Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Hot Rod

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He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
Proverbs 13:24

Recommended Reading: Hebrews 12:5-11

Thomas Watson is one of the most quotable of all the Puritans. About divine discipline, he wrote, “Afflictions to the godly are medicinal.” Let that quote linger in your mind when you read about parental discipline in the book of Proverbs. You’ll find many verses exhorting parents to use appropriate correction to create self-discipline in the lives of their children.

Hebrews 12:5-11 says the Lord does the same to His children. Not every negative thing that befalls us is a direct chastisement, but every situation in life is an opportunity for growth. When we encounter sickness, layoffs, thwarted plans, and various other problems in life, let’s learn to ask: “What can the Lord teach me through this? How can I grow throughout this experience?”

Solomon wrote that to discipline your children is to show your love for them. In the same way, our Heavenly Father disciplines His children. When you receive discipline from God, take time to consider what He is trying to teach you, and give thanks that He loves you enough to do it.

Be chastened of the Lord … not condemned with the world.
Matthew Henry

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – One Worthy of Worship

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The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

Today’s Scripture

Luke 23:44-49

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Today’s Devotion

One April afternoon, millions gathered along a mapped arc across Mexico and the United States to witness a rare total solar eclipse. Schools released children, small towns blossomed to receive travelers, and neighbors set up lawn chairs in driveways donning protective glasses to take in the wonder. As television crews documented the countdown to “totality,” the crowd grew silent except for one repeated phrase: “Oh my God!”

That struck me. I don’t know for certain why those observers chose that phrase in the moment, but I suspect that as mortals encountered the rare and the astonishing, they seemed to need Someone to acknowledge. Someone to thank. Someone to worship. When we look heavenward, our response is awe. As David wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).

The gospel writer Luke reports Jesus’ last minutes on the cross. “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining” (23:44-45). Matthew shares a response to this revelation: “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’ ” (Matthew 27:54). They couldn’t help but acknowledge God as the Someone worthy of worship.

In humble awe, I worship You—my God.

Reflect & Pray

Where have you seen God’s glory and found yourself awed? In what ways can you worship Him in all His awesomeness?

Dear God, You are holy. I worship You in awe!

Today’s Insights

In Luke 23:44-49, the events surrounding Jesus’ death reveal the worthiness of God. Christ’s final words where He entrusts His spirit to the Father (v. 46) show His complete obedience and trust, even in death. As darkness covered the land (v. 44) and “the curtain of the temple was torn in two” (v. 45), creation itself testified that something supernatural was unfolding. These signs moved the Roman centurion, a gentile and outsider, to proclaim Jesus’ innocence (v. 47). His response shows that genuine worship begins when the heart recognizes God’s power and holiness. The crowd, struck with remorse, departed in sorrow (v. 48), while “all those who knew him . . . stood at a distance, watching” (v. 49) as they witnessed the depth of God’s love displayed on the cross. His sacrifice there proved He was worthy of worship not only because of His power over creation but because of His self-giving love.

For further study, read The Thunder of Sinai: Exodus 20 and the Heart of God.

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – What are Flock cameras, and why do so many fear them?

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It seems rare these days to find an issue that crosses party lines, but a shared distrust of the Flock Safety system that police swear by and the general public has increasingly sworn off seems to do just that. The Flock system comprises more than 120,000 license plate readers and surveillance systems across 49 states. They contract with more than 7,000 law enforcement agencies—roughly 40 percent of all departments in the country—to offer access to a nationwide tracking network.

While other companies offer similar surveillance services, what sets Flock apart is how every photograph or data point is uploaded to a searchable cloud database that can be shared with any of the company’s other clients. Now they’re developing a system of drones that can automatically deploy to the site of a 911 call, in response to gunfire, or when one of their license plate readers detects a vehicle of interest. And were it not for a Super Bowl commercial that freaked out enough of the nation to get the contract canceled, Flock would have added Ring doorbell cameras to their arsenal as well.

If all of this sounds a bit dystopian and creepy, you’re not alone in coming to that conclusion.

Its cameras are in more than 6,000 communities, and many of those residents are starting to push back. Some have voiced their protests in heated city council meetings or by contributing to DeFlock, a site that tracks Flock cameras and is pushing to see them removed. Others have been a bit more direct in their response, destroying cameras, covering them with bags and paint, or even cutting down the poles on which they stand.

Continue reading Denison Forum – What are Flock cameras, and why do so many fear them? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – The Kind of Person God Uses

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 My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! 

