Daily Archives: August 5, 2016

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Blessing in Persecution

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1 Peter 4:12-14

Although we certainly do not feel blessed when we’re insulted and persecuted, Jesus said that we are, in fact, blessed (Matt. 5:11). The Lord’s perspective on persecution differs from ours—He considers it a positive thing if we suffer in His name. Persecution is good for several reasons:

It proves our faith. The only way we can know the capacity of our faith is by means of testing. When we persevere through a trial, we begin to understand that we can remain steadfast and obedient in the midst of a challenge. We also learn the magnitude of God’s strength to support us through persecution.

It purifies our life. Persecution snaps our attention away from meaningless things and onto the Lord. We are driven into His arms by suffering. As we grow closer to Him, He’ll bring to our awareness wrong attitudes and actions—some related to our trial and some not—for which we must repent. Persecution is a powerful cleansing tool.

It prepares us for greater service. Suffering breaks our self-reliance and pride—attitudes that hinder our usefulness for the Lord. Pride crumbles when we realize we’re incapable of living the Christian life on our own, especially when we’ve been insulted and hurt.

A life of ease and pleasure isn’t always a sign of blessing. So let’s not “be surprised at the fiery ordeal … as though some strange thing were happening” (1 Pet. 4:12). If persecution strengthens our faith, purifies our hearts, and equips us for greater service, then we should thank the Lord for the way He will use it in our lives.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 54-57

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Who’s Watching You?

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Who’s Watching You?

Read: Psalm 34:15–22 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 68–69; Romans 8:1–21

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. Psalm 34:15

No matter where the athletes of the 2016 Olympics go in the city of Rio de Janeiro, they can see Jesus. Standing high above this Brazilian city and anchored to a 2,310-foot-high mountain called Corcovado is a 100-foot-tall sculpture called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). With arms spread wide, this massive figure is visible day and night from almost anywhere in the sprawling city.

As comforting as this iconic concrete and soapstone sculpture may be to all who can look up and see it, there is much greater comfort from this reality: The real Jesus sees us. In Psalm 34, David explained it like this: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry” (v. 15). He noted that when the righteous call out for His help, “The Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (vv. 17–18).

God oversees our lives, and He hears the cries of those who trust Him.

Just who are the righteous? Those of us who place our trust in Jesus Christ, who Himself is our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). Our God oversees our lives, and He hears the cries of those who trust Him. He is near to help in our greatest times of need.

Jesus has His eyes on you.

Sometimes, Lord, life seems out of control and I don’t know exactly which direction to take. Thank You for overseeing my life and prompting me in the right way through Your Word and Your Spirit.

 

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Within the Void

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Someone told me recently that he wondered if humans only truly ever pray when we are in the midst of despair. Maybe only when we have no other excuses to offer, no other comfort to hide behind, no more façades to uphold, are we most likely to bow in exhaustion and be real with God and ourselves. C.S. Lewis might have wondered similarly: “For most of us, the prayer in Gethsemane is the only model.” In our distress, in our lament, we stand before God as we truly are: creatures in need hope and mercy, in need of someone to listen.

The words within the ancient Hebrew story of Jonah that are of most interest to me are words that in some ways seem not to fit in the story at all.(1) Interrupting a narrative that quickly draws in its hearers, a narrative about Jonah, the text very fleetingly pauses to bring us the voice of Jonah himself before returning again to the narrative. The eight lines come in the form of a distraught and despairing, though poetic prayer. The poem could be omitted without affecting the coherence of the story whatsoever. And yet, the deliberate jaunt in the narrative text provides a moment of significant commentary to the whole. The eight verses of poetry not only mark an abrupt shift in the tone of the text, but also in the attitude of its main character. The poetic prayer of the prophet, spoken as a cry of deliverance, arise from the belly of the great fish—a stirring image reminiscent of another despairing soul’s question: “Where can I flee from your presence?” cried David. “If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me.”(2)

