Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Great Reunions: Joseph and His Brothers

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And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
Genesis 45:4-5

Recommended Reading: Genesis 50:19-21

Families have the possibility of great conflict because of close quarters and constant interaction. But when conflicts are resolved and relationships repaired, family “reunions” can be sweet.

That is what happened with Joseph and his brothers. When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt, God’s providence caused Joseph to rise in stature in the royal Egyptian court. When a famine struck Joseph’s family in Canaan, his brothers journeyed to Egypt to buy food. There they encountered Joseph and were reunited with the brother they had sold into slavery. But Joseph saw God’s hand at work, sending him to Egypt to prepare a way for his family to stay alive.

If you have been separated from friends or family, trust that God has a purpose in your pain (Romans 8:28). Do everything you can to be reunited with those you love (Romans 12:18).

Christians ought at all times to be making contributions towards reunion, if it is only by their prayers.
C. S. Lewis

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – When God Opens Our Eyes

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The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times?” Numbers 22:32

Today’s Scripture

Numbers 22:22-23, 25-31

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Today’s Devotion

In thirteenth-century France, legend has it that a knight left his baby boy at home guarded by his greyhound dog Guinefort. The knight returned to find chaos—the crib overturned, his son nowhere to be seen, and his hound’s mouth covered in blood. Assuming the dog had harmed his son, he killed it. Afterward, he found the body of a large snake covered in dog bites—and his son unharmed under the cradle. Guinefort had saved the baby’s life. The dog’s heroism and unjust fate so moved people that they misguidedly revered Guinefort as a saint.

Scripture records a similar incident, in which an animal was unjustly punished for protecting its owner. The prophet Balaam had been hired by the Moabite king to curse God’s people (Numbers 22:4-6). On Balaam’s journey, an “angel of the Lord . . . with a drawn sword” (v. 23) blocked his path. Balaam’s donkey, seeing the danger, avoided the angel twice—only to be beaten for his efforts (vv. 23, 25). When the donkey could no longer evade the angel, he refused to move and was again punished (vv. 26-27).

Finally, God enabled the donkey to speak and defend itself (vv. 29-30), and then He opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel and heed God’s instructions (v. 31-32).

We’re not likely to hear an animal talk back to us anytime soon, but God can still open our eyes in unexpected ways. When that happens, let’s be prepared to listen.

Reflect & Pray

When has God opened your eyes? How has that changed you?

Gracious God, please help me to hear and respond to Your leading.

Today’s Insights

One wonders how Balaam, a non-Jewish prophet, knew about Yahweh, the one true God. Balaam had a reputation as an effective prophet; that’s why Midian’s King Balak commissioned him (Numbers 22:5-6). Yet even though God spoke to Balaam (v. 9), he wasn’t righteous. He later advised Midianite women to seduce Israelite men into sexual sin and idolatry (see 25:1-9; 31:15-16). We serve the God who can open the mouth of a donkey (22:28) and the eyes of a wicked prophet (vv. 31, 34). We can expect Him to open the eyes of those who trust Him and want to serve Him.

For further study, read: Who is Your Neighbor

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – How to respond to criticism with wisdom

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In nearly 40 years of association with collegiate athletics, one of the most notable changes has been the advent and growing presence of social media. What could not have been anticipated is the impact and influence this medium has on so many players and coaches, and on their sense of worth and well-being.

While bullying was once limited to the elementary school playground, cyberbullying has empowered a new generation of keyboard critics with the ability to belittle, shame, disparage, and denigrate with an unrelenting zeal, finding fault as if there will be an award for it. Thus, I’m not surprised that one of the most requested and popular subjects I’m asked to address in team-development sessions is how to filter the critical voices and minimize their negative impact.

Kennedy and Lincoln on the price of leadership

Too often, we think only those in leadership roles are the targets of criticism, and that it comes with the territory. And indeed, it does.

