Turning Point

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

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If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1 John 4:20

Recommended Reading: 1 John 4:17-21

Do you know a “difficult” person? Perhaps in your family, church, or workplace. Do they get on your nerves? There were difficult people in the Bible too. Take Nabal, for example. He was “surly and mean in his dealings” (1 Samuel 25:3, NIV). Even his wife, Abigail, called him a “wicked man” and said, “He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him” (1 Samuel 25:25, NIV). Yet Abigail persuaded David to be forbearing, and the Lord took care of Nabal at the right time.

It is extremely hard to love “Nabals,” but God can give you a patient, forbearing spirit. Dale Carnegie said, “Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain—and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.”1 When we meet Christ, we experience His love for us—the unlovely. And we can ask for that same love to flow through us.

Why not take a moment now to pray for that difficult person in your life?

Not everyone is your brother or sister in the faith, but everyone is your neighbor, and you must love your neighbor.
Timothy Keller

  1. Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People (Simon & Schuster, 1981), 14.

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Remembering to Forget

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Why, my soul, are you downcast? . . . Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 42:1-8

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Today’s Devotional

Author Richard Mouw tells of a Black theologian from South Africa who struggled with dark memories of life under apartheid. Mouw wrote, “He told a story about an African child whose teacher asked her to define ‘memory.’ After thinking about it, the child said, ‘Memory is that thing that helps me to forget.’ ” Out of the mouths of babes! Her past held much she didn’t want to recall, so she wanted to remember the good things.

Many carry the scars of terrible, seemingly unforgettable things. But that child’s wisdom offers hope. If we learn to remember better things, those memories can strengthen us to move forward from our painful past. In Psalm 42, the psalmist feels like a deer running for its life. However, he also says, “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng” (v. 4).

The singer’s memories of worshiping God encouraged him to praise, even in the midst of pain. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (v. 5). Remembering who our God is—and that we are His—can help us move beyond the painful past we can’t forget.

Reflect & Pray

What dark memories of struggles and pains haunt you? How will you allow the God of all hope to move you beyond them?

 

Dear Father, You know my scars and wounds, my anger and grief. Please wrap me in Your goodness and mercy; give me healing from hurts long past but not forgotten.

Confession can be a gift. Find out more by clicking here.

Today’s Insights

Psalm 42 is a song of ups and downs. The singer rises to crescendo (vv. 1-4) with a statement of praise and celebration, joining the throng in worship (presumably at the temple or tabernacle). The singer then expresses a deep emotional low, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (v. 5). This pattern follows in the remainder of the psalm by showing the psalmist’s trust in Him in verse 8 only to repeat his lament in verse 11. When he feels that He has forsaken him (vv. 9-10), he remembers to put his “hope in God” (v. 11). Today, when we find it difficult to move beyond our pain, it can provide comfort to remember that God is faithful.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Former prince Andrew arrested after Epstein files revelation

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew of the English royal family, was arrested yesterday on his sixty-sixth birthday after the latest batch of Epstein files that were made public last month shed new light on his connections with Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. But while that connection has been known for years, the charges that landed Andrew in jail—at least for the time being—were not about the allegations of rape and assault that have trailed him for more than a decade. Rather, he was arrested for suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Essentially, Andrew stands accused of sharing confidential information with Epstein while the former prince served as an official trade envoy for England. The charges are a bit nebulous, as technically there’s no official statute that defines what they mean. Rather, they have evolved over time from Britain’s common law.

Even if the accusations are a bit underwhelming when compared with Andrew’s other alleged crimes—for which he’s never been convicted even if they are common knowledge—yesterday’s arrest still marks the first time that a member of the royal family has been taken into custody since King Charles I was tried and executed for treason back during the English Civil War in 1649. And it was apparently done without the family’s knowledge.

After Andrew’s arrest became public, King Charles III released a statement supporting the arrest and promising that police will “have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation. Let me state this clearly: the law must take its course.”

And it’s quite possible that Andrew’s arrest could change other lives as well as the law does just that.

A prince no longer

Last November, Andrew was urged to come speak before Congress regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their business of trafficking young women and girls. Back then, he declined to appear. However, it’s possible that the FBI could question him while he is in police custody in Britain.

