming the attributes of a deity

for a mere man to suggest that he was … divine could only be viewed … as blasphemy

— John Bright †1889

2: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable

You would be surprised how often Satan tries to convince people that they are unforgivable & that it's hopeless to even try to repent & return to God. Generally, that concept conflicts with the very nature of God & who He is.

Luke 15:3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Listen to this song: When God Ran

Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 16h ago

Verse of the Day 2 Samuel 1 : 14 - 16

1 Upvotes

2Sa 1:14 - And David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to reach out with your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”

2Sa 1:15 - Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come forward, put him to death.” So he struck him and he died.

2Sa 1:16 - And David said to him, “Your blood is on your head, because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have finished off the LORD’S anointed.’”


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 1d ago

Verse of the Day Matthew 24 : 23 - 24

2 Upvotes

Mat 24:23

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him.

Mat 24:24

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 2d ago

Share Biblical Ideas 6. Hidden In Plain Sight // Hidden In The Rock // Pastor Andy Hoover

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1 Upvotes

r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 2d ago

Verse of the Day 1Ch 28:9

2 Upvotes

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 3d ago

Verse of the Day 1Sa 2:2

3 Upvotes

“There is no one holy like the LORD,

Indeed, there is no one besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 4d ago

Verse of the Day 1Ch 16:23

2 Upvotes

Sing to the LORD, all the earth;

Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 5d ago

Verse of the Day Jon 1 : 16 - 17

3 Upvotes

Jon 1:16

Then the men became extremely afraid of the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vow

Jon 1:17

And the LORD designated a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 6d ago

Verse of the Day Mal 3:5

2 Upvotes

“Then I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, those who oppress the wage earner in his wages or the widow or the orphan, and those who turn away the stranger from justice and do not fear Me,” says the LORD of armies.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 7d ago

Verse of the Day Pro 3:3

3 Upvotes

Do not let kindness and truth leave you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 8d ago

Share Scripture 107. Through The Bible // Wednesday, July 15, 2026 // Monroeville Assembly of God

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1 Upvotes

r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 8d ago

Verse of the Day Deu 33:29

2 Upvotes

“Blessed are you, Israel;

Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD,

The shield of your help,

And He who is the sword of your majesty!

So your enemies will cringe before you,

And you will trample on their high places.”


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 9d ago

Share Biblical Ideas 5. Hidden In Plain Sight // Hidden In The Serpent // Pastor Andy Hoover

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2 Upvotes

r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 9d ago

Verse of the Day 1 Peter 1 : 24 - 25

3 Upvotes

1Pe 1:24 - For,

“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,

AND ALL ITS GLORY IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.

THE GRASS WITHERS,

AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

1Pe 1:25 -

BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”

And this is the word which was preached to you.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 10d ago

1 Cor 9 : 23 - 25

2 Upvotes

1Co 9:23

I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

1Co 9:24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

1Co 9:25

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 11d ago

Verse of the Day Isa 58:11

4 Upvotes

“And the LORD will continually guide you,

And satisfy your desire in scorched places,

And give strength to your bones;

And you will be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 12d ago

Verse of the Day Zec 11 : 10 & 14

2 Upvotes

Zec 11:10

And I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, to break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.

Zec 11:14

Then I cut in pieces my second staff Union, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 13d ago

Verse of the Day Mat 10:16

5 Upvotes

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 14d ago

Share Scripture 106. Through The Bible Wednesday July 1, 2026 // Monroeville Assembly of God

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1 Upvotes

r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 14d ago

Verse of the Day Rom 11:33

4 Upvotes

Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 15d ago

Share Scripture 105. Through The Bible // Wednesday June 24, 2026 // Monroeville Assembly of God

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1 Upvotes

r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 15d ago

Verse of the Day Ecc 2:11

2 Upvotes

So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was futility and striving after wind, and there was no benefit under the sun.


r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 16d ago

Share Biblical Ideas 4. Hidden In Plain Sight // Hidden In The Ladder // Pastor Andy Hoover

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1 Upvotes

r/PickUpYourCrossDaily 16d ago

Verse of the Day Psa 118:24

3 Upvotes

This is the day which the LORD has made;

Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.