Daily Archives: June 21, 2015

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Following the Father’s Example

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Ephesians 6:1-4

Do you have a strong relationship with your children? The way we initially think about God has much to do with how we were parented—especially by our father. What image of the Lord are you portraying?

Many men struggle in their role as dads because their own fathers were either absent—physically or emotionally—or poor examples. But regardless of what a person experienced in the past, the best thing any parent can do is imitate God the Father. Yet how do we know who He really is?

We get our best glimpse of what the heavenly Father is like by looking at His Son. Speaking with the disciples, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me . . . He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:6, 9). Not only is Christ our path to relationship with God; He is also the way we come to know the Father’s true character.

When we look at Jesus’ life, what do we see? He was merciful, patient, gentle, compassionate, kind, and full of goodness toward all people (Matthew 9:10-13). The Savior healed the sick, provided for needs, and offered forgiveness—regardless of the offense (Matthew 14:14-21; Luke 23:34). But in love, He didn’t hesitate to discipline others when correction was required.

More than a solid education or material possessions, your child’s greatest need is a role model of devotion to God through prayer, Bible reading, and holy living. If you make knowing and following the heavenly Father your first priority, you won’t have to worry about what kind of parent you will be.

Bible in One Year: Psalms 55-59

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – A Picture of Beauty

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You are the most handsome of the sons of men.

Psalm 45:2

The entire person of Christ is like one diamond, and His life in every dimension leaves one lasting impression. He is altogether complete, not only in His various parts, but as a gracious all-glorious whole. His character is not a mass of bright colors mixed confusedly, nor a heap of precious stones laid carelessly on top of each other; He is a picture of beauty and a breastplate of glory. In Him, all the things of good repute are in their proper places and assist in adorning each other. Not one feature in His glorious person attracts attention at the expense of others; but He is perfectly and altogether lovely.

Oh, Jesus, Your power, Your grace, Your justice, Your tenderness, Your truth, Your majesty, and Your immutability combine to make a man, or rather a God-man, whom neither heaven nor earth has ever seen elsewhere. Your infancy, Your eternity, Your sufferings, Your triumphs, Your death, and Your immortality are all woven into one gorgeous tapestry, without seams or tears. You are music without discord; You are all things, and yet not diverse. As all the colors blend into one resplendent rainbow, so all the glories of heaven and earth meet in You and unite so perfectly that there is no one like You in all things; indeed, if all the virtues of the most excellent were bound in one bundle, they could not rival You, mirror of all perfection. You have been anointed with the holy oil, which Your God has reserved for You alone; and as for Your fragrance, it is the holy perfume that cannot be matched even with the chemist’s skill; each spice is fragrant, but the compound is divine.

Oh, sacred symmetry! oh, rare connection

Of many perfects, to make one perfection!

Oh, heavenly music, where all parts do meet

In one sweet strain, to make one perfect sweet!

Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg.

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon Mercy, omnipotence, and justice

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“The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Nahum 1:3

Suggested Further Reading: Nehemiah 9:9-31

Have you ever observed that scene in the garden of Eden at the time of the fall? God had threatened Adam, that if he sinned he should surely die. Adam sinned: did God make haste to sentence him? ‘Tis sweetly said, “The Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day.” Perhaps that fruit was plucked at early morn, maybe it was plucked at noon-tide; but God was in no haste to condemn; he waited till the sun was well nigh set, and in the cool of the day came, and as an old expositor has put it very beautifully, when he did come he did not come on wings of wrath, but he “walked in the garden in the cool of the day.” He was in no haste to slay. I think I see him, as he was represented then to Adam, in those glorious days when God walked with man. Methinks I see the wonderful similitude in which the unseen did veil himself: I see it walking among the trees so slowly—if it is right to give such a picture—beating its breast, and shedding tears that it should have to condemn man. At last I hear its doleful voice: “Adam, where art thou? Where hast thou cast thyself, poor Adam? Thou hast cast thyself from my favour; thou hast cast thyself into nakedness and into fear; for thou art hiding thyself. Adam, where art thou? I pity thee. Thou thoughtest to be God. Before I condemn thee I will give thee one note of pity. Adam, where art thou?” Yes, the Lord was slow to anger, slow to write the sentence, even though the command had been broken, and the threatening was therefore of necessity brought into force.

