Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – The Bible Habit

Leave a comment

 

NEW!Listen Now

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32

Recommended Reading: John 8:31-36

Ovid said, “Nothing is stronger than habit.” Habits are those patterns of daily behavior that make us who we are. For the believer the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer is the reservoir of our spiritual vitality. George Müller said, “The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.”

Have the pressures of life disrupted this habit in your life? Sometimes Christians get out of the habit of reading and studying the Scriptures. They miss a day, then another. Eventually Satan uses this to silently steal away their desire for the Word. Don’t allow that to happen. What we do occasionally may inspire us, but what we do every day shapes us. We must abide in His Word!

If you’ve missed your Bible time recently, start back. Today!

God’s Word is the instrument by which God’s Spirit transforms the Christian.
Robert M. Horn

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Refreshing Generosity

Leave a comment

 

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 11:24-31

Listen to Today’s Devotional

Apple LinkSpotify Link

Today’s Devotional

An auditorium full of medical students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine listened intently as ninety-year-old Ruth Gottesman spoke. As she concluded, Ruth announced—to the students’ gasps, cheers, and pandemonium—that she was donating $1 billion so they could finish their education tuition free. This is the largest donation ever given to a medical school. Yet in the interviews that followed, you would have thought that Gottesman was the one receiving the gift. She expressed joy, delight, and honor to be able to give her money away.

Proverbs tells us that this is how generosity works. The one who “gives freely,” far from being left diminished or bereft, finds blessings they hadn’t anticipated (11:24). When we open our hands to others, we’re left with something more—not less. “Whoever refreshes,” Scripture says, “will be refreshed” (v. 25). We’re often tempted to tightly grip whatever we have, fearful that we’ll be taken advantage of or left with nothing. God’s economy works differently, however. Jesus went a step further, stating that it’s “more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

We can be generous with our lives and our resources, offering what we have to others in need. And then, in return we’ll find that we end up receiving too. There’s plenty for everyone in God’s kingdom.

Reflect & Pray

How has giving to others blessed you? Where might God be asking you to be more generous?

 

Dear God, please help me to be generous like You, and trust that I’ll have all I need.

For further study, read The Fool’s Greed and God’s Generosity.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – A biblical reflection on the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Leave a comment

 

As “Operation Epic Fury” continues, Iran and its proxies are expanding their response as they fire missiles at Israel and the Arab states. The US Central Command announced yesterday that three US service members have been killed in the conflict and at least five others seriously wounded. However, it stated that it remains steadfast in its “relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

At the top of this threat list was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. When news broke Saturday that he had been killed, one person in Tehran responded: “I think the Middle East has become a better place. Even [the] world has become a better place now.” A video shows teenagers at a school dancing and chanting over the strikes by US and Israeli forces; one says, “I love Trump.” An Iranian lawyer living in Los Angeles said, “It’s not an invasion, it’s a liberation. My support is behind this 100 percent.”

While large crowds in cities across Iran celebrated the news of Khamenei’s death, Iranian state TV showed mourners in Tehran packed into a square, dressed in black, with many of them weeping. The Iranian government has declared forty days of mourning and seven days of public holidays across the nation to commemorate Khamenei’s death.

Continue reading Denison Forum – A biblical reflection on the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – An Appointment to Keep

Leave a comment

 

 Then the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ 

—Genesis 3:9

Scripture:

Genesis 39 

Over the next two weeks, we’re going to look at the lives of several Old Testament characters. And we’re going to discover that their experiences are still relevant and applicable to us today. We’re going to start at the beginning with Adam and Eve.

Adam and Eve enjoyed a unique relationship with God. Only they could say they knew Him before. That is, before they sinned and altered the course of human history. Before their wrongdoing created a gulf between God and humanity that could be bridged only by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Before their fall, however, Adam and Eve enjoyed a remarkable closeness with God. In fact, they had a standing appointment with Him. Genesis 3:8 says, “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden” (NLT). God strolled through the paradise He created. He visited with Adam and Eve. Imagine their excitement and anticipation as they waited for God’s arrival in the evening.

