Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Fives: Five Smooth Stones

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Then [David] took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had.
1 Samuel 17:40

Recommended Reading: 1 Samuel 17:40-47

The story of David—especially his epic face-off with Goliath—speaks to every generation. Even recently, a television series and a major animated feature film have brought the story of David to life for modern audiences. When we read the Bible story, we cannot help but notice the number five.

Why five stones? The Bible doesn’t say. Some suggest David anticipated more than one opponent since Goliath had relatives. Others point out that a skilled slinger would naturally carry several stones. Most simply, David was prepared. His faith in God didn’t eliminate wise action. Like an old Revolutionary War adage—“Trust in God, but keep your powder dry.” David trusted the Lord fully, but he was also well armed.

Here is an application for us. We face many giants in life. Some are problems that we must try to solve, and others are temptations that we must overcome. The Bible has more than 31,000 verses. So when a giant problem or temptation confronts you, gather into your mental pouch five smooth Bible verses. God’s Word is rock solid when it comes to our victory.

The Bible was given not to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.
D. L. Moody

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

NEW!Listen Now

Then [David] took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had.
1 Samuel 17:40

Recommended Reading: 1 Samuel 17:40-47

The story of David—especially his epic face-off with Goliath—speaks to every generation. Even recently, a television series and a major animated feature film have brought the story of David to life for modern audiences. When we read the Bible story, we cannot help but notice the number five.

Why five stones? The Bible doesn’t say. Some suggest David anticipated more than one opponent since Goliath had relatives. Others point out that a skilled slinger would naturally carry several stones. Most simply, David was prepared. His faith in God didn’t eliminate wise action. Like an old Revolutionary War adage—“Trust in God, but keep your powder dry.” David trusted the Lord fully, but he was also well armed.

Here is an application for us. We face many giants in life. Some are problems that we must try to solve, and others are temptations that we must overcome. The Bible has more than 31,000 verses. So when a giant problem or temptation confronts you, gather into your mental pouch five smooth Bible verses. God’s Word is rock solid when it comes to our victory.

The Bible was given not to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.
D. L. Moody

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – God’s Breath of Life

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The Lord God . . . breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

Today’s Scripture

Genesis 2:1-7

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Today’s Devotion

Researchers discovered that the water anole can stay underwater for twenty minutes without a fresh gulp of air. The tiny lizard has water-repelling skin, and after taking a deep dive it exhales a bubble of air that sticks to its snout. The clever creature then rebreathes the bubble again and again—something scientists believe is the recycling of the trapped air supply. Although water anoles possess this special ability, like many creatures, they must breathe to live.

In Genesis 2, we read that God “breathed into [Adam’s] nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (v. 7). As He created all things in “the heavens and the earth” (v. 4), He also created man from “the dust of the ground” (v. 7). But it took God’s breath of life to make His creation fully alive. He transformed the first human into a living being—a living soul. Later, He formed Eve from Adam’s rib (v. 22). As spiritual beings, we’re able to enjoy fellowship with Him by belief in Christ. Jesus “breathed on” the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). One commentator writes that this “‘inbreathing’ of the Holy Spirit is essential in order for people to enjoy fellowship with God.”

Each breath we take is God’s gift of physical life. As believers in Jesus, it’s also a reflection of our eternal life and being indwelt by the life-giving Spirit (Romans 8:11).

Reflect & Pray

What does God’s breath of life mean to you? How has the Spirit made you spiritually alive?

Loving God, thank You for eternal life and Your breath of life.

Today’s Insights

Ancient Hebrew literature often conveyed meaning through intentional wordplays. In Genesis 2, the Hebrew word translated “man”—’adam (Genesis 2:7) is very similar to the Hebrew word translated “ground” (vv. 5-7)—’adamah. If a modern translation attempted to capture this wordplay, it might translate “man” (adam) as “earthling” and “ground” (’adamah) as “earth.” By pairing these words, the passage communicates key insights into human nature. Humanity was formed from the earth or ground (v. 7) and so is intimately connected to it. But humanity was also given a unique relationship to God, who gave human beings “the breath of life” (v. 7). Each breath we take is a reminder of God’s gift of physical life.