Continue reading Denison Forum – How to respond to criticism with wisdom →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Necessary Preparation

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 Then the LORD said to Elijah, ‘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 17:2–4

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:2-4 

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were among the most wicked rulers in Israel’s history. Not only did they promote the worship of Baal, but they also tried to wipe out the prophets of God. It fell to Elijah to confront the king and warn him of God’s judgment. In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah informed Ahab that Israel would experience a drought that would last for years.

Then God did something unexpected. Instead of building on that significant moment and initiating the inevitable showdown with the prophets of Baal, God chose a different path for Elijah. According to verses 2–4, “Then the Lord said to Elijah, ‘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’” (NLT).

In other words, “I have a different plan in mind for you, Elijah. I want you to disappear from the scene for a while. In fact, I want you to go to this little brook called Kerith and just hang out there.”

And that’s what Elijah did. He may have been a man of action, but first and foremost he was a man of faith and obedience. So, he went to a place of total obscurity. He took a time-out from his normal prophetic duties.

The reality is that sometimes God will use us and then say, “Now I’m going to work on you for a while. You’re not ready for what I have for you next. I’ve got to whip you into shape a little more.” That’s what He was doing with Elijah.

It wasn’t a time for action; it was a time for stillness and reflection. It wasn’t a time for striving; it was a time for prayer and study. It wasn’t a time for proving; it was a time for growing.

Maybe you’ve experienced a similar unexpected sidelining. Maybe there were cutbacks at work, and you were let go. Maybe you had a ministry that was flourishing but suddenly is now floundering. Perhaps sickness has altered your plans. You’ve had to make changes, and it seems like the end. But maybe it isn’t the end at all. Maybe it’s a new beginning.

The natural reaction to such circumstances is to become anxious or impatient. We may begin to question God, His methods, or His timing. Or we may try to force His hand by taking matters into our own hands. The apostle Paul recommended a different strategy: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT).

God may have closed a door for you because He has another door ready to open at any time. Here’s what you need to do: Wait on the Lord and be faithful to Him. Often the things we go through in life are preparation for something else. Know that God is preparing you for something in your future.

 

Reflection question: What might God be preparing you for? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Sacrifice and Service

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by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

“Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” (Philippians 2:17)

Paul saw himself as “poured out” as an offering (Greek spendo) on the “sacrifice and service” of these precious friends. This special word is used only one other time, when Paul was “ready to be offered” at his death (2 Timothy 4:6).

Paul’s ministry among the Philippians resulted in the godly lifestyle of the church. They became sacrifices (Greek thusia) much like the Lord Jesus “hath given himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2). We also are told to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is [our] reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

The service that is commended of the Philippians is a public service undertaken at one’s own expense (Greek leitourgia). Several men in the church at Antioch were noted for their ministry (Acts 13:2 uses the same word), and some in Macedonia and Achaia were also acknowledged for giving contributions to the saints at Jerusalem (Romans 15:26–27).

Paul’s joy and rejoicing at the godly activity of the faithful saints at Philippi are the key to understanding the tone of the entire book. He had “poured out” himself, even being “shamefully entreated” during his ministry there (1 Thessalonians 2:2). Yet while writing this poignant letter back to the church, he gives joyful greetings to them at the certain knowledge that his ministry among them resulted in their sacrifice and service.

Would God that all of us could see our offerings for the sake of others with the same passionate expectation. Often our Lord calls on us to give of ourselves in selfless ways so that others may learn from our example. Sometimes, we must even pour out our own souls for the sake of the gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:8). HMM III

 

 

 

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

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Treasures Returned

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Read Ezra 1:7–11

The name Osama bin Laden conjures up a whole host of thoughts and emotions. His name is etched into the collective memory of Americans who lived during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the ensuing twenty years of war. In a similar way, the name Nebuchadnezzar carried significance to the exiles in Babylon. It had been many decades since the Babylonian king had razed and looted the temple, destroyed Jerusalem, and exiled the people (2 Kings 25). Even still his name loomed large over their collective consciousness.