Now that he is potentially facing life in prison, he has less to lose than when he was a free man. Would he trade secrets for a reduced or annulled sentence?

When he was stripped of his titles late last year, there was a good bit of speculation that part of the reason the king made sure he landed on his feet was to keep him from having to sell information to maintain his lifestyle. While the royal family can likely take steps to ensure that their secrets are kept safe, Andrew was close enough with Epstein that his testimony could prove pivotal in bringing others to some measure of justice.

And, given that he has essentially been cut out of the royal family in recent years—the separation became more absolute in the wake of Queen Elizabeth’s passing—he is likely to need all the help he can get. So, whether it’s before a London court or the halls of Congress, Andrew’s affiliation with Epstein and Maxwell is likely to continue making headlines for quite a while.

But why is that? Why does anything involving Epstein make headlines today?

On the surface, it sounds like a silly question. But, if you stop to consider it, I think it points to an interesting conclusion, and one far too many take for granted in our culture today.

“The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”

Last week, cultural philosopher Paul Anleitner noted in response to the latest outrage over Epstein:

Here’s an uncomfortable truth about the Epstein accusations: We only find them morally reprehensible because of Christianity. Before the spread of Christianity, “civilized” Greek and Roman elites openly flaunted underage s*x slaves. This was normal. Emperor Hadrian built an entire city in honor of his favorite boy. We’ve heard for decades that Christianity is a barrier to moral progress, but if you undercut the moral foundations of Christianity from the West, culture reverts back to pagan norms.

While the cultural and moral development of the West is not quite that straightforward, Anleitner is correct. The driving force behind the changes from the Greco-Roman ethics of the ancient world to the Judeo-Christian morality that stands at the foundation of so much of Western society today was Christianity.

As the Greek historian Thucydides noted four hundred years before Christ:

You know as well as we do that right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

While the sad reality is that we see that basic dichotomy at times in Christian history as well, many of the fundamental shifts in how people value individual human lives in our culture today owe a great deal to the gospel’s power to transform hearts and renew minds (Romans 12:2).

The question facing our society now is whether we can maintain the moral system built upon Christian ethics while rejecting the God who created it.

Jesus was pretty clear on the answer, and it’s not looking good.

One life at a time

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus wraps up his teaching by telling his followers:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24–27)

In this passage, Jesus makes clear that it’s not enough to simply hear Christ’s commands or to have a vague understanding of what they mean. It’s only when we put those commands into action that we can find the kind of foundation necessary to weather the storms that will inevitably come our way.

Most people in America today have at least a passing awareness of who Jesus is and are even familiar with some of his teachings. But familiarity is not enough. Christ demands obedience, and nothing less will suffice.

We are blessed to live in a time when at least some elements of Christ’s commands for how we should live and how we should treat one another are already accepted as the morally right thing to do. That puts us head and shoulders above those first Christians, who lived in a world built on a view much closer to Thucydides than Jesus.

At the same time, though, the lost around us are unlikely to take that next step from awareness to obedience unless they see us do it first.

So, as we finish up for today, ask the Holy Spirit if there are any areas of your life where you’ve settled for less than full obedience? Are there cracks in your foundation, or rooms built on sand?

Most of us have some area we have tried to keep back as our own. But God’s promise is that they won’t hold up for long. And I fear the same will be true of our nation as well unless something changes.

And that’s where you and I come in.

God has given us the privilege of partnering with him in helping to bring our culture back to Jesus, one life at a time.

Where can you start today?

Quote of the day:

“There would be no sense in saying you trusted Jesus if you would not take his advice.” —C. S. Lewis

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Denison Forum

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – The Source of Our Strength

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 There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land. 

—1 Samuel 9:1–2

Scripture:

1 Samuel 9:1–2 

David was in many ways the opposite of King Saul. Saul came from a family that loved him; David came from a family that neglected him. Saul was the most handsome man in all Israel; David was a handsome enough guy, but relatively ordinary. Saul was attractive on the outside, but on the inside, he was vain, shallow, and devoid of true integrity. In contrast, David had a deep spiritual life and an intense devotion to God.