God is loving and merciful, and He chose to give us new life. God simply gives it to us. And once we’re alive in Him, He gives us the privilege of walking in this new life and serving Him. Read more on this: Alive with Christ

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Will we soon be living in a Terminator movie?

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“This is a risk for the whole world. In a few years, we will be living in a Terminator movie. It’s no joke. Machines are making decisions to strike.” This is how Col. Serhiy Minaiev responded to a Russian drone strike that killed three civilians in southeastern Ukraine last month.

The New York Times reports that the drone was guided by an experimental artificial intelligence system, not a human pilot. It had been programmed by human operators to fly toward a particular gas station, but when it got close, it chose its exact target, most likely propane tanks, on its own.

According to the Times, this development was long watched for in the war in Ukraine, “presaging a dystopian future in which killer robots roam the skies making life-or-death decisions that reduce targets to data points.” (For more, see Dr. Ryan Denison’s latest Focus article, “Russia launches AI-piloted drones in Ukraine. What comes next?”)

“The only Foundation of Republics”

From the time the first human used the first tool to kill another human, our ethics have struggled to keep up with our technology. Today, genetic engineering can alter the DNA makeup of an organism in ways that change the species with unforeseeable consequences. Autonomous robots and weapons systems can make life-and-death decisions without human accountability. AI agents can “hallucinate,” producing errors that result in patient suicides and generating misinformation as much as 51 to 79 percent of the time.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Will we soon be living in a Terminator movie? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – One Mouth, Two Ears

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 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips. 

—Psalm 141:3

Scripture:

Psalm 141:3 

It’s been said that God gave us one mouth and two ears for a reason: He wants us to listen more and to speak less. Think of how often we jump to conclusions or pass judgment in a situation. The writer of Proverbs warned, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish” (Proverbs 18:13 NLT). Nevertheless, when we hear something damaging about another person, our first instinct is to conclude immediately that the person is guilty as charged. And instead of saying, “Let’s go to that person and find out the truth,” we start to spread the news as if it were fact.

In the old days when you went to a doctor, he would ask you to stick out your tongue. Then he would pull out a tongue depressor and tell you to say, “Ahhh.” Why? Because the tongue can be an indicator of what’s going on inside you. By observing your tongue, a doctor could tell what was wrong with the rest of you.

The principle applies in a spiritual sense as well. Our tongue—or, more specifically, our words—are the table of contents to our lives. What we say gives away who or what we really are.

That’s why David wrote, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NLT). In essence, he was saying, “Lord, set a watch over my mouth. I can’t stop other people from speaking evil about me, but I will not do the same to them. I will not be guilty of it, Lord. But I need your help. I can’t do this in my own strength.”

Keep in mind that David faced off against a lion, a bear, the murderous King Saul, and a host of other enemies. He stepped onto a battlefield with the warrior giant Goliath with no fear and barely a second thought. Yet he knew what he was up against with the tongue.

We need to follow his lead. We can accomplish some important work with our words. The apostle Paul wrote, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone” (Colossians 4:5–6 NLT). He also wrote, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). And the writer of Proverbs advised, “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4 NLT).

But we can’t do those things on our own. Like David, we must pray that the Lord will set a guard over our mouths and keep a watch over the door of our lips.

 

Reflection question: In what areas do you need the Lord to help you guard your lips? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Weight of the Wind

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; to make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.” (Job 28:24–25)

It was only discovered by scientists in modern times that air actually has weight. This passage in Job, however, written 35 or more centuries ago, indicated that the two great terrestrial fluids of air and water forming Earth’s atmosphere and hydrosphere are both “weighed” by God’s careful “measure” to provide the right worldwide balance of forces for life on Earth.

Another remarkable “weighing” act of God is noted in Job 37:16: “Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?” Clouds are composed of liquid drops of water, not water vapor, and water is heavier than air, so how are they “balanced” in the sky? “For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: which the clouds do drop and distill upon man abundantly” (36:27–28).

