Monthly Archives: July 2016

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Christianity is Dangerous

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Read: Acts 19:21-20:1

After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. Acts 20:1

Paul is eager to explain to the Christians this whole uproarious riot that had just taken place in Ephesus. There is something about it he does not want them to miss, so he calls them together and exhorts them before he leaves. Luke does not tell us what that exhortation consisted of, but I believe that Paul does. There is a passage in his second letter to the Corinthians which refers to this very occasion. In 2 Corinthians 1:8 Paul says, For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself (2 Cor. 1:8 RSV).

Put yourself back with the apostle into the midst of this tremendous uproar. It had appeared for a while that the gospel had so triumphed in Ephesus that Paul could think of leaving and going on to other places. Then this riot suddenly occurred, seeming to threaten the entire cause of Christ, and putting the Christians in great danger. Paul is crushed and distressed. His life is in danger. This crowd is so wild, so uncontrollable that for a few hours it looks as though they might just sweep through the city and wipe out every Christian in Ephesus. Paul says, …we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Why, we felt that we had received the sentence of death… (2 Cor. 1:8b-9a RSV) He could not see any way out. It looked as if he had reached the end of the road. But God had a purpose: …but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (2 Cor. 1:9b RSV)

That is the very heart of the Christian message, as Paul will go on to explain in this letter. Our sufficiency is not of ourselves, he says (2 Cor. 3:5). His explanation to these young converts in Ephesus was unquestionably along this line. He was saying to them, God has sent this event, has allowed it to happen to teach us that he is able to handle things when they get far beyond any human control. When our circumstances get way out of order, far beyond our own resources, God is able. He has taught us this so that we will not rely on ourselves but upon him who raises the dead, who works in us to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think, according to the power at work within us.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Closing in Prayer

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Read: 1 John 5:13-21

This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (v. 14)

While in seminary I remember hearing about a prominent theologian who wrote his comprehensive understanding of the Christian faith in a systematic theology. But readers noted that something was missing. He failed to include a chapter on prayer! When asked about that he simply replied that he had forgotten to do so.

Unfortunately, that is what sometimes happens to us. We may love Bible study, worship, fellowship, and service to others, but prayer often is neglected. We forget to pray, or maybe we say a short prayer, but it feels like a perfunctory kind of thing that we do because we are supposed to.

Nothing could be further from John’s view of prayer. For the apostle, prayer is vital to the life of the believer. It is something Christians do with confidence! John wants us to know that we can count on God for help. If there is a genuine need and we ask according to God’s will, God will indeed hear us.

It’s interesting that some of the translations of verse 14, both older and newer versions, use the word “boldness” rather than “confidence.” Indeed, because God is our loving, gracious Father who desires to help us, we should be bold and feel free to ask for his help. How grateful we should be!

Prayer:

Thank you, Father, for hearing our prayers. Help us to never forget to pray, and to pray with confidence. Amen.

Author: John Koedyker

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Hide It in Your Heart

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And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.—Ephesians 6:17

What is the primary weapon we should use to resist temptation? Answer: the Word of God. When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, He responded again and again, “It is written . . .” He was showing us how to use God’s Word when attacks come.

Writing about the armor of God, the apostle Paul said, “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Among the things he listed in Ephesians 6, there is only one offensive weapon: “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

God has given us His Word as the primary weapon to defend ourselves. There is power in His Word. Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” Interestingly, this is addressed to a young man. If you are young, how do you live a pure life? By listening to what the Word of God says.

A few verses later the psalmist says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (verse 11). This means memorizing the Bible.

You might be thinking, I can’t. I’m not good at memorizing things.

Just think about all the things you have memorized without even knowing it. You have song lyrics memorized. You remember trivia about sports figures. You have all kinds of things in the memory banks of your mind because they interest you and you fill your mind with them.

Open up some space for the Word of God. I have verses today floating around in my brain that I memorized at the age of seventeen, verses that have stayed with me all these years.

We need to know the Word of God.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Strong in our Weakness

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“And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Several years ago, Eunice went on a mission team to the island of Antigua. The missionary whom Eunice and her friends were helping had a radio ministry. One afternoon the missionary took the team out to a field where there were some parts of a radio tower lying on the ground. He asked them to help him lift the pieces of tower off the ground and slide cement blocks under them so that the parts would not rust on the damp ground.