Jonah’s eloquent prayer for deliverance stands out in a book that is detailed with his egotistic mantras and glaring self-deceptions. By his own actions, Jonah finds himself in darkness, and yet it is in the dark that he finally speaks most honestly to God. The story is vaguely familiar to many hearers, and yet our familiarity often seems to minimize the distress that broke Jonah’s silence with God. The popular notion that Jonah went straight from the side of the ship into the mouth of the fish is not supported by either the narrative as a whole or Jonah’s prayer. As one scholar suggests, “[Jonah] was half drowned before he was swallowed. If he was still conscious, sheer dread would have caused him to faint—notice that there is no mention of the fish in his prayer. He can hardly have known what caused the change from wet darkness to an even greater dry darkness. When he did regain consciousness, it would have taken some time to realize that the all-enveloping darkness was not that of Sheol but of a mysterious safety.”(3)

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Within the Void →

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Loving Money Focuses on the Temporal

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“For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Timothy 6:7).

Temporal concerns must not crowd out the believer’s focus on eternal things.

In Charles Dickens’s memorable story A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge learns through a series of dreams that life consists of far more important values than his selfish preoccupation with business and finance. In essence, Scrooge learns a lesson that reminds us of Jesus’ sobering question, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). Dickens’s story also dovetails well with today’s verse, which reminds us how a temporal focus on greed robs us of an eternal perspective.

People who are enslaved to money-love spend all their time dealing with what is locked into time and space. They overlook and ignore that which has eternal value. Also, such people seem oblivious to the warning that “riches are not forever” (Prov. 27:24) and to the old expression that hearses do not pull trailers.

The Old Testament further instructs us of the fleeting nature of money and material possessions. Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there” (1:21; see also Eccles. 5:15).

Jesus taught the disciples much about how foolish it is to focus on temporal wealth (see Matt. 6:19-21). Perhaps His sternest warning is in the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:15-21). In it God condemns the smug self-confidence the man placed in his abundant crops: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (vv. 20-21).

A scenario like the rich man’s is much more probable in today’s materialistic societies. Perhaps that’s why Jesus’ parable is still so relevant and a potent reminder that any obsession with temporal riches, which causes us to miss God’s eternal riches, is the height of folly.

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray that today, in the midst of your normal responsibilities, God would keep your primary focus an eternal one.

For Further Study

Read Acts 19:18-41.

  • How did many of the new converts demonstrate their commitment to the eternal over the temporal?
  • In contrast, what did the anxiety of some of the unbelieving Ephesians lead to? Why?
  • How was the disturbance finally brought to an end?

 

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – The Best Leaders Are Good Teachers

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After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. Matthew 11:1

Leaders who take the time to explain the “why” behind the “what” to do—expand the team’s capacity. Anybody can dictate what to do, but the wise are patient to instill why you do what you do. This applies to all platforms of leadership: to parents, to preachers, to politicians and to policemen. If a leader only intimidates the staff for short term results—they sacrifice the opportunity to train individuals for long term effectiveness and retention. Why should anyone do what they do? The greatest motivation is to serve for the overall mission of the organization.

Though God in the flesh—Jesus took the time to flesh out the disciples’ faith by instructing them in why to live for Him and serve with Him. Before the Lord went to teach and preach to other people—He invested in training the twelve to understand why they do what they do. Christ’s followers would eventually comprehend they could only do what He taught by surrendering to His Spirit working in and through them. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount only frustrates us if we seek to serve in our own strength, but when empowered and instructed by the Holy Spirit, we are able.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV).

Perhaps you and your team invest an hour a week in personal and professional development. Compass Financial Bible Study is an effective way to become a better manager of your time, money and stuff. Money managed well gives you margin to serve others well. Five Dysfunctions of a Team is a proven resource to grow trust, create healthy conflict, commit to follow through, have mutual accountability and achieve the right results at work. The best leaders invest in ongoing education, so the team is empowered to execute with excellence.

