Monthly Archives: August 2016

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God’s Tools for Making Us Holy

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1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Sanctification is the process God uses to conform believers to the image of His Son. The writers of Scripture used word pictures that speak of the Father’s shaping work in the life of His saints. Isaiah, for example, compared the Lord to an artist making pottery: “We are the clay and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand” (Isa. 64:8). These are some of the tools He utilizes to mold and perfect His creations:

The Bible. The psalmist described God’s Word as “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). The Holy Spirit illuminates what we read so that we can come under conviction and grow in our faith.

The Church. As part of Christ’s body, we learn of God’s ways from the pastors and teachers who have been called to minister. The Father also calls His children to fellowship together (Heb. 10:25), in part so He can use them in each other’s sanctification process. Not only that, but there are Christians at church who will encourage their brothers and sisters in times of trouble or hold them accountable when they miss the mark.

Suffering. God freely offers us solace and help during times of difficulty, but He also uses our painful circumstances to shape us. When we submit to Him, we emerge from our struggles looking more Christlike than ever before.

From the moment a person places trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s transforming work of sanctification will be ongoing throughout his or her life. As children of the King, we should long to glorify our Father by faithfully reflecting Him. To do that, we must yield to His tools of sanctification.

Bible in One Year: Lamentations 3-5

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Honorable Living

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Read: 1 Peter 2:9–12 | Bible in a Year: Psalm 119:89–176; 1 Corinthians 8

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. 1 Peter 2:9

While delivering a well-publicized speech, a respected leader and statesman got the attention of his nation by declaring that most of his country’s honorable Members of Parliament (MPs) were quite dishonorable. Citing lifestyles of corruption, pompous attitudes, unsavory language, and other vices, he rebuked the MPs and urged them to reform. As expected, his comments didn’t go well with them and they dispatched counter-criticisms his way.

We may not be public officials in positions of leadership, but we who follow Christ are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Peter 2:9). As such, our Lord calls us to lifestyles that honor Him.

We honor God’s name when we call Him our Father and live like His children.

The disciple Peter had some practical advice on how to do this. He urged us to “abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” (v. 11). Although he didn’t use the word honorable, he was calling us to behavior worthy of Christ.

As the apostle Paul phrased it in his letter to the Philippians, “Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phil. 4:8). Indeed, these are the characteristics of behavior that honor our Lord.

Lord, when we are honest with You, we understand how often we fall far short of honorable behavior. We know how much we need You. By Your Spirit, help us replace any selfish thoughts, words, and actions with things that please You and draw others to You.

We honor God’s name when we call Him our Father and live like His children.

INSIGHT:

The apostle Peter wrote this letter to encourage Jewish and Gentile Christians in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) who were going through severe trials and suffering because of their faith in Jesus. Peter says that for the Christian, trials and suffering are inevitable and to be expected (1 Peter 4:12), although often unreasonable, unjust, and inexplicable (2:19–20). But these difficulties can be valuable to the believer and therefore glorifying to God (1:6–7). Although they are universal, they are certainly temporal (5:9–10). Peter calls us to rejoice in our trials because we participate not only in Christ’s suffering but also in His glory (1:7; 4:13).

 

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – In a Word

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Noah Webster was a crusading editor, essayist, and orator well-acquainted with the soapboxes of the early 1800s. He was deeply troubled at the state of language in America and certain that the current system of instruction would eventually arrest the spread of literacy. Rules for spelling, punctuation, and pronunciation—if at all present in the classroom—were incongruous with everyday spoken language. Many words were spelled in different ways, utilized with different meanings, and pronounced with great disparity—all of which were considered acceptable. “[W]hile this is the case,” Webster warned, “every person will claim a right to pronounce most agreeably to his own fancy, and the language will be exposed to perpetual fluctuation.”(1)

In this mess of word and meaning, Noah Webster set out to write an expanded and comprehensive dictionary of the English language, hoping to standardize American speech, spelling, and comprehension. In order to document the etymology of each word, he learned twenty-six languages and studied in various countries. His dictionary contained seventy thousand words, twelve thousand of which had never appeared in any earlier published dictionary. The project took twenty-six years to complete.