For a while, Eunice and the other girls stood around and watched the guys grunting and sweating as they hefted the heavy tower parts up onto the blocks. Then someone had the idea that maybe the girls could help too, if four or five of them were to lift a tower piece together. Eunice and a few other girls found a tower piece and decided to give it a try. With all of them lifting together, they still couldn’t even budge it! The girls were willing, but they were just too weak. There was no way they could lift that heavy tower part without the help of someone stronger than they were.

Sometimes God allows circumstances in our lives to show us just how weak we really are. He may allow us to have an illness or a disability. He may give us a job to do that we do not have the skills, time, or strength to accomplish on our own. He may even allow us to struggle with a certain sin. He always allows these things for a purpose. He wants us to turn to Him and seek His help. And that is when we become strong – because His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Has God shown you your weakness in a certain area? Thank Him for humbling you. Seek His strength. He will not fail to give you the power that you need to be His obedient child.

God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

My Response:

» Am I seeking God’s strength to help me in my areas of weakness?

» Have I thanked Him for allowing me to be humbled?

 

http://kids4truth.com/home.aspx

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Why Sin Is Wrong

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 78:40

“How often they rebelled against him . . . and grieved him!”

The verb mortify, or put to death, is used eleven times in the New Testament. In nine of those instances it refers to a literal putting to death of a person; each of those is in the context of an underlying hostility toward what that person stood for. For example, in Matthew 10:21: “Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death” (NIV). The hostility is not only toward the parents but also toward their authority. Likewise Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was put to death because of his bold, uncompromising witness for Jesus Christ (Acts 7).

Now apply that sense of hostility toward the sin you wish to mortify. See your sin for what it is and what it stands for—a rebellion against God, a breaking of his law, a despising of his authority, a grieving of his heart. This is where mortification actually begins, with a right attitude toward sin. It begins with the realization that sin is wrong, not because of what it does to me or my spouse or child or neighbor, but because it is an act of rebellion against the infinitely holy and majestic God who sent his Son to be the propitiation for my sins.

Think of an unusually persistent sin in your life—perhaps some secret lust that lies in your heart that only you know about. You say you cannot overcome it. Why not? Is it because you exalt your secret desire above the will of God? If we are to succeed in putting sin to death, we must realize that the sin we are dealing with is none other than a continual exalting of our desire over God’s known will.

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Supporting a New Leader

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Today’s Scripture: 2 Chronicles 1-5

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

A change in leadership can be disastrous or, with balance and wisdom, it can be a growing experience for everyone involved.

In 2 Chronicles 1, Solomon assumes the throne after the death of David. Solomon was a man of peace; David was a man of war. Solomon engaged in building; David engaged in battle. David was concerned primarily with the ark of God; Solomon with the temple. David and Solomon were different in approach and style, but shared the same heart and purpose before the Lord.

Second Chronicles 1:8 records that Solomon prayed: “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place.” He was saying there would be a new emphasis now, but with a clear endorsement of what had gone before.

In 1956, Dawson Trotman drowned in a boating accident at Schroon Lake, New York. The Navigators was a young, growing organization, and suddenly we had a new leader in the person of Lorne Sanny. Now that could have thrown us, but for two things. First, we knew that Lorne was Dawson’s clear choice as a successor. Although they were different in temperament and style, their heart and vision were the same. Second, Lorne, in wisdom, brought about change slowly. While building on the past, he planted seeds of new ideas and methods, and let them mature in the minds of his coworkers.

When God calls a leader, he also is calling followers. Both have the responsibility to trust God for the strength, wisdom, and grace to fulfill their calling. When that happens, the Lord is honored and the work goes on.

Prayer

Lord, help me to be a good follower behind the leaders You’ve placed over me. Amen.

To Ponder

In what ways can you support the leaders God has placed in authority over you?

 

https://www.navigators.org/Home

BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  Good News: Some in the Media Recognizing Anti-Christian Bias

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When liberal journalists come out and confess their bias, it’s tempting to say, “The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.” But don’t. This is good news.