Above all, lean into the Lord to instruct you in the way you should go. As you remain a student of Scripture—the Holy Spirit will continue to hone your character and competencies. Education from above, saves time below. An uninstructed life is a dull life, but an instructed life is full of life. So as a disciple of Jesus, stay at the feet of Jesus, as a hungry student—who never graduates from God’s graduate school of grace and humility. The best leaders learn from the Lord first and then seek to transfer the lessons they are experiencing to other hungry hearts who want to learn!

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – The Best Leaders Are Good Teachers →

Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Unsearchable

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Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 145:3

Recommended Reading

Psalm 145:1-9

The artist Chester Harding visited the aged Daniel Boone in 1819 to paint the explorer’s portrait. During their time together, Harding asked Boone if he had ever been lost in the wilderness. “No, I was never lost,” Boone replied, “but I was bewildered once for three days.”1

When it comes to our relationship with Christ, we’re not lost, but we are often bewildered. Our God is limitless and incomprehensible. Though He has revealed much of Himself to us, our minds are too finite to grasp His full glory. He does things that are “unsearchable, marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9). Isaiah said, “The everlasting God … neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable” (Isaiah 40:28). The apostle Paul exclaimed, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable!” (Romans 11:33). According to Ephesians 3:8, His riches are unsearchable.

Though we cannot search Him out, He searches for us. He died for us and three days later rose again. We’re still bewildered by it all—and incredibly blessed!

Thy love is most unsearchable, and dazzles all above; / They gaze, but cannot count or tell the treasures of Thy love!

Charles Wesley

1Reuben Gold Thwaites, Daniel Boone (New York: Appleton & Co., 1903), 237.

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 6 – 8

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Be an Example

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But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.- 1 Corinthians 5:11

The apostle Paul told the Corinthians not to associate with a believer who had a foul tongue, which included gossiping and criticizing. In order to be a good example to people who are sinning, you must be careful not to do the negative things they do or to say the hurtful things they say. You don’t want to give the impression that you think you are better than they are, but you must lovingly, humbly, and gently decline to be involved in conversation and in other behaviors you know are displeasing to God.

Don’t be passive and let other people infect you with their bad attitudes and evil conversation, but instead make a decision to be a good influence on them.

Power Thought: I will not gossip, criticize, or spread rumors about others.

From the book the book Power Thoughts Devotional by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – To Seek and To Save

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“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10, KJV).

The Word of God clearly teaches that He wants His children to live supernaturally, especially in the area of living holy lives and bearing much fruit since that is the reason our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world.

Through the years I have prayed that my life and the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ would be characterized by the supernatural. I have prayed that God would work in and through us in such a mighty way that all who see the results of our efforts would know that God alone was responsible, and give Him all the glory.

Now as I look back – marveling at God’s miraculous working in our behalf – I remember earlier days which were also characterized by praise and glory to God, even though I was not privileged then to speak to millions or even thousands. At one point in our ministry, about the only understanding supportive listener I could find was my wife.

Vonette and I used to live mostly for material pleasures. But soon after our marriage we made a full commitment of our lives to the Lord. Now it is our desire (1) to live holy lives, controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit (2) to be effective witnesses for Christ, and (3) to help fulfill the Great Commission in our generation to the end that we may continue the ministry which our Lord began as He came to “seek and to save the lost.”

Bible Reading: Luke 19:1-9

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I determine to bring my priorities in line with those of my Lord and Savior, who came to seek and to save the lost and to encourage others to do the same.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Do You Remember?

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Read: Jeremiah 2:1-3

The word of the Lord came to me: Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: This is what the Lord says: I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 2:1-3

This is part of the first message of Jeremiah to the nation of Judah. It highlights for us what God has to say to someone who has begun to drift away from him. Have you ever had that problem? I find there are times in my life when, without even realizing it, I have begun to lose some of the fervor and the joy and the peace which marks the presence of God in my life, flowing through my life as it ought.