For meditation: There are good and bad ways of taking advantage of God’s apparent slowness (2 Peter 3:3,4,9).

Sermon no. 137
21 June (1857)

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – God’s Choice of the Poor

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“Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man” (James 2:5-6).

Showing favoritism to the rich is inconsistent with God’s choice of the poor.

Wealth and poverty are not necessarily spiritual issues. Many wealthy people are godly Christians and many poor people are unbelievers. But generally speaking, God has chosen poor people to populate His kingdom. Jesus said, “It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easer for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:23-24). That’s because rich people tend to be bound to this world and have a false sense of security. Many of them not only reject Christ, but also persecute believers (cf. James 2:6-7).

Regardless of your financial status, if you love God, you are rich in faith and an heir of His kingdom (James 2:5). That means you’re saved and will inherit the fullness of your salvation and the richness of God’s eternal blessing. That’s a marvelous truth!

Don’t let riches cloud your good judgment. God expects Christians to honor and care for their poorer brothers and sisters in Christ. You can’t do that if you’re showing partiality to the rich.

Suggestions for Prayer

If God has blessed you with more resources than you need, be grateful and ready always to share with those in need (1 Tim. 6:19). If you struggle to get by, thank Him for what He does provide and for teaching you greater dependence on Him.

For Further Study

Read 1 Timothy 6:6-19.

  • What is God’s standard of contentment?
  • What pitfalls await those who desire wealth?
  • What constitutes true riches?
Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – More Than We Could Hope For

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“Now glory be to God who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (Ephesians 3:20).

Few verses describe the supernatural life better than does this powerful promise. On hundreds, if not thousands, of occasions I have meditated upon this truth and have been inspired to claim increasingly great and mighty things for the glory of God because of the inspiration contained in this Word. Think of it, the omnipotent Creator, God who created the heavens and the earth and the vastness of all the hundreds of millions of galaxies, has come to take up residence within us! Our bodies have become His temple. That omnipotnet, divine, supernatural, inexhaustible resource power dwells within every believer.

How much power? Far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of! Let your mind race, your prayers be without limit, and yet, whatever you believe, whatever you think, whatever you pray for, God’s power is infinitely beyond it all.

I have come to the conclusion, after many years of serving our wonderful Lord, that there is nothing too big for us to attempt for the glory of God. If our hearts and motives are pure, if what we do is according to the Word of God, He hears, and is able to do more than we ask or even think.

For example, is it God’s will that the Great Commission be fulfilled? Of course. It is His command. We read further in 2 Peter 3:9 that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and has, according to verse 15 of this chapter, delayed His return in order that more people might have a chance to hear.

Let your mind soar over the vastness of the earth, where there is a continuous population explosion, and each generation is faced with another billion or more souls to pray for. I challenge you to believe God for the entire world to be blanketed with His love and forgiveness.

I am presently praying for a billion souls to come to Christ before A.D. 2000, and on the basis of what we are now seeing, God is putting His plan together through many members of the Body of Christ cooperating under many umbrellas, including Here’s Life, World Changers, to see that prayer fulfilled.

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:13-19

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Today I will let my mind soar and my prayers expand. I will ask the Holy Spirit to give me the faith to comprehend the magnitude of God’s purpose in my life and never be satisfied with anything less than the reality of this great promise, Ephesians 3:20, in my life.

 

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; G.C. – The Cost of Christ

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For those in the region when Jesus hit town, things always got interesting; stories of miraculous healings and happenings wafted through the crowds, drawing many to Him. Throngs followed Him, but most didn’t follow long.

Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?