Though he never lived to see even a fraction of the impact, Webster’s influence on the study and reform of language in America was profound. For a nation in want of grammatical consistency, Webster illumined the great substance of words and the import of preserving their meaning and heritage. It is perhaps a light we should more often fear to lose; the meaning of words can be darkened in obscurity even to the point of being lost, though still uttered.

In his work, Simply Christian, N.T. Wright traces the etymology of the name of God. He mentions a confusion not unlike the muddle that troubled Webster, and he calls for a return to understanding the words oft on our lips. Wright explains, “[A]ncient Israelite scruples, medieval mistranslation, and fuzzy eighteenth century thinking have combined to make it hard for us today to recapture the vital sense of what a first-century Jew would understand when thinking of YHWH, what an early Christian would be saying when speaking of Jesus or ‘the Lord,’ and how we might now properly reappropriate this whole tradition.”(2)

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – In a Word →

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Holy, Holy, Holy 

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Day and night they never stop saying ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come. Revelation 4:8

The holiness of our heavenly Father cannot be completely comprehended by the human mind. His purity burns so brightly, it lights up the eyes of our faith. The dross of our sinful deeds melts in the presence of His pure character. Just as Moses took cover in the cleft of the rock as God passed by, so we take shelter in the refuge of our Savior Jesus to be able to handle the glory of our great God. His name is above all names, not to be spoken in vain, but evoked in humble adoration.

John describes a 24/7 majestic worship experience. Similar to Isaiah’s famous imaginary of reverent angelic beings (Isaiah 6:1-5) locked onto adoration of God, so each person of the Trinity is praised as absolutely holy and worthy of all glory and honor. The Lord God Almighty who was, and is and is to come is 100% perfection in His pure love and affection! We seek Him alone in worship, none other is worthy of our radical devotion—our worship resonates forever.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

Our heavenly Father’s holiness is not a standard, but the standard of sinless perfection. Though we will never achieve perfection in this life, His Holy Spirit continues to perfect our faith and character to become more like Christ’s. As children of the Holy One we are set apart to be holy as He is holy. However, be careful not to fall into the ‘holier than thou’ attitude trap. Sin is never comfortable in the presence of purity. We are only a channel for the Spirit to convict the hearts of those we love on behalf of Jesus. Thus, we pray for His holiness to shine through us.

Therefore, we pray the prayer of Jesus when we keep holy the name of our heavenly Father. We are friends with Jesus and we partner with the Holy Spirit, but we are submissive children of our Father, the Most High–our great and glorious God. We bow now in individual preparation for the day after our death when we pray with all in glorious acclamation. Can you taste and see His holy aura in your reverent worship of your heavenly Father? In prayer, by faith, esteem His holy name!

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I bow down in the glory of Your holiness. Break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Application: What songs of praise cause me to lift my heart in adoration of God’s holiness?

Related Readings: Isaiah 52:13; Daniel 7:14; Acts 2:33; 1 Peter 1:15-16

 

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – “I Don’t Need to Be Saved”

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And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

John 16:8

Recommended Reading

John 16:1-11

A Senate committee in Canada recently considered a bill to provide greater regulation of prostitution in an effort to thwart human trafficking. A young man testified before the committee. He was a male prostitute who worried the bill would infringe on his rights. He told the senators, “I don’t need to be saved, and all my friends who are in the sex work industry don’t need to be saved.” He said his line of work was “not negative. It’s just a way to make a living.”1

Many people today don’t think they need to be saved. They’ve become accustomed to the darkness and are determined to stay there. As someone said, “The biggest challenge in getting people saved is first getting them lost.”

