Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Spiritual Milk

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Read 1 Peter 2:1–3

Have you ever been at a prayer meeting at church or a small group where the prayer requests felt more like gossip sessions than times of genuinely seeking the Lord? In chapter 2, Peter picks up on his encouragement from yesterday that the church should “love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22).

In order to love others well, we must throw off many common vices that undermine community (v.1). The vices he lists are: “malice”—a mean-spirited or vicious attitude; “deceit”—craftiness or cunning in relationships; “hypocrisy”—insincerity; “envy”; and “slander” (v. 1). It is impossible to love one another well when this kind of culture is present. Peter challenges us to get rid of these sinful behaviors so the community will not be infected.

We might expect this list of vices to be followed by a list of virtues to cultivate. But that is not what Peter advises here. Instead, he says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk” (v. 2). This is a call to be dependent on the Lord. “Milk” here does not refer to elementary Christian teaching as it does elsewhere in the New Testament (1 Cor. 3:1–2; Heb. 5:13). The analogy here is that just as a newborn craves milk, we also should crave pure spiritual food. What is that food? The context makes it clear; it is the “word of the Lord” (1 Pet. 1:25). We are to show our dependence on the Lord through our desire for and love of His Word. It is not possible to be full of hypocrisy, envy, and malice when we recognize our position before God.

The goal is to “grow up in your salvation” (v. 2). The best way to think about what that means is to look to Jesus.

Go Deeper

God uses His Word to help us become more like Christ. How have you seen spending time in God’s Word affect your relationships with others?

Pray with Us

Jesus, we look to Your example for how to edify our community. Help us cast off any malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander, and replace them with devotion to You and love for others.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.1 Peter 2:2

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Remembering Who We Are

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Ruth replied, . . . “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

Today’s Scripture

Ruth 1:11-18

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A restaurant employee discovered an unconscious man beside a dumpster. He was sunburned, bitten by ants, and showed signs of blunt force trauma. He had no memory of who he was. The man, later self-named “Benjamin Kyle,” lived in limbo for more than a decade. He couldn’t work, collect benefits, or even reclaim his past. His healing began when a community of strangers helped him rediscover his identity through genetic testing and investigation. “I have a history,” he said. “I’m not just some stranger that materialized out of thin air.”

The story of Ruth in the Bible can also be seen as one of rediscovered belonging. After losing her husband and leaving her homeland, she chose to bind herself to her mother-in-law Naomi and her people. She said, “Where you go I will go . . . . Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth connected her identity and destiny to that of Naomi and her people in life and in death. She was “determined to go with her” (v. 18)—prioritizing community over clarity, belonging over certainty. In doing so, she stepped into God’s redemptive story and is remembered forever as part of the lineage of Christ (4:18-22; Matthew 1:3-5).

When we as believers in Jesus forget who we are—or when life’s pain leaves us disoriented—God often uses community to reconnect us with our most authentic identity. In Him we’re beloved, chosen, and known.

Reflect & Pray

Who is God using to help you remember who you are in Him? What does it mean to be known by Him?

Dear God, please help me remember who I am in You.

Today’s Insights

Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi was a hard choice that carried with it the prospects of great difficulties. Ruth, a Moabitess, would’ve faced tremendous challenges in moving to Bethlehem. Moab, though a distant cousin of Israel, had become Israel’s enemy (Judges 3), resulting in significant hostilities. Additionally, being a widow in a strange land where she didn’t have the support of family and friends (aside from Naomi) would’ve been potentially dangerous. Through Naomi’s extended family (Boaz), however, God would provide both sustenance and safety (Ruth 2:1, 8-9). Ruth would eventually be enfolded into that community as the wife of Boaz and would become the great-grandmother of King David (4:17). For us today as well, God often uses community to remind us of His great care for us.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – The consequences of rejecting God’s design for holiness and sexuality

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Last week, we discussed what it means to trust God and his word as the source not only of our blessings but also of our sense of freedom and independence.

But what happens when a culture comes to see obedience to God as the source of persecution and disparagement? How can a nation live in a manner that the Lord can bless when it has come to accept a sense of toleration and an understanding of morality that are simply incompatible with the kind of morality that he asks of us?