These five verses, three of which recount the items returned to the Jewish prince Sheshbazzar, carry heavy emotional and theological freight. First, they mention the Babylonian king whom God had used to judge His people. His name reminded the exiles of their shared history of idolatry and spiritual adultery. It also reminded them of God’s faithfulness to keep His covenant—even its curses (see Deut. 28). Second, we are reminded that Nebuchadnezzar dishonored the Lord by looting the temple and—shame of all shames—placing the “the articles belonging to the temple of the LORD… in the temple of his god” (v. 7).

Third and most importantly, we see God’s faithfulness to His name and to His people, as well as the great theme of reversal that resounds throughout Scripture. Though all seemed lost, and though God had punished His people greatly, He also forgave them. God would not leave His people in exile forever, nor would He allow His name to be profaned forever. Items meant for worship of the one true God would not remain in the temple of an idol. We can rejoice greatly that “Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem” (v. 11). God kept His promise to discipline His people, and now He would keep His promise to restore them!

Go Deeper

What does this passage teach us about God’s character? How does this encourage your faith today?

Pray with Us

You are always faithful to keep Your promises, Lord. May we mirror this faithfulness in our own lives and be people who are true to our word.

I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.Psalm 26:3

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Guard Your Influence

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Then [the sailors] said to [Jonah], “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”
Jonah 1:8

Recommended Reading: Matthew 16:11-12; Galatians 5:9

In 1624, the English poet John Donne penned a meditation whose title comes from the first line: “No Man Is an Island.” The theme of the short poem is the interconnectedness of human experience—what happens to one affects all.

When the prophet Jonah was fleeing from the call of God on his life, the ship he was on encountered a bad storm. The sailors concluded that it was Jonah who was the cause of their dangerous misfortune. They demanded to know who he was and what he had done to put them in danger. Jonah’s situation illustrates the point in John Donne’s poem: We do not act alone in life; our behavior impacts those around us. It raises the rarely discussed dimension of stewardship called the stewardship of influence. We are responsible for the influence we have on the lives of others.

Ask God today for grace to be a godly influence on those with whom you come in contact—to be salt and light in their life (Matthew 5:13-16).

Your influence is negative or positive, never neutral. 
Henrietta Mears

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Junk Files

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Let us throw off everything that hinders 
and the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews 12:1

Today’s Scripture

Hebrews 12:1-7, 10, 14

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Today’s Devotion

My smartphone occasionally reminds me I’m not good at digital housekeeping. “Junk files are taking up space,” the message reads. “Delete 675MB of junk files.” Now, I dislike being nagged by my phone. But if I clean out those files, I’ve got more space for things that really matter. Then, when I’m at my daughter’s swim meet, for instance, I’ll have enough digital storage to actually shoot a video of her winning a race instead of unexpectedly realizing that those pesky “junk files” have sabotaged my ability to capture the moment.

Junk files on our phones are easy to delete. But what about the “junk files” in our souls? Like our phones, our souls can be clogged with stuff that keeps us from flourishing spiritually. The author of Hebrews understood this reality, encouraging us to pay close attention to anything that trips us up in our walk with God. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,” he writes, followed by this challenge: “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

What weighs you down? What trips you up? Hebrews encourages us to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (v. 2), who alone can help us identify and delete the “junk files” that hinder our abundant life in Him.

Reflect & Pray

What most trips you up in your relationship with God? How does your faith help you identify and throw off sinful influences?

Dear Father, please give me the wisdom and courage to “throw off . . . the sin that so easily entangles” me.

Today’s Insights

The original audience of the letter to the Hebrews were Jewish believers in Jesus who may have considered reverting back to Judaism or were straying toward false teachings (see 2:1-4; 3:1-4). Many scholars believe the book was written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in ad 70 because it includes references to Jewish ceremonies and sacrifices. Hebrews encourages believers to endure and hold fast to Christ (2:1-4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:2). In chapter 11, known as the “Hall of Faith,” the author commends the many men and women of the Bible who lived by faith and sometimes died because of it. Therefore, because of their witness and example, believers in Jesus are prompted to “throw off everything that hinders” us—including sin—and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1).