In John 16, Jesus said it’s the job of the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin. As you share the Gospel through life and lip, pray for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to come upon those for whom you’re burdened. Learn to pray: “Lord, open their eyes so they will open their hearts to You.”

We cannot convict men of sin.… But He can. He can make a single word enter the heart like a barbed arrow.

  1. B. Simpson, in The Names of Jesus

1Tonda MacCharles, “I Don’t Need to Be Saved,” The Star, September 18, 2014, https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/09/11

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Ezekiel 9 – 12

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Being Spirit Led

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And when he was about to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, . . . when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say, I beg of you, that you are my sister, so that it may go well with me for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.- Genesis 12:11-13

Are you so afraid of displeasing people that you say yes to a lot of things you know you should be saying no to? If so, your stress is not caused by all the things you have to do, it is because you are afraid of disapproval.

We are afraid to be different, so we desperately try to keep up with all the other people in our lives, and it wears us out. The truth is we just want to go home and sit in a chair, but we don’t want people to think we are a dud, so we keep pushing ourselves to do things we don’t want to do.

Take a minute to stop and look closely at the reasons you are doing the things you currently do. If any of them are being done out of fear, then eliminate them. You will be amazed at how much time you may have if you have a Spirit-led schedule rather than a people-driven one.

Lord, it’s so easy to succumb to the intimidation we feel from others. Help me to be true to myself and live for Your approval alone. Amen.

From the book The Confident Woman Devotional: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Living in the Now

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Today’s Truth

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8

We hope you are enjoying the Girlfriends in God daily devotions. We (Mary, Sharon, and Gwen) would like to introduce you to some of our special friends. From time-to-time, the Friday devotions will be written by one of our friends in ministry. We call them our “Friday Friends.” So grab your Bible and a fresh cup of coffee and drink in the words from our “Friday Friend,” Kelly Balarie.

Friend to Friend

My mind has been set on a future dream. I can almost see it coming to life. It will be fantastic, magnificent and more than I ever dreamed.

I assure myself of this.

I will sip an iced tea on a screened in porch. I will have the ability to lay back a bit easier. I will head to the beach within a split-second drive. The weather will make me warm both inside and out. Friends will be abundant and hospitable.

I assure myself of this. Now God, you need to come through.

But, He hasn’t. He hasn’t answered my request. He hasn’t run to my rescue to move my dwelling place somewhere warm and somewhere south. He has been silent. He has been inactive, or so it seems.

Where did you go, God?

Like me, do you feel God has gone silent on a dream, a hope, or a prayer request that you’re confident will bring you life, joy or peace?

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – Living in the Now →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Anyone Who Calls 

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“Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

I have been privileged to counsel personally thousands of people – men, women, young people, children – about their spiritual needs. The experiences that remain uppermost in my heart and mind have a direct bearing on this verse.

Helping people to see their truly desperate plight outside of saving faith in Jesus Christ is sometimes difficult, but what a reward awaits those who become aware of their condition. No matter what their background – criminal, alcoholic, self-righteous, or whatever – uninformed people need to recognize the fact that they are lost without Christ.

Accomplishing that purpose is a long step toward their genuine conversion, for I have heard many thousands come to the place where they do indeed “call upon the name of the Lord” and they are saved.

If you can help your loved one, neighbor or friend – or even a total stranger – to become sufficiently alarmed about their eternal welfare that they call on the name of the Lord, you have come a long way toward bringing that person to Christ in a saving relationship.

Some people are bothered by the simplicity of the gospel. I am grateful that it is so simple that anyone can understand, believe, and receive. The promise of this verse is emphatic: “Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Let’s believe and share it.