Unfortunately, America seems intent on finding out. And there are a few areas in which that is more clearly demonstrated than in our approach to sex and sexuality.

So, in light of that struggle, what might God say to us today?

Abiding by God’s standards

In Genesis 13, we read that “the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord” (v. 13). God called the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah “very grave” (Genesis 18:20) and could not find ten who were righteous in Sodom (Genesis 18:32).

Continue reading Denison Forum – The consequences of rejecting God’s design for holiness and sexuality →

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Like-Minded

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by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)

This emphatic command, along with the parallel terms, helps us understand the concept of thinking the same thing. “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).

Such thinking also includes “having the same love.” There are two aspects of this love. First, the term itself (agape) demands that all of Christ’s disciples “love one another: for love is of God” (1 John 4:7). This is often repeated to born-again believers so that our love for each other is so obvious that “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples” (John 13:35).

Godly love then produces “being of one accord.” This phrase is the translation of the Greek word sumpsuchos, which is a compound of the preposition most often translated “with” and the word for “soul.” Thus, the agape that we are to share results in a connection “with-soul” that binds the “like-mindedness” in agreement with the mind and spirit of the Creator God.

We are finally commanded to be of “one mind”—slightly different from the “likeminded” opening charge of Philippians 2:2. The initial words are auto phronete—“I think.” The last use is phronountes—“same (way of) thinking.”

The entire context of the opening verses of Philippians 2 is to think like Jesus Christ thinks. “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). “Set your affection [phroneo] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). This kind of thinking must have God’s love and soul embedded in the very core of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. HMM III

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Discover Your Identity and Worth

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Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (AMPC)

When a boy is growing up, he begins to realize that he is not like his mother, and he differentiates himself from her. His masculinity is defined by separation. He will normally seek his own identity and individuality. A girl does not feel this need and usually remains close to and dependent upon her mother.

About twice as many women as men experience depression, and about 70 percent of the mood-altering or anxiety-relieving drugs are taken by women. In her book Unfinished Business: Pressure Points in the Lives of Women, Maggie Scarf has suggested this reason:

Women are statistically more depressed because they have been taught to be more dependent and affection-seeking, and thus they rarely achieve an independent sense of self. A woman gives her highest priorities to pleasing others, being attractive to others, being cared for, and caring for others. Women receive ferocious training in a direction that leads away from thinking “What do I want?” and toward “What do they want?” They may be in danger of merely melting into the people around them and fail to realize they are an individual with rights and needs, and they need to establish independence.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, it is so easy to lose my sense of independence and get caught in totally depending upon others. Strengthen me and set me on Your firm foundation of freedom, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – The Great Outdoors: Nature Declares His Glory

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NEW!Listen Now

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.
Matthew 6:28

Recommended Reading: Matthew 6:25-30

As we step into summer, many of us take steps into the great outdoors to enjoy God’s creation in the warm sunlight of the season. Some will take hikes up mountain pathways; others will walk to the edge of canyons or to the top of gushing waterfalls. But even a walk down the street or through the park—if we will only focus—shows us lilies, daisies, billowing clouds, chirping birds, and calming breezes.

Psalm 125:2 says, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” Psalm 148 says, “Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars…. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven” (verses 9, 13).

Romans 1:20 tells us that God’s invisible power and glorious attributes can be seen in what He has made. Take time to enjoy the birds, flowers, stars, leaves, plants, hills, and brooks He has made. Praise Him and know that if He cares for His great outdoors, He will also care for you.

The world was no doubt made, that it might be the theater of the divine glory.
John Calvin

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – God’s Provision

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The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. Psalm 23:1-2

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 23:1-6

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Today’s Devotion

I was putting my grandson to bed during a sleepover. When his Bible bookmark opened to Psalm 23, he objected, “We already read this one.” After I suggested we might learn something new, he read aloud, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastries.” Green pastries?! I explained that the word was pastures, not pastries. Hours earlier, he’d stood before a bakery shelf, selecting treats. His interpretation came into focus: To him, a bakery conveyed a place of rest and enjoyment.