Meteorologists know that the weight of the small water droplets in the clouds is “balanced” by the “weight of the winds”—air rushing upward in response to temperature changes. Eventually, however, the droplets coalesce to form larger drops that overcome these updrafts and fall as rain. “By watering he wearieth the thick cloud” (37:11). The coalescence is probably triggered electrically in the clouds themselves, “when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder” (28:26).

Although these verses are not couched in the jargon of modern science, they are thoroughly scientific and up to date. “Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?” (26:14). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – God Forgives Our Sins and Heals Our Diseases

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Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

Psalm 103:1–3 (NKJV)

It is important that we do not forget all the benefits with which the Lord blesses us. Praise Him for them regularly and thank Him often. Even in the midst of other activities, we can praise God in our innermost being, thanking Him for everything He does for us.

He forgives all our sins, and that is marvelous. He also heals all our diseases. This does not mean that He heals all of them miraculously, but I do believe that all healing comes from God. God still does miracles today, but He also uses medical technology and medicine, which I believe He gave human beings the wisdom to create.

Sometimes we pray for healing, and it comes quickly. At other times it takes much longer than we would like. In December 2017, I became very sick. I was diagnosed with severe adrenal fatigue and told to rest for 18 months. The recovery actually took longer than 18 months, but thankfully I now feel very well. Over the years, God has healed me from many different things, and I trust Him for healing no matter how long it takes or how it comes.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I believe You are the Creator of all healing, and I trust You for healing. I am grateful that You forgive all my sins, and I praise and thank You.

 

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Clear Windshields

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But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:1-6

In the old movie Young at Heart, there’s a scene in which Barney Sloan (Frank Sinatra) is so discouraged he turns off his windshield wipers while driving in a snowstorm. He can no longer clearly see the road, and everything is blurred. It’s a frightening moment that illustrates how we often look at life. We can “turn off the wipers” in our own lives by neglecting truth and withdrawing from God’s Word.

The only way to see clearly is by looking at things through the eyesight of Jesus. Paul twice spoke of “the mind of Christ.” He told the Philippians, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), and he said to the Corinthians, “But we have the mind of Christ.”

Having the mind of Christ means having the Savior’s point of view. We learn to think as He does, not as the world thinks. Here is a verse to say aloud today and to turn into a prayer for this hour: “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5, NIV).

Believers must regain the use of the mind for God’s glory.
Bill Muhlenberg

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Courage God Gives

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Shammah took his stand. 2 Samuel 23:12

Today’s Scripture

2 Samuel 23:11-12

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Today’s Devotion

The CEO was hurting employees with his sharp tongue. No one dared confront him. Everyone was afraid of him, including Gene. But one day the CEO berated a new employee, reducing her to tears. When Gene saw how everyone in the room stayed silent, he spoke up.

“I told him the way he was treating people was wrong,” Gene recalls. “He was astonished; it was the first time someone stood up to him. He didn’t change, but I’m glad I spoke up.”

Scripture tells us of another man who stood up to a challenge many were afraid of. Shammah, a military warrior of David, came to the future king from difficult circumstances (see 2 Samuel 23:11-12), but God used him to defeat the Philistines. “When the Philistines banded together at . . . a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them” (v. 11). Only Shammah had the courage to defend Israel’s food supply. Being the lone man against the Philistine army meant death, but Shammah “took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it” (v. 12).

God helped Shammah defeat the Philistines (v. 12). He may have been the only Israelite in the field, but he wasn’t alone—God was with him, giving him great victory that day. There may be times when we’re called to stand up to a challenge that everyone else is avoiding. Like Shammah, let’s take our stand, relying on God’s presence and help.

Reflect & Pray

What challenge is God calling you to stand up to? How can you rely on Him for help?

Dear Father, please give me the courage to take a stand for You.

Today’s Insights

Thirty-seven loyal and fearless chief warriors led David’s army (2 Samuel 23:8-39). Collectively known as “the Thirty” (vv. 13, 23-24), God used these men to fulfill His purpose of making David king of the entire land of Israel (1 Chronicles 11:10). Of these chief warriors, a group called “the Three” (2 Samuel 23:8) were David’s top elite commanders. Josheb-Basshebeth killed eight hundred men at one time (v. 8). Eleazar struck down the Philistines after the rest of the Israelites had abandoned him (vv. 9-10). And Shammah stood his ground against the Philistines and was victorious through God’s power while the rest of Israel’s troops fled (vv. 11-12).