The tragic thing about that condition, as so exemplified in the nation of Judah, is that this can happen, but nobody knows what is wrong. That was happening to Judah. They really blamed God for the whole thing. That is what most of us do, too. Judah said it was God’s fault, that he did not keep his promises, did not deliver them when he ought to, did not keep them from their enemies as he promised. They were charging God with gross misconduct and with inability to keep his promises.

So God has something to say to this nation. What does he say? The first thing he says is call them to look back and reflect on what life was like when you first began a love relationship. God says, I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me. In marital counseling I have dealt with couples who have been married twenty-five or thirty years but who are having difficulties. They are tense, angry, upset, and sometimes they will not even speak to one another. I have had to sit down with couples like that and try to find a way to begin a healing process. Long ago I learned the best way is simply to say, You know, before we start, I need to get acquainted with you a little bit. Tell me something about yourselves. How did you meet, and where? You can feel the atmosphere soften, and their hearts begin to expand a bit, as they think back to the days when they were not angry or upset, but were in love, and as they remember what that meant. Half the battle is won when you can get couples thinking back to what it was like when they first knew each other.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Do You Remember? →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – God’s Call Involves Overcoming Obstacles

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Read: 1 John 5:1-15

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (v. 4)

As our church mission group prepared to cross the border into Mexico from California to build houses for the homeless, we decided to keep all of our passports together. On prior mission trips, border guards never asked for passports entering into Mexico. We wanted to make sure that we had all the passports in a safe place for reentering into the United States.

Unfortunately, on this trip the border guards detained a few volunteers in two vehicles entering the country because they did not have their passports. Most of our party crossed into Mexico before realizing that Mexican border guards were holding back several members of our group.

Our first response was to pray. We knew that going back into the United States to deliver the passports could take several hours. God revealed to us a better way. Rather than drive back through the border, we took several team members to the walking bridge into the United States with passports in hand. They were able to deliver the other passports to the Mexican authorities and this allowed our entire group to enter into Mexico.

Those with their passports had already driven to a taco stand near the mission site. They cheered the group of “hostages” upon their arrival an hour later. God had answered our prayers.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for helping us to overcome the world’s obstacles. Please help us to seek you first when the enemy resists us.

Author: Rob Donoho

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Trusting God? Or Testing God?

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He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” —Psalm 91:1–2

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he quoted the Scriptures—but he left something out. He said, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone’ ” (Matthew 4:6).

He quoted Psalm 91, which says, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (verses 11–12). Notice Satan left out the words “to keep you in all your ways.” Why? If you look at it contextually, these verses are effectively saying that when you’re in the will of God, you don’t have to be afraid. You can trust the Lord.

Satan was essentially saying, “Just jump off, and the angels will catch you.”

But Jesus put it into context, saying, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God’ ” (Matthew 4:7).

You don’t have to get up every morning and say, “I might die today.” Yes, you might—but not if God doesn’t want you to. The Lord knows the date of your birth and the date of your death. You can be confident in Him. I believe that Christians are indestructible until God is done with them.

That doesn’t mean we go out and drink strychnine or play with venomous snakes. But it does mean that if it is not a Christian’s time, then he or she isn’t going anywhere. There is a difference between trusting the Lord and testing the Lord by taking unnecessary risks.

We don’t have to live in fear, because our times are in His hands.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Wants Us To Fulfill His Righteous Law

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“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:4)

The road to receiving a driver’s license was not an easy one for Bob. At first, he couldn’t seem to do much right. Thankfully, the driving instructor was there every step of the way – teaching Bob, encouraging him, and occasionally slamming on the brake on the passenger side of the car in order to keep them both from disaster! The driving teacher was dedicated to helping students receive their licenses.

After a lot more practice under the careful watch of the instructor, Bob finally started getting it right. In fact, Bob passed all his written tests and road tests and was ready to receive his license. That driver’s license was the goal of all the study and practice! On the day Bob turned 16, he went down to the Department of Motor Vehicles (a very special place indeed!) and stood in line to receive his license. He soon had his license – with his very own picture on it! That license was what he had waited so long to receive; now he could drive legally.