If you want to know about David’s spirituality profile, just read some of the psalms he wrote. They are like windows into his soul. For example, in Psalm 23:1–3, he says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name” (NLT). David was perfectly content in his relationship with the Lord.

And in Psalm 139 he says, “O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. . . . Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” (verses 1, 6 NLT). David was in awe of God’s limitless wisdom and knowledge. He felt blessed to be known by the Almighty.

And when he sinned against the Lord, David experienced deep guilt and shame. Look at his words in Psalm 51:2–3: “Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night” (nlt).

Saul’s problem was that he was full of himself. So, the Lord rejected him. David was full of the Lord. So, God accepted him.

As we saw in an earlier devotion this week, the Lord seems to go out of His way to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. That way, people are more likely to recognize the Lord’s hand at work and give credit to Him rather than to human beings.

Just as surely as God plucked David from obscurity, He is looking for men and women whom He can use in these critical days in which we are living. God is looking for people to touch this generation. He is looking for people to change this world. Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war” (NLT).

What kind of person does He look for? Someone strong? No. He looks for someone He can show His strength through—someone whose heart is turned toward Him. Does that describe you? Is your heart totally turned toward God? If so, He can and will accomplish great things through you.

Reflection Question: How can you help people see God’s strength in your life?Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Not This Man

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” (John 18:40)

Unfortunately, this is the attitude of every generation toward its Creator and Redeemer. Jesus Christ “was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:10–11).

“Not this man!” they cried and still cry today. “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14). Even in a nation founded as a Christian nation, the name of Jesus Christ is banished from the schools, ignored in the halls of government, and blasphemed on the streets.

And whom did they choose instead of “this man”? They preferred Barabbas, who was not only a robber but also a revolutionary and murderer (Luke 23:19). Today, they idolize the atheist Darwin, or the robber Lenin, or the revolutionary Mao, or the murderer Hitler, or any one of a thousand antichrists; but they will not have Christ.

What, then, will they do with Christ? “Away with him, away with him, crucify him” (John 19:15), was the cry even of the religious leaders during His life here on Earth, and it is little different today. “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you,” proclaimed Peter (Acts 3:14). “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ” (Acts 4:26).

The rejection of Christ today is often more subtle, but it is just as real. Rulers, industrialists, scientists, educators, and commentators all say in deed, if not in word, that “[they] will not have this man to reign over [them]” (Luke 19:14). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Moving Forward

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Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.”

Isaiah 48:17 (ESV)

An important aspect of the healing of the soul is finding the courage to move beyond our pain. We may not be able to avoid all the hurts we face in life, but we can decide that we will not let them keep us from moving ahead. Sometimes when we are very wounded, we are tempted for various reasons to stay stuck in the pain, even though we can see that life is moving forward all around us. We can join in and go with what is happening, or we can stay behind, stuck in bitterness, resentment, hard-heartedness, and pain.

There are many reasons why people stay stuck in their pain. Maybe the “wounded person” has become their identity, and they even use it to get attention. Maybe they fear they will fail if they try to do something new. Maybe they do not feel strong enough to move forward. Or maybe their self-image has been damaged to the point that they have no confidence in themselves and no confidence that God will take care of them if they move into something new.

We can always choose to stay in our pain, but that will not lead to the good things God has for us. Jesus died to give us a life of abundance, but we can choose whether to embrace it or not. If we want what He has, we have to make the choice to move beyond our pain and risk following Him.

I once saw a movie about a very talented woman who suffered such deep wounds in her soul that she completely withdrew from life and from other people. After a stay in a mental health facility, she literally parked her van in someone’s driveway and lived in it for the rest of her life. The movie was a powerful picture of what can happen to people who either don’t know how to or will not deal with their pain, leave the past behind, and move ahead.

God will never park us in our pain and leave us there, and I hope we never allow ourselves to park in it either. He is always calling us forward. He never leaves us alone to figure out on our own how to move ahead. He makes the path clear to us and leads us, as Isaiah 48:17 says, in the way that we should go. He promises to bring hope, healing, strength, and restoration to our lives if we will believe His Word and trust Him to lead us. Plenty of people in the Bible chose to leave their pasts behind and follow God into something new. And you can too!

Prayer of the Day: Lord, give me courage to move beyond past pain. Heal my soul, restore my strength, and lead me forward into the new, abundant life You’ve prepared for me, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Your Worst Fears 

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Play

What’s your worst fear? Jesus did more than speak about fear. He faced it. In Mark 14:35-36, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane’s garden, “Abba, Father,’ everything is possible for you.  Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine” (NLT).

The cup equaled Jesus’ worst-case scenario— to be the recipient of God’s wrath, to experience isolation from his Father. And what Jesus did with his fear shows us what to do with ours. He prayed.  He even requested the prayer support of friends. Jesus’ prayer was brief. It was straightforward and trusting.

Do likewise.  Be specific about your fears.  Call them out in prayer.  Make them stand before God and take their comeuppance!

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – 1 Peter: Be a Pilgrim

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Read 1 Peter 2:11–25

When someone leaves the country of their birth and moves to a new country, they leave all that is familiar behind. They have to learn how to survive in an unfamiliar world. Often, they struggle to fit in. Their behavior signals to everyone that they “aren’t from around here.”

When the apostle Peter wrote this letter, he urged his readers to take on the perspective of spiritual “foreigners and exiles” in their daily lives (v. 11). As the young Christian community began to grow, they were out of place because their values as Christians conflicted with the values of this world. They were trying to fight sin in their lives, but the world encouraged sinful behavior. What is more, the good things they valued were hated by the world so much that they were accused of wrongdoing (v. 12)!

Peter’s exhortation is that they lean into living like people who have left the place of their birth and are living in a new home. This advice is true for us as well, living as Christ followers in a secular culture. We are to live in such a way that we do not conceal our true citizenship. People of God are to honor God by doing good, submitting to authorities, showing respect, loving other Christians, and honoring authority (vv. 12, 17). “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people” (v. 15).

Peter warns: “[D]o not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (v. 16). Like an accent that lingers, our behavior identifies Christians as different. This may cause suffering in our current life, but it is the kind of behavior that God promises to reward when Christ appears (v. 12).

Go Deeper

Does your behavior identify you as a Christian? Do you stick out like someone who isn’t from around here? What specific challenges does Peter give that stand out to you? Extended Reading: 

1 Peter 1-2

Pray with Us

Dear Jesus, help us not to be too attached to the things of this world. But if that happens, remind us that we are citizens of Your kingdom, that our hearts belong to You.

Live such good lives among the pagans that…they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.1 Peter 2:12

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – When Perplexed

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Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
Ecclesiastes 7:19, NIV

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 8:1-6

If you know Jesus as Savior, you may not have all the answers. But you already have more wisdom than someone who doesn’t know Christ. We cannot know how to navigate this chaotic world without the wisdom that comes from Christ. When we don’t know what to do, we can ask for His guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6), we can search His Word (Proverbs 8:8), and we can claim His wisdom (James 1:5).

In the hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God,” Martin Rinkart wrote, “O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us, to keep us in his grace and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills of this world in the next.”

Though we face problems, perplexity, and pressure all the time, we find answers in God. We can face all these things with confidence because we know our God. Give thanks that He allows us to have an abiding relationship with Him.

No mind, no wisdom—temporary mind, temporary wisdom—eternal mind, eternal wisdom.
Adoniram Judson

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Living for Jesus

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[Jesus] died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10

Today’s Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:12-23

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Today’s Devotional

In 2023, Kenyan police intervened to end what’s being called the “Shakahola Massacre”—in which hundreds died after following a cult leader’s directions to starve themselves to meet Jesus. The leader had allegedly promised he too would leave earth in this way after his followers did. After his arrest, he denied ever teaching this.

The tragedy is a troubling example of how dangerous it is to blindly trust those claiming to be spiritual leaders. Cult members were so deceived that they resisted those who came to save them from starvation. One survivor described getting “addicted” to the leader’s teachings.

Jesus Christ is the true leader of those who trust in Him. He loved us so much He was willing to die for us to have life (1 Thessalonians 5:10). He calls us to live for Him, “awake and sober” (v. 6) and to test any teaching of others against His teaching (vv. 20-22).

We respond to Christ’s love not by harming ourselves or others but by “encourag[ing] . . . and build[ing] each other up” (v. 11). By living “in peace with each other” (v. 13) and striving “to do what is good for each other and for everyone else” (v. 15). Through daily reliance on and trust in Christ’s Spirit (v. 19), we can live a life of love as we eagerly await Christ’s coming (v. 23).

Reflect & Pray

When have you seen damage done through false teaching? How can Christ’s example of love help us recognize untrustworthy leaders?

Loving God, please help me never replace Jesus in my heart with any other leader and help me live for You.

For further study, read Living Right Among Pagans.

Today’s Insights

In addition to Paul’s warning in 1 Thessalonians to reject false teaching (5:20-22), the New Testament warns elsewhere against untrustworthy leaders in harsh terms. Jesus warned, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15). False teachers teach what is contrary to the “sound instruction” of Christ and “are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy [and] strife” (1 Timothy 6:3-5; see Romans 16:17-18). They “pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). We can recognize good teachers by their “fruit” (Matthew 7:16-20). They teach the doctrine of Christ and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The evidence of a loving relationship with Jesus is apparent in their lives. The Spirit can give us discernment to recognize false teaching and live for Christ.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Stephen Colbert’s ongoing dispute with his CBS bosses

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It was the unseen interview seen “round the world.” On The Late Show Tuesday night, Stephen Colbert told viewers that CBS told him an interview he taped with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico could not be aired. According to Colbert, CBS was concerned about an FCC rule requiring broadcasters to give “equal time” to opposing candidates when an interview is broadcast with one of them.

The network, however, flatly denied Colbert’s claim, stating, “The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview.” It added that the network “provided legal guidance” and “presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.” The show then presented the interview through its YouTube channel, where FCC rules do not apply.

As of this morning, it has been viewed more than 7.4 million times, roughly triple what the CBS program draws each night. Mr. Talarico also reported that he raised $2.5 million in campaign donations in the first twenty-four hours after the interview.

You may side with Mr. Colbert in this ongoing dispute, you may side with CBS, or you may not care. But it’s worth noting that Mr. Colbert’s show will end in May. We might wonder if the fact that he has little to lose in his conflict with the network contributes to his willingness to stage it.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Stephen Colbert’s ongoing dispute with his CBS bosses →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – The Right Way to Run

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 ‘How foolish!’ Samuel exclaimed. ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.’ 

—1 Samuel 13:13–14

Scripture:

1 Samuel 13:13–14 

The moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are enrolled in a spiritual race. One of the mandates of any competition is that we play by the rules. Otherwise, we will be disqualified. This is true in every race, but perhaps especially in the spiritual one.

The book of 1 Samuel gives us the story of King Saul, a man who did not play by the rules. He began his reign in victory and ended in humiliating defeat. The words of the prophet Samuel, who revealed the extent of Saul’s failure, are among the most devastating in all the Old Testament: “‘How foolish!’ Samuel exclaimed. ‘You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command’” (1 Samuel 13:13–14 NLT).

Saul lost his character, power, crown, and in the end, his very life. Based on Saul’s life, let me share a few principles on how not to win the spiritual race.

First, ignore the little things. Saul’s failure was not immediate, but gradual. He cut a corner here, shaded the truth there. His pride turned into envy. He ignored what God had plainly told him to do. Likewise, it is not for us to pick and choose what parts of the Bible we like and don’t like. We are to obey God even in the smallest matters, because “small” sins turn into big sins. They certainly did for Saul.

Second, never take responsibility for your actions. More than once Saul blamed others for his own bad choices (see 1 Samuel 13:11–12). Saul just wanted to save face. He forgot that no matter what, God always knows the truth.

Third, don’t get mad, get even. Saul’s animosity ultimately destroyed him. He became jealous when God anointed and began using David, the young shepherd boy. We need to understand that God chooses whom He will choose. We must not let hatred or envy destroy us.

As He did with Saul, God has given each of us potential. He has given us certain talents and gifts to use in the race that is set before us. It is up to us to run the race well and play by the rules. Don’t be disqualified. Don’t be prideful. Don’t play the fool. Don’t crash and burn. Don’t waste your life as Saul did.

Reflection Question: What impulses or tendencies might disrupt your spiritual race? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

https://harvest.org

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Fear of Witnessing

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18)

Every Christian knows that he or she should witness for Christ, but most are very reluctant to speak in His name very often. The most obvious reason for this hesitancy is fear. Sometimes we may be actually forbidden, as were the apostles, to teach of Him, but their courageous answer was: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29), and so they prayed, “Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word” (Acts 4:29).

More common than fear of physical persecution or personal harm, however, is fear of ridicule or loss of prestige or position. Such fear is out of character for real Christians, “for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). If we love the Lord and those for whom He died, we must learn to conquer our fear of men.

One of the saddest rebukes that could come to a Christian is the indictment lodged against those believers who, because of their high position, refused to take an open stand for Christ: “Among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42–43). How often do modern professional and business men—even theologians—compromise their stand for Christ and His inerrant Word because of fear of peer pressure in what should be their spheres of influence and testimony?

May God give us the courage of Paul. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,” he wrote, “for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – God’s Vision for You

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For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMPC)

Adapted from Battlefield of the Mind

God’s plan for the people of the nation of Israel was only for their good. Yet they wandered around in the wilderness for forty years on what was actually an eleven-day journey. Why? Was it their enemies, their circumstances, the trials along the way, or something entirely different that prevented them from arriving at their destination in a timely manner?

God called the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to go to the land He had promised to give them as a perpetual inheritance—a land that flowed with milk and honey and every good thing they could imagine—a land in which there would be no shortage of anything they needed—a land of prosperity in every realm of their existence.

But the Israelites had no positive vision for their lives—no dreams. They knew where they came from, but they did not know where they were going. Everything was based on what they had seen in the past or what they could presently see. They did not know how to see with “the eye of faith.”

We really shouldn’t view the Israelites with astonishment, because most of us do the same thing they did. We keep dealing with the same problems over and over again. The disappointing result is that it takes us years to experience victory over something that could have and should have been dealt with quickly.

I come from a background of abuse. My childhood was filled with fear and torment, and my personality was a mess! I built up walls of protection to keep people from hurting me, not realizing that while I was locking others out, I was also locking myself in. I was filled with fear, and believed that the only way I could face life was to be in control so no one could hurt me.

As a young adult trying to live for Christ and follow the Christian lifestyle, I knew where I had come from, but I did not know where I was going. I felt that my future would always be marred by my past. I thought, How could anyone with a past like mine ever be all right? It’s impossible!

But Jesus had a different plan. He said, The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me . . . to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity] (Luke 4:18 AMPC).

Jesus came to open the prison doors and set the captives free—and that included me.

However, I did not make any progress until I started to believe that I really could be set free.

I had to get rid of my negative thinking and replace it with a positive vision for my life. I had to believe that neither my past nor my present could determine my future. Only then could Jesus free me from the bondage of my past—and free me, He did. What a marvelous miracle!

You may have had a miserable past; you may even be in current circumstances that are very negative and depressing. You may be facing situations that are so bad it seems you have no real reason to hope. But I say to you boldly: Your future is not determined by your past or your present!

Most of the generation the Lord called out of Egypt never entered into the Promised Land.

Instead, they died in the wilderness. To me, this is one of the saddest things that can happen to a child of God—to have so much available and yet never be able to enjoy any of it.

Start believing that God’s Word is true. Mark 9:23 assures you that with God all things are possible. Because you serve a God Who created everything you see out of the unseen realm (Hebrews 11:3), you can give Him your nothingness and watch Him go to work on your behalf.

All you have to do is have faith in Him and believe His Word—He will do the rest!

Prayer of the Day: Father, I thank You for loving me and having a vision—a good plan—for my life. I pray that You will help me overcome any negative thoughts of problems, past or present, that come against my mind and make my life what You want it to be, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Your Worst Fears

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Play

What’s your worst fear? Jesus did more than speak about fear. He faced it. In Mark 14:35-36, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane’s garden, “Abba, Father,’ everything is possible for you.  Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine” (NLT).