Psalm 23 may be so familiar to us that we miss its deep offering. David, a king well acquainted with shepherding, describes God’s provision over a lifetime of things both idyllic (vv. 5-6) and challenging (v. 4). He points out that our good God leads us to places where we can partake of His presence, be rejuvenated, and prepare for what will come. “Green pastures” (v. 1) and “quiet waters” (v. 2) are such dwellings for sheep, and we are God’s sheep (v. 1).

My grandson’s innocent interpretation opened my eyes to the “green pastures” God provides for me—places of rest and enjoyment in everyday life where He restores me. A gold-hued sunset. A verdant field. A quiet corner. A bakery shelf of green pastries, wafting out delight. I’m so glad we read Psalm 23 again!

Reflect & Pray

What unexpected “green pasture” moment have you experienced? How does Psalm 23 invite you into the provision of God’s presence?

Dear God, please open my eyes to the “green pasture” moments You provide. Help me to enter Your presence each day.

For further study, read Why Doesn’t God Answer Me?.

Today’s Insights

Despite David’s failings, he was a man who loved God and was loved by Him. We see this clearly expressed in the psalmist’s writings. Psalm 23 is a classic example that still speaks to us today. With God as our “shepherd,” we truly “lack nothing” (v. 1). He leads, refreshes, guides, and comforts us (vv. 2-4); and our “cup overflows” with His blessings (v. 5). He surrounds us with His love and goodness in this life and for all eternity (v. 6). With such a God, we don’t need to live in fear (v. 4). In Psalm 27:4, David exudes, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Like David, may our longing be for God. In His presence, we find rest and restoration.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Does morality still matter in America?

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How Christians can answer God’s call to be America’s moral compass

Throughout much of this week, Dr. Jim Denison’s Daily Articles have focused on issues of morality in the culture while providing guidance on how to embrace a more biblical system of values amid pressure to do otherwise. It’s an important conversation, particularly because our culture has little hope of embracing Christ’s teachings if Christians aren’t doing so first.

I must admit, though, the transition from reading each morning’s articles to diving into the day’s news shortly thereafter has felt particularly jarring.

It’s not necessarily that this week has seen an abnormal influx of people rejecting biblical values, though examples have not been hard to find. After all, stories to that effect are present every day.

Rather, I think the juxtaposition of this week’s theme in the Daily Article with the news of what’s happening in our culture and our world has stood out because it’s made me wonder how much our culture still cares about morality in the first place.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Does morality still matter in America? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – An Acquired Taste

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 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? 

—2 Corinthians 2:14–16

Scripture:

Have you ever eaten something that tasted sweet going down but made you sick later? Let me restate the question: Have you ever eaten eight Krispy Kreme doughnuts in one sitting? I have. I got a little carried away. They were great going down. But less than 10 minutes later, I was asking, “What have I done?”

My gastronomical mistake reminds me of an unforgettable image from the apostle John’s vision in Revelation 10. In his vision, John asked an angel for a small scroll. When the angel gave him the scroll, he told John, “Yes, take it and eat it . . . It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” (verse 9 NLT).

John continued, “So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach. Then I was told, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings’” (verses 10–11 NLT).

The message that we believe as Christians may seem sweet to us, but it’s bitter to others. We recognize it as God’s Word. We consume it as spiritual nourishment. Job said, “I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food” (Job 23:12 NLT). For Christians, a Bible study is like a feast. We love it. But for others, it’s misery and torment. They dislike it intensely.

The apostle Paul used another of the five senses to communicate a similar message:

“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?” (2 Corinthians 2:14–16 NLT)

Some people will hear the gospel message and say, “I love that. I believe it. I want Jesus in my life.” Other people will hear it and say, “Not only do I not like it, I hate it. And I hate you for saying it.”

Of course, we as believers have no way of knowing how someone will respond. So, we must share the gospel with as many people as we can. Whether they embrace it or reject it is up to them.