—Psalm 57:7

Scripture:

Psalm 57:7 

He came from the humblest of beginnings and rose to become the greatest king in Israel’s history. In battle, he was fearless. As a ruler, he was without peer. God once referred to him as a man after His own heart. I’m speaking, of course, of David: shepherd, psalmist, musician, protector, warrior, giant-killer, and monarch.

David’s story is one of the most familiar in all of Scripture, and for good reason. David is someone most people can relate to. He was an underdog, someone who was overlooked by others. He was bullied and found himself in situations that were beyond his control. He tried to do what was right but wasn’t above making some really bad decisions.

Yet God used him to accomplish some incredible things. And as we look at David’s story, we can get some clues as to the type of people God uses.

First, God uses ordinary people. The Lord prefers to work in and through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. That way, the people who witness those extraordinary things won’t be confused about who accomplished them. God wants to make sure that people give credit to Him rather than to human beings.

The apostle Paul suffered from an affliction that he called “a thorn in my flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT). Three times he asked God to take it away. “Each time [God] said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now [Paul was] glad to boast about [his] weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [could] work through [him]” (verse 9 NLT). Paul’s affliction made him ordinary, which allowed the extraordinary work of God to be magnified through him.

Just as surely as God used Paul’s ordinary affliction and plucked David, an ordinary shepherd boy, from obscurity, He is looking for people today through whom He can show His strength.

Second, God uses spiritually focused people. David wrote, “My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!” (Psalm 57:7 NLT). His confidence came from keeping his eyes on God rather than on his circumstances, and he experienced the blessings that come from that kind of faith.  God may not give you everything you hope for in life, or He may give you far more than you ever imagined. Either way, your responsibility is to trust Him, leave the results in His hands, and put Him first. That’s exactly what David did.

Third, God uses people who are content in Him. As a young boy, David’s primary responsibility was to ensure the safety of sheep. David figured that if watching sheep was what God wanted him to do, then he would do the best job he could. Did he dream of one day doing great things for God? We can’t know for sure, but we do know that David was content in whatever God called him to do.

Like David, we are all ordinary people. There’s no shame in that. As long as we’re willing to be faithful in what God has set before us and willing to be content in whatever God asks from us, God will use us.

And sometimes He’ll do it in extraordinary ways.

 

Reflection question: How can you make yourself available for God to use?Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Questioning God

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?” (Romans 9:20)

Whenever one begins a question with “why,” he should realize that the answer must necessarily be theological, not scientific. Science can deal with the questions of “what” and “how,” sometimes even with “where” and “when,” but never with “why”! The “why” questions have to do with motives and purposes, even when dealing with natural phenomena. (“Why does the earth rotate on its axis?” “Why do we have mosquitoes?”) Even though we can partially explain such things by secondary causes, we finally encounter a first cause, and then the “why?” can be answered only by God.

The wise thing to do is simply believe that He has good reasons for everything, whether we can discern them now or not. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). God the Creator “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11), and it is our high privilege simply to trust Him, not to question Him.

On the other hand, He often asks us: “Why?” “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Jesus asked His disciples when they thought they were in great peril (Matthew 8:26). “If I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” (John 8:46), He would say to those who question His Word.

To those who doubt His deity, the apostle Paul, speaking in His name, asks, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:8). As the popular chorus goes, “God specializes in things thought impossible!” Our God is omniscient and knows what’s best; He is omnipotent, so He can do it. He is all-loving and will surely do what’s best for those who trust Him. HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How Your Outlook Shapes Every Day of Your Life

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Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always).

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (AMPC)

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. “Well,” she said, “I think I’ll braid my hair today.” So, she did, and she had a great day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw she had only two hairs on her head. “Hmmm,” she said, “I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.” So, she did, and she had a grand day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. “Well,” she said, “today I’m going to wear my hair in a ponytail.” So, she did, and she had a fun, fun day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that there wasn’t a single hair on her head. “Yay!” she exclaimed. “I don’t have to fix my hair today!”

This little story shows us a woman who was determined to have a positive, joy-filled outlook on life. Wouldn’t our lives be so much better if we followed her example?

Prayer of the Day: Lord, please help me choose a joyful, positive outlook no matter what happens each day. Show me how to find reasons to celebrate, even when life gets hard or frustrating, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Your Test Is Part of Your Call 

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God sees the needs of tomorrow and, accordingly, creates the training of today.