The cup equaled Jesus’ worst-case scenario— to be the recipient of God’s wrath, to experience isolation from his Father. And what Jesus did with his fear shows us what to do with ours. He prayed.  He even requested the prayer support of friends. Jesus’ prayer was brief. It was straightforward and trusting.

Do likewise.  Be specific about your fears.  Call them out in prayer.  Make them stand before God and take their comeuppance!

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – James: Just Do It

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Read James 1:19–27

Have you ever wanted advice on how to do something, whether it was to fix an electrical outlet or lose a few pounds? It is easy to find instructional videos on the internet. But if we spend hours watching someone tell us what to do, and then fail to follow their instructions, we won’t accomplish anything.

James’s readers were people who loved the revelation of God as it was preserved in the Old Testament. These believers were inheritors of the Law of Moses and children of Israel. They understood that God revealed Himself in His Word, and they valued that revelation. But God’s revelation also included instruction for people to obey. God wants those who love Him to behave like Him. In his letter, James addresses those who read God’s Word but fail to do what it says.

If you listened to the Word (which at that time was often read publicly), but didn’t do what it says, James explained that you are deceived (v. 22)! The Word of God was not meant to be merely listened to but obeyed. To illustrate the point, James considers a person who looks in a mirror, but after noticing that they need to change their appearance, just walks away and ignores the sight. Of note are those who “do not keep a tight rein on their tongues” (v. 26). Again, James uses the same word “deceived.”

A mirror reveals what needs to be changed. But what it shows is only valuable if a change is made. So it is, explains James, with the Word of God. He describes God’s Word as the “perfect law” (v. 25). Blessing comes when we do not just listen and then forget what it says but actually do it!

Go Deeper

Are you a good listener, but a not-so- good doer? What is something you have learned from God’s Word that you need to act on? Extended Reading:

James

Pray with Us

Father, may we heed James’s exhortation to do what Your Word says and not just hear it. May we change and grow in You every time we look into the mirror of Your Word and obey You.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.James 1:22

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Better Than Money

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NEW!Listen Now

Wisdom is good with an inheritance…. For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom [preserves the life of] those who have it.
Ecclesiastes 7:11-12

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 8:33-36

The late primatologist Jane Goodall was the first to provide evidence that some primates made and used tools. Her discovery reversed the long-standing belief that only humans were capable of making and using tools.

Almost everything humans do is accomplished with tools, all of which are inanimate objects. Tools have no life or mind of their own; they are employed by a human facilitator. Whether tools are used for positive or negative ends depends entirely on the wisdom of the owner. Take money, for example. It can serve good ends and bring positive benefits to the owner. But compared to wisdom, tools like money are limited. Money can be used for many things, but it cannot ultimately preserve, protect, or provide life to those who have it. Solomon, who made this observation, knew what money could and couldn’t do—he had more than anyone in his day.

Whatever amount of money God has entrusted to you, pray for even more wisdom. Whoever finds wisdom finds life (Proverbs 8:35).

We may love money without having it, just as we may have money without loving it. 
J. C. Ryle

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Lavish Love

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If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty . . . allow him to live with you. Leviticus 25:35 nlt

Today’s Scripture

Leviticus 25:35-43

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Today’s Devotional

Todd invited his younger brother Alex, a recent college graduate, to come live with him in the house he’d built. He wanted to help his sibling gain some financial footing by allowing him to live rent-free for a while. After six months, Todd asked Alex to begin paying rent. Years later, Alex made an offer on his own home. When the offer was accepted, Todd surprised him by telling him that he’d deposited Alex’s rent payments in a savings account over the years and that the substantial sum of money was now his! Alex wept as he received the lavish gift.

In Leviticus 25, God gave Moses commands for the Israelites that included allowing those in need “to live with you” (v. 35 nlt). This command was part of God enacting “a jubilee year” (v. 10 nlt)—when debts were forgiven, those in poverty were helped, and the enslaved were freed (vv. 23-55). He declared that He’d lovingly led His people “out of Egypt to give [them] the land of Canaan and to be [their] God” (v. 38). He’d provided a new homeland, and now they were to imitate Him by showing love and opening their homes to others.