 

Reflection question: What are some things that make people react negatively to the gospel message? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Whole Heart

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.” (Psalm 138:1)

When we sing or testify of our praise to God, it should not be perfunctory or repetitive rote praise. It should be sincere, wholehearted, personal praise. We should especially praise Him for revealing to us eternal truth in His inspired Word. Further, we should not hesitate to praise our true God, even amidst all the false gods of this world. As verse 2 says, He has magnified His Word above all His name! The Holy Scriptures are our greatest physical possession of all the things in this world, for they alone will “not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). His Word is “for ever . . . settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).

This phrase, “the whole heart,” occurs a number of times in the Bible, especially in the psalm of the Word, Psalm 119. Note the testimony of the psalmist in this great psalm.

  1. “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (v. 2).
    2. “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments” (v. 10).
    3. “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (v. 34).
    4. “I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word” (v. 58).
    5. “The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart” (v. 69).
    6. “I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes” (v. 145).

Thus, we should “keep his testimonies” (v. 2), “keep thy law” (v. 34), “keep thy precepts” (v. 69), and “keep thy statutes” (v. 145) with our whole heart, for the good and sufficient reason that He is our Lord and has given us His eternal Word, magnified above all His name. HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Success Requires Effort

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The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

John 10:10 (AMP)

True success does not come easily or without hurdles for anyone. It is the result of hard work, patience, sacrifice, and determination—but it does come. As a child of God, the only way you will ever be a failure is if you give up.

You can be successful in every area of your life—work, relationships, marriage, pursuit of God’s plans, and everything else in which you are involved. But lasting success requires effort, and as you work toward it, the enemy will try to oppose you.

It’s crucial to learn to keep moving forward in God’s strength when success does not come as easily as you would like. When you face the obstacles that you are sure to encounter along the way, don’t give up. Keep moving forward with determination!

Prayer of the Day: Lord, give me strength to keep going when things are hard. Help me stay determined, trust Your timing, and not give up on the path You’ve set before me, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – By Your Love

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Read 1 Peter 1:22–25

During World War 2, Dietrich Bonhoeffer ran an underground seminary to train German pastors. In his classic book Life Together, Bonhoeffer warned his students that many church leaders have an idealized vision of church community. But once in ministry, they become disillusioned by reality. He then makes this incisive remark: “He who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.”

Peter reminds us that we have been “born again” (v. 23). God’s Spirit has brought new life into the heart of believers through the Word of God. Because of God’s work in our lives, we are called to grow in holiness. Peter puts it this way: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth” (v. 22).

But how do we know we are on the right track? How do we know we are growing in our faith? Here is a simple test: Do we love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? When we were saved, we not only had our relationship with God restored, but we were made a part of a new community—the church. Our love for one another should be more than just making small talk after a church service. We should “love one another deeply, from the heart” (v. 22).

This kind of Christian community not only models the kind of love Jesus has shown toward us, but serves as a witness to the world. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus commanded His disciples to “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35).

Go Deeper

The way we love one another is so countercultural and unusual that it points people to Jesus. How might God be calling you to live out His love to someone this week?

Pray with Us

Father, sometimes we struggle to love one another. When we don’t feel like loving our brother or sister, remind us that You never stop loving us. Forgive us for getting caught up in our own mindset.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth…love one another deeply, from the heart.1 Peter 1:22

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – The Spirit of Wisdom

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NEW!Listen Now

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:5-17

When God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle, He appointed a man named Bezalel to be master craftsman for the project. God “filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 31:2-3). The apostle Paul picked up on the connection between wisdom and being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:15-18.

Paul cautioned the Ephesians about being foolish and wasting the opportunities of living for God. He equated being wise with understanding and carrying out God’s will, exhorting them not to be “drunk with wine” but to “be filled with the Spirit.” Just as a master craftsman could not carry out his tasks if he was drunk with wine, so the Christian cannot carry out God’s will by living a wasteful and uncontrolled life. Part of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:23).

Imagine yourself as a master craftsman, constructing a life that is pleasing to the Lord and fruitful in His work. Purpose each day to be filled with the Spirit so that your gifts and talents are not wasted.