He did so with Agnes. As a young girl she was on fire for her faith.  She left her home, her family, and country and became a missionary. She gave God everything, and God gave her a test: loneliness. She felt as if God had left her. On and off for fifty years, she battled a secret pain. Only late in life did she come to see her suffering as a way to understand the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all the people who feel unwanted. It was only then that Agnes—Mother Teresa—saw her test as part of her call.

Your test is a part of your call as well.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – The Word Made Flesh

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Read John 1:1–14

Classic literature is full of beautiful declarations of love. Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet declares, “My bounty is as boundless as the sea.” In Jane Austin’s Persuasion, Captain Wentworth writes to Anne Elliot, “You pierce my soul…I have loved none but you.” In Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations, Pip says to Estella: “You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read.”

But these words pale in comparison to the ultimate, loving communication found in John chapter 1. John begins the same way Genesis 1 opens: “In the beginning.” We see the connection between the coming of the Christ and creation. Both document the clear and effective way God has revealed Himself to us. While His spoken word created life in Genesis, Jesus—the embodied Word—is the source of new and eternal life (John 3:3, 16; 6:27).

The Word was with God and (at the same time) was God (vv. 1, 2). In these verses, John demonstrates that Jesus is both relationally connected to and substantively separate from His Father. The term for “Word” (logos) is layered with meaning. It combines the Greek philosophical principles of reason and order with the Jewish idea of God’s wisdom being revealed. Jesus embodies all of this—as shown in the creation process (v. 3). The Word formed the world, giving it structure and meaning. In verse 4, John shifts from creation to revelation. Light is a metaphor for truth, enabling people to see and comprehend. The Word illuminated a dark and sinful world. In the climax of God’s communication, the “Word became flesh” (v. 14). Taking on human form, Jesus communed with man. The verb “dwell” also echoes the Old Testament tabernacle, where God was present among His people.

Go Deeper

How does the beginning of John’s gospel mirror the creation account in Genesis? What are all the ways God has chosen to communicate to us?

Pray with Us

Oh, how sweet it is to know You and be loved by You, Lord! You dwell among us and reveal Yourself to us. We are so grateful for the light of Your presence.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Train Up a Child

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Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

Recommended Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Tradition from the biblical world records a practice of mothers with their newborn infants. To stimulate the nursing reflex, a mother would rub the juice from a crushed date on the lips and palate of the infant to stimulate the sucking reflex. That idea is consistent with the meaning of the Hebrew word for “train up” (or “start”) in Proverbs 22:6. The word for “train up” is also translated as “dedicate”—as in dedicating a house or a temple (Deuteronomy 20:5; Ezra 6:16; 1 Kings 8:63).

Initiate, start, dedicate, train up—all are in the semantic range of meaning when it comes to raising a child so he will not leave the moral and spiritual “way” when he is old. The book of Proverbs suggests two primary means for raising a child in “the way”: instruction and correction (discipline). Instruction identifies the way and starts him on it; correction puts him back on the way should he stray from it.

If you are a parent or grandparent, keep these two priorities in clear focus for the children in your family.

Children need to be trained, not just in the facts of life, but in the ways of life.
Anonymous

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Jesus’ Witness

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You will be [Jesus’] witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. Acts 22:15

Today’s Scripture

Acts 22:12-16

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Today’s Devotion

I’ve heard it said, “We can’t make our children believe. We can only give our children reason to believe what we believe.” That’s a wise observation—but how do we do it?

Of all people to take parenting advice from, the apostle Paul is seldom the first choice. It’s likely that he had no children. Parents often prefer to hear from someone who’s been there, done that, someone who knows about sleepless infants, the storms of puberty, and how it feels to pray for a prodigal. Yet Paul (or Saul) has something to teach us here.

Saul had been on his way to persecute Christians when Christ intervened. This man fell to the ground, blinded (Acts 9:1-9). Soon he was visited by Ananias, who restored his sight and explained his mission: “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard” (22:14-15). Saul, later called Paul, did witness, and God gave him a quiverful of spiritual offspring. His “parenting approach” was to share what he’d seen, and to pray.

Whether parenting our own children or interacting with others, we can’t make them believe. Rather, we witness with our words and lives as to what we’ve seen and heard. And we pray. Our God, who sent Paul to the gentiles, sends us with the same instruction: Witness so they may believe. Then entrust them to our Father, who loves them.

Reflect & Pray

What children are in your sphere of influence? How might you share your faith with them?

Heavenly Father, may our children believe in You.