Luke 14:28

Those only desiring a quick miracle from Christ were astonished to hear Him say, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate…even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26) What? Christ’s gifts were indeed free and full of compassion, but His offer of eternal life was actually an exchange program! It’s as though He was saying, “Bring in your old, stinky life and I will trade it out for a new, glorious one. But you cannot have both. You must choose.”

If you love the things of this world, God’s love is not with you; the desires of this life will pass away, but His will abides forever. Today, pray for those across America counting the cost to follow Christ. You can be sure the Lord knows their names and that Jesus will bring all those who are willing out of the darkness and into the miraculous light of new life in Him.

Recommended Reading: I John 2:15-25

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – 31 Specific Prayers for Your Children

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Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. —1 Corinthians 16:13

Happy Father’s Day! For Dad (or Mom), here is a prayer list you can use to pray for your kids!

  1. Pray that your child will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
  2. Pray that your child will have a healthy fear of the Lord.
  3. Pray that your child will have a heart for the lost.
  4. Pray that your child will love obedience.
  5. Pray that your child will develop godly character.
  6. Pray that your child will love and want to live God’s Word.
  7. Pray that your child will recognize God’s voice.
  8. Pray that your child will love learning.
  9. Pray that your child has an appetite for truth.
  10. Pray that your child will love the things God loves.
  11. Pray that your child will hate the things that God hates.
  12. Pray that your child has a good work ethic.
  13. Pray that your child will be protected.
  14. Pray that your child will make godly friends.
  15. Pray that your child will find a godly spouse.
  16. Pray that your child will respect authority.
  17. Pray that your child will want to honor God in his or her activities.
  18. Pray that your child will want to glorify God.
  19. Pray that your child will discover, develop, and practice their spiritual gifts.
  20. Pray that your child will love to serve.
  21. Pray that your child will trust the Lord wholeheartedly.
  22. Pray that your child will be bold in sharing truth.
  23. Pray that your child will be compassionate.
  24. Pray that your child will value humility.
  25. Pray that your child will make healthy choices physically.
  26. Pray that your child will have a strong discernment for good and evil.
  27. Pray that your child will have an eternal perspective.
  28. Pray that your child will daily have worship and praise on their lips.
  29. Pray that your child will pray with a listening ear.
  30. Pray that your child will stand firm, even when the only one standing.
  31. Pray that your child will grow and mature in their walk and devotion to Jesus.
Night Light - James & Shirley Dobson

Night Light for Couples – Willing to Fail

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“Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still.” Proverbs 9:9

You may have heard about a remarkable man who encountered continual disappointment yet wasn’t afraid to risk failing again. Between 1831 and 1858 he suffered two business failures, the death of his fiancée, and a mental breakdown. This man also failed in his attempts at public office: He bid unsuccessfully for positions as state legislator, speaker of the state legislature, presidential elector, state land officer, congressional representative, U.S. Senator (twice), and U.S. vice president.

Was he a hopeless loser? History indicates otherwise. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. He led the nation through the dark days of the Civil War, preserved the union, and issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Many historians consider him the greatest of all U.S. presidents.

Successful people such as Abraham Lincoln usually experience failure along the way, but they keep taking risks—and they learn from their mistakes. Are you willing to fail in order to learn and grow?

Just between us…

  • David was a great king, yet he fell into sin. What did he learn from his sin? (See Psalm 51.)
  • What have you learned from past failures?
  • When you fail, do I hold it against you, or do I help you try again?
  • How does God want us to respond to failure?

Lord, we ask tonight that You affirm Your work in our lives and that You put Your hand of blessing and safekeeping on all our endeavors. When we try and fail, help us to get up and try again. Amen.

From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson

C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis Daily – Today’s Reading

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“Aslan,” said Bree in a shaken voice, “I’m afraid I must be rather a fool.”

“Happy is the Horse who knows that while he is still young. Or the Human either.”

From The Horse and His Boy

Compiled in A Year with Aslan