The apostle Paul likens the faith of believers in Jesus to warfare, urging us to “put on the full armor of God” in order to “stand [our] ground” (Ephesians 6:13). Today, God can give us courage as we fight our battles and enable us to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (v. 10).

If you would like to read “One Woman’s Inspirational Story of Trust and Courage: Click here: For This, I Have Jesus. 

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Responding to the Nepal floods with hope and purpose

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On Wednesday, August 26, flash floods broke out across Nepal, leaving chaos and destruction in their wake. Scientists believe that a glacier broke loose from high in the Himalayas near the Tibet-Nepal border. The melting ice mixed with rocks, boulders, and mud to create a concrete sludge. Videos show this sludge mixture barreling down from the mountain, over 40 miles, sweeping away bridges, buildings, cars, and people with  tremendous force.

It’s believed that more than 1,500 individuals are missing, and over 165 people have been reported dead. However, according to a local Christian worker, due to the remote nature of some of the villages affected by the flooding, not everyone is registered. So, it is extremely likely that the numbers are much higher than this, and they will continue to rise.

With rescue efforts already underway, CNN reports the threat is still ongoing. Many fear a secondary flooding event because the initial floods and landslides have “created a new lake, increasing the risk of landslides, mudslides and flash floods, with the three days of rain ahead.”

The collapsed earth is forming unstable dams and is liable to break. Thus, an already desperate circumstance has become all the more urgent.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Responding to the Nepal floods with hope and purpose →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – The Burden Giveaway

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 I said to the LORD, ‘You are my God!’ Listen, O LORD, to my cries for mercy! O Sovereign LORD, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle. 

—Psalm 140:6–7

Scripture:

Psalm 140:6–7 

Few people in Scripture had a better understanding of God than David did. David knew what it was like to be favored by God. In 1 Samuel 13:14, he is referred to as a man after God’s own heart. He also knew what it was like to be on the business end of God’s discipline after his affair with Bathsheba. But more importantly for the purposes of this devotion, David knew what it was like to be protected by God and to have his burdens lifted by the Lord.

Look at his words in Psalm 140:6–7: “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God!’ Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy! O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle” (NLT). Such confidence can only come from experience.

If you’ve ever wondered how David rose to the occasion time and time again when other people might have crumbled, look at his words to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:46: “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands” (NIV). He didn’t boast about his speed, agility, or prowess with a sling. Instead, he invoked the name of the Lord, the One who had seen him through other dangers and carried his burdens in the past. David so completely trusted God to protect him again that he walked onto a battlefield against a heavily armored giant in his shepherd’s clothes.

In 1 Samuel 17:46 and Psalm 140:6–7, David’s message was the same: “Lord, I place it all on you.”

Have you reached the point in your relationship with God where you can say the same thing? You probably don’t have to think hard to recall times when He answered an urgent prayer request or saw you through a difficult situation.

Let those memories serve as confidence builders. Replay them again and again in your mind. Give thanks and praise to the Lord daily for His work in your life. Keep track of it in your prayer journal. Tell others about His goodness to you. Memorize Scripture passages that testify to His goodness, strength, and protection. For example, in Isaiah 41:10, God says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (NLT). And in Philippians 4:19, the apostle Paul writes, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (NLT).

Are you burdened today? Is something troubling you? Do you have anxiety over some situation? Maybe it’s a problem at work or an issue with a loved one. Whatever your burden may be, David has given you the example. Cast it on the Lord. He will sustain you. Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (NLT).

God’s done it before, and He’ll do it again. Armed with that confidence, you can face any circumstance.

 

Reflection question: What burden do you need to give to God? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Apple of the Eye

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” (Zechariah 2:8)

This common phrase is often used to identify an object of one’s special favor or affection. The apple of the eye, of course, is not a fruit but the pupil of the eye. It is so essential for sight that it becomes a peculiarly apt symbol for a prized possession. It is used five times in the Bible as a translation of three different Hebrew nouns, none of which refer to the actual apple fruit. In each case, however, it speaks of something highly valuable to the owner.