The more we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the more we shall glorify the Lord Jesus. 
Frank Gaebelein

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Running to God in Prayer

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From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. Jonah 2:1

Today’s Scripture

Jonah 2:1-10

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Today’s Devotion

One moment Adrián Simancas was kayaking in the Strait of Magellan in Chile with his father. The next, the twenty-four-year-old was engulfed in the mouth of a humpback whale. “I thought I was dead,” Adrián told a news outlet. After a few seconds, the whale released Adrián into the frigid waters. His life vest caused him to float to the water’s surface, and his father helped him to safety.

The Old Testament prophet Jonah also had an encounter with a large sea creature. Jonah refused to follow God’s directive to preach a message of repentance to the Israelites’ enemies, the Ninevites, so he boarded a ship in the opposite direction of Nineveh. When the ship got caught in a storm, Jonah convinced the crew to throw him overboard (Jonah 1:11-12, 15). “Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (v. 17). Jonah went from fleeing from God to crying out to Him: “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God” (2:1).

God heard Jonah and rescued him (v. 10). Then Jonah preached to the Ninevites, and they repented (3:8-10).

If God could hear Jonah’s plea from inside a big fish, He can hear us and rescue us from wherever we are. Instead of running from God, let’s run to Him in prayer, knowing that He will answer us when we cry out to Him.

Reflect & Pray

Why do you sometimes run from God? How can you run to Him today?

Dear God, thank You for the rescue You alone provide.

Today’s Insights

The Bible records various places where people cried out to God. Samson prayed while chained in a pagan temple (Judges 16:28), Jesus prayed from a cross (Luke 23:46), and Paul frequently prayed while in prison (Philippians 1). One of the most unusual places of prayer was in the belly of “a huge fish” (Jonah 1:17; 2:1-9). Imagine how different his story might have been had Jonah prayed while still at home, rather than after God had pursued him to the depths of the sea. When Jonah cried out to God in prayer, He delivered him and gave him a second chance to fulfill his mission (3:1-2). Running from God only makes our problems worse. But when we walk in obedience to Him and cry out to Him in prayer, He’ll hear us and do what’s best within His perfect plans.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Responding to LGBTQ issues by “speaking the truth in love”

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Four biblical principles

Some years ago, I wrote a Daily Article in response to statements made by a well-known Christian figure. My article was sharply critical of his published words. The next day, I received a very kind and heartfelt response from his daughter. It turned out that she read my article each day and wanted me to know that there was another side to her father’s reported statements.

Her gracious response reminded me that I should never write or speak on a subject without considering those for whom it is highly personal. This principle applies especially to the Pride Month article I published yesterday.

As I wrote that article, I had in mind some dear friends whose sons are gay. I also thought of gay and lesbian friends I have known over the years. However, there wasn’t space to offer reflections on the inherent balance in “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), so I’ll attempt to do so today.

How do we take biblical stands on moral issues in ways that help rather than harm? How do we offer truth with compassion? How do we address divisive issues out of love for our Lord and our neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39)?

Let’s consider four biblical principles.

One: Be honest about our own failings.

When I was a seminary professor teaching philosophy of religion, a chapel speaker taught me a lesson I have not forgotten. The previous week, it was revealed that a very prominent pastor in our area had been engaged in numerous sexual affairs. The story was all over the local news.

The speaker began his message by referencing the scandal. I assumed he would rebuke the pastor’s sins and warn us against following his example. Instead, he pointed his finger at us and said, “There but for the grace of God go you.” Then he pointed at himself and said, “And there but for the grace of God go I.”

Whether we are speaking about LGBTQ issues or any other moral subject, it is vital that we do so with a spirit of humility. I may not be committing your sins, but you may not be committing mine. As Henri Nouwen reminded us, wounded healers are often the best healers.

Concerning the subject at hand, it is important to remember that sexual sin is not unpardonable, heterosexual sexual sin is just as sinful as homosexual sexual sin, and God loves LGBTQ people as much as he loves everyone else. As a result, we are not superior people telling inferior people what to do—we are beggars telling other beggars where we found bread.

Two: Submit to the Spirit.

I’ll admit that it is hard for me to love people who are engaged in behavior I consider to be unbiblical and harmful to society. Abortion and euthanasia supporters come to mind: their activism costs unborn and infirm humans their lives. LGBTQ activists seeking to influence children during Pride Month is similarly frustrating for me.