Writing at the New York Times recently, columnist Nicholas Kristof took that hard first step. The title of his piece says it all: “A Confession of Liberal Intolerance.”

“We progressives,” he writes, “believe in diversity, and we want women, blacks, Latinos, gays and Muslims at the table, so long as they aren’t conservatives.” (Or, one might reasonably add, evangelical Christians).

Kristof and fellow liberals profess a love for tolerance and diversity. But when it comes to the most important kind—diversity of thought—he admits that the gatekeepers in academia and the media actively stigmatize those who hold views different from their own.

“We’re fine with people who don’t look like us,” he writes, “as long as they think like us.”

Universities, once recognized as bastions of tolerance and diversity, bear perhaps the greatest blame. Kristof cites studies showing that just 6 to 11 percent of humanities professors are conservatives. Fewer than one in ten social-studies professors call themselves conservative. For perspective, consider that twice that number identify as Marxists!

And lest anyone blame this on conservative self-selection, a third of academics openly admit that they would be less likely to hire a qualified candidate who voted Republican. Black, evangelical sociologist George Yancey says he faces more discrimination on campus for his Christian beliefs than he does off-campus for the color of his skin. This aggressive bias turns classrooms into hard-left “echo-chambers” where only one side of any debate is ever heard.

Kristof took his concerns to Facebook, where he asked his mostly liberal followers why those who pride themselves on tolerance can be so intolerant. The replies he got were stunning.

“Much of the ‘conservative’ worldview consists of ideas that are known empirically to be false,” commented one fellow liberal.

Why stop with conservatives? asked another. “How about we make faculties more diverse by hiring idiots?”

Continue reading BreakPoint –  Good News: Some in the Media Recognizing Anti-Christian Bias →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – GOD’S FAITHFUL PROVIDENCE

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Read GENESIS 24

Transitions can be difficult, whether it’s a move to a new home, life after the death of a loved one, or the transfer of the family business. Today’s Scripture presents a challenging transition for Abraham and Isaac.

In the previous chapter Abraham’s wife, Sarah, had died, and now the challenge was clear. Isaac needed a wife from his own people who would be willing to come to Canaan. Without a wife, the promise of descendants would fail. But if Isaac left Canaan to find a wife elsewhere, God’s promise of the land would be in jeopardy. Abraham understood the situation well, and commissioned his servant to travel back to Haran to find a wife for Isaac.

Details in the unfolding narrative highlight the faithfulness of those involved. Abraham held firm to the promise of both descendants and land. The servant demonstrated faithfulness to Abraham in carrying out his mission, and trust in God through prayer. The text also shows us the virtue of Rebekah through her service and hospitality to Abraham’s servant and her unhesitating obedience to God’s call upon her life.

But underlying the whole story is the faithfulness and providence of God. No amount of human ingenuity could orchestrate the outcome so perfectly. The servant ended up at just the right well, at just the right time. Rebekah appeared out of nowhere in answer to a prayer. Then we discover that she was actually related to the family of Abraham and Isaac! The providential experience of the servant was so remarkable that Scripture relays it twice in one chapter. The servant’s own words capture well the theological point of the chapter: “Praise be to the LORD . . . who has not abandoned His kindness and faithfulness to my master” (24:27).

APPLY THE WORD

What transitions do you or your church face? Is your focus on the coming problems or the faithful providence of the God who provides? In prayer today, hand over to God the fear and uncertainty of change. Ask for a stronger faith in God’s hand, using the words of Abraham’s servant: God does not withhold His love and faithfulness.

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – 11-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM TEXAS AMONG DEAD IN NICE      

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Brodie Copeland was an eleven-year-old Little League baseball player in Austin, Texas. He recently starred in a local production of Peter Pan. His family was in Nice, France, where they joined the Bastille Day celebration. They were waiting for fireworks to begin when a large truck rammed into the crowd. Brodie and his father were killed.

At least eighty-four died in the attack, including ten children.

This was clearly a terrorist assault. Al Qaeda and other jihadist groups have promoted such tactics, which have been used in Israel and elsewhere. ISIS recently boasted that its operatives killed or wounded 5,200 people during the most recent Ramadan. Clearly, jihadist attacks are part of our present and our future.