Three of these (Deuteronomy 32:10; Lamentations 2:18; and our text above) are in reference to the chosen people, Israel, as the apple of the eye of God Himself. God has often punished Israel for her sins and has allowed other nations to be His rod of judgment, but woe to that nation that touches the apple of His eye in this way!

That individual believers can also be so regarded by the Lord is evident from one of David’s prayers: “Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness . . . . Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 17:7–8).

To be kept by God as He would keep the very apple of His own eye requires an implicit trust in Him and His Word. In fact, His Word must become the apple of our eye! “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye” (Proverbs 7:1–2).

There are many beautiful and appropriate figures used for God’s Word (“light,” “hammer,” “sword,” “milk,” etc.) but none more personally meaningful than this. May the Holy Scriptures, the indispensable Word of God, truly be the apple of the eye for each of us. HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Draw Closer to God

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…There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24 (ESV)

The title of today’s devotion may seem like a strange question. I ask it because I think many people are not comfortable in an intimate relationship with God. They may approach Him as one who is far away in heaven, and they may not feel they are worthy of intimacy with Him. God referred to Abraham as His friend (Isaiah 41:8), and He spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11 ESV). These people were not perfect. They made mistakes just as you and I do, but they had an intimate relationship with God.

I encourage you to be comfortable talking with God about anything. After all, He already knows everything about you, and He loves and accepts you unconditionally.

The more open you are with God concerning everything in your life, the closer to Him you will feel. I believe God is calling you closer, and I pray that you will enter into His presence knowing that you are welcome there.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I want to be as close to You as I can be. Help me not to be ashamed or to feel uncomfortable in any way in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Dare to Think the Unthinkable 

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Play

Dare we think the unthinkable? That God will hear our prayers, that he will listen when we speak? If you were to pray a faith-empowered prayer, what would you say? Then say it! Let faith fuel your prayers. And let prayers put starch in your faith.

Will God give you what you request? Yes, he will. He may do so in a different form than you ask for or a different time frame than you prefer, but “it is [Jesus] who is the ‘Yes’ to all of God’s promises” (2 Corinthians 1:20 GNT).

Let’s renew our commitment to unreasonable, unquenchable, unthinkable prayer.  Let’s ask God to resurrect hope that has perished and dreams that are buried.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – A Tight Rein

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Read James 1:19–27

The authorship of James is typically attributed to Jesus’ half-brother. This epistle was likely written soon after Pentecost (as early as AD 35). It may even be the earliest New Testament document. James is writing to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1)— Jews who believed in Jesus as the Messiah and had left Jerusalem, possibly due to persecution. They had a foundation of faith but were lacking maturity. So James was writing to teach them how to live out their Christian commitment under difficult circumstances. A thesis statement for the book could be “faith without works is dead” (2:17).

James frequently references the teaching of Jesus. In The Moody Bible Commentary, John F. Hart notes 24 specific parallels with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Most relevant to our study, almost every chapter of James includes lessons on communication.

Today’s passage opens with three directives: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (v. 19). Christlike communication begins with careful, humble listening, which leads to measured responses and tames tempers. Uncontrolled anger, wrote James, can be a significant barrier to our growth and sanctification (v. 20).

James calls on his readers to listen to the Word of God (v. 22)—but not as passive hearers. Rather, James demands an active listening that results in obedience. James uses the simile of a person who looks in a mirror and ignores his reflection to describe someone who hears God’s Word but does not obey (vv. 23–24). By contrast, the person who studies the Word and changes accordingly will enjoy reward (v. 25). Finally, James boldly declares the religion of his readers “worthless” if it does not result in self-control in their speech and compassion for the needy (vv. 26–27).

Go Deeper

Watch this interview as our author Kelli Worrall describes the power of our words and why we need to keep a tight reign on them.

Pray with Us

Lord, it is not always easy to be quick to listen and slow to speak and become angry. When we are struggling, please give us self-control. We want to reflect You well.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.James 1:26

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Taming the Tongue

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Read James 3:3–10

When I teach creative writing, I read the entire book of James out loud to my college students. I give them each a printed copy of the text to follow along. While they listen, I ask them to circle every example of imagery they hear. This keeps them busy. James is full of striking metaphors, similes, and descriptions.