For further study, read: Sin is Awful, God is Gracious

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Why is the internet obsessed with “Oreo-gate”

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How a petty lunchbox debate went viral

One of the most interesting aspects of social media is the seeming randomness of which videos or posts go viral. And the perfect example of that unpredictability is “Oreo-gate,” a series of Instagram posts that has racked up tens of millions of views across what is, as of this writing, twenty-one videos. The story has been featured on “Good Morning America,” along with articles in the New York Post, First Post, Business Insider, and more.

The videos revolve around a group chat put to music in which one mom is angry that her daughter was given Oreos at school. She then tries to get all the other moms to stop sending Oreos, even going so far as to email the school and check lunchboxes after the other moms say no.

The kids eventually find ways to start sneaking her daughter Oreos, with the latest post detailing an Oreo-themed birthday party. Overall, it’s petty and silly, but it’s just believable enough to have struck a chord with millions who have viewed the videos.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Why is the internet obsessed with “Oreo-gate” →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Hearing God’s Voice in His Word

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 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 

—Psalm 119:105

Scripture:

Psalm 119:105 

“God is love; He doesn’t punish people.” “God wants us to be our authentic selves and not listen to people who judge us.” “God doesn’t care about rules; He cares about what’s best for each person.” How many variations of these statements and others like them have you heard or read recently?

There are a lot of people today who claim to hear the voice of God telling them to do this or that. Some even claim God is telling them to disregard biblical teachings in favor of a more inclusive approach to Christianity. No matter how convincing these arguments may seem, however, we must remember that God never contradicts His Word. His truth never fades, changes, or evolves. It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He always will lead us according to what His Word says.

That’s a hard pill for some people to swallow, especially when they see God’s Word as keeping them from pursuing their own desires. As a result, some come up with some lame concepts, such as, “We’re not married, but God has told us it’s okay to have sex.” I can assure them that God didn’t say that because in His Word says, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT). God won’t contradict His Word.

We also need to realize that God’s Word isn’t an obstacle; it’s an opportunity. Think back to the time when people used to send letters by mail. If you were expecting a letter from someone, you’d stand at the window, waiting for what seemed like an eternity for the postal worker to come by. Then you’d bolt to the mailbox to look for your letter. Maybe it was from someone you were in love with. Maybe it was an answer to a job application. Maybe it was something you ordered in the mail. Maybe it was important news you’ve been waiting for.

But what if you had a handwritten note sent to you from God Himself? Would you carry it around in your pocket for a couple of weeks and open it when you got around to it? I doubt it. You probably would tear it open as you’re thinking, “Wow, God spoke to me! What does He have to say?”

The Bible is a written letter from God. Many people carry it around. They have it in different colors and sizes. They have it in different translations. They even have it on their phones and devices. But they never open it. A letter from God Himself goes unread.

What a missed opportunity! The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT) God stands ready to illuminate every area of our lives. If you want Him to speak to you, then open His Word.

In the noise and busyness of social media, you’ll find countless people who will tell you what God wants and doesn’t want, what He loves and hates, what He rewards and punishes, and what He cares about and what He’s indifferent to.

But only in the quiet stillness of reading His Word for yourself will you find the truth about our heavenly Father.

Reflection question: How do you make the most of your time in God’s Word? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Doctrine of the Few

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people.” (Deuteronomy 7:7)

Modern people—even Christians—tend to measure success in terms of bigness. God’s measure, on the other hand, is based on quality, not quantity. There were undoubtedly millions of people on the earth, for example, when the Flood came in the days of Noah, but only a “few, that is, eight souls were saved” as the waters lifted up the Ark (1 Peter 3:20).