The apostle John would later write, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). By Jesus’ sacrifice we can receive the fullness of that lavish love (v. 16). And as He helps us, we can lavish it on others.

Reflect & Pray

How have you experienced God’s lavish love? How can you extend it to others?

 

Loving God, please help me pour out Your amazing, lavish love on others.

God’s very nature is love. Learn more by reading this piece by Oswald Chambers.

Today’s Insights

As the nation of Israel began to take shape, God wanted them to understand how they were to treat each other. Enslaving fellow Israelites was never to be part of the equation. “If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you,” He said, “help them as you would a foreigner and stranger” (Leviticus 25:35). And if any of them “become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves” (v. 39). Even this arrangement of indentured servitude wasn’t permanent. God said, “They are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee [every fiftieth year]. Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors” (vv. 40-41). It’s God’s desire that we never exploit one another but look out for each other’s interests. Because He lavished His love on us by sending Jesus, He’ll help us lavish His love on others.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Why are the new voter ID laws so controversial?

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Republicans have been trying to pass some version of voter ID laws for years, with the latest attempt set for a vote in the Senate coming soon. Few expect the bill to pass, though, despite overwhelming popular support. And the reasons why have less to do with the ID requirements than with the rest of what the law is trying to change.

Why it matters: Election integrity remains a focal point for the Trump administration and many in the Republican Party. If Democrats continue to oppose the SAVE America Act, it could prompt Republicans to remove or alter the filibuster in ways that would have a profound impact on how laws are passed down the line. Or, if the bill stalls, President Trump has promised to push it through via executive order, even though a similar attempt was already deemed illegal last year. Either way, the issue doesn’t appear to be headed toward a resolution anytime soon.

The backstory: Third time’s a charm?

For the third consecutive year, the House of Representatives has passed a version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act for short. So far, it has died in the Senate each time without even getting a vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune promised that it would not happen again, given that he now has the support necessary to bring it to the floor and force representatives to go on record as either supporting or rejecting it.

Still, few expect the law to pass. It would need sixty votes unless Republicans either get rid of the filibuster—a step leadership has repeatedly said they will not take—or change the requirements to oppose the bill. There’s a lot of risk either way, though, and it’s unclear if Thune will be willing to take that step.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Why are the new voter ID laws so controversial? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – You Serve

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 Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment. 

—1 Samuel 30:24

Scripture:

1 Samuel 30:24 

In 1 Samuel 30, we find the story of David leading his men to victory in battle against Amalekite raiders who had plundered and burned the town of Ziklag. As David and the four hundred soldiers who had fought with him were returning home, those who had stayed behind to guard the camp and the supplies met them. Some of the troublemakers who had fought in the battle didn’t want to give any of the spoils of the battle to those who stayed by the camp. David said to the troublemakers, “Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment” (1 Samuel 30:24 NLT).

Those who fought in the battle assumed that their role in God’s plan was more important than those who didn’t fight. David didn’t see it that way—and neither did God. And that principle still applies today to people who answer God’s call.

Whether God has called you to serve Him in such a way that people see you or whether He has called you to serve Him by supporting others who are seen, God will bless you and reward you for your service.

Maybe you feel as though your life isn’t really making a difference or that what you have to offer God doesn’t mean all that much. If so, you’ll be in for some surprises in Heaven, because what may not seem very valuable on earth will be of great value in Heaven.

God’s Word leaves little doubt as to our worth in God’s eyes. The apostle Peter wrote, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT).

We also have immeasurable value because we are God’s creation. The apostle Paul wrote, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).

I read a story about a man who found an old, blue-and-white vase while he was cleaning his attic. He took it to an auction to sell it, thinking he would probably get twenty or thirty dollars from it, maybe one hundred dollars if he was lucky. To his utter amazement, the vase turned out to be an original fifteenth-century work of art from the Ming Dynasty. It sold for $324,000.

What may not seem especially valuable now will prove to be extremely valuable later. Until then, we need to be faithful with what God has given us to do.

Reflection Question: What value does God see in your acts of faithfulness and service? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

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