Chapter 3 is another good example of this. Here, James challenged his readers with the power of their communication. Using the metaphors of a bit in the mouth of a horse (v. 3), the small rudder on a great ship (v. 4), and a spark which can start a raging fire (v. 5), James describes how something very small like our tongue can have enormous and far-reaching consequences.

When James used “tongue” in this passage, he is using another figure of speech called a metonymy. One word is substituted for a concept with which it is closely associated. Typically, a concrete object stands in for a more abstract idea. The “tongue” represents not just the physical organ, but our human capacity for verbal expression. Communication shapes our relationships, creates culture, and even affects eternity.

James spends time developing his image of the tongue as a fire—with uncontrollable potential (vv. 6–8). Words, once expressed, cannot be reversed. And their effects often spread far beyond our intent. James intensified the warning by calling the tongue a “restless evil” and “full of deadly poison” (v. 8). Language is a primary vehicle through which sin is expressed. In verses 9–10, James confronted the most piercing contradiction. With the same tongue, Christ followers praised God—and cursed other human beings. James rebukes his audience for such behavior.

Go Deeper

Once again, James hits close to home for most of us. Is your speech consistent with your theology? Check your speech for both blessing and cursing.

Pray with Us

How it must grieve Your Spirit when we worship you but tear each other down with our tongues! We are sorry that we do not always cherish the people You have made in Your own image.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.James 3:5

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Trust

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NEW!Listen Now

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Recommended Reading: Psalm 37:3-5

The digital age has brought us cars with built-in navigation systems and phones with maps powered by GPS satellites. We also have the option of riding in self-driving cars! Making the transition from depending on our own skills to trusting computerized devices can be challenging.

The same can be said when it comes to navigating through life. Before becoming a Christian, we trusted in our own skills, instincts, and decisions to make our way. But once we enter into a relationship with God, we find a different strategy is recommended—the strategy of trust. When we are driving and using a computerized map, we might question directions we are given based on traffic or construction delays. We might even ignore the directions and go our own way. But Solomon warned against such a strategy for life. Against our natural inclinations, we are told to “trust in the Lord with all [our] heart, and lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways acknowledge Him.”

If you need direction for your future, depend on God’s instructions instead of your own; let Him direct your path.

Doubt breeds distress but trust means joy in the long run. 
Charles Spurgeon

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Where God Reigns

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Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Today’s Scripture

James 4:1-10

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Today’s Devotion

In 2018, a man checked into a room at New York hotel for a one-night stay. Remarkably, he used the room for five years without paying another cent—exploiting obscure rent laws to hold on to it. His refusal to leave, however, eventually led to potential prison time for him.

Like an unwelcome tenant who overstays, James warns us that the devil lingers in our lives when left unchecked. “Resist the devil,” James writes, “and he will flee from you” (4:7). The apostle emphasizes that our struggles often come from impure “desires” and “wrong motives” (vv. 1, 3)—things like pride, divided loyalties, and impure thoughts residing in our hearts. To counter such temptation, James offers two commands: “submit . . . to God” and “resist the devil” (v. 7). To submit means surrendering every part of our lives to God. Resisting the devil is equally active, requiring prayer, vigilance, and the wisdom of Scripture.

Like a landlord evicting an unlawful tenant, in God’s strength we can refuse to let the temptation of the devil overtake us. As we resist him, God promises victory as James asserts, “He will flee from you” (v. 7).

When we evict sin and the devil’s influence and “come near to God” (v. 8), we allow His peace, joy, and purpose to dwell more fully in us. The enemy can’t stay where God reigns!

Reflect & Pray

What can you do to remove “unwelcome tenants” from your life? How does submitting to God help?

Sovereign God, please help me surrender every part of my life to You so I can stand firm against the enemy’s schemes.

Today’s Insights

In addition to the admonitions of Peter (1 Peter 5:8) and James (James 4:7) regarding spiritual vigilance in resisting temptation, Paul also had something to say about it. After noting how the Israelites had succumbed to temptation in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-11), he warned the Corinthians: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful . . . . When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (vv. 12-13). The apostle lists two examples of how the “way out” can sometimes involve fleeing. He says we’re to “flee from idolatry” (v. 14) and “sexual immorality” (6:18). The Holy Spirit helps us to stand firm against the enemy.