Bible Reading: Romans 10:14-17

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I will not let the utter simplicity of the gospel keep me from sharing the Good News that we need only call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman -Profaning His name

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Read: Jeremiah 34:1-22

Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your own people. You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name. But now you have turned around and profaned my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again. Jeremiah 34:15-16

The remarkable phrase in this passage is, you profaned my name. This was a serious charge to any Jew. They had been brought up to revere and respect the name of God. The scribes did not even dare to write the name of God without taking a bath and changing their clothes. And they never pronounced it. The four Hebrew letters used for the name of God they called The Ineffable Tetragrammaton — the unpronounceable or unspeakable four letters. They never spoke the name of God. Yet God’s charge against this king is, You have profaned my name. The Hebrew word translated profane, means wound, pierce, or deface. God’s charge is, You have defaced me. How did they do it? By failing to respect the human rights of slaves. It is an act of blasphemy against God to treat another person as somewhat less than a person. That is what God holds a nation to account for.

As we think of our own national history, we can see what a heavy charge must be leveled against us. How have we treated the American Indians, the original inhabitants of this land, or the Africans we brought forcibly into our midst? We have despised them, treated them as less than human. The God of the nations says, That is a profanation of my name. You have profaned my name when you have done a thing like that. It is always healthy for me to remember that God’s view of my spirituality, his judgment of whether I am a spiritual-minded person or not, is based not upon how I treat my friends and those I like, but how I treat the waiter at the table, or the clerk in the store, or the yardman. This is the mark of spirituality. In other words, God requires of a people that they respect the rights of all humanity. And when there is a violation of that, God takes it to account.

Father, we pray that we continue to respect humanity as we live spiritual-minded lives.

Life Application

Are we compelled by God’s love, seeing others through his eyes? How does this differ from the worldly point of view? Do we claim to represent Christ but dishonor his name by mistreating and demeaning others?

 

http://www.raystedman.org/

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Time-telling Trees

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Read: Mark 13:28-31

From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. (v. 28)

What time is it? I don’t mean time on your watch, what the Greeks called chronos, but time that is out of the ordinary, that is memorable and significant, what the Greeks named kairos. December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day, is one such kairos moment. So is July 21, 1969, the day when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. And September 11, 2001, is a kairos moment. Whether for good or for ill, certain times stand out for their life-changing significance.

In Mark 13 Jesus is concerned about whether his followers could discern the times. The present age was coming to an end. Jerusalem would be destroyed and the temple laid waste—inconceivable events for the Jews to believe. But Jesus persisted, like Isaiah and Amos, in spreading the not-so-good news of coming judgment.

To make his point, Jesus turned to the fig tree. From careful observation of this tree, one can learn that summer is coming. If the fig sprouts leaves, then summer is near. So by analogy Jesus stated: when you see certain things, e.g., false prophets and fake messiahs (Mark 13:22), then you will know that the kingdom of God (see Luke 21:31) is near. God’s reign can be perceived by those attentive to the signs of the times.

Jesus is bringing the kingdom of shalom in its fullness. Do we know what time it is?

Prayer:

Redeemer of all things, help us to bear faithful witness to your kingdom.

Author: Steven Bouma-Prediger

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – An Essential of Evangelism

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Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. —Colossians 4:5–6

Jesus, the master evangelist, used something that many Christians seriously lack today, which is tact. Tact has been defined as diplomacy, sensitivity. One definition of it is skill and grace in dealing with others. Isaac Newton defined tact as “the art of making a point without making an enemy.”

There is a built-in offense to the essential message of the gospel, but we don’t have to make it worse by being insensitive to people. And far too often this happens. I have watched it. You probably have too. A Christian will walk up to an unbeliever and start the conversation with something like this: “Hey, heathen. Did you know you are going to hell?” That is not the way to build a bridge.

When Jesus approached the woman at the well in Samaria, He asked her a question. He drew her out. He engaged her. Evangelism is a dialogue, not a monologue. And the best way to engage a person in a conversation is to listen. In starting a conversation, the objective is to build a bridge. That is what we want to do. Ask people about themselves. Everyone’s favorite subject is themselves. And as they talk, engage them. Ask them questions. You don’t have to cut people off. You don’t have to contradict them. You don’t have to insult them. Just listen.