A few centuries after the Flood, populations had again increased, and great nations developed in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and elsewhere. But God called one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation. Many great nations (Arabs, etc.) came from Abraham, but again God chose only one, Israel, to inherit the promise. Israel did grow, but as our text shows, even this chosen nation was nearly always insignificant compared to other nations.

In Israel’s history, many instances are recorded when God used just a few to battle many. God used Gideon’s 300 men to defeat 135,000 Midianites (Judges 7:7; 8:10). Similar deliverances occurred in the days of David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and others.

In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus told His disciples that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). He also said to them, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

God’s criterion is motivation rather than multiplication. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). But those few will be faithful servants and will someday hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21). HMM

 

 

 

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

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – The Lord He is God 

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Play

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a duel on Mt. Carmel. He dared them to call on Baal to send fire. From morning to evening they cried. Satan had no response. With the prophets of Baal exhausted and defeated, Elijah “repaired the altar of the Lord” (1 Kings 18:30 NASB).

Twelve stones symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. They saturated the altar with water three times so that everything was soaked. Then Elijah prayed. He didn’t even request fire. But the Lord sent it. A blaze from heaven consumed the water, the rocks, the wood, even the dust. For the first time in three generations, the nation of Israel cried to Jehovah, “The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39 NASB).

Is it time for our generation to rebuild the altar?

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – The Lord’s Favor

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Read Ezra 1:5–6

Even today, with professional help readily available, moving to a new home is a big deal. Cross-country moves can be logistical nightmares, not to mention international moves. In Ezra 1:5–6, we see God’s people begin the long journey from Persia back to Jerusalem.

Cyrus’s decree (see 1:2–4) ended by commanding the non-Hebrew people “to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem” (v. 4). Verse 6 records the obedience of these people: “All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.” This series of events reminds us of the exodus, when God’s people “plundered” the Egyptians, who loaded them with goods as they departed after the fateful Passover. God had rescued His people before, and here He does it again! If God has called you to do something, rest assured that He will give you the means to obey. Just as He was throughout Scripture, He will continue to be faithful today. As the Scriptures say, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

Verse 5 states that the “family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.” Notice a few things. First, the family heads were responsible to lead their families in obeying the Lord. Second, the priest and Levites, who were responsible for leading Israel in worship and keeping the Torah, led the nation in obeying the Lord. And third, pay special attention to that part in the middle: God moved their hearts. This pattern holds true today.

Go Deeper

How is the Lord moving your heart today? Do you trust that He will provide you with all you need, just as He has provided so many times before?

Pray with Us

Dear Jesus, what are You calling us to do with our lives? Please reveal to us the work that You have prepared for us and move our hearts to obey.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.Hebrews 13:8

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Storms

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There was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up…. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
Jonah 1:4; Acts 27:20

Recommended Reading: Acts 27:21-25

Jonah encountered a storm in the Mediterranean Sea that nearly took his life. A similar thing happened to the apostle Paul in Acts 27 on the same sea and with the same raw terror. In Jonah’s case, the prophet’s sin precipitated the storm. In the case of Paul, the storm arose for other reasons. In both cases, God used the storms to develop the souls of his two servants.

Not every storm happens because of sin, but every storm can be used by God to shape our faith and character and draw us closer to Him. How we wish we could avoid storms! Bereavement! Illness! Anxiety about our loved ones! Yet there has never been a storm beyond the reach of our Savior’s outstretched arm. We often learn more about Him in the storm than in the sunshine.

When you experience a difficult trial, look for how God is helping you to grow in your relationship with Him.

The Lord’s our rock, in Him we hide, a shelter in the time of storm.
Vernon Charlesworth

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Reverent Fear of God

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Fear the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 10:12

Today’s Scripture

Deuteronomy 10:12-15

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Today’s Devotion

“I killed people in the past,” Tanitan said, “but ever since I chose to believe in Jesus Christ, He will not allow me to commit such practices anymore.” Tanitan, a member of the Ilongot tribe from the Sierra Madre mountains in the Philippines, came from a culture of head-hunting—the practice of hunting humans and severing their heads. In comparing his life before he knew God to his life now, Tanitan said, “Before, I was afraid to die but not afraid to kill. Now, I am afraid to kill but not afraid to die.”