Today’s Insights

Why do we believe the apostle Paul had no children? We can infer this from what the Bible tells us about him. By his own admission, it seems he didn’t have a wife (1 Corinthians 9:5). And prior to his conversion to Christ, he’d been a law-abiding Pharisee “zealous for God” (Acts 22:3). It’s highly unlikely that such a law-keeper would have children outside of marriage. It’s possible that Paul may have been married and then widowed, but there’s no indication of this in Scripture. In addition, he strongly implies that he has the gift of singleness (1 Corinthians 7:7). Twice he refers to “my true son” in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4). But “son” refers to spiritual children he introduced to Jesus and then discipled, not to physical progeny. Today, we can ask God to help us share our faith with the children and others that God places in our path.

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Trump, Xi, and Two Empty Chairs: Remembering the Persecuted

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Toward the end of their summit in Beijing this past May, President Donald Trump and Chairman Xi Jinping fielded questions on matters ranging from trade to tech to Taiwan while seated in plush chairs on a gold-and-white embroidered carpet.

At the same time, hundreds of Christians in the United States focused their attention not on the two world leaders in those chairs, but on two other individuals not present: Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of the large underground Zion Church in China, and Ilham Tohti, a prominent Uyghur economist and professor.

Both men have faced the consequences of standing for their distinct faiths under the grip of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Pastor Jin, a Christian, was detained in October 2025 as part of a nationwide crackdown on unregistered “house churches.” Ilham Tohti, a Uyghur Muslim, has been serving a life imprisonment since 2014 after peacefully advocating for his community.

Tohti’s case is emblematic of the growing repression toward ethnic minorities in China. Specifically, Uyghurs, a Turkic people in western China and predominantly Muslim, are an ethnoreligious group that the first Trump administration identified as suffering a genocide.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Trump, Xi, and Two Empty Chairs: Remembering the Persecuted →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – A Loyal Love

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 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 

—Psalm 51:10

Scripture:

Psalm 51:10 

Love is not always a pretty or pleasant thing, especially in its earliest form. No matter how long you’ve been married, you probably still remember the first stirrings of love and passion that you felt for your spouse-to-be. You remember the feelings of butterflies in your stomach that sometimes felt like fighter jets. You remember the loss of appetite. You remember the nervousness and the overwhelming desire to make the best impression possible.

For better or worse, those feelings don’t last—at least, not in the intensity of their original form. Passion’s fire cools to smoldering embers that can still be ignited, but they don’t burn as intensely or as continuously as they once did.

If given the chance, the wild, unpredictable stirrings of first love can settle into something more substantial, more profound, and more permanent. The problem is that many people don’t understand that. They allow their feelings to dictate their actions. They convince themselves that when the emotional excitement isn’t there on a daily basis, they’ve fallen out of love, and the relationship isn’t working out. “We have irreconcilable differences,” they conclude, “so let’s just end things now.” Then they move on to another relationship because they don’t have a clue as to what real love is.

The same thing can happen in our relationship with the Lord. The excitement of first coming to faith—of having our sins forgiven, of being aware of God’s boundless love and mercy, of knowing where we will go when we die—can be overwhelming, in the best possible sense. The feelings can be intense. Over time, however, those feelings subside. And when they do, we may start to question our relationship with the Lord.

Instead of drifting apart from Him, we need to double down on our commitment. We need to deepen our relationship with God instead of being guided by our feelings. We need to set a workable pace for our walk with the Lord, to be content to grow gradually every day instead of expecting mountaintop experience after mountaintop experience.

The psalmist wrote, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10 NLT). Loyalty is the key—being true to the Lord regardless of your feelings.

Certainly, there will be times of revival when the embers of your love for God are reignited, and the passion burns intensely again. And we should embrace those moments for the gifts they are. But we must never lose sight of the fact that ours is more than just a journey of feeling; it’s also a journey of faith. So, we must continue to deepen our love for God through daily prayer, Bible study, and other habits that help us draw near to Him. We must remember that we are in it for the long haul. We are running a marathon, not a sprint. And we want to finish the race well.

 

Reflection question: How can you build a relationship with the Lord based on loyalty instead of emotions? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Righteous Judge

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” (Psalm 145:17)

When Abraham was interceding with God to spare Sodom if even 10 righteous people were there, he asked, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). The Hebrew word (mishpat) refers to a formal judgment about right and wrong and is more commonly translated “judgment.”

Indeed, the divine Judge will do right and give right judgments in all things, for He “is righteous in all his ways” and “canst not look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13).

Ever since Adam disobeyed the Word of God, however, all his descendants have been unrighteous in their ways. God’s righteous judgment has been that “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).