Sure, there is a place for point and counterpoint. Sure, we need to defend our beliefs. But no one has ever been argued into the kingdom of God. And I have seen Christians win the argument and lose the soul. But I would rather win the soul and listen and engage and give and take. As you do this, you will know from the conversation how to respond with the gospel message. Listen patiently. And then respond appropriately.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Created Peace

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“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16a)

“Stop it!” Erin shouted. Her older brother Collin was running around the room with her favorite doll in his hands, held high above her head so she could not reach it.

“Not until you give me back my remote-controlled car!” Collin yelled back.

“I was just looking at it,” Erin said defensively. “There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”

“Yes!” shouted Collin. “I never gave you permission to mess with it. I don’t want you to break it. Give it back NOW!”

Have you ever been in an argument like that before? It may have been with a brother, sister, parent, or friend. Because you both wanted your own way, the disagreement and hard feelings went on and on until someone finally gave in.

God has another plan for you. In Romans 12:18, He commands you to “live peaceably with all men.” That is hard to do sometimes! Your siblings and friends do not always want to be peaceful. Sometimes they purposefully do things to annoy you or to start fights with you. But you must remember to turn to God – the Creator of true peace. Peace was God’s idea in the first place, and He brought peace to the world through His Son. Jesus, “the Prince of Peace,” said that He gives peace to all those who choose to follow after Him (John 14:27). If you are a peacemaker, then you will help people see what your heavenly Father is like.

God’s peace is perfect because He created peace.

My Response:

» Am I keeping peace with others?

» Am I looking to the Creator of Peace for the strength to do that?

 

http://kids4truth.com/home.aspx

BreakPoint

BreakPoint – Redefining the First Freedom: More Than Worship

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For some time now, I’ve been warning you about the various threats to religious freedom. We’ve talked about the gay-rights movement, which insidiously insists that religious believers and organizations bow before the altar of sexual freedom. We’ve talked about the so-called health care reform bill, which does not protect freedom of conscience of medical practitioners.

But now I’m seeing the threat to religious freedom in its most pernicious and dangerous form ever. I speak about this today on my Two Minute Warning video commentary. I urge you to go to ColsonCenter.org and watch it, and download the other resources.

In a nutshell, here’s what happened. In a speech at Georgetown University, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a speech on human rights. Not only did she talk about the right “to love in the way you choose,” (an obvious attempt at making protecting gay rights a top priority for the U.S. government), she also talked about “freedom of worship.”

But she never mentioned freedom of religion. Only freedom of worship–a big change.

In the First Amendment, the founders (whose work we celebrate this weekend) wisely ensured that government could not prohibit the “free exercise” of religion. And that means so much more than freedom of worship. It guarantees that we’re not restricted just to living out our faith in the privacy of our homes or church sanctuaries. It means we’re free to exercise our religion—and contend for faith—in every area of life.

Just this clever dissembling of words is an apparent attempt to restrict freedom of religion to freedom of worship only. Do you see the implications? Sure, I’m free to attend church, sing hymns, pray over meals, offer thanks to God for my children and grandchildren. That’s my own private affair.

But should the government succeed in redefining freedom of religion, how much longer can I practice my faith in public? See my Two Minute Warning to understand what this really means.

If you read history, you will see that that the first act of a tyrant is to suppress religion, which means of course, religious practice. Our Founders knew this. They knew the first English settlers came to these shores precisely so they could practice their faith.

Continue reading BreakPoint – Redefining the First Freedom: More Than Worship →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE TRINITY AND THE GREAT COMMISSION

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Read MATTHEW 28:16–20

In the late 1700s, many Christians saw world evangelism as God’s business, not theirs. In response, a young English minister named William Carey wrote a tract arguing that all Christians in all eras of history should obey the Great Commission. He then sailed for India, where he spent his life in the service of the gospel. Today he is credited with launching the modern