Monthly Archives: August 2016

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Perfect Peace

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“He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord” (Isaiah 26:3).

John shared how, during the serious illness and death of his beloved Agnes, God had enveloped him with His perfect peace. Tom spoke with moistened eyes, of how God filled his heart with peace when he lost his job of more than 25 years. Roger and Kim shared how they experienced perfect peace in the loss of their darling two-year-old who had just died of leukemia. Peter had just received the solemn word from his doctor that he had no more than six months to live. What joy, soon he would see his Lord and witness perfect peace!

How can these things be?

Because the Prince of Peace dwells within the heart of every believer and He promised, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 KJV). God is waiting to pour out His supernatural peace upon all who will trust and obey Him.

In my experience with thousands of businessmen, laymen and students, I have discovered an interesting fact. In a time of crisis when one’s world is crumbling, wealth, fame, power, position, glory, are not important any more. It is inner peace that every man longs for and for which he would gladly give his fortune. But remember that perfect peace comes only to those who walk in faith and obedience. Such peace is not the experience of those who live self-centered lives, violating the laws of God.

Bible Reading: John 14:27-31

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: As a candidate for God’s perfect peace, I will meditate upon His laws and through the enabling of His Holy Spirit, seek to obey His commands.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Can You Compete With Horses?

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Read: Jeremiah 12:1-17

How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? … If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:4a-5

Jeremiah cries out to God with some troubled questions on his mind. These are the standard questions people ask when things begin to go wrong in an individual life, or in the life of a community, or a nation. I heard recently that a very well-known and well-liked high school girl disappeared mysteriously a few days before, and no one knew where she was. All her high school friends were praying for her. She was a Christian, and they were sure that God would protect her. But word came that her body had been found. She had been abused and killed. These young people were stunned, and they were asking the same question: Why? If there’s a God of love and power, why couldn’t he have done something about it? If he is a God of power, he could act. If he is a God of love, he would want to act. Why does he sit there and let things like this happen? That is one of the great questions thrown at our faith. It is for this very reason that Jeremiah was crying out to God.

God’s response is very interesting. In essence, God says, Jeremiah, what are you going to do when it gets worse? If these kinds of things throw you, if your faith is challenged and you are upset and you cry out to me and ask these questions, what are you going to do when it gets very much worse? Then where are you going to turn? What are you going to stand on then? If you have been running with the men on foot and have gotten tired, then what are you going to do when you have to run against horses? And if in running through the open prairie you fall down, what are you going to do when you have to struggle through a hot, sweaty jungle, whose thick growth impedes your progress in every way? These are searching questions, are they not?

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Can You Compete With Horses? →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – God’s Call Transcends Cultures

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Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (v. 13)

As Paul traveled throughout the Roman Empire he recognized that all believers, regardless of background or abilities, were part of the body of Christ. We experienced this in different ways—working together and then worshipping together—while serving in Mexico.

Three separate parts of the same body worked together to serve the families. The local church in Mexico first identifies families in need of housing. Pastors working in the barrios know which families would most benefit from a house. Then our Mexican ministry partner works with these local churches to plan and perform the work using churches like ours.

We also experienced the joy of worshipping together as one body. On Wednesday night of build week, we worshipped with the local church supporting our building projects. We worshipped in Spanish and English. At the end of the service, the Mexican pastor asked to pray for us.

We shared that our associate pastor was with his 15-year-old son in the hospital suffering with leukemia. We gathered in a circle, holding each other as the Mexican pastor implored God to heal this young man. Tears streamed down our cheeks as we fervently prayed together. Despite the language barrier we all felt the power of the Holy Spirit at work.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for making the body of Christ much greater than our local church. Help us to fulfill our part in your body.

Author: Rob Donoho

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Where Revival Begins

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“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple.” —Jonah 2:7

God told Jonah to go and preach to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah boarded a boat and went in the opposite direction. When a violent storm hit, the sailors began to cry out to their gods. But Jonah told them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me” (Jonah 1:12).

You know the rest of the story. They followed Jonah’s advice, and the Lord brought a “great fish” to swallow Jonah. I have to say that Jonah was stubborn. He spent three days and three nights inside that fish’s stomach . . . wrapped in seaweed . . . fish smacking him in the face . . . humidity like you wouldn’t believe. Yet he refused to budge.

Eventually Jonah came to his senses. He prayed. There in the belly of that fish, he had a personal revival. Jonah was ready to do what God had called him to do. He was revived and recommissioned by God.

First God sent revival to Jonah, then Jonah brought revival to Nineveh. That is because nothing can happen through us until it first happens to us. It has to start with us.

If you want to raise your children in the way of the Lord, then make sure you are walking in the way of the Lord. They will listen to your bedtime stories and mini sermons, but they will be watching your life to see if you live that out. Some things are caught, and other things are taught.

If you want to tell people you work with about Jesus Christ, then make sure you are a model of what it is to follow Christ.

Revival starts with you and me.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – Jesus Rewards Kindness

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“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Katie walked toward the back of the lunch room to sit with her friend Julie. Katie and Julie were best friends, and they always did everything together. The other kids in their class even called them “The Twins.”

As she walked to sit by Julie, Katie saw a girl sitting one at a table near the wall. It was Lucy, the new girl. Lucy was quiet, she smelled a little funny, her clothes looked old and worn-out, and she did not have any friends yet. Katie paused for a moment, but then hurried to her usual table without giving Lucy another glance.

Later that afternoon, Katie’s teacher taught a Bible lesson. “Does anyone know who ‘the least of these’ are?” Mrs. Johnson asked the class. The students shook their heads. “Jesus gives some examples of these people in Matthew chapter 25,” she said. “He calls people who are hungry, poor, or lonely ‘the least of these’ because they’re the ones that most people think the least about.”

Katie peeked over at Lucy. She was looking down at her desk. Mrs. Johnson continued, “Jesus told the crowds that He would reward those who help these people, and punish those who are too selfish to help. We have many chances to be kind to people everyday,” she said, “and Jesus will reward you for your kindness.”

The next day at lunch, Katie saw Lucy sitting alone again. Katie slowed down. “Dear Lord,” she prayed, “help me to be kind to Lucy and ‘the least of these.'” She walked up to Lucy and smiled.

“Hi! I’m Katie. Do you want to eat lunch with my friend Julie and me?”

Lucy smiled back. “I’m Lucy,” she said, “and I’d love to eat with you.”

She seems so nice, Katie thought. Lucy had seemed so glad about Katie’s offer, but Katie felt like she’d gotten more of a blessing out of it than Lucy had. It would be a little strange having a new friend hanging out with “The Twins.” But would that be so bad? Katie wondered. Maybe they would just have to be known as “The Triplets” from now on.

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – Jesus Rewards Kindness →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Sometimes Failure

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 2:4

“God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.”

As we begin to mortify a particular sin, we’ll often fail more than we succeed. Then we must realize that we stand before God on the basis of his grace rather than our performance.

I realize there’s a fine line between using grace as an excuse for our sin and using grace as a remedy for it. John Owen had keen insight on this: “here then is where the deceit of sin intervenes. It persuades us to dwell upon the notion of grace and diverts our attention from the influence that grace gives to achieve its proper application in holy lives. From the doctrine of assured pardon of sin, it insinuates a carelessness for sin. the soul—needing frequently to return to Gospel grace because of guilt—allows grace to become commonplace and ordinary. Having found a good medicine for its wound, it then takes it for granted.”

The way to stay on the right side of the fine line between using and abusing grace is repentance. The road to repentance is godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10, NIV). Godly sorrow is developed when we focus on the true nature of sin as an offense against God rather than something that makes us feel guilty. Sin is an affront to God’s holiness, it grieves his Holy Spirit, and it wounds afresh the Lord Jesus Christ. It also gratifies Satan, the archenemy of God. Dwelling on the true nature of sin leads us to godly sorrow, which in turn leads us to repentance.

Having come to repentance, we must by faith lay hold of the cleansing blood of Christ, which alone can cleanse our consciences. In fact, it is faith in Christ and the assurance of the efficacy of his cleansing blood that leads us to repentance.

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Walking in the Word

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Today’s Scripture: Micah 1-2

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. – Ephesians 3:16

A recent magazine article dealt with our society’s growing trend of making celebrities of people involved in criminal or immoral activity. But it really isn’t anything new.

Consider life in the time of the prophet Micah. The Bible tells us the land was filled with idolatry, covetousness, oppression, and contempt for the Word of God. The spiritual and political leaders abused their power, leading the people down the path of destruction. There were also false prophets who enjoyed celebrity status as they said that nothing would come of all the evil in their society (see Micah 2:6).

Micah stepped forward with a clear warning from God. Judgment was coming for all who defied the Lord. He also gave a word of comfort to the faithful people of God. Micah 2:12 records God’s promise of restoration: “I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.”

How we need to give this word of mercy to hurting and helpless people! I have a friend who went through a time of deep disappointment and hurt. She could hardly hold up her head when she walked. At her lowest point, a friend began praying with her and sharing the Scriptures. Weeks passed, and the Word and prayer began to have their effect. She emerged from her ordeal revived in spirit, with a new sparkle in her eye.

Do you know someone who needs comfort–prayer and a thought from the Word of God? Just like Micah, God can use you to speak boldly and compassionately in His name.

Prayer

Lord, give me a mouth that speaks “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” (from Ephesians 4:29) Amen.

To Ponder

No matter how dark our circumstances, God’s Word can light our way.

 

https://www.navigators.org/Home

BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  The Sexual Revolution and Cultural Marxism: Ideology over Public Health

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Christians are sometimes accused of being “in denial,” especially when it comes to matters of sex. But after reading about a recent AIDS conference, I have to ask: Who’s really living in fantasy land?

At the recent UN international AIDS conference in South Africa, the actress Charlize Theron announced that HIV “has no biological preference for black bodies, for women’s bodies, for gay bodies . . . HIV is not just transmitted by sex,” she explained. “It’s transmitted by sexism, racism, poverty, and homophobia.”

Matthew Hanley, a Senior Fellow with the National Catholic Bioethics Center, writes at Mercatornet that while it was Theron who made these nonsensical remarks, they could have been made by almost any professional at the conference. When Theron says AIDS is not spread just by sex, “she means to direct attention away from sex itself, to minimize its primary role, and to shift ultimate [blame] anywhere else.”

“Statements like these,” Hanley adds, “sound less like medicine than a strand of Marxism—cultural Marxism.”  Marxism has “morphed away from the sphere of economics and into the sexual revolution,” he explains. This means that “every form of sex has necessarily come to be regarded … as equal; therefore . . . Nothing must jeopardize the truly radical assertion that there are no differences in the arena of sexuality . . . Objective hazards must be repackaged to conform to the value assigned to sexual behavior—which is something we don’t do for other public health matters.”

For instance, nobody says smoking cigarettes or drinking huge amounts of sugary drinks is healthy and normal–or distributes pills in schools to offset the effects of tobacco and sugar. Instead, we urge young people to avoid cigarettes altogether, and cut down on the soft drinks.  But heaven forbid we tell them to avoid sex.

The United Nations isn’t the only place we’re witnessing an absolute refusal to acknowledge that all sex is not equal when it comes to public health. Dr. Paul Church, a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty, was fired from his position at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center last year for telling the truth about homosexual behavior: That, as Bryan Fischer writes at barbwire.com, it “leads to a higher incidence of HIV/AIDS, STDs, hepatitis, parasitic infection, anal cancers, and psychiatric disorders.”

Continue reading BreakPoint –  The Sexual Revolution and Cultural Marxism: Ideology over Public Health →

Moody Global Ministries, Uncategorized

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE TRINITY AND ISAIAH’S SERVANT SONG

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Read MATTHEW 12:14–21

After healing a lame beggar, Peter preached the gospel to the gathered crowd. In his sermon, he affirmed that God had planned everything Jesus had suffered. Furthermore, it had all been foretold and “promised long ago through his holy prophets,” going all the way back to His covenants with Moses and Abraham. God the Father was in sovereign control the entire time, and the entire Trinity is involved in the work of salvation (see Acts 3:11–26).

Again, this beautiful truth is revealed in a messianic prophecy of Isaiah. The Gospel of Matthew quoted from the first “Servant Song” (there are four altogether) in order to highlight again how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy (vv. 18–21; see Isa. 42:1–4). In this passage, God the Father is speaking, describing His relationship with His Servant, who, as we now know, is Jesus, God’s Son. The relationship includes chosenness, love, delight, and shared purpose. The Father is the planner and originator. Everything the Servant does is empowered by the Spirit and flows from the Father’s perfect intentions.

What does the Servant do? He reveals God’s heart by proclaiming justice and bringing hope to the nations. Somewhat unexpectedly, He is also described as gentle or quiet, a man of peace as opposed to the conquering ruler whom many Jews expected in Jesus’ day. Rather than seeking to organize a revolution against the Roman Empire, Jesus had compassion on the crowds and did miracles of healing (v. 15). Because He waited on the Father’s timing, He was not trying to amass followers, as the hostile Pharisees apparently assumed and feared. The Son’s ultimate role extends beyond Israel to the world, thus fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham (see Gen. 12:3). His name is the source of victory and hope!

APPLY THE WORD

Consider how we should follow the example of the Servant in Isaiah 58:6–8. Just as He proclaimed justice, we also should aim to “loose the chains of injustice.” Our acts of service to feed the hungry, to provide shelter for the homeless, and to advocate for the oppressed are acts of worship. When we show God’s love, our “light will break forth like the dawn”!

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – SIMONE BILES IS THE MICHAEL JORDAN OF GYMNASTICS

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To say that Simone Biles is a gymnast is like saying Michael Jordan played basketball. Gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton says she is “as dominant as Michael Jordan was when he was on the top of his game.” A commentator this morning calls her “the most dominating gymnast the sport has ever seen.”

Simone is a three-time world all-around champion, four-time US national all-around champion, three-time world floor champion, and two-time world balance beam champion. Yesterday she was part of the US team that won gold in the women’s all-around competition at the Rio Olympics.

Simone has been in the news for more than her stupendous gymnastic achievements, however. Earlier this week, NBC announcer Al Trautwig referred to her adoptive parents as her “grandparents.” An adoption advocate reached out to correct Trautwig, but he stood firm: “They may be mom and dad but they are NOT her parents.” Her coach then tweeted the announcer, “Actually they are her parents.” Trautwig finally admitted his mistake and agreed that “Ron and Nellie are Simone’s parents.”

Here’s the rest of her story.

Simone and her three siblings were born to drug-addicted parents who struggled to care for them. Her father abandoned her mother and was never present in Simone’s life. She bounced back and forth between state and foster care. When she was six years old, her grandparents officially adopted her and her sister.

They introduced her to gymnastics and to their Christian faith. She attends mass with her family every Sunday, prays regularly, and carries a rosary her mother gave her. Now she is poised to make history.

In an eternal sense, however, she already has.

Continue reading Denison Forum – SIMONE BILES IS THE MICHAEL JORDAN OF GYMNASTICS →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Seeking After God

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Luke 12:29-34

Pursuing God through His Son Jesus is to be our highest aim. It requires an attitude of wholeheartedness, diligence, persistence, confidence, and humility. To seek Him, what actions can we take?

First, we need to study the Scriptures. A structured, ongoing examination of them will cause our faith to grow and provide what we need for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). Next, we must maintain an active prayer life. Prayer is conversation with God—it includes both speaking and listening. Third, we are to meditate, which involves prayerful consideration of what we read in the Word. This means digesting a passage of Scripture verse by verse and asking the Lord questions about what it means. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will gain understanding of its application to life. This process helps us absorb His truths so we can live by them.

As we assimilate scriptural principles, we gain wisdom. It becomes easier to identify where the Lord is at work and to evaluate our circumstances in light of His character and plan. We will also recognize when we are to act. As we listen to messages based on God’s Word, we will grow in the Lord. Listening includes a desire to hear, a willingness to act, and a determination not to be distracted. Lastly, we should observe how God is working in others’ lives, which will be an encouragement to us as well.

God promises to reward our seeking. Sometimes we will be blessed with greater understanding, at other times with inexplicable joy. Best of all, seeking always leads to finding Him (Jer. 29:13).

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 4-5

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Who Will Tell Them?

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Read: 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 77–78; Romans 10

Our Savior . . . has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10

World War II had ended. Peace had been declared. But young Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda of the Japanese Imperial Army, stationed on an island in the Philippines, didn’t know the war had ended. Attempts were made to track him down. Leaflets were dropped over his location, telling him the war was over. But Onoda, whose last order in 1945 was to stay and fight, dismissed these attempts and leaflets as trickery or propaganda from the enemy. He did not surrender until March 1974—nearly 30 years after the war had ended—when his former commanding officer traveled from Japan to the Philippines, rescinded his original order, and officially relieved Onoda of duty. Onoda finally believed the war was over.

When it comes to the good news about Jesus Christ, many still haven’t heard or don’t believe that He has “destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). And some of us who have heard and believed still live defeated lives, trying to survive on our own in the jungle of life.

Will you tell someone the good news today?

Someone needs to tell them the glorious news of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Initially, they may respond with skepticism or doubt, but take heart. Imagine the freedom they’ll find when Christ illumines their mind with the knowledge that the battle has been won.

Lord, help me to keep an open heart to listen to others and to share about what You have done.

Will you tell someone the good news today?

INSIGHT:

When we hear the word ministry we often associate it with a vocation or certain church-related activities that we perform individually—“my ministry is this or that.” But Paul is telling the church at Corinth that they all have the same ministry: “through God’s mercy we have this ministry” (2 Cor. 4:1). So what is this universal ministry Paul is calling the church to? The Greek word translated “ministry” in this passage is commonly rendered “waiting at tables.” Paul is talking about service. All Christians are called to a lifestyle of service that witnesses to and communicates the good news of Jesus.

 

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Consuming Christ

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In 2015, Americans spent 608 minutes of every day online. That’s almost 11 hours per day.(1) Of those 11 hours, at least an hour a day is given to online shopping.(2) I wish I could claim immunity from this statistic. I need a particular book, but then I begin to look at other products, like a new camera or a new outfit or piece of jewelry. Before we know it, we’ve spent an entire afternoon shopping for whatever is the latest and greatest product.

While some might feel great about finding the best deal after hours of comparison-shopping, I feel overwhelmed by the loss of several hours of the little bit of time I have in each day for leisure. In addition, I am suspicious that the more I indulge my desire to satisfy my purchasing power the more my identity becomes that of a purchaser. As Annie Leonard notes in The Story of Stuff: “Our primary identity has become that of being consumers—not mothers, teachers, or farmers, but of consumers. We shop and shop and shop.”(3)

How did we become a culture of consumers in the West? What began as a period of unparalleled optimism and prosperity in the United States, in particular, following World War II became a national obsession. Retailing analyst, Victor Lebow, expressed the solution for converting a war-time prosperity into a peace-time economy of growth and abundance: “Our enormously productive economy…demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption…. [W]e need things consumed, burned up, replaced, and discarded at an ever-accelerating rate.”(4) In addition, the chairman of President Eisenhower’s council of economic advisors stated: “The American economy’s ultimate purpose is to produce more consumer goods.”(4)

Of course, the ever-accelerating rate of consumption as the main driver for an economy raises many questions. Is growth the only goal, the necessary goal of economies? Should the ultimate goal of the economy be mass consumption? Or can economies foster the creation of better societies regardless of monetary growth? However one answers these questions, it doesn’t take an expert to see the impact of consumerism on human societies. In the West, ours is a throw-away society, where what we currently have today is passé tomorrow. More insidious, of course, is the way in which a consumptive-economy works to make us feel inadequate if we do not have the latest and greatest shoes, clothes, cars, tools, technology, or gadgets.

Sadly, a consumer-driven mentality is not limited to the buying and selling of goods. It becomes a way in which we understand every transaction including how and where we worship. The seemingly casual language about “church shopping” belies the depth of a consumer mindset. It becomes more and more difficult to see the church as the present day representation of Jesus Christ; we are members of this organic body entrusted with mission and witness in the larger society. Instead, consumerism tempts people of faith to view religion and the worship of God as a product to be consumed. The faithful become “shoppers” examining who offers the best product. Following Jesus looks more like a marketing strategy for a better life, marriage, kids, etcetera, and we ‘shop’ until we find the latest and greatest product.

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Consuming Christ →

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Handling Possessions Properly

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“‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth’” (Matthew 6:19).

A true believer is not to hoard earthly possessions.

You may remember this old adage: “The miser says coins are flat that they may rest in stacks; the spendthrift says they are round that they may roll.” In Matthew 6:9 Jesus is specifically talking about the miser. The Greek verb translated “lay up” is thesaurizete, from which we get the word thesaurus—a treasury of words. Jesus is using a play on words by saying, “Do not treasure up treasures for yourselves.” The context of the passage shows that He is referring to stockpiling or hoarding.

The Greek also conveys the idea of stacking or placing something horizontally, as one stacks coins. When something is stacked, it is not being used—it is in a passive condition. Conversely, whenever the Greek has the idea of a vertical sense, it speaks of an active use—being invested for some worthwhile purpose or goal. Jesus is here referring to wealth that is being placed in stacks—simply being stored for safekeeping; it is stored that way to make a show of wealth or to create an environment of lazy indulgence (cf.

Luke 12:16-21).

It’s clear from this passage, as well as from many others in Scripture, that Jesus is not advocating poverty as a means to spirituality. He only once told a person to “sell your possessions and give to the poor” (Matt. 19:21). In that particular case, the young man’s wealth was a barrier between him and the lordship of Christ. It was a test to see if he was fully committed to turning over the control of his life to Christ. His response proved he was not (v. 22).

Unlike the rich young man, you are a follower of Christ and are to be fully committed to Him, no matter what it may cost you. If you have that kind of commitment, you will seek God’s kingdom first instead of hoarding earthly possessions (cf. Matt. 6:33).

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask the Lord to help you live unselfishly, not hoarding earthly possessions.

For Further Study

Read Proverbs 3:9, 13-15; 8:10, 19; 16:16. What virtues are better than temporal riches?

 

http://www.gty.org

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – For Everyone Who is Afraid to Fail and Doesn’t Want to Try

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Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:29

I recently had a discussion with a friend about how disappointments can turn into despair which can then turn into defeat. When this happens we may give up and decide not to take any more risks, because we aren’t sure if we can handle another failure. We may decide to play it safe which means we’ll never step outside our comfort zone. But there is a big problem with this decision because. . .

God always calls His kids outside their comfort zones. There just isn’t any way around it.

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well” (Ecclesiastes 11:4-6).

God will never give you full control. There will always be wind. There will always be clouds, and the way He works will always be shrouded in mystery. If you insist on knowing everything about how you will get from where you are to where you will be, you will never sow and therefore you will never reap. If you always focus on what could go wrong, you will never sow and you will never reap. If you insist on control, you will never sow and you will never reap.

Therefore, you must learn how to sow in uncertainty. But remember. . . it seems uncertain to you, but it’s never uncertain to Him. He is always certain. He is a certain God and His plans never fail.

“One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: ‘Power belongs to you, God’” (Psalm 62:11).

Prayer: Lord, it can be difficult at times to step out in faith when I don’t know how things are going to turn out. But thank you that you are sovereign. I can trust you because every plan you have made comes to pass. Help me to submit to your rule. Amen.

Application: Read a story of an Old Testament saint and make note of the times when God directed them through some sort of unfortunate event, failure or trouble to accomplish His will.

Related Readings: 2 Timothy 1:7; John 21:6; Joshua 1:9

By Shana Schutte

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Responding on Purpose

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In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

Ephesians 1:11

Recommended Reading

Romans 9:11-18

When an adult does something surprising or unexpected, she may be asked, “Was quitting your job an impulsive act?” And the answer comes back: “No, I did it on purpose.” It was intentional, planned, and thoughtful. But when a child spills his milk, he may defend himself by saying, “I didn’t do it on purpose, Mommy!” It was an accident, something unplanned.

When the Bible speaks about God’s purposes, it never suggests that anything God does is accidental or arbitrary. Everything God does is intentional, planned, and thoughtful. Everything God does is on purpose. It is “predestined according to the . . . counsel of His will.” When we see the equivalent of spilled milk in life, it is important to view it through the lens of God’s purpose and God’s will. Trying to understand “why” is not the motivation. Rather, the motivation is developing trust and faith in God.

Look at life through purpose-colored lenses. See everything from God’s perspective. Trust that He is acting “according to the counsel of His will.”

If life is an accident, it cannot conceivably have any purpose, for accident and purpose are mutually exclusive.

John Blanchard

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 18 – 21

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Don’t Let the Devil Steal It

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For it is like a man who was about to take a long journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his property…. He who had received one talent also came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be a harsh and hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you had not winnowed [the grain]. So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is your own.- Matthew 25:14, 24-25

Jesus often gave people illustrations containing life lessons that could be applied to common situations in which most anyone can find themselves at any given time. The -Parable of the Talents is such an illustration. A talent was the type of currency used in Jesus’ day. One talent is said to have been worth more than a thousand dollars. This par¬ticular parable describes a man who gave certain amounts of money to three of his servants with the instruction to invest it.

I find two very interesting points in this story. First, the landowner distributed the money according to each person’s ability. He didn’t try to burden his workers with more than they were capable of handling. The two men to whom he gave the most money invested wisely and doubled their investments. Upon the landowner’s return, they were made full partners in the business. The second thing I realized is that the two with the most ability used it wisely and were richly rewarded. The third man—the one with the least ability—failed.

Think about this. God didn’t ask the third man to invest five talents or even three. He knew this man wasn’t capable of handling such a task. He gave the third servant the least amount of responsibility, and that man still failed. Worse, he tried to justify his failure by blaming the master! But he also said something else—and that’s the secret to understanding this story: I was afraid and hid your talent in the ground (see v. 25).

He didn’t lose the money, but he did nothing with it. And the master responded, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! (v. 26). The spirit of fear had caused the man to do nothing.

Let’s turn that around. The owner said, Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest (v. 27). Suppose the man had gone to the bank and invested as the owner suggested. He would never have made as much profit as the other two. And that would have been all right, because all that the owner asked was for him to do what he could—what was reasonably expected of him.

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Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – The Art of Listening

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Today’s Truth

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

James 1:19

Friend to Friend

I graduated from college with a degree in elementary education. For the first two years of college, I took the basic courses in Math, English, History, and Science required for all degrees. I then began taking courses that I assumed would prepare me to teach elementary school. During my last year of school, I reached the required Student Teaching block.

The Student Teaching block was spent in an actual elementary classroom under the supervision of an experienced teacher. Mrs. Roberta McShan was my supervising teacher and a magician in the classroom. She taught third grade and soon became my role model as a teacher. I learned more about teaching in that one semester than I had learned in all of the education courses I had taken.

Every child in her classroom absolutely adored Mrs. McShan. I watched carefully and soon learned why. One of most important lessons I learned from Mrs. McShan was the importance of listening and how to make the person you are listening to feel important.

When a child came up to ask a question, Mrs. McShan stopped what she was doing and turned toward the child. She then gently placed the fingertips of her hand under the chin of the child and tilted that little face up toward hers. She looked the child in the eye and listened to every word the child said. Everyone in that classroom knew they were not to interrupt if Mrs. McShan was listening to one of their classmates.

When I pray, that is how I picture the Father responding to me. He stops … turns toward me … and listens.

Every relationship begins with listening. Listening is hard work and something we are not prone to do well.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – True Spiritual Life

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“Only the Holy Spirit gives eternal life. Those born only once, with physical birth, will never receive this gift. But now I have told you how to get this true spiritual life” (John 6:63).

A businessman called to ask if he could bring one of his associates to talk to me about receiving Christ. As the three of us talked together, it became apparent that the businessman who arranged the meeting was not a Christian either. So after his friend had received Christ, I asked him if he believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.

“Yes,” he said.

“Do you believe that He died for your sins?”

“Of course.”

“Have you ever received Him into you life as your Savior and Lord?”

“No,” he said, “I haven’t.”

“Wouldn’t you like to do so?”

“Yes,” he said, “I would. But I have been waiting for that peculiar time when God would speak to me in a very emotional way.”

He explained that this was the way his mother had become a Christian, and he felt that this was the way he should become a Christian, too.

Once again I reviewed very simply the plan of salvation, explaining that only the Holy Spirit gives eternal life and there may or may not be an emotional experience accompanying the moment of salvation. I explained that salvation is a gift of God, which we receive by faith on the basis of His promise.

So together we prayed, and though I had explained that he should not expect any emotional experience, God graciously touched him in a very dramatic way emotionally, contrary to my own experience and that of the majority of people with whom I counsel and pray.

Bible Reading: John 6:60-65

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Realizing that no one can enter the kingdom of God apart from a spiritual birth, I will today pray for many opportunities to share the good news of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ with others.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Our Protection is in God

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Read: Jeremiah 11:1-20

But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause. Jeremiah 11:20

Perhaps the central lesson of this book is what happened to Jeremiah as God prepared him to minister in a day of decay. He was called to a strange and difficult ministry. God gradually had to prepare him and toughen him increasingly for the assignments he was to be given in this nation. So Jeremiah was plunged into an even more difficult time than he had ever known before, a troubled time for the nation.

God sends young Jeremiah back to the nation with another word of warning and denunciation for the third time now in Jeremiah’s ministry, God tells him not to pray for this nation: Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble (Jeremiah 11:14 RSV).

This was what had distressed Jeremiah so much — that God would not even let him pray for them. He had laid a vocal quarantine on Jeremiah and had said, I do not want you to pray, for prayer delays judgment. This had great effect upon Jeremiah. From here on we are going to see God’s toughening of this young man in preparation for what was coming.

Jeremiah found something happening which absolutely threw him into consternation. He learned that there was a plot against his life by his own neighbors and friends. He tells us about it, beginning in Verse 18: The Lord made it known to me and I knew; then thou didst show me their evil deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. (Jeremiah 11:18-19a RSV) Jeremiah realized how naive and blind he had been to trust these neighbors and friends. Now he understood that they had plotted against his life.

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