Thus, the truly righteous Judge would not only have to consign Sodom to destructive “brimstone and fire from the LORD” (Genesis 19:24) but every one of us as well “into the lake of fire” forever (Revelation 20:15).

But God, being not only the righteous Judge but also “a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19), had a plan whereby He could “declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past” and both “be just, and the justifier” of those who had been lost sinners (Romans 3:25–26). “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (8:3). Those who believe on the Son of God as their substitute and Savior are now “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (3:24).

So, Christ has been “made unto us . . . righteousness” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Furthermore, our loving Savior has now Himself become our righteous Judge, for the Father “hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Works That Don’t Work

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My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water.

Jeremiah 2:13 (AMPC)

The Word teaches that God’s people dug wells for themselves that couldn’t hold water. I know what it is like to work hard with no results. I spent many years of my life digging empty wells like these, and I can tell you, it really wears you out.

You may be digging an empty well right now. You may be working on something or somebody. You may have your own little project going. You may be following your own plan, trying to make things happen in your own strength and ability. If so, it is not going to work if you have left God out of your plan. Many times, we make a plan and then pray for it to work. God wants us to pray first and ask Him for His plan. After we have His plan, then He wants us to trust Him to bring it to pass, as we follow His direction and work in partnership with Him.

Our activity birthed out of the flesh actually prevents God from showing Himself strong in our lives. The Bible describes that kind of activity as works of the flesh (Gal.5:19–21 KJV). I call them “works that don’t work.” That is not the way to live the higher life that God prepared for us.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I don’t want to dig empty wells in my own strength. Please help me seek Your plan first, and give me the trust to follow Your direction instead of my own, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – The Enemy of the Saint 

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Play

The prophet Elijah was headline news in the nation. He was also a sitting duck for a big head. So, in a preemptive measure, God led him to a creek where Elijah would be utterly dependent upon a brook for water and some birds for food.

The enemy of the saint is pride. We must fight it like the foe it is. Take note of your “hat size.” Are you getting a big head? Then volunteer for menial tasks—wash dishes, sweep floors.

You are loved but not indispensable. You are God’s child but not God’s golden child. You have a place in God’s plan, but you are not essential to God’s plan. The smaller we are, the more room there is for God.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Good News

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Read Mark 1:1–8

When you have good news to share, how do you communicate it? Do you phone a friend, send a group text to family, or post on social media? When Jesus’ disciple Mark had the best news to share, he wrote the Gospel of Mark. Although he originally wrote to the church during his lifetime, his account has been received by every subsequent generation of the faithful.

Mark begins with this direct proclamation: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” (v. 1). His purpose is evident. Everything that follows is “good news”—a message to be proclaimed, received, and applied.

Notice that Mark immediately anchors his good news in the Old Testament (vv. 2–3), demonstrating that God’s communication with His people through the centuries is continuous, coherent, and cohesive. The prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi foretold another messenger—a whole “strategic communication plan.” God would send John the Baptist to get people’s attention and ready their hearts. The setting for John’s communication was the wilderness— an undistracted place where God had already met His people many times (Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

John’s message was concise and confrontational. He preached repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins (v. 4). People came from all over Judea to hear and confess (v. 5). John was not just sharing information; this message was transformational. When people responded, they would never be the same. John had dedicated his whole life to communicating this good news. Even his clothing and food choices spoke to his focus and humility. He did not draw attention to himself but pointed his audience toward the One yet to come and the salvation He would bring.

Go Deeper

Describe all the ways in which John communicated the good news. How does your life communicate this message?

Pray with Us

Jesus, we do not want to keep the good news of the gospel to ourselves. Give us wisdom and confidence to share it with those who need it. In You, we have everlasting life!

I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way—a voice of one calling in the wilderness.Mark 1:2–3

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – A Source of Life

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Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well…. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
Proverbs 5:15, 18

Recommended Reading: Song of Solomon 4:15

When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, threatened to invade Judah, King Hezekiah blocked off all the springs around Jerusalem so the Assyrian army could not access water. Most famously, he blocked a spring in Gihon outside the city walls and dug a tunnel from the spring to a pool in the city to supply water for Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:1-4, 30). Known today as Hezekiah’s tunnel, tourists to Jerusalem can walk through the entire length of the 1,749-foot-long tunnel.

That historical event shows how valuable water was in the arid Middle East. Wells, cisterns, and springs were protected at all costs. Solomon used wells and cisterns to illustrate the importance of a man protecting his wife (Proverbs 5:15-20). Not only should he refresh himself from his own “well” (wife), but he should also protect his wife so that strangers will never seek refreshment from her (verse 17). A good marriage is a life-sustaining source and force.