These are such difficult days. Bombings in Baghdad, Dhaka, and Istanbul were followed by shootings in Minnesota, Louisiana, and Dallas. And now this tragedy. In the face of such challenges, it is vital that God’s people gather to pray.

That’s just what Christians will do tomorrow in Washington, DC. “Together 2016” will meet at the National Mall from 9 AM to 9 PM and will feature more than forty Christian leaders. Pope Francis, Hillsong United, Tony Evans, Luis Palau, Josh McDowell, Francis Chan, Lecrae, and Kari Jobe are just some of those participating. More than a thousand churches nationwide have pledged to attend. There are 8,000 service opportunities within a 100-mile radius of Washington, DC during the week before and after the event.

Continue reading Denison Forum – 11-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM TEXAS AMONG DEAD IN NICE       →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Taking the Yoke of Jesus

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1 Peter 5:6-11

Giving our burden to the Lord in order to take His yoke may sound like a contradiction. But the yoke of Jesus Christ is not some new kind of weight. In fact, it is a symbol of the believer’s transformation: Submitting our burden to the Lord means submitting our very selves to Him as well.

The only way that Christ can share our load is for Him to exercise control of our life. However, human beings are reluctant to give up authority over themselves. The illusion of having control of our circumstances gives us a false sense of security. But the truth is that until we allow the heavenly Father to manage our life, we will be managed by our problems—chasing after the quickest solution or the easiest escape from pain.

Sacrificing control means that we cannot continue to rely on our previous survival techniques. Instead, through prayer, meditation, and daily Bible reading, we must learn how to walk in the same way our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did. As our steps begin to align with His, our new yoke shifts the weight of our problems onto His shoulders.

The most important concept we must learn is to trust God. If we’re certain He has a plan and purpose for our life, we can be confident that our burden—whether a troubled marriage, a child on drugs, or a harsh financial situation—will not drag us to the ground. Psalms 55:22 says, “He will never allow the righteous to be shaken,” which means He is faithful to carry the weight and show us how to care for those affected by our burden. Trusting Him lightens the load.

Bible in a Year: Proverbs 9-12

 

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Language of Love

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Read: James 3:1–12 | Bible in a Year: Job 41–42; Acts 16:22–40

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. James 3:9

When my grandmother came to Mexico as a missionary, she had a hard time learning Spanish. One day she went to the market. She showed her shopping list to the girl helping her and said, “It’s in two tongues (lenguas).” But she meant to say that she had written it in two languages (idiomas). The butcher overheard them and assumed she wanted to purchase two cow tongues. My grandmother didn’t realize it until she got home. She had never cooked beef tongue before!

Mistakes are inevitable when we are learning a second language, including learning the new language of God’s love. At times our speech is contradictory because we praise the Lord but then speak badly of others. Our old sinful nature opposes our new life in Christ. What comes out of our mouths shows us how much we need God’s help.

May the words we speak point others to Jesus.

Our old “tongue” must go away. The only way to learn the new language of love is by making Jesus the Lord of our speech. When the Holy Spirit works in us, He gives us self-control to speak words that please the Father. May we surrender every word to Him! “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

Lord Jesus, take control of my mouth today. Forgive me for careless, thoughtless, and angry words. Let my words bless You and others.

May the words we speak point others to Jesus.

INSIGHT:

A horse, though a very powerful animal, comes under the rider’s control with a small piece of metal—a bit—in the animal’s mouth (James 3:3). By means of the reins and bridle, the rider pulls the bit, which presses against the horse’s mouth. This causes the horse to stop or move in the direction the rider dictates. In contrast, no human can tame the tongue—a very small part of the body. However, the Holy Spirit can help us control our speech as we yield to Him.

 

http://www.odb.org

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Fellowship with Christ

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“What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Enjoying communion with both God and Jesus Christ is solid proof that one’s salvation is real.

When we hold baptisms in the church I pastor, invariably every person who gives their testimony will describe the overwhelming sense of forgiveness they now feel and the new purpose they have for their lives. They are expressing a wonderful result of salvation in Christ, of which Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10). By saying that life could be abundant, Jesus was saying that salvation would result in more than a change of position—it is a change of experience! The Christian life is a rich life in which we are meant to experience joy, peace, love, and purpose.

