Cambridge is a name long known for quality Bibles. Their Pitt range of Bibles has been around since the 1930's, and until 2006 they were available only in the King James Version. The NIV Pitt Minion Reference Bible boasts all the qualities of a Cambridge Bible (such as sewn pages, India paper with gilt or art-gilt edges, and ribbon marker) with the familiar slimline format of the Pitt Minion and the text of the bestselling New International Version of the Bible.

OTHER FEATURES:

1,120 pages
4 5/8 x 6 7/8 inch pages
3/4 inch spine
6.75 pt Lexicon No. 1 font

• Words of Christ in Red
• Cross References
• Concordance
• 15 Color Maps
• Presentation Page
• Head and Tail Bands

AVAILABLE BINDINGS:
NIV Pitt Minion Reference Edition in Black or Burgundy Goatskin Leather NI186RC
NIV Pitt Minion Reference Edition in Black or Burgundy French Morocco Leather NI183RC

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Indeed, the whole Law has been summed up in this one precept- -'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.' But, if you are continually wounding and preying upon one another, take care that you are not destroyed by one another. This is what I have to say--Let your steps be guided by the Spirit, and then you will never gratify the cravings of your earthly nature. For these cravings of our earthly nature conflict with the Spirit, and the Spirit with our earthly nature--they are two contrary principles--so that you cannot do what you wish. But, if you follow the guidance of the Spirit, you are not subject to Law. The sins of our earthly nature are unmistakable. They are sins like these--unchastity, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery, quarrels, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, Feelings of envy, drunkenness, revelry, and the like. And I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who indulge in such things will have no place in the Kingdom of God. . . Do not let us grow vain, and provoke or envy one another. (Galatians 5:14-21,24; Twentieth Century New Testament, 1904, emphasis mine)

You know the feeling. Someone says something that disagrees with everything you know to be true. Before you know it, your ire is up, blood pumping, and you just have to set the person straight.

But at what cost? Yeah, it feels good to get in that stinging comment that ought to settle the debate. Then, they come back with something you can't even believe they're bringing up as basis for their argument. Back and forth, back and forth. Where does it end?

Soon, the debate overtakes your mind: It alters your perceptions and invites the lusts of the flesh (above, "cravings of your earthly nature") to be fulfilled. What have you accomplished besides the alienation (see emphasis) of one whom God created?

It's one thing to debate with non-Christians, but another to engage your brother in Christ. So before you open your mouth, pick up the pen, or hit that reply button, ask yourself some questions:

Is this emotion within me from God, or is it my flesh trying to conquer a perceived foe? Our emotions can be powerful, and powerfully deceiving. Mistaking your flesh for God can have dire consequences.
• Can I speak the truth in love, or will I appear vain, perhaps hateful? (Ephesians 4:15) If you're not sure, maybe now's not the time to discuss the topic. You must be able to speak in such a way that honors the sum of the Law: to love your neighbor as yourself.
• Are the results of my efforts the fruits of the Spirit? (Galatians 5:22) If not, maybe it's best to leave the results to God.

Most importantly, PRAY! It's so easy to follow stirred emotions, especially when pride is at stake. If God indicates this is a topic others need to understand, pray for the right words to be spoken in a manner that will draw others to God, not yourself. Then, leave the results in God's hands. Human pride is not likely to allow one to suddenly abandon what he believes, but if God is the One who reveals the truth, he will be more open. Finally, be ready to accept the possibility that YOU are the one whose mind needs changing--whether it be to the other side, somewhere in between, or even the point where you accept that we cannot know definitively on this side of heaven--nor should we worry about it.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8, KJV)

We can fill our days with lots of things that are false, dishonest, unjust, impure, unlovely, or of bad report. It's the "whatsoever things" that keep us Christ-minded.

Is there anything in your life that doesn't meet the requirements of Philippians 4:8? Perhaps it's a tv show or a regularly visited Internet site. How about people around you or certain avoidable situations? Choose one thing you can get rid of and fill instead with virtue and praise.

O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. (Jeremiah 5:3, NIV)
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. (Psalm 119:67, NASB)

When disasters or tragedies come, many turn to God, but others are left asking how a loving God can allow such things to happen. It might surprise them that sometimes it is because He is a loving God that He sends bad things our way.

The ways of God are far beyond what we can comprehend, so we can not purport to have the answers in all circumstances, but we know from His Word that He loves us and He sometimes must strike us and crush us to try to turn us from our sinful ways to a relationship with Him.

In what ways do you perceive God has been trying to get the attention of people in your city? In your region? In your country? Throughout the world?

Do you sense God may be trying to get your attention about something in your life? If so, take time now to ask God what He wants you to do about it.