May your marriage be nurtured and protected and be a source of life and refreshment.

There is no estate to which Satan is more opposed than marriage.
Martin Luther

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Precious Parting Words

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Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

Today’s Scripture

Matthew 28:16-20

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Today’s Devotion

My friend José was in hospice care. He’d been alert and talkative during my prior visit but a week later was now frail and speechless. I sat with José and his family anyway, hoping my presence would mean something to them. At the end of what would be my final visit, I was the last one in the room with him. I finally stood and slowly headed to the door but stopped and turned around one last time to say, “Love you,” not expecting a response. There I saw José moving his lips. He was mouthing the words “love you” in return.

A person’s parting words can leave a lasting impression. As Jesus was getting ready to return to His Father in heaven after His sacrificial death and resurrection, He assured His disciples that all authority on heaven and earth belonged to Him (Matthew 28:18). And He left them with this lasting charge or Great Commission, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (vv. 19-20). Christ also assured His followers that He would always be with them (v. 20).

Jesus’ parting words are for us today too. May we embrace His call to tell others about Him so they can experience His love and forgiveness, live for Him, and enjoy eternal life with Him in heaven. His message is too good not to share with people of all nations.

Reflect & Pray

How do Jesus’ parting words touch you? Who can you share Him with today?

Dear Jesus, please help me to share Your good news with others.

Today’s Insights

Matthew 28:16-20, which includes the Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations,” is one of several texts with similar wording. Mark 16:15 says to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Luke 24:47 states that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” In John 20:21, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And Acts 1:8 says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

As soon as the Holy Spirit was sent on the Day of Pentecost (see Luke 24:49; Acts 2), these early believers in Christ immediately began obeying the Great Commission. Today, we’re invited to continue the mission of telling the good news to everyone everywhere.

 

 

 

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – “AI’s Scariest Week Yet” and three practical responses

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AI pioneer Demis Hassabis believes artificial intelligence will be “the most important invention that humanity will ever make.” Whether its importance will ultimately be positive, negative, or both is, of course, still to be determined.

For example, in an article titled “AI’s Scariest Week Yet,” the Wall Street Journal reports:

In tests, AI models have been foiling attempts at constraining them and behaving in unforeseen ways. In the past month, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta Platforms all reported serious breaches: their AI models escaped contained environments, got onto the internet, and hacked other companies. Anthropic’s Mythos practiced deception, while OpenAI models swapped tips on a secret message board for future exploits.

This sounds bad, doesn’t it? But what does any of it actually mean? And why does it matter so urgently to all of us?

Continue reading Denison Forum – “AI’s Scariest Week Yet” and three practical responses →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Days of Doubt, Discouragement, and Despair

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 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! 

—Psalm 42:11

Scripture:

Psalm 42:11 

It’s not unusual for sincere believers to have days of doubt, discouragement, and despair. Even the heroes of the faith struggled in these areas. Moses was handpicked by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery and to deliver the Ten Commandments. Yet, on at least one occasion, he was so overwhelmed by the consistent complaining of the Israelites that he said to the Lord, “I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” (Numbers 11:14–15 NLT).

Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Queen Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, “I have had enough, Lord. . . . Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died” (1 Kings 19:4 NLT).

The prophet Jeremiah struggled as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for communicating the Word of God. Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop communicating God’s Word altogether. He said, “When I speak, the words burst out. ‘Violence and destruction!’ I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke” (Jeremiah 20:8 NLT).

Even the apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it” (2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT).

So, if we ever feel overwhelmed, the first thing we need to understand is that we’re in good company. Wrestling with doubt or uncertainty or being perplexed as to why God didn’t work in a certain way doesn’t set us apart from other believers.

The second thing we need to understand is that fear and faith are separated by a very thin line, one that often gets blurred during our walk with Christ. One moment we say, “Everything will be fine—no problem.” Then the next moment we can look at the same circumstances and find ourselves in absolute despair.

So, what’s the answer? We must recognize that we’re human, just like the great people of Scripture. We must cast our burdens on God and pray for the strength to place our problems in their proper perspective. The psalmist had that perspective when he wrote, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT).

We can’t see the big picture of God’s work in this world. And our limited perspective is bound to cause some heightened emotions. That’s why we must place our trust in the One who can see everything and is working it all for good.

 

Reflection question: How can you keep a proper perspective when you struggle with doubt, discouragement, or despair? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

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