Now that Bob had his license, did he need the driving instructor to sit in the front seat with him anymore? Would he need to call the instructor every time he wanted to go to the store? No; he had his license. His license gave him the freedom to drive the car by himself.

But did having the driver’s license give Bob the freedom to drive the car any way he wanted? Could he drive 100 miles an hour without putting himself and others in danger? Could he drive through red lights anytime he wanted? No. He was still bound to obey the rules of the road. The license didn’t give him the freedom to break the law, but it did give him the freedom to obey the law. Once he had his license, Bob drove in the way that the driving instructor taught him was good and right.

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – God Wants Us To Fulfill His Righteous Law →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Our Normal Practice

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Today’s Scripture: 1 John 3:9

“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning.”

The apostle John gave us another indicator for knowing we have eternal life: “you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (1 John 2:29).

This test can be a tricky one. We might understand John to say that only those who always do what is right are born of God. Though that’s certainly God’s standard for us, obviously none of us measures up to it. Even John himself said, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

When John spoke of “everyone who practices righteousness,” he was thinking of our normal practice, of the dominant direction of our lives.

Sometimes our obedience is marked more by desire than by performance. So we have to ask ourselves: Is my life characterized by an earnest desire and a sincere effort to obey God in all that he commands? What is my attitude toward God’s law? Do I find it to be holy, just, and good? And do I delight in it in my inner being, even though I find my sinful nature struggling against it? (See Romans 7:12,22-23.)

Accompanying our sincere desire to obey God will be a heightened sensitivity to our indwelling sin. Often it’s our increased awareness of sin that causes us to doubt our salvation or to give Satan an inroad into our minds to suggest that “a Christian wouldn’t sin like you do.” But Satan would certainly not suggest such a thought to an unbeliever. Rather, he wants unbelievers to be complacent about their sin. So turn the tables on Satan and your own internal doubts. Ask yourself if those accusations or doubts are not really a sign that you do trust Christ. (Excerpt taken from The Gospel for Real Life)

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – God’s Clear Voice

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Today’s Scripture: 2 Peter 1-3

I trust in your word. – Psalm 119:42

Picture this: You’re up on a high mountain with two of your Christian friends and you hear a voice from heaven saying, “Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” The three of you look at each other and say, “Did you hear that?” You all nod your heads and look around to see if anyone else is up there with you, but it’s just the three of you.

Would you be more convinced that Jesus Christ is the Son of God through hearing a voice from heaven than by reading the Bible’s declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

While you turn that question around in your mind, let’s reflect on 2 Peter 1:16-19.

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place.

In the context of what Peter writes here, the reference to a more sure word of prophecy is obviously the Bible. This is a mind-boggling evaluation of the validity of the Scriptures, which Peter says are more dependable, more reliable than a voice from heaven. And remember, he’s the one who heard the voice.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your Word–my permanent record of Your love and promises to me. Amen.

To Ponder

When someone wants to know if you’re really serious about something, they usually say, “Put it in writing.” God did that for us.

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  The Political Illusion: Limits of Government

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Back in 2001 on BreakPoint, Chuck Colson talked about a concept that would become a cornerstone of his Christian worldview teaching on government and politics. That concept was “the political illusion”: the idea that government can create the good society and solve all our problems.

In the midst of this extraordinary presidential race, we thought it was time to hear Chuck on this topic again. And be sure to tune in next week, as John Stonestreet will share with us his thoughts on the election. Now, let’s hear from Chuck:

Congress recently shot down a constitutional amendment that would have required the federal government to balance its budget. In essence Congress said, We can’t do it. We can’t do what it takes to balance the budget.

It was a major admission of defeat.

Politicians have been promising to fix the deficit for years. In 1976 both presidential candidates made promises to balance the books. But today the debt is bigger than ever, and growing.

And it’s finally beginning to dawn on people that government is not able to deliver on a lot of its promises.