One day Adam and Eve missed that appointment. They had disobeyed Him and eaten from the forbidden tree in the garden. Their shame and guilt kept them from their time with the Lord. So, God called out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9 NLT).

I wonder if the Lord would say something similar to people today. “Where are you? I’ve been looking for you. I want to speak to you. I want you to walk with Me, and I want to walk with you.”

The Christian life is often referred to as a walk—and for good reason. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (NLT). The idea is that when two people walk together, they share a common purpose, a connection, a commitment to one another. You must keep an appointment to walk with someone.

So, when God walks with us, He’s keeping an appointment. He wants to meet with us on a regular basis. The question is: How often do we keep that appointment?

How many times each day does God make Himself available to speak to us, only to be shut out of our appointment book? Imagine Him saying, “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time, but you’re too busy. You won’t make time for Me. You won’t open the Word. You rarely pray. And when you do, it’s one-sided. You won’t listen to Me. You have an appointment with Me. Why don’t you keep it?”

Obviously, there is no “good” answer to that question. Whatever feeble excuses we may try to offer pale in comparison to the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe who loves us, wants only the best for us, and knows exactly how we might experience that best.

Is there any appointment worth keeping more than the one with Him?

Reflection Question: How can you keep a regular appointment with God? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Unperfect Substance

Leave a comment

 

by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)

This is an amazing verse, testifying as it does to the omniscient fore-planning of our Creator for each human being. Each person has been separately planned by God before he or she was ever conceived; His eyes oversaw our “unperfect [not imperfect, but unfinished] substance”—that is, literally, our embryo—throughout its entire development. Not only all its “members” but also all its “days” (the literal implication of “in continuance”) had been “written” in God’s book long ago.

While modern evolutionists argue that a fetus is not yet a real person and so may be casually aborted if the mother so chooses, both the Bible and science show that a growing child in the womb is a true human being. Instruments called fetoscopes have been able to trace every stage of embryonic development, showing that each is distinctively human, never passing through any nonhuman evolutionary stages, which the evolutionists’ theory of recapitulation implies.

The baby is completely human from the moment of conception, with all its future days already well known in the mind of God, “when as yet there was none of them,” as our text points out.

But that is not all. All those who are saved (or, like the innocents who die before birth, “safe” in Christ) and whose names, therefore, are “written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8) are also predestined “to be conformed to the image of his Son” in the ages to come (Romans 8:29). HMM

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Be Purposeful in What You Say

Leave a comment

 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

Proverbs 18:21 (AMPC)

If we truly believe our words are filled with life or death, why don’t we choose what we say more carefully? There is a time to talk and a time to keep silent. Sometimes the best thing we can say is nothing. When we do say something, it is wise to be purposeful in what we say.

I firmly believe if we do what we can do, God will do what we cannot do. We can control what comes out of our mouths with the help of the Holy Spirit and by applying principles of discipline. Even when we talk about our problems or the things that are bothering us, we can talk about them in a positive and hopeful way.

One time I was having some back problems, and my daughter, Sandy, called to see how my back was. I told her it was still hurting, but I was thankful it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I said, “I am sleeping well, and that is a positive thing.” In other words, I didn’t deny the problem, but I made an effort to have a positive outlook. I was determined to look at what I do have and not just at what I don’t have. I believed in time the backache would be taken care of, and I believed that until then, God would give me the strength to do what I needed to do.

If you will make a decision that you are going to say as little as possible about your problems and disappointments in life, they won’t dominate your thoughts and your mood. And if you talk as much as possible about your blessings and hopeful expectations, your frame of mind will match them. Be sure each day is filled with words that fuel joy, not anger, depression, bitterness, and fear. Talk yourself into a better mood! Find something positive to say in every situation.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me choose my words wisely today. Guide my mouth by Your Spirit so I speak life, hope, and gratitude instead of fear, negativity, or discouragement, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – The Gifts of the Cross 

Leave a comment

 

Play

Have you ever wondered why God gives us so much? We could exist on far less. God could have left the world flat and gray—we wouldn’t have known the difference—but he didn’t. Why give the flower a fragrance? Why give food its taste? Jesus asked, “If you hardhearted, sinful men know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?” (Matthew 7:11).