As I read Tanitan’s story in the book To the Headhunters of Sierra Madre by Florentino Santos, I thought of how his newfound fear of or reverence toward God developed his desire to obey Him. I remembered Moses’ words to the Israelites before they entered the land God promised them: “What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 10:2). Reverence toward God was to be reflected in obedience to Him. God’s people were to “walk in obedience to Him, to love Him . . . and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees” (vv. 12-13).

As believers in Jesus, our deep respect for God’s holiness compels us to hate evil and do what pleases Him (Proverbs 8:13). Let’s ask Him to help us make reverence toward God a way of life.

Reflect & Pray

From today’s Scripture, how would you describe the “fear [of] the Lord”? Where do you find obeying God difficult, and how can the command to fear Him help you?

Holy God, please help me to experience reverent fear in Your presence.

Today’s Insights

“Moses summoned all Israel” (Deuteronomy 5:1), and he began to publicly review the covenant God had made with His people. They were about to cross the Jordan River (Joshua 3), and Moses would soon step across a “metaphorical” Jordan into eternity (Deuteronomy 34:7). Much of his speech recounts Israel’s rebellion during their meandering forty-year journey out of Egypt (9:7-24). Even as he assured them of their future success in inhabiting the promised land, Moses warned, “It is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess” (v. 6). It was because God had chosen them, in spite of their failure: “They are your people, your inheritance that you brought out by your great power and your outstretched arm” (v. 29). Because God was their God, Israel was to follow Him. Although His holiness can’t tolerate sin, His Spirit enables believers in Jesus today to “fear” Him, “[obey]” Him, and worship Him (10:12).

For further study, read: The Fear of the Lord

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – A guarded hope for President Trump’s Venezuela oil deal

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What happened: President Trump announced on Friday that his administration had entered into a deal with Venezuela that could have a profound impact on America’s oil reserves and energy capacities. The agreement grants the US a 35 percent stake in the North American Blue Energy Partners, along with the chance to purchase 20 percent of the oil it produces at cost. However, there are reasons to suspect the deal may not be as straightforward as it seems.

Why it matters: Energy independence has been one of the president’s primary concerns since returning to office, and this agreement could further insulate the United States from oil production in the Middle East and elsewhere. However, it also ties the country to Venezuela to an extent that could create new problems in the future. The specific text of the agreement, which has not been released, could decide which fate is more likely.

Continue reading Denison Forum – A guarded hope for President Trump’s Venezuela oil deal →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Attention Surplus

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 May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace. 

—Numbers 6:24–26

Scripture:

Numbers 6:24–26 

Attention is becoming a scarce commodity in our modern culture. Attention spans have become alarmingly short. Algorithms are constantly being tweaked and perfected to keep people’s focus on their screens. As a result, many people have little attention to spare for others.

How often do you find yourself talking to someone who isn’t listening—or who’s giving you considerably less than their full attention? And when you call them on it, the conversation usually goes something like this:

“Did you hear what I just said?”

“Yes.”

“What did I say?”

“Uh, something about something that happened.”

We may be tempted to wonder if we face the same challenge with God. He is the Sustainer of the universe, after all. Given the infinite number of things that concern Him, we may question whether we have His full attention. And when things aren’t going well for us, we may start to doubt that He’s even aware of our struggles.

Maybe Joseph felt that way at times. After all, he was only human. He had done all the right things, even after his brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He had resisted the advances of Potiphar’s wife. And what did he get for being a person of integrity? He was falsely accused of sexual assault and thrown into an Egyptian prison.

How easily Joseph could have thought, “This is just great. You serve the Lord, you do what God wants, and this is where it gets you. If I had given in to Mrs. Potiphar, I wouldn’t be here right now. I would be living in the lap of luxury. But here I am, suffering!”