For most of us, that’s a hard lesson to learn. We instinctively turn to government to solve our social problems. It’s a habit reinforced from the time we’re young.

Listen to these quotations from the Teachers’ Edition of a fifth-grade social studies textbook.

“Today, when people lose their jobs,” the textbook says, “they can get some money from the government.” A few pages later the book says, “Today, families who do not have enough money for food can get money from the government.” And a few pages later we read, “Today families who cannot afford to pay their rent can get help from the government.”

Continue reading BreakPoint –  The Political Illusion: Limits of Government →

Today in the Word

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE TRINITY AND THE END OF WAITING

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Read LUKE 2:22–32

Many have tried to understand the Trinity through analogy. Perhaps the Trinity is like a person’s roles or relationships, as when one person is simultaneously a father, son, and friend. Perhaps it is like water, which can exist as gas, liquid, or solid. Or perhaps it is like an egg, which is one thing yet consists of a shell, yolk, and egg white.

These analogies are sometimes heretical and always inadequate. They cannot truly explain how God can be three Persons and yet one God. This divine mystery demands our faith even as we continue to seek understanding. That’s how Simeon lived his life, and he was richly rewarded in today’s reading.

Simeon had waited all his life for the coming of the Messiah, and God granted him the privilege of seeing Jesus in person before he died. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon and had revealed that this would be so. On that day, the Spirit

led him to a specific young couple in the temple courts (vv. 25–28).

Simeon took the incarnate Son of God in his arms and rejoiced! The Messiah had come; the time of waiting was ended! Jesus was God’s salvation for “all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (vv. 29–32). Responding to Him, whether in acceptance or in rejection, would determine people’s eternal destinies and relationship with God.

Mary and Joseph had come to the temple because God the Father had mandated that all firstborn sons be dedicated to the Lord (v. 23). This was a reminder of the nation’s liberation from slavery in Egypt, the tenth plague, and the life-saving blood on the doorposts (see Exodus 13). Now God the Son fulfilled this symbolism—the first person to be perfectly consecrated to God and to live a perfectly holy life.

APPLY THE WORD

Simeon’s meeting with Mary and Joseph (and that of Anna in verses 36 to 38) in the temple courts is an example of a “divine appointment.” Mary and Joseph were surely surprised, but they responded with humble attentiveness and faith, just as we should when God brings people across our paths. Are we ready for our next divine appointment?

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – IS THIS THE MOST DANGEROUS OLYMPICS EVER?

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The Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games is tonight. I can’t remember an Olympics more troubled than this one.

Problems began with a Zika outbreak in Brazil that led 150 health officials to recommend moving the games out of Rio de Janeiro, the host city. Spectators will be greeted with demonstrations, violent crime, poverty, and infrastructure failures. According to ABC News, the event could cost Brazil as much as $15 billion in losses.

Last week, a foot and other body parts washed up on a shore where Olympians will be playing volleyball. Nearly 60,000 people were murdered in Brazil in 2014; the country has been called “the deadliest place in the world outside Syria.” Assaults on beaches or in parks after dark are common. Drug gangs run the streets of many Brazilian cities.

Health experts are warning athletes competing in ocean events not to put their heads underwater. Raw human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria has contaminated the water, especially where the rowing and sailing races will take place. Viral levels are up to 1.7 million times what would be considered unhealthy in the US. Ingesting three teaspoons of the water is likely to make an athlete sick.

And yet 10,500 athletes from 206 nations will be competing in twenty-eight different sports, hoping to win one or more of the 4,924 medals that will be awarded. Some 500,000 foreign travelers are purchasing 7.5 million tickets to attend.

The rest of us will be watching more than 6,000 hours of television coverage. There will be $5.4 billion lost in productivity from employees watching the Olympics while at work. Seventy-two percent of business professionals plan to watch the Games; 3.6 billion people will tune in worldwide.

Why? Because we all want to make history, and if we can’t make it, we want to watch it.

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