Long before God set forth in Mosaic Law the instructions for the Hebrews to tithe, people in many nations practiced the custom of giving a tenth of the fruits of the land and of the spoils of war to priests and kings. Even Abraham, who lived several centuries before Moses, gave a tithe when he defeated those who captured Lot and his goods. Two generations later, Jacob set down a rock and pledged to give a tithe to God.

Compare and contrast the tithes of Abraham and Jacob in Genesis 14 (recounted and commentated in Hebrews 7:1-10) and Genesis 28:10-22. What prompted Abraham's tithe and Jacob's pledge to tithe? Were either of the tithes conditional? Of what did the tithes consist? Who received the tithes? Were these tithes a one-time occurrence or ongoing?
Some questions may not be so easy to answer as they appear. You might consider looking at some commentaries, such as those available for free from e-Sword.net or the online study Bible at Crosswalk (check the "include study tools" box).

And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews plotted together to do away with him. (Acts 9:23, LITV)

After Saul's conversion he began proclaiming Christ in Damascus. Then Luke seems to gloss over a period of time saying, "And when many days were fulfilled, . . ." What was he doing in that time? Luke doesn't say, but according to scholars, Paul probably does. Let's glance over at the first chapter of Galatians:

But when God was pleased, He having separated me from my mother's belly, and having called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the nations, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to learn from Peter and remained with him fifteen days. (Galatians 1:15-18, LITV)

Matthew Henry notes in his Commentary on the Whole Bible that Saul went to Arabia so that he could teach and not be under the influence of others. The Words of Life quiet time devotional from Word of Life suggests that this was a time spent developing his theology.

Regardless of the details, this is just one example of how important it is to study passages in the context of the whole Bible.

But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:1-6, ASV)

Saul was zealous for his God to the point that it seemed all he could think about was to destroy the enemies of his precious Judaism. He was thoroughly convinced that he was serving God by persecuting those of the Way. Then, one day, on his way to performing what he thought was his duty to God, the Son of God Himself shows up with a message that changes Saul's life.

It turned out that the truth he held so dear was flat out wrong, and the very people whom he was bent on destroying had it right after all! If they were right, what did that mean for his "ministry?" What a shock to learn he had been working against the very God he had spent his whole life working to honor!

Fortunately for us, Saul (a.k.a. Paul) did not turn his back on this new revelation, but embraced it as wholeheartedly as when he thought he knew the truth. What a great lesson for us! We may not get a dramatic visit from Christ Himself, but we do have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to guide our beliefs. And when our beliefs prove wrong, we must swallow our pride and align them with God.

What kinds of things do you do for God? Perhaps a ministry at church, evangelizing, discipling. . . ooh, debating doctrine, maybe? What indications did you have of your calling? Do your methods and teachings hold up to the Word of God? Is there even the remotest chance that something you're doing "for God" is only hurting him?

If you're not sure of the answers to the above questions, take the next few days, even weeks or months, to figure them out. Pray for humility and openness to the truth. When God reveals the answers, act on them and praise Him for his grace that allows you to serve Him in a new, acceptable way!

When faced with the possibility of having to give up a certain habit, a young man thought to himself, “That's not really a sin. The Bible doesn't say it in so many words, and there are religious scholars who agree with me. I'm okay.”

In effect he was saying to God, “Talk to the hand!”

That's essentially what some people do when faced with the Truth of the Scriptures. They like the Bible as long as it's filled with platitudes and stories that benefit them, but when it has something to say about a sin they're in, they'd rather ignore it or justify that their sin isn't really sin under the circumstances.

Later, the young man prays, “You are holy, the one and only God. I'm sorry for whatever sins I've committed. Thank you for the things you've given me. Please bless me in my ventures. Amen.”

What?! What an abomination! The same one who ignores God concerning his sin is praising Him for His holiness and asking for blessing! The two attitudes just don't mix. And that's how God sees it, too.

“Abomination” is a very strong word. It's not talking about something that's just mildly unpleasant, like the smell of a sweaty sock or a wet dog; an abomination is something downright detestable! Other things that God calls abominations include homosexuality (Lev. 18:22-30; 20:13), idolatry (Deut. 7:25), and engaging in occult practices (Deut. 18:9-14). It also includes dishonest business practices (Deut. 25:13-16), Haughty eyes, a lying tongue. . . Feet that run rapidly to evil, . . .And one who spreads strife among brothers (Proverbs 6:17-19).¹

There is a right attitude of the heart that must be present when we come before God, or else our prayer is an abomination to Him. Do you need some heart surgery before you go to God in prayer? Come humbly before Him with an attitude that says, “Talk to the heart! Convict me where I need to be convicted. Help me to walk in Your righteousness, not my self-righteousness. Give me the strength to live Your will, not mine.”

¹References provided by Lexical Aids to the Old Testament in the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible.