Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Minding the Mind

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Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?
Job 38:36

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:7-11

Your brain is composed of about 60% fat, floats in cerebrospinal fluid, and weighs about three pounds. It contains 86 billion neurons, consumes 20% of your body’s energy, and operates at speeds of 268 miles per hour.

The most important thing about your brain though is the thoughts that dominate it. The Bible says, “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. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6 NIV).

We must make a conscious effort to fill our mind with Scripture—to read it, study it, and memorize it. We need to meditate on the words of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on Him (see Isaiah 26:3). It is our God who can put wisdom in our minds and understanding in our hearts.

Biblical meditation on Scripture acts as a believer’s medicine because God’s Spirit always uses the balm of His truth to provide lasting comfort and help.
David Saxton

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Ready for Christ’s Return

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Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

Today’s Scripture

1 Peter 3:13-17

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

It was late fall, and my wife and I were going to take a trip by car. The day before our planned departure, it began to snow, and I suddenly realized I hadn’t taken the car in to have snow tires put on. The snowy, deteriorating conditions led to a long line at the tire shop—something I could have avoided with better planning.

Much of life is about getting ready, isn’t it? It’s vital for us to think ahead, prepare for what eventualities might occur, and make sure we’ve planned well.

This is true of our spiritual life as well. In Matthew 24, Jesus pointed out the necessity of being all set for His later return. He told His listeners that they “must be ready” because He will come again (v. 44). And Peter later wrote that believers should prepare themselves ahead of time intellectually and spiritually “to give the reason for the hope that [they] have” (1 Peter 3:15).

Our lives should be ones of preparation. First, we must make sure we’re ready for Jesus’ return by putting our faith in Him. Next, our task is to continually prepare ourselves for service for Him—even if it means to “suffer for doing good” (v. 17). With His help, let’s get ready.

Reflect & Pray

How are you sure you’re ready to meet Jesus when He returns or when you die? What can you do to better prepare to serve and honor God?

Dear Jesus, please help me use my time wisely—preparing for what You want me to do. While I handle daily responsibilities, help me to also set aside times for spiritual preparation.

Today’s Insights

After we’ve placed our trust in Jesus as our Savior and are ready to meet Him when He returns, we’re called to share our hope in Christ with others. The apostle Peter tells us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). The sometimes-overlooked key to his instructions on sharing our faith is that there needs to be a catalyst in our lives that causes people to ask about it. That catalyst is a Christlike, hope-filled life, which opens the door to sharing about our relationship with Jesus. Because we live in a desperate world, a life that displays hope can cause people to want what they see in us. God can help us “be prepared” to tell others of our Savior (v. 15), who is our source of hope through His resurrection (1:3).

For further study, read: Die First, Then Comes the End

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Searching for truth in the 2024 Cornell sexual assault case

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What happened: Last month, New York prosecutors reopened the case of a woman who claimed that she was sexually assaulted by seven men at Cornell University in October of 2024. As the story has gone viral over recent weeks, the line between presumption and fact has blurred to a dangerous degree.

Why it matters: At the end of the day, this story seems to have a clear victim and multiple abusers, but no one involved is innocent. And while blame is by no means shared equally, losing sight of that fact only makes it more likely that people will walk away learning the wrong lessons and that something like this will happen again.

The backstory: What happened at Cornell?

On September 28, New York prosecutors officially reopened the case of a woman—referred to as Jane Doe in the court documents—who claimed that she was sexually assaulted by seven men at a Cornell University frat house in October of 2024. Local police did not press criminal charges initially because Jane Doe’s sworn statement back then “described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual.”

Continue reading Denison Forum – Searching for truth in the 2024 Cornell sexual assault case →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – A Good Time to Pray

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 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. 

—Acts 12:5

Scripture:

Acts 12:5 

If you watched a lot of old Westerns back in the day, as I did, you know that the outlaws (who usually wore black hats) riding furiously across mountainous terrain with the stolen loot from the stagecoach robbery would frequently get tripped up by geography.

At some point, someone in the pursuing posse (who usually wore white hats) would shout, “We have ’em now! They’ve ridden into a box canyon!” And everybody knows there’s only one way out of a box canyon.

There are box canyons in life, too—seemingly impossible situations that seem to offer no workable way out and nowhere else to turn. In a box canyon, surrounded by insurmountable obstacles, you find yourself temporarily paralyzed, not knowing what to do. These are the very times when God invites us to pray.

In Acts 12, we find the story of how God took a tragic, even hopeless, situation and turned it around. More to the point, the turnaround was initiated by the power of prayer—the kind of prayer that reverberates throughout the throne room of God and gets an answer.

James and Peter, two key figures in the early Christian church, had been imprisoned for doing God’s work. Tragically, James was put to death. But Peter was still incarcerated, awaiting his fate. All doors to his freedom were closed, except one: the door of prayer.

His fellow church members recognized that “we use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT).

Prayer was and is the church’s secret weapon. Although the devil struck a blow against the church in the death of James, the church gained victory through prayer as Peter was miraculously released. Chained between two Roman soldiers, Peter was awakened in his cell by an angel of the Lord. The chains on his wrists fell to the floor. The angel led Peter past the guards posted in the jail and through the iron gate that separated it from the outside world. The people of the church prayed for Peter’s release, and Peter literally showed up at their door (see Acts 12:6–19).

Prayer still carries the same potential. That’s why it’s essential that Christians learn how to pray effectively. The reality is that all of us will face difficulties, hardships, problems, and more than a few box canyons. We need to discover what God can do through the power of prayer.

Prayer for the Christian should be second nature, like breathing. We should automatically lift our needs and requests before the Lord. Jesus said that we should always pray and not lose heart (see Luke 18:1). Prayer is something we should never avoid and never grow tired of. Prayer should be woven through our day like a bright gold thread woven through a piece of fabric. The more we pray, the more we will see the kingdom of God break through the darkness of seemingly impossible situations.

Reflection question: What seemingly impossible situation in your life might be changed by prayer? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – This Generation

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” (Matthew 24:34)

This exciting prediction by Christ climaxes His great prophetic discourse on the Mount of Olives. He had given His disciples the signs they had requested, then discussed the coming great tribulation and finally His glorious return in the clouds of heaven. And “all these things” were to be fulfilled before “this generation” would pass away.

And what generation would that be? Many commentators have taken it as the Jewish people, but that would be redundant since many other passages had already promised that the nation of Israel would never pass away (Jeremiah 31:37–40; etc.). Furthermore, the Greek word for “generation” (genea) is never used elsewhere for any meaning but that of a particular age generation. A similar word, genos, sometimes means “stock” or “kind,” but never genea.

Thus, the generation that Christ was predicting probably meant the generation that would see the events He had prophesied. “When ye shall see all these things,” He said, “know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33). What are some of “these things”? World wars accompanied and followed by “earthquakes in divers places” as well as “famines, and pestilences” (v. 7), worldwide spread of the gospel witness (v. 14), many false Christs and false prophets (v. 24), widespread wickedness and spiritual indifference as in the days of Noah (vv. 37–39), and the budding of the fig tree, Israel (v. 32).

The word for “this” in verse 34 is the demonstrative adjective, so Christ seems to be referring to “that” generation which sees “these things begin to come to pass.” That generation will see all these things fulfilled! To that generation He says, “Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Go Forward in Faith

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When I am afraid, I will put my trust and faith in You.

Psalm 56:3 (AMP)

David killed bears and lions with his own hands when he was just a shepherd boy. He fought the giant Goliath with a slingshot and a couple of river stones. The people said that while King Saul killed thousands, David killed tens of thousands.

We might think that David was fearless to do all those things, but he wrote in Psalms that when he was afraid, he put his trust in God. The use of when implies that there were times when he felt afraid, but he chose to go forward anyway, in faith, because he trusted in God.

If you’ve been afraid of something and desire to be free, the time will eventually come when you’ll have to face your fear and not run away from it. Like David, you will have to approach it with the following attitude: I trust God, and I’m going to do it, even if I have to do it afraid.

The Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, discipline, and a calm mind (2 Timothy 1:7). That means that we don’t have to bow down to fear when it strikes. We can move forward in faith and go anywhere that God leads us.

Prayer of the Day: God, forgive me for the times when I have let fear stop me. Help me trust in and rely on You as I move forward in faith, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Watch God Work 

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Play

During World War I, Biddy Chambers, her husband, and small daughter moved to Egypt, where he served as a chaplain. He taught, she transcribed. It was a perfect partnership.

Then her husband’s complications from appendicitis rendered Biddy a widow, and all the dreams of a teaching ministry would have to be abandoned, right? Well, no. She turned her husband’s notes into pamphlets. Eventually, they were compiled into a book, My Utmost For His Highest. This work of Oswald Chambers has sold more than 13 million copies and has been translated into more than 35 languages.

The next time you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself of the one who is standing next to you. Give him what you have, offer thanks, and watch him go to work. Remember friends, you are never alone.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Full Barns

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Read Luke 12:13–21

If you’re anything like me, you’ve resonated with the song “If I Were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof. In this musical, the father Tevye dreams of being wealthy. Not only would his family be comfortable, he’d have more time to study in the synagogue. He asks God, “Would it spoil some vast eternal plan? If I were a wealthy man?”

God did not grant Tevye’s wish (or mine) to be wealthy, and in light of today’s parable that’s a blessing. Riches can be a formidable temptation (1 Tim. 6:10). In Luke 12, a man asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him (vv. 13–15). He was likely a younger brother, and his older brother would receive double. Jesus refused, then warned His audience against greed (covetousness) and materialism. The principle is simple: Life is not merely about possessions.

To illustrate further, Jesus told a story about a farmer who reaped a huge harvest, so big that he didn’t have enough space to store it all. His solution was to build larger barns (vv. 16–19). The man was selfish. He didn’t even consider giving some of it away. He put his trust in his wealth and pridefully found his security there. As a result of this harvest, he congratulated himself and decided he could “take life easy” from now on.

God evaluated this attitude as damned (literally) foolishness (vv. 20–21). That very night the farmer would die. He’d provided for his grain but not for his soul! Death reveals the quality of that in which we’ve put our faith. The barns were full, but the man couldn’t take any of it with him. As Ecclesiastes says, all such things are meaningless. This is how it will be for everyone who “stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Go Deeper

Finish this sentence: None of us know when we will die, therefore… Christ has already conquered death, so we can contemplate the matter without fear.

Pray with Us

Lord, everything we have comes from You. Help us not be distracted by the appeal of money and possessions. Thank You that You “give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).

This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.Luke 12:21

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Choose the Holy Spirit

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For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:5

Recommended Reading: Galatians 5:19-25

Believers sometimes find themselves doing things they don’t want to do and not doing things they do want to do. The apostle Paul confessed that was his experience as well (Romans 7:7-25). So how can that happen to a born-again Christian?

Paul explains in Romans 7–8 that the sinful fleshly nature is still present in us. When we set our minds on things of the flesh, we find ourselves doing those things that are contrary to life in Christ. But if we set our minds on living according to the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves living a life pleasing to God. We cannot have our minds set on both flesh and Spirit at the same time. It is up to us to choose to live according to the Spirit and not the flesh.

Pray today for the filling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Set your mind on following His leading that you may manifest the fruit of His presence (Galatians 5:22-23).

Anticipate your battles, fight them on Your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have the victory.
R. A. Torrey

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Searching for Hope

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Romans 15:13

Today’s Scripture

Romans 15:5-13

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Today’s Devotion

For many years, hope has been one of the most searched terms on the internet. Surprisingly, it surpasses searches for political crises and even making money online. People are seeking more profound meaning. Recent years haven’t fostered optimism; instead, they’ve felt like an ongoing, slow-motion crisis: Environmental fears, economic instability, and digital anxiety dominate our headlines and hearts. Yet, through all these struggles, millions type hope into their browsers, as if throwing a lifeline to something beyond the chaos.

Paul understood that God is the Someone beyond the chaos. When the apostle wrote of “the God of hope” (Romans 15:13), he wanted Roman believers in Jesus to understand that God was both the source and object of their hope. Paul reminds us that true hope isn’t merely wishful thinking or fleeting optimism; it’s anchored in God’s character and faithfulness. And He instills confidence in us through His promises. He’s also the one who provides “endurance and encouragement” (v. 5) through the power of His Holy Spirit. This hope endures despite circumstances, filling us with joy and peace as we recognize God has accepted us in Christ (v. 7).

If you’re searching for hope, direct your heart toward God. As you trust in His promises and embrace His faithfulness, you can have eternal hope found in Him alone.

Reflect & Pray

What keeps your hope in God alive when you face adversity? What can you do to remain confident in Him?

God of truth, please fill me with Your hope and joy. For further study, read Hope: Discovering the One True Source at odbm.org.

Today’s Insights

In Romans 15, Paul says the foundation for the unity of believers in Jesus is to have “the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had” (vv. 5-6). Unity is found in following His example of self-giving love, not in having identical beliefs, backgrounds, or preferences. The goal of this unity is worship “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 6). In fact, unity itself is a form of worship: “Accept one another . . . in order to bring praise to God” (v. 7). Romans is especially focused on Jewish and gentile unity. The apostle emphasizes that Jews and gentiles worshiping God together fulfills God’s promises (vv. 8-12). Today, we can join together with other believers and worship “the God of hope” who fills us “with all joy and peace” (v. 13).

For further study, feel free to browse through our resources at the store: Reclaim Today Guide – Ecclesiastes

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer following surgery

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Pope Leo XIV spent a peaceful night at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, the Vatican said this morning. The seventy-one-year-old pontiff was diagnosed Tuesday with adenocarcinoma after doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung.

The Vatican has not disclosed the size of the tumor or whether the disease had spread. The pope is expected to remain in the hospital for about a week; his public engagements have been cancelled until October 20.

Leo is known for an active and healthy lifestyle that includes swimming and tennis. He has never smoked. The New York Times quotes one of his biographers: “Leo has the profile of someone who takes care of himself. So that has added to the shock.”

Continue reading Denison Forum – Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer following surgery →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – A Purposeful Approach

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 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. 

—Acts 11:23–24

Scripture:

Acts 11:23–24 

Hats and T-shirts often give us a window into people’s personalities. If you walk through a large crowd, you’ll find that many people are eager to share, via their apparel, what they were born to do, whether it’s “Born to Surf,” “Born to Ride” (usually horses or motorcycles), “Born to Shop,” or “Born to Cross-Stitch.” While these messages are lighthearted and fun, they point to a deeper concern: finding one’s purpose in life.

If someone asked you what your purpose in life is, what would you say? If you’re a conscientious Christian, you might quickly respond with “To honor God” or some other biblically sound statement. But keep in mind that your life’s purpose isn’t revealed in what you say, but in what you do.

To put it another way, what do you prioritize? Where do you channel most of your energy? What do you think about most often? What do you long for? What fuels you and gives you purpose? What is the most significant thing in your life?

Given those parameters, some people, if they answered honestly, would say, “My purpose in life is to have fun.” Others might say, “My purpose in life is to experience pleasure.” Others might say, “My purpose in life is to be successful.” Others might say, “My purpose in life is to make money.”

The book of Acts introduces us to a Christian worker and traveling companion of the apostle Paul named Barnabas. Acts 11:23–24 recounts Barnabas’ arrival in Antioch. “When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord” (NLT). Barnabas found purpose in life by furthering God’s kingdom and encouraging his fellow believers. With his purpose firmly fixed in his mind, Barnabas seized every opportunity to fulfill it. He led with encouragement—purposefully—in his interactions with others.

Paul himself said, “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly]” (Philippians 3:10 AMPC).

In other words, “My purpose in life is to know the Lord. Yes, there are other things that I do, but my primary purpose is to continually deepen my relationship with God.” With his purpose firmly fixed in his mind, Paul could allot his time accordingly to prayer, Bible study, and sharing the gospel—the things that would bring him closer to God.

Do you know your purpose in life?

Reflection question: How is your purpose in life reflected in the way you live? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Never Alone

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” (Psalm 27:10)

There may be more people alive today than ever before, but there are also more lonely people today than ever before— divorced spouses, homeless people, many elderly parents and, perhaps saddest of all, orphaned or abandoned children. These and many others are still alone, even in a crowded world.

No one, though, was ever so alone as the Lord Jesus on the cross. “Behold, the hour cometh,” He had said, “yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” (John 16:32). Then, only a few hours later, as He hung on the cross, even His heavenly Father had to leave Him. He cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). He died alone, bearing the burden of all the sin of all the world on His soul.

But because He suffered alone, no one else need ever be alone again. “Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). The apostle Paul, suffering alone in a Roman dungeon shortly before his execution, could still say, “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17). John the beloved, old and imprisoned alone on the tiny isle of Patmos, nevertheless “was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” and then saw the Lord in all His glory (Revelation 1:10). So it has always been with those who know the Lord, for He is there, even when all others have forsaken them, and He understands. He has already been there ahead of us, “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15–16). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – True Love

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So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)

Human beings crave love. When a woman’s soul has been wounded, that craving for love often takes one of two forms. Some women develop hard or harsh personalities so other people will not want to get close to them. If the wounds in their souls are related to men, they may make firm decisions not to trust men or not to build relationships with men at all. Other women may be excessive in their desires to have a man in their life, to the point that they are willing to enter into a relationship with any man who pays attention to them. Perhaps you know women like this, women who seem to go from one unhealthy relationship to another. Maybe you have even done it yourself. You keep thinking the next man in your life will finally be the “right” one, only to find yourself disappointed.

When a woman has a string of relationships that never satisfy her, two things are usually true. One, she has not yet found her fulfillment in God alone; and two, she has not yet learned what real love is. In order to stop the cycle of craving love, seeking it from a man, and being disappointed, a woman’s soul needs to be healed. Part of that healing involves first receiving God’s unconditional love and then understanding what it really means to love and be loved by another person.

I want to share some things I hope will help you in your love relationships with other people. Only God can love us perfectly, but 1 Corinthians 13, which is called “the love chapter” of the Bible, helps us understand what real love is. If someone says, “I love you,” but isn’t demonstrating the attributes of love in this chapter, you might want to think twice before believing that person and going very far in a relationship.

Love is something that can be seen and felt. It is displayed in a variety of ways. When you are trying to decide whether someone loves you, and whether you love that person, you can use the qualities mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13 as a guide. It says that love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, and not arrogant or rude. It also does not demand its own way and is not irritable. It does not harbor resentment. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:6-7, ESV). Love helps others; it gives and it is quick to forgive. This requires intentionality and saying no to self regularly.

The basic qualities of love in 1 Corinthians 13 give us plenty to think about when we consider whether we love someone else and whether they love us. Remember, only God can love you perfectly. Other human beings will let us down, but when we know what true love looks like, we can be wise in our relationships.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for loving me perfectly and unconditionally. Please heal any wounds in my heart, and teach me what real love looks like so I can love wisely and unconditionally.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Give Christ What You Have 

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Play

Do you face 15,000 problems? Before you count yourself out, turn and look at the One standing next to you. Christ can help you do the impossible. You simply need to give him what you have and watch him work.

John 6:11 says, “Jesus took the loaves.” This is the story of the day that Jesus fed the 5,000 men plus women and children. He didn’t have to use the loaves. He made manna fall for the Israelites. Instead, he chose to use the single basket of the small boy.

What’s in your basket? All you have is a wimpy prayer, give it. All you have is a meager skill, use it. All you have is the strength for one step, take it. God used three nails and a crude cross to redeem humanity. If God can turn a basket into a buffet, don’t you think he can do something with your five loaves and two fishes of faith? Remember, you are never alone.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Parable of the Soils

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Read Matthew 13:1–23

If you visit Moody Bible Institute’s Chicago campus, be sure to check out the entrance lobby in Crowell Hall. There you will find a beautiful stained-glass window called “The Sower.” It pictures the farmer in Matthew 13. With a bag slung over his shoulder, the sower strides through a field, one hand scattering seeds.

We read this parable in two parts. First, the story itself (vv. 1–9). The scattered seeds come to four ends: (1) The birds eat the seeds that fell on the hard surface of the path. (2) Seeds that landed in rocky places sprang up quickly but then withered because they had no root. (3) Seeds that landed among thorns were choked. (4) Finally, seeds that landed in good soil yielded an incredibly fruitful crop.

The second part is Jesus’ explanation, requested by His disciples (vv. 18–23). The seeds represent the message of the kingdom, that is, the gospel. In the reception of this message, there are four results seen in the story: (1) Some people don’t understand, and Satan snatches it away. (2) Some receive it with joy, but they fall away when trouble or persecution comes. (3) Some hear it, but “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness [or ‘seductiveness’] of wealth” choke or suffocate the response. Luke’s version adds “pleasures.” (4) Others hear, understand, and respond in faith and obedience, as seen in their fruitfulness. Only this fourth type is truly saved.

The sower or farmer is not directly identified but is ultimately God, because the gospel of redemption is His plan. He uses angels and human beings in that plan, so it’s not inaccurate to picture pastors, missionaries, and indeed all followers of Christ as scattering the seeds. We’re responsible to sow but reaping or outcomes are up to the Lord.

Go Deeper

Are we being obedient about scattering the seeds? What does that look like in your life? Why is it so important to trust God with the results?

Watch this video as we talk about the Parable of the Sower with devotional author, Dr. Bradley Baurain!

Pray with Us

Jesus, who do You want us to be scattering seeds to? Please give us courage, patience, and discernment to share Your truth well. Thank You for letting us be part of Your plan!

The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.Matthew 13:23

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Love Not the World

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Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15

Recommended Reading: Matthew 6:31-33

If your house was on fire and you could only escape with one or two things, what would you save? We could ask the question a different way: When it comes time to depart this life, what would you like to take with you? In response to that question, we often hear it said, “You can’t take it with you.”

The truth is that we can’t take anything with us from this world. And our departure from this world will be made much easier if we have not loved the things of this world. After all, “the world is passing away, and the lust of it” (1 John 2:17). As evidence of the temporary nature of this world, “the grass withers, the flower fades” (Isaiah 40:8). Why are we told not to love the world we live in? Because “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19), and we are not to be “conformed” to it (Romans 12:2).

Ask God to help you be attached to His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and detached from the things of this world.

To forsake Christ for the world is to leave a treasure for a trifle.
William Jenkyn

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Lives Molded by God

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“Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 18:6

Today’s Scripture

Jeremiah 18:1-10

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Today’s Devotion

When Asheton met Nick, she described herself as lost, lacking purpose, and behaving in ways she wasn’t proud of. Nick had recently experienced something similar and had reconnected with his faith in the process. He shared with Asheton how viewing God as a loving potter who had reshaped his life and given him hope in that difficult time. The two eventually married and took up pottery as a hobby. Now they offer pottery classes and encourage the attendees that “they’re special and created for a purpose.”

God likened Himself to a potter when communicating with the prophet Jeremiah, instructing him to observe the way a potter reshaped marred pots into new pots “as seemed best to him” (Jeremiah 18:4). God revealed to the prophet His ability to shape and reshape the Israelites—either planting or uprooting them according to their response to His counsel. He endowed Jeremiah with a message of repentance and hope for them that He can “do with you, Israel, as this potter does” (v. 6).

Jeremiah’s message was proclaimed to the nation of Israel, but the principle applies to our individual lives as well. When we find ourselves wandering from God’s truth in our thoughts and actions, we can turn to the Potter for help. When we admit our wrongdoings and ask Him for guidance and wisdom to change our ways, we can trust Him to reshape us with His loving hands.

Reflect & Pray

When has God reshaped your life? How are you different today as a result of His help?

Please mold me, dear Father, into the person You want me to be.

Today’s Insights

In Jeremiah 18, the image of a potter working and reworking a clay pot illustrates both God’s grace and power as well as the seriousness of sin. The statement that “the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands” (v. 4) suggests that imperfections in the clay prevented the potter from making the pot as originally intended. Similarly, if God’s people persisted in their rebellion against Him, they couldn’t expect to experience His full blessing. Like a potter forced by poor material to make an inferior clay vessel, God would respond to their rebellion with judgment (vv. 9-10). His grace remained unchanged, however, and was always available. If at any point the people repented, God would “relent” and not send judgment (vv. 7-8). Today as well, when we wander from God’s truth, His grace and restoration are always available.

For further study, read: Remade in the image of Jesus

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – What does the Bible say about horror movies?

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Last week, a man with what appeared to be an open wound on his face walked in and casually ordered a latte in my local coffee shop. His cheek, ear, and eyebrow were flayed. It looked like skin grafts from a motorcycle accident. Looking at his wound was difficult, but looking away was equally challenging.

Also last week, we moved into a new house. At night, we opened a drawer and discovered a live cockroach amongst our Tupperware. Our sleep was troubled by the imagery of a colony living in and under our bungalow. (Thankfully, it was a one-off.)

Horror exists in real life, in the minor ways mentioned above, and in far worse ways, as in war, serial killings, and chronic illness. As Christians, we know supernatural horror, as in demon possession, also exists.

However, in recent decades, some Christians have objected to movies that instill horror. So, what does the Bible say about horror movies? Should you watch them or avoid them? In what ways might they be dangerous?

Continue reading Denison Forum – What does the Bible say about horror movies? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Standing By

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 That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, ‘Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.’ 

—Acts 23:11

Scripture:

Acts 23:11 

The apostle Paul was blessed with a tremendous circle of friends and fellow laborers for Christ. He gave shout-outs to several of them in his letters.

“Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. . . . I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. . . . Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. . . . Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. . . . Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house” (Colossians 4:7–15 NLT).

Yet, for various reasons, his friends weren’t always available to him. Paul concluded his last letter with this emotional plea: “Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me” (2 Timothy 4:9–11 NLT).

Paul was no stranger to loneliness. Yet he was never really alone. God was with him, as we talked about in last week’s devotions. And God was all he really needed.

Acts 23:11 says, “That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, ‘Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well’” (NLT). Be encouraged. Some people might say that seems like a lot to ask, considering the circumstances. Paul had just endured a hostile hearing and had been taken back into Roman custody for doing God’s work. But the Lord assured him that his ministry was not over. Paul would preach the Good News in Rome as well.

Paul trusted God, but he also struggled with some very real human emotions—starting with loneliness. And who can blame him? Sometimes God’s call can seem like a solitary journey. The people we turn to in other areas of our life aren’t always available to us or sympathetic to our needs.

That’s when we need to ask God to make His presence known to us as He did for Paul. The Lord’s company is all we need. God blesses us with family, friends, and fellow workers to share fellowship. But occasionally, we need to be reminded that He is all we require.

We all face prisons, of sorts. But we never face them alone.

Reflection question: When was the last time you got a very real sense that God was with you? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

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