Read further to understand how a boy who grew up in the church moved from Hidden sin to honest surrender: From Hidden Sin to Honest Surrender.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Flash floods and wildfires

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A reflection on meteorology and eternity

Forty-seven American tourists are missing today following flash flooding that occurred at 8:30 a.m. local time in Nepal. They are among a “preliminary” toll of at least 341 missing people, according to a statement by the Nepal Tourism Board.

In other weather news, a wildfire west of Fort Worth, Texas, has burned eighty thousand acres at this writing and is only 12 percent contained. I have been watching it closely because it is close to a chapel our ministry supports, and that is close to my heart.

Mark Twain noted, “Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.” He is often credited as well with the observation, “Everyone complains about the weather, but nobody ever seems to do anything about it.”

I am writing today to complain about the weather, and to decide what to do about it as well.

Meteorology and my morning walk

My morning walk was impaired today by meteorologists. I consulted the Weather Channel app, the AccuWeather app, and the app from our local news station. All were in adamant agreement that it would begin raining in forty-five minutes. So I altered my routine, got outside in the dark, and shortened my walk by half. Of course, not a drop of rain fell this morning.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Flash floods and wildfires →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – A Hunger for Truth

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 O LORD, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. 

—Psalm 140:1–2

Scripture:

Psalm 140:1–2 

There’s an old saying that goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” David’s words in Psalm 140 offer compelling evidence of that. David begins the psalm with these words: “O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long” (verses 1–2 NLT).

“Stirring up trouble all day long” is practically a job description for the influencers, trolls, and others who crowd onto modern social media platforms. No gossip is too salacious, no accusation is too offensive for them to reframe for their own purposes, comment on, and spread to others.

Like David, we are living in a wicked, vicious time. People today have an unhealthy appetite for gossip and slander—anything that makes others look bad. Once upon a time, this was known as a “tabloid mentality.” But the kind of stuff that once could be found only in supermarket tabloids has spread throughout the ranks of journalism and broadcast media. Hard news has been replaced by attacking partisan commentary. Everyone wants the dirt, especially on those they oppose. Social media has accelerated the decline in journalistic and personal integrity. Civility, courtesy, and empathy seem to be nearing extinction.

Take away the technology, and you have a culture that would have been recognizable to David. The “evil people” he referred to in Psalm 140:1 had initiated a carefully planned campaign of slander and lies against him, and it was proving to be effective. You’ve heard the expression, “Good news travels fast.” I suggest to you that bad news travels even faster. It’s been said that a lie is halfway around the world while truth is still putting on its shoes. There’s something about a falsehood that causes it to spread like a wildfire.

James knew what he was talking about when he wrote, “And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself” (James 3:6 NLT).

David understood what our response should be to the trouble that people stir up. In Psalm 25:4–5, he wrote, “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you” (NLT).

As believers, we must reject the lies of the world and learn everything we can about God’s truth. We must ask God to lead us, to help us resist the temptation to fight fire with fire when people stir up trouble.

We need never concern ourselves about people’s reactions when we’re walking in God’s truth.

 

Reflection question: What would focusing on God’s truth look like in your life?

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Always

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)

A favorite old song of many senior citizens (of this writer, at least) is the sentimental “I’ll Be Loving You—Always” ballad written long ago by Irving Berlin. The sincerity of some who sing it may be questioned, but the many “always” promises of the Bible really mean it. Consider a few of these precious promises.

The apostle Paul urges believers to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). And to the same Corinthian church he later wrote, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Then there is that other tremendous promise in the same epistle: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). The greatest such promise is that in our text, when the Lord Jesus Christ Himself promised that “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

There are also a number of very important exhortations in the Scriptures involving an “always” type of commitment. For example, Jesus said “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). That is, never give up praying just because the answer seems a long time coming. Furthermore, Paul says that we should be “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

Then, we are to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Finally, there is the command to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). HMM

 

 

 

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

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