Every gift reveals God’s love, but no gift reveals his love more than the gifts of the cross. They came, not wrapped in paper, but in passion.  Not covered with ribbons, but sprinkled with blood. The gifts of the cross!  Have you taken time to open these gifts? If you do, perhaps you will hear him whisper, “I did it just for you.”

 

 

Home

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Greetings from John

Leave a comment

 

Read Revelation 1:4–8

The author of Revelation, John, was one of the original twelve disciples called by Jesus. John and his brother James, along with Peter and Andrew, were fishermen whom Jesus invited to follow Him—“I will send you out to fish for people” (Matt. 4:18–22). John became “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20) and wrote a Gospel as well as three epistles.

John had been walking with Jesus for nearly a lifetime by the time he wrote Revelation (v. 4). That’s why there is great spiritual depth even in his simple greeting in today’s reading. He offers “grace and peace” from the entire Trinity: God the Father, God the Holy Spirit (v. 4), and God the Son (v. 5). As the NIV note attests, “seven spirits” can be rendered “sevenfold Spirit,” which makes more sense. The number seven, here and throughout the book—it appears 54 times!—represents divine perfection.

The focus is on God the Son, Jesus Christ. He is the “faithful witness” who died to save us, the “firstborn from among the dead” who conquered death and rose again (Col. 1:18), and the sovereign “ruler of the kings of the earth.” John cannot help breaking into a doxology of praise here for Christ’s love and redemptive sacrifice and for how He has made us “to be a kingdom and priests” (vv. 5–6; Ex. 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9). Worship will be a major theme in this book.

The key theme and message, though, is Christ’s Second Coming (vv. 7–8). Christ is the telos or purpose of history, the “hinge” of God’s entire plan of redemption. The prophecies of Revelation are continuous with Old Testament prophecies: Jesus will return “with the clouds of heaven” (Dan. 7:13; 1 Thess. 4:16–17). “They will mourn for him” (Zech. 12:10; Matt. 24:30), the One they had pierced (Isa. 53:5).

Go Deeper

What has been your previous experience with the book of Revelation? What did you learn today that gives this study context?

Pray with Us

God, we thank You for the inspired Word that tells us about who You are. Open our eyes to see that You are worthy to be praised! We worship You.

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come.Revelation 1:4

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Stand Firm

Leave a comment

 

Read Revelation 1:1–3

In Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson warned: “[W]e live in an age in which the authority of Scripture in our lives has been replaced by the authority of the self: we are encouraged on all sides to take charge of our lives and use our own experience as the authoritative text by which to live. The alarming thing is how extensively this spirit has invaded the church.”

In the opening chapter of the book of Revelation, the Apostle John strongly asserts the authority of Scripture. How was this book written? Christ sent an angel, who showed John visions of “what must soon take place” (v. 1). Then John testified to all that he saw (v. 2). At the time, about AD 95, John was in exile on the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony.

The book of Revelation is an “apocalypse,” that is, an account of the end of the world. The term apocalypse means an “unveiling” or “disclosure.” This literary form consists mainly of symbolic visions and can be confusing or even overwhelming. This book also includes prophecies, narratives, and doxologies of praise. Though some see the events of the book as mainly in the past, a futurist interpretation will be taken here.

The main purpose of the book, for the original readers as well as for us today, is encouragement. This is why John offers a blessing for reading this book (v. 3). Revelation encourages us to stand firm in the face of persecution from Satan and the world. We should take its message to heart, implying a response of faith and obedience. We can be encouraged primarily because of the imminent return of Christ (1 Thess. 4:16–18). “Imminent” means Christ could return at any time. In a very real sense, “the time is near.”

Go Deeper

We don’t know when Christ will return, but we do know that He could return at any time. What difference might this truth make in our everyday lives?

Pray with Us

Dear Lord, as we begin to study this book, grant us encouragement and strength to face difficulties in the world around us. We trust that You will return to make all things new!

The time is near.Revelation 1:3

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Go and Tell of Jesus

Leave a comment

 

How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? Romans 10:14

Today’s Scripture

Romans 10:12-15

Listen to Today’s Devotional

Apple LinkSpotify Link

Today’s Devotional

As our bus traveled higher and higher on the narrow road along the Andes Mountains, my teammates were busy laughing and singing. I was staring out my window—aghast that there weren’t any guardrails between us and the abyss to our right. I was feeling a bit fearful and anxious as we kept going up and up and up, and I started to wonder why our short-term mission team had come to this remote part of Ecuador. Then it dawned on me: God must really love these people if He would send His own Son to die for them. Surely I could get through a scary bus ride to express that love with them.

It ended up being such a joy to do short Bible lessons, share our testimonies, and pray with the people who welcomed us in the various towns we visited each day.

The apostle Paul was committed to telling others about Jesus so they too could put their trust in Him. In Romans 10:13 he says that all who call on Jesus “will be saved.” But “how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15).

There are people all around us who don’t know Christ. Let’s ask God for the courage to share the good news of Jesus with others, pray with them, and invite them to a church service or activity.

Reflect & Pray

How can you share the message of Christ with those who don’t know Him? What tangible things can you do this week to show someone that you care?

 

Dear God, please help me to share Jesus.

Learn how to follow Jesus’ example in helping others by clicking here.

Today’s Insights

Romans 9-11 have presented a challenge to Bible scholars, as these chapters don’t seem to fit into the flow of Paul’s argument for the gospel of God’s grace. The Bible Knowledge Commentary offers helpful insight on the apostle’s purpose in writing this section: “Paul here discussed God’s sovereign choice because of a practical problem. The Jews gloried in the fact that as Israelites they were God’s Chosen People. But now in God’s program of salvation in the church, Jewish involvement was decreasing while Gentile participation was becoming dominant. Had God, then, abandoned the Jewish people?” The apostle answers this question directly in chapter 11: “I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!” (v. 1). Romans 9-11 celebrate God’s sovereignty and perfect wisdom, concluding with the doxology in chapter 11 (vv. 33-36). We may not always understand God’s ways, but we can join in His purposes by sharing the gospel with others and looking for ways to show them God’s love.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Ali Khamenei reportedly found dead in Tehran

Leave a comment

 

Explaining “Operation Epic Fury” and offering four biblical prayers

According to Israeli intelligence, Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has been found dead after the US and Israel carried out air strikes early this morning on Tehran. The ayatollah’s body has reportedly been pulled from rubble left by the strikes.

This is the latest news on what may be “the most important day of the 21st century so far.” Early this morning, US and Israeli forces launched “Operation Epic Fury.” In a video statement posted Saturday at 2:30 a.m. ET, President Trump stated, “A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”

After describing the regime’s terrorist actions against America and the West since it took power forty-seven years ago, the president stated that “the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests.”

He said this operation would “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” annihilate their navy, ensure their proxies can “no longer destabilize the region or the world,” and “ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Continue reading Denison Forum – Ali Khamenei reportedly found dead in Tehran →

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Daily Cross

Leave a comment

 

by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

This same conversation and challenge is also recorded in Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34, but only Luke included the term “daily.” Except for one brief reference in Matthew 10:38, this conversation marks the first explicit reference in the Bible to the practice of crucifixion, and it apparently assumes that the disciples were already well aware of this typically Roman method of execution.

Taking up one’s cross referred to the usual requirement that each condemned man haul his own cross to the place of execution. Jesus knew that He would soon have to do this Himself (John 19:16–17).

Christians sometimes use this phrase without appreciation of its true meaning, thinking of some burden (such as sickness or poverty) as the cross they must bear. Such things can be serious problems, but they are not instruments of execution, such as a cross. In effect, the Lord was telling His disciples that following Him must mean nothing less than a daily willingness to die for Him if need be. As Paul would say, “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20); “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).

Many disciples have indeed suffered martyrdom for Christ’s sake, but all should at least be willing to deny themselves daily. “Taking up the cross” does not necessarily mean dying as Christ did, but it does mean consciously dying each day to the world and living unto Him. For “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24) and gladly affirm this testimony: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14). HMM

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – A New Nature

Leave a comment

 

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMPC)

God’s Word teaches us that when we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, He gives us a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). He gives us His nature. He also gives us a spirit of discipline and self-control, which is vital in allowing us to choose the ways of our new nature. And He gives us a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). That means we can think about things properly without being controlled by emotion.

Every believer can be thankful that the way we once were passes away, and we have all the equipment we need for a brand-new way of behaving. With God’s help we can choose spirit over flesh and right over wrong. Our renewed spirits can now control our souls and bodies or, to say it another way, the inner person can control the outer person. Then we can live out God’s plan for our lives.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I thank You that I am a new creation in You. I am so grateful for a fresh start and the new nature You have given me. Help me to leave the old ways behind today and live a brand-new, joy-filled life of victory in You.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – The Greatest of These Is Love: Infinite Love

Leave a comment

 

NEW!Listen Now

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Recommended Reading: John 1:10-14

How do humans like us express the nature of God’s infinite love? Charles Wesley, the Methodist hymnwriter, pondered this as he studied John 1:14. From that meditation, he wrote a hymn that described God’s love as “divine” and “excelling” over every form of love imaginable. He spoke of “Joy of Heaven to Earth come down.” In other words, this great love of God has a name—Jesus! Wesley said, “Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art.”

Divine! Excelling! Joy! All compassion! Pure! Unbounded! That’s Jesus!

Whenever you are down and out, think of how much God loves you. Let your mind be comforted by the Bible verses that speak of His love. Use your lips to thank Him. And you might even look up Wesley’s old hymn and sing it for yourself: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.”

The Lord is full of mercy and compassion, slow to anger, long-suffering, and of great kindness…. God is love; love in Himself; love towards a world of sinners. He wept over the bloody city, He lamented and mourned for Scribes and Pharisees, He prayed for His very murderers.
Charles Wesley

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Faith of Friends

Leave a comment

 

They made an opening in the roof above Jesus . . . and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. Mark 2:4

Today’s Scripture

Mark 2:1-5

Listen to Today’s Devotional

Apple LinkSpotify Link

Today’s Devotional

Attending a conference, a woman noticed that her friend—the day’s presenter—didn’t look well. She approached the presenter, who replied, “I’m going to get through this presentation. If I don’t feel better in the morning, I’ll go to the doctor.” The woman didn’t forget about the presenter’s promise. This friend had to leave early, but she asked another friend to check on the presenter.

In the morning, there was a knock at the presenter’s hotel door. The second friend had come to drive her to the hospital. There was no backing out, and—fortunately—she was given life-saving treatments in time. The persistence of friends had evidently helped to save her life.

Persistent friends can be a blessing, just like the men in Mark 2. They’d apparently heard about the healing power of Jesus and that He’d come to their town (v. 1). The people clambered to Christ, and there was “no room left” for the men to get their paralyzed friend to Him (v. 2). They didn’t let a crowd stop them from getting their friend the help he needed, however: “They made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered . . . the man” (v. 4) to Christ who healed him (vv. 11-12).

Let’s bring the needs of others to Jesus through persistent prayer. And as He provides what we need, let’s strive to help and love them well.

Reflect & Pray

How has the faith and persistence of friends helped you? What can you do to help someone today?

Healing God, thank You for persistent and faith-filled friends. Please help me to persistently lift others to You.

Consider how Jesus encouraged persistent prayer.

Today’s Insights

The men who brought the paralytic man to Jesus for healing were persistent and had gone to a lot of work—carrying him, digging up the roof tiles, and lowering him into the room where Christ was found. So imagine their reaction when Jesus instead granted him forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:1-5). After His authority to forgive sins was questioned by the religious leaders (vv. 6-7), He used the verifiable act of healing the man as proof of the unseen and impossible-to-verify authority to forgive sins (vv. 8-12).

As the men in Mark 2 had confidence in Christ’s ability to heal, we too can have confidence that when we come to God in prayer—with the needs of others or our own needs—He’ll hear us and provide what we need.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Betting on suffering: The moral crisis of prediction markets

Leave a comment

 

Casting lots over a dying man’s garments was considered a scandal in my biblical upbringing. Today, we call it a prediction market—and Wall Street calls it innovation.

The rapid growth and expansion of prediction markets have flooded the public marketplace, making it feel as if all of this is supposed to be business as usual, another opportunity to grow your financial portfolio like day trading or other, edgier ways to expand investment opportunities. We’re not yet two months into the new year, and major prediction market companies like Polymarket and Kalshi have dominated the headlines.

Polymarket opened up a pop-up “free grocery store” in New York’s Greenwich Village this past week, following a similar publicity stunt from fellow prediction market rival, Kalshi, which offered patrons $50 groceries in early February. Providing free/discounted food appears, on its face, to benefit a community, but there is a dark reality behind these goodwill efforts.

Many have heard of these companies, but few understand how they actually work. The mechanics are simple. A prediction market poses a question with a defined outcome, often binary, like “Will Candidate X win?” Traders buy shares that pay $1 if the answer is yes and $0 if it’s no. If those shares trade at $0.65, the market is implying roughly a 65% chance of a yes outcome.

As people trade, buying when they think the chance is higher and selling when they think it’s lower, the price updates in real time. The idea is that anyone who has a better read (new information, sharper analysis, faster synthesis) can profit by pushing the price toward a more accurate forecast. In that sense, the market becomes a living estimate shaped by incentives rather than expert judgment.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Betting on suffering: The moral crisis of prediction markets →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – When One Door Closes

Leave a comment

 

 So Elijah did as the LORD told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. 

—1 Kings 17:5–7

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:5-7 

Elijah proclaimed to King Ahab that a drought would strike the land and would continue for years until he, Elijah, called an end to it—at the Lord’s direction, of course. After Elijah made his proclamation, the Lord gave him these instructions: “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food” (1 Kings 17:3–4 NLT).

That was quite a turnaround. One day Elijah was boldly issuing a proclamation to a king; the next day he was hiding out by a brook. Elijah “did as the LORD told him” (verse 5 NLT), but he must have been a little bewildered.

Elijah made do for a while. “The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land” (verses 6–7 NLT).

The brook dried up. Those are ominous words for someone whose survival seemed to depend on the brook. Elijah is certainly not the only Bible character to face such a defining—and potentially defeating—moment. Abraham and Sarah’s “brook dried up” when they found themselves childless in old age. Joseph’s “brook dried up” when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. Moses’ “brook dried up” when he killed an Egyptian official and became a fugitive. The apostle Peter’s “brook dried up” when he denied knowing Jesus three times. The disciples’ “brook dried up” when Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” and gave up His life on the cross.

Maybe you’ve had a brook dry up in your life as well. Maybe one day your partner said, “I’m leaving. I don’t want to be with you anymore.” And just like that, your relationship was over.

Maybe you got a call from the place you’ve worked for twenty years: “Sorry, we’re downsizing.” And just like that, you’re unemployed. Your brook dried up.

But what seems like the end of the world may, in fact, be a new beginning. When God closes one door, He opens another. Elijah was about to discover this fact.

God was getting him ready, step by step, challenge by challenge. Big things were coming. The next phase was about to start. It’s the same with you. If you’ve been told to head for the hills and be fed by birds, so to speak, if your brook has dried up, if a door has closed in your life, don’t think God is done with you. Just trust Him. He may be getting you ready for phase two. He may be whipping you into shape for something beyond your wildest dreams.

As the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (NLT).

Reflection Question: How can you keep a proper perspective when a door closes in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Rejection at Home

Leave a comment

 

by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4)

A town will give great honor to a “hometown boy” if he makes good in athletics or the entertainment world. But if he becomes known as an influential Christian, the hometown folks usually are embarrassed about it.

Jesus Himself experienced this. He grew up in Nazareth, and there He had “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). When He returned to Nazareth, however, after the early days of His ministry, “as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read” (4:16). He was already recognized there as proficient in the Scriptures, and they had heard tales about His miracles, so the invitation to speak was natural, but there were certain mumbles. “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” they asked. “Whence then hath this man all these things?” (Matthew 13:55–56).

At first, “all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22). But then, as He applied a key prophecy to Himself and rebuked them for their unbelief, they “were filled with wrath” and tried to slay Him (4:28–29). “Neither did his brethren believe in him” (John 7:5), and only His mother was with Him when He was crucified (19:25). As David had written prophetically, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren . . . . For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (Psalm 69:8–9).

Perhaps those Christians who have been rejected by their family and former friends can identify with Jesus when He said, “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother” (Mark 3:35). We still have a family—an eternal one! HMM

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Mindful of God’s Unfailing Love

Leave a comment

 

Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)

I think a person would need a high level of confidence in order to invite God to examine their heart and mind. I’m not talking about confidence in their own goodness, but confidence in God’s love, mercy, longsuffering, and forgiveness. David had no fear of inviting God to examine him, because he knew that even if God found flaws in him, he could be forgiven. He wanted to know if there was anything in his life that was offensive to God. He wasn’t afraid to face his weaknesses, and we should not be either.

Being honest about where we are is the only way to get to where we want to be. If we hide from our sins or make excuses for them, we can never be free of them. Anything we run from will chase us. But if we confront things, we can defeat them in God’s strength.

The apostle James teaches us to confess our faults to one another so we can be healed (James 5:16). Things hidden in darkness always threaten us, but when they are brought into the open, they are exposed and no longer have control over us. Our secrets make us sick, but the truth makes us free (John 8:32). You can talk to God about anything—after all, He already knows all about it. God is not shocked or surprised by anything you tell Him. He loves you and knew all about you before you ever knew Him, so, like David, let’s rely on His faithfulness and be mindful of His unfailing love.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I invite You to examine my heart and mind because I trust Your unfailing love and mercy. Thank You for Your amazing goodness.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Conclusion: Stay Equipped

Leave a comment

 

Read 2 Timothy 3:14–17

The end of every journey provides a moment for reflection. You’ve arrived at your destination. If you’ve been on this two-month journey with us, I encourage you to take a moment and consider what you’ve learned. We have touched almost every book of the Old Testament and every book of the New Testament.

We’ve seen God create the world and work to redeem it. We’ve seen Him make promises and fulfill them. We’ve seen the tragedy of sin in people’s lives, but we’ve also seen the power of the gospel to transform those lives. We’ve seen the faithless receive judgment, and the faithful a reward. Finally, we’ve seen the hope of redemption: Christ will return!

As we close this series it’s good to remember that we’ve just scratched the surface. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul reminds his spiritual son to remain faithful by not leaving the things he has learned and had committed himself to (v. 14). He trusted the Scriptures, and Paul wants him to continue to do that. Paul reminds him that the Scriptures are “God-breathed” (v. 16), meaning that God is their source. Yes, He used people to write the words, but He made sure they wrote what He wanted them to write.

As a result, Scripture is of ultimate usefulness. Any time invested in studying God’s Word will equip the believer to teach what it says. Knowing the Bible gives us confidence to speak the truth, to challenge, and correct. It teaches us how to live righteously. Christians need to be able to do these things for others and for themselves. Attention to the Scriptures equips us. So, don’t stop now. Lean into your study of the Word of God and continue to equip yourself for every good work!

Go Deeper

How will you continue in God’s Word this year? Do you have a plan? Sign up for Today in the Word’s daily email or download the app and study the Scripture daily all year. Extended Reading:

2 Timothy 3

Pray with Us

As we conclude our overview of the Bible, may we stay in the Word, study it more deeply every day, open our hearts to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and grow in love for our Lord and Savior. Amen!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.2 Timothy 3:16

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Scriptures, Lessons, News and Links to help you survive.