But as St. Augustine noted, God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. Because “God is love” (1 John 4:8), he cannot not love us. If I submit every day to his Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), he will produce the “fruit” of “love” in my heart and life (Galatians 5:22). I will be empowered to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:39) and act out of such love in ways that are redemptive rather than hurtful.

This is a gift I need to receive and share every day. So do you.

Three: Declare and defend biblical truth.

You’ve probably heard the St. Francis of Assisi quote, “Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” There are two problems here. First, Francis never spoke these words. Second, they’re wrong: in preaching the gospel, it is always necessary to use words (Romans 10:14).

People need and deserve to know what God says about the challenges they face. The Bible speaks directly to LGBTQ issues, for example, with truth that is clear and redemptive. (For some of our ministry’s resources on this subject, click here.) Peter’s injunction is the guidance we need:

In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame (1 Peter 3:15–16).

Every word of this text is vital for our society and for our souls.

Four: Pray for transformed hearts with urgency.

It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, save our souls, and conform us to the character of Christ (cf. John 16:8–11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:29). Our role is to share biblical truth in love as the Spirit leads us and then to pray for hearts to be transformed by God’s grace.

Such intercession requires both persistence and urgency. Persistence, because changing hearts can be a long process, and urgency, because broken souls and fallen society hang in the balance.

Do you know someone who needs biblical truth shared with humility in compassionate love? Someone who needs your ongoing intercession and personal encouragement?

I especially appreciate Max Lucado’s testimony here:

“I choose kindness. I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.”

With whom will you “choose kindness” today?

Quote for the day:

“Compassion is born when we discover in the center of our own existence not only that God is God and man is man, but also that our neighbor is really our fellow man.” —Henri J. M. Nouwen

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Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – A Self-Chosen Destination

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 Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair 

—Psalm 19:9

Scripture:

Our customization culture tells us that we can have just about anything, exactly as we want it, as long as we’re willing to shell out the necessary dough. Unfortunately, many people try to carry that sense of privilege into their spiritual lives. They try to customize God.

They say things like, “I believe in a God who loves us, not in a God who judges us.” They act as though God can be reduced to a single attribute, as if all His perfections cannot exist in perfect harmony.

Those words sound good, especially to other would-be spiritual customizers. But they’re not grounded in biblical truth. When people say, “I believe in a nonjudgmental god,” what they’re really saying is, “I believe in a god who doesn’t care about right and wrong.” To put it more bluntly, they’re saying they believe in a god they just made up in their heads. They believe in a wish-fulfillment god.

The reality is that if God really is loving, then He also will be just. That’s what the Bible tells us. God’s perfect love makes Him a righteous judge. It cannot be separated from His perfect justice. The psalmist wrote, “Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair” (Psalm 19:9 NLT). There is no legitimate excuse for disobeying the Lord or for ignoring His gracious plan of salvation.

Know this: No one in Heaven deserves to be there. The apostle Paul wrote, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:8–9 NLT).

Likewise, no one will be in Hell who does not deserve to be there. Just as no one will be in Heaven who went there unwillingly, no one will be in Hell who didn’t go there willingly.

God won’t force anyone into eternal life with Him. He won’t say, “Get up to Heaven right now!” You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. And He won’t violate His perfect justice to make exceptions for people who willingly choose to go to Hell.

I like the way J. I. Packer summed it up: “Scripture sees hell as self-chosen. . . . hell appears as God’s gesture of respect for human choice. All receive what they actually chose, either to be with God forever, worshipping him, or without God forever, worshipping themselves.”

How could a God of love send people to Hell? God does not desire that anyone perish, but people end up in Hell because they reject His offer of salvation. But if you ask God to forgive you of your sin, He will remove it from you and bring real change and transformation to your life. You will be born again.

 

Reflection question: How would you explain to an unbeliever that a person’s eternal destination is self-chosen? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Holy One of Israel

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7)

This wonderful name of God, “the Holy One of Israel,” was often used during the days of the later kings of Judah. It occurs three times in the book of Psalms (Psalm 71:22; 78:41; 89:18) and then no less than 27 times in Isaiah. The name then occurs three more times (Jeremiah 50:29; 51:5; Ezekiel 39:7), with the final one being our text above (where the preposition is translated “in”). This unusual pattern perhaps reflects a divinely ordained design to suggest the Holy Trinity.