Of course, this would have been a shortsighted reaction. The truth is that God’s full attention was on Joseph, not just on his immediate circumstances, but on his long-term potential. God’s plan wasn’t for Joseph to be comfortable every day of his life and fully informed of what the future held. His plan was for Joseph to save countless people from famine and to set into motion the events that eventually would lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land.

Joseph was the ideal person for the job because he was willing to be still in even the worst circumstances. To look for the opportunities that presented themselves in prison. To use his God-given skills in surprising ways.

Even in the quietness of prison, Joseph was not outside God’s attention. He certainly didn’t understand everything that was happening to him. But he recognized that his circumstances were part of his preparation. He trusted that God was equipping him for something greater.

We too can have that confidence. Numbers 6:24–26 says, “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace” (NLT). The idea is that the Lord gives us His full attention.

Be still and let that amazing truth give you comfort in both good times and bad.

 

Reflection question: What does it mean to you to have God’s full attention?

Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Faith, Substance, and Evidence

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by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Hebrews 11 is known as the great Hall of Faith because it recites the faith and resulting action of many Old Testament heroes. It begins with a description of what faith is.

First, we see that it is the “substance of things hoped for.” Biblically, we know that the Christian hope is a hope so real that it has substance in the present. None of the people of faith recited in this chapter actually saw the promises made to them come to fruition, but they so believed in them that they lived in the present as if the future were reality.

The word “substance” occurs only two other times in Hebrews. It is used to speak of Christ as the exact representation of God’s essence and nature, “who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person [i.e., substance]” (Hebrews 1:3). It is also translated “confidence,” “for we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:14), and speaks of a deep assurance. Putting this all together, our text could then be rendered “faith is the essence of our assurance of things yet in the future.”

The word “evidence” can be translated “conviction,” or even “proof.” The word implies a logical, airtight argument. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof [same word as ‘evidence’], for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). This sort of evidence is something we know to be true, something about which we have such conviction that we act accordingly.

The first half of the verse brings a future truth down into the present; the second half commits our lives to that truth. JDM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Key to Conquering Frustration

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[Therefore, I do not treat God’s gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God . . .

Galatians 2:21 (AMPC)

I know what frustration is like because I spent many years living a frustrated life. I knew who God was, but I knew very little of His grace and how to live in close relationship to Him. I have since learned that when I get frustrated, it’s almost always because I am trying to make something happen in my own strength instead of waiting on the Lord to make it happen. If I am frustrated, it is a sign that I am acting independently instead of relying on Him and receiving His grace.

Are you frustrated? In your relationships? In your career? In your walk with the Lord? Are you wrestling with an area of your personality that is causing you problems, or is there a specific habit in your life that you can’t break?

Frustration comes from trying to do something you cannot do on your own. God is the only One who can make things happen for you in your life. You will be frustrated if you try to do things without Him. But the minute you say, “Lord, I can’t do this on my own, so I turn it over to You. I am willing to do anything You ask me to do, but I will need Your grace (power) in order to do it”—when you sincerely pray that prayer, you will begin to enjoy the rest of God.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I can’t do this on my own, so I turn it over to You. Help me stop striving in my own strength and rest in Your grace, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Tattooed on God’s Hand 

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Play

On the second day of the D-Day invasion, Leon was taken captive by the Nazis. While being marched to a POW camp, he and another soldier escaped. A farmer found them and put them in touch with the French underground. They took his US credentials and created a French ID card for him.

He made it back to the Allied camp. Yet with no American ID, he was suspected of being a spy. He rolled up his sleeve and said, “Would this prove I’m an American?” It was a tattoo of an eagle, and on its breast was an American flag with the word Mother written across it. That convinced them.

Sound familiar? God says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16 NIV). Satan is vicious, but he will not be victorious. Why? Your name is tattooed on God’s hand.

 

 

 

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