The abundant life in Christ begins with a close communion and fellowship with the living God and the living Christ. The apostle Paul says, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). In Galatians 2:20 Paul describes what that fellowship meant to him personally: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” Great intimacy with Christ belongs to all genuine believers.

Have you experienced communion with God and Christ? Have you sensed Their presence? Does your love for Them draw you into Their presence? Have you experienced the exhilarating joy of talking in prayer to the living God? And have you experienced the thrill of discovering a new truth in His Word? If you have, then you have experienced the abundant life that Jesus promised to all who put their trust in Him.

Suggestions for Prayer

Much like God asked Israel to recount the great works He had done for them, meditate on the many ways God has made your life richer as a result of knowing Him.

For Further Study

Read Romans 8:15; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 5:19; Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 4:16; and 1 Peter 5:10.

  • What does each verse teach about your relationship with God?
  • In what ways is your life abundant as a result?

 

http://www.gty.org

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Divine Direction 

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I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.  Jeremiah 10:23

We do not own our lives.  We have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20).  Jesus’ sacrificial blood purchased our freedom from the fire of hell, sin, and death.  By faith, He owns us.  A great exchange took place when you first believed in Jesus.  What’s yours became His, and what’s His became yours.  The life of Christ became your life. It is not your life to define, but His.  He has wrapped a wonderful definition around whose you are in Him.  You are a child of God.  You are secure because your Savior keeps you.  You are valuable because the Lord values you.  You are protected because the Almighty owns you.

The Bible is God’s glossary of how to define yourself.  Scripture gives you a family tree of faith for you to trace your religious roots.  It is a mirror of how God sees you.  He sees you as accepted in His Son, though you suffer rejection from others.  Cherish and enjoy daily the acceptance of Jesus. Moreover, your mistakes are His opportunity to affirm His acceptance.  There are still consequences to your sin, but He is always available to receive you back because you are His.  He accepts and receives back His own.

Furthermore, He directs His own (Isaiah 48:17).  God wants you to understand and follow His plan for your life.  Praise God it’s a step-by-step process and He directs your steps!  Some days you may feel like it’s three steps forward and two steps back, but do not be discouraged or dismayed.  God is still directing your steps, though at times they seem tedious and laborious.  The Lord leads you in lockstep with His steps.  In His steps is the wise way to walk.  Do not run ahead, thinking you have to set a record for speed or quickness.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Divine Direction  →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – We Are Held Securely

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“No one who has become part of God’s family makes a practice of sinning, for Christ, God’s Son, holds him securely and the devil cannot get his hands on him” (1 John 5:18).

“I am enjoying my new-found liberty. I know that I am a Christian. I know that I am going to heaven, but for the moment I want to do my own thing. I recognize that the Lord may discipline me for the things that I am doing which the Bible says are wrong. I was reared in a very strict, legalistic Christian family and church and I have never enjoyed life before, but now I am having a ball. I don’t see anything wrong with drinking and sex and the other so-called sins that I have been told all my life were so terribly wrong.”

Do you believe that person is a Christian? Of course I have no way of judging, but according to the Word of God it is quite likely that this person has never really experienced a new birth. Can you imagine a beautiful butterfly going back to crawl in the dirt as it did as a caterpillar?

It is possible of course, for a Christian, one who has experienced new life in Christ, to sin, and even to continue in sin for a period of time, but never with a casual, flippant indifference to God’s way as this person expressed.

In the second chapter of the same epistle, the writer says the same thing in different words: “How can we be sure that we belong to Him? By looking within ourselves: are we really trying to do what He wants us to? Someone may say, ‘I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.’ But if he doesn’t do what Christ tells him to do, he is a liar. But those who do what Christ tells them to will learn to love God more and more. That is the way to know whether or not you are a Christian. Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did” (1 John 2:3-6).

Though it is not possible for us in this life to know the perfection that our Lord experienced, there will be that heartfelt desire to do what He wants us to do. Therefore, anyone who is a child of God will not make a practice of sinning. Those who are inclined should consider the possibility that they could be forever separated from God on judgement day.

Bible Reading: I John 5:1-21

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I am assured of my own salvation through faith in Christ which is demonstrated by the transformation of my attitudes and actions. I will encourage professing Christians, whose lives do not reflect God’s desires, to appropriate by faith the fullness of the Holy Spirit and His power in their daily walk so that they, too, can have the assurance of their salvation and their place in God’s special kingdom.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – More Noble

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Read: Acts 17:1-15

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Acts 17:10-11

Luke carefully draws a sharp contrast here between the rabble in Thessalonica, whom Paul and his friends had encountered earlier in chapter 17, and these Jews in Berea, who were more noble. In what did their nobility consist? Well, not merely in receiving the word, but also in checking it out with the Scriptures. A noble person is one who has not only an open mind but also a cautious heart. He will not accept a teaching unless he checks it with the Scriptures.

That is what the Scriptures are for. They are your guide so that you can tell what is true and what is false, what is right and what is wrong. And unless a Christian does this, he is lost in a sea of relativism, where he does not know what is right or what is wrong. Your mind becomes confused and blinded and you can be misled and manipulated, as the rabble in Thessalonica manipulated the crowd there — unless you have the nobility to check things out according to the Scriptures. That is what these Jews did, and it was a tremendous help. They checked up on the Apostle Paul.

The value of this story to us, and the reason Luke includes it, is that by it we might learn the necessity of testing any man’s word. Do not listen to just one man’s tapes, or read only one man’s books or messages. It is a very dangerous practice. You will be misled by his errors and you will not know how to recognize them. Never give yourself to following a single man. Check whatever you read with what is in the Scriptures and with other teachers. Establish what the Word of God says. That is the authority. How delighted Luke is to commend these Bereans for their nobility in doing this very thing!

Thank you for your word, Lord. I ask that you give me a noble heart to study your word and take it and it alone as my guide and my authority.

Life Application

What characterized the nobility of the Berean Christians? Is it safe and/or prudent to follow one man’s teaching exclusively? What is a certain safeguard against possible confusion from teachings contrary to the Word of God?

 

http://www.raystedman.org/

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Children of God

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Read: 1 John 2:28-3:10

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (v. 1)

When you reach your fifties and sixties, you start to do some reflecting on your life. I remember a significant conversation I had with my mother somewhere in those years. She confided to me that if she would die then, she would have no regrets because she had been so richly blessed by God. She spoke of her family, her multitude of friends, her church, and most of all, the God who had lavished so many blessings on her. I know I agreed with her, because the truth of what she spoke was so evident. She was truly a joyful and grateful person.

This incident came back to me as I read the words of our key verse, 1 John 3:1. The word “given” or “lavished” (NIV) is the one that stands out in this verse. It means “to bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities.”

Looking back on my mother’s life, I know she wasn’t talking about wealth or great prosperity. My parents weren’t rich, but they had enough. And what we had went far beyond material things. It was the spiritual dimension of life—our relationship to Jesus and gratitude to God for what we had—that made life fulfilling. Indeed, it is a privilege and responsibility to be children of God.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for the wonderful love you lavish upon us. Help us to respond in gratitude and service. Amen.

Author: John Koedyker

 

https://woh.org/

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Desires You To Pray

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“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

What are some of the things that you have been told to do this week? Maybe someone told you to clean up your room, or to look both ways before crossing the street. Maybe your mom told you to be nice to your siblings, or to help with the dishes after supper. You have probably been told by many people to do many things this week. But have you ever stopped to think about some of the things God wants you to do?

God tells you in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that He wants you to “pray without ceasing.” What does that mean? To “pray” is to talk to God. But what does it mean to pray without ceasing? “Ceasing” means stopping. So, you are supposed to pray without stopping.

How can you pray without stopping? Does that mean you have to be praying to God every second of every minute of every hour of every day? No. This verse is saying that you always should be ready and willing to talk to God. Prayer to God should be natural, just like talking to someone who is in the room with you. When you have a friend over to your house to play, you do not have to spend every second of the day talking to them. You spend a lot of time talking to them because you are ready and willing to talk to them at anytime.

How can you “pray without ceasing”? Well, when you wake up in the morning, you could pray and thank God for the day. When you are ready to study for school, pray and ask God to help you concentrate. When you are going to get together with friends, pray that God will help you honor Him in your words and your behavior. When you hear a police car or ambulance go racing by, pray for them as they go to help someone in need. See? There are many ways that you can constantly be talking to God.

Some people think that when they pray, they must have long prayers using big words. Those prayers don’t impress God. God desires you to talk to Him throughout the day, even if each prayer is short.

God desires you to pray without ceasing.

My Response:

» How many times throughout the day do I think of praying to God?

» What do I pray about the most?

» How can I get in the habit of praying without ceasing?

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Differing Opinions

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 14:1

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”

The issue of differing opinions about certain practices has been around at least since the days of the apostle Paul. He devoted an entire chapter of the book Romans to this brand of legalism.

The crux of the problem is stated well by Paul in Romans 14:5: “one person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” People simply have different opinions about various issues. One person sees no problem in a certain practice; another person considers that practice to be sinful.

As Christians we can’t seem to accept the clear biblical teaching in Romans 14 that God allows equally godly people to have differing opinions on certain matters. We universalize what we think is God’s particular leading in our lives and apply it to everyone else.

When we think like that we are putting God in a box, so to speak. We’re insisting that he must surely lead everyone as we believe he has led us. We refuse to allow God the freedom to deal with each of us as individuals. When we think like that, we are legalists.

We must not seek to bind the consciences of other believers with the private convictions that arise out of our personal walk with God. Even if you believe God has led you in developing those convictions, you still must not elevate them to the level of spiritual principles for everyone else to follow. The respected Puritan theologian John Owen taught that “only what God has commanded in his Word should be regarded as binding; in all else there may be liberty of actions.” (Excerpt taken from Transforming Grace)

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Living for the Goal

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Today’s Scripture: John 1-2

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. – 1 John 1:3

I always enjoy traveling with someone who knows where they’re going, don’t you?

John the Baptist knew exactly where he was going. He had a definite purpose in mind and knew exactly how to reach his goal. The message in the book of John is that he wants you and me to find life in Jesus Christ. Everything in his gospel points us to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus.

In John 1:7, we are introduced to John the Baptist and told that “he came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.” The focus is not on the baptismal ministry of John the Baptist or his call to the nation of Israel to repent. He is presented primarily as a witness to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

Christian, when people observe your life, what do they see? A person frantically busy doing Christian activities? A person who says one thing and does another? Or do they see a person who knows where he’s going? Make it your goal today to point people to the Savior.

Prayer

Lord, today I need You to refocus my sight on the task You’ve given me to do. Amen.

To Ponder

Witnessing involves all that we are and all that we do.

 

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – SIGN OF THE COVENANT

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Read GENESIS 17

As an author said, “Impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles.” By Genesis 17, Abram and Sarai surely felt the seemingly impossible odds against the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. Dare they hope for a miracle?

Abram was now ninety-nine years old and still without a child. In the previous chapter he and Sarai had tried to have an heir through her maid, Hagar. But the resulting child, Ishmael, produced strife, not family blessing. Now in today’s reading, twenty-three years after Abram first entered Canaan, God reaffirmed His covenant promises to Abram and Sarai. His word was clear: “I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you” (v. 6). The whole land of Canaan would be their possession, and the covenant would be “an everlasting covenant” (v. 7).

From a human perspective, things seemed impossible. But God’s promises never fail, and now God called Abram to prove his trust in two important ways. First, there would be a name change. Childless Abram would now be called “Abraham” (meaning “father of a multitude”), and Sarai would be called “Sarah” (meaning “princess”—a mother of kings). A change in name meant a change in reality, even if Abraham could not yet see it.

Second, God called Abraham to seal the covenant through the act of circumcision. All males under Abraham’s authority were to receive this sign, for “My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant” (v. 13). Circumcision signified that any who broke the covenant would be “cut off” from God’s blessing. In the end, Abraham’s laughter indicated his doubts. But notice his implicit faith as well: he called Sarah by her new name (v. 17) and then circumcised all males in his household as God commanded.

APPLY THE WORD

Like Abraham’s story, the Christian life is often a journey of faith mixed with doubt. What are the difficulties in your life that threaten your faith? Spend time in prayer today, lifting up those challenges to God. Then ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in His promise of provision and care, even in the face of “impossible odds.”

 

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