The strong emphasis on this particular name during the later period of Judah’s kingdom probably was because of the prevalent unholiness of the nation during those years, finally culminating in the captivity of Judah itself. God stressed again and again that He was the Holy One and that “ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44).

This theme is prominent in most of the 33 passages where this majestic name is used, but it is especially emphasized in its final occurrence, as recorded in our text. The context of this latter passage is the prophesied invasion of Israel by “Gog, the land of Magog” who will “come up against my people of Israel . . . in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:2, 16). At that time, says the Lord, “there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel . . . and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD” (vv. 19, 23). Then at last, His people will never pollute His holy name anymore, and “the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. . . . I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD” (39:22, 29). HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Choose Humility over Pride

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..That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).

James 4:6 (AMPC)

Has God ever had to deal with you about pride? Here are some ways you can tell if you have an issue with pride: If you have an opinion about everything, if you are judgmental, if you can’t be corrected, if you rebel against authority, if you want to take all the credit for yourself, or if you say “I” too often. These are signs of pride.

It is hard to let God replace our pride with His humility, but it is vital. If we want to live in close relationship with God, we must come to Him with an attitude of humility. Pride relies on self, but humility relies on God. It is only in the place of humility that God can bless us.

The humble get the help! If we humble ourselves under God’s hand, He will exalt us in due time (James 4:10). Proud people think they deserve everything they want “now,” but humility says, “My times are in Your hands, Lord.”

Prayer of the Day: Lord, show me areas of pride in my life. Help me walk in humility, trust Your timing, and rely on You instead of myself in all things, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Prayer in it’s Purest Form 

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Mark 1:35 says, “Jesus went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”

This dialogue must have been common among His friends: “Has anyone seen Jesus?”  “Oh, you know.  He’s up to the same thing.”  “Praying again?”  “Yep. He’s been gone since sunrise.”

Jesus would even disappear for an entire night of prayer. Prayer for most of us, isn’t a matter of a month-long retreat or even an hour of meditation. It’s a conversation with God while driving to work or waiting for an appointment. God will teach you to pray. We speak. He listens. He speaks. We listen. It’s prayer in its purest form. God changes His people through such moments.

Here’s my challenge for you! Every day for four weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before!

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Reverent Fear

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Read 1 Peter 1:17–21

As a teacher, one of the best things I can do for my students is hold them accountable. If they think there will be no consequences for late or sloppy work, they are ultimately the ones who will suffer because they won’t really learn the material.

Peter reminds us that God is both our Father and our judge (v. 17). Since God is all-knowing and completely just, we know His judgment will be thorough and fair (v. 17). This should lead us to hold a “reverent fear” of God (v. 17). Healthy fear of God can coexist with assurance of our salvation and love for the Lord. Just as healthy fear of a loving parent might keep a child from giving in to peer pressure, fear of the Lord can protect us from lesser fears that might derail our Christian life.

Another reason to have a reverent fear of God is because we belong fully to Him. In the ancient world, purchasing slaves was a regular part of the culture. A slave could also have their freedom purchased by a benefactor, which was called “ransoming” a slave. Peter uses this imagery as an analogy for what God has done for us through Christ. He freed us from our former way of life and slavery to sin, “with the precious blood of Christ” (v. 19). This was a price far more costly than any amount of silver or gold (v. 18). Jesus is the perfect Passover Lamb (Exod. 12:5). He took the judgment that we deserved upon Himself.

Even more astounding, Jesus was chosen for this role from “before the creation of the world” (v. 20). God had planned way in advance how He would redeem fallen humanity. Amazing love! Because of what He has done for us, we can have hope for the future (v. 21).

Go Deeper

What does having a healthy fear of the Lord look like? What does it not mean? How does this healthy fear change the way we live?

Pray with Us

Hallelujah! What a Savior You are, Jesus! Thank You for ransoming us and taking our judgment upon Yourself. Please give us a healthy fear that comes from love and adoration for You.

Live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.1 Peter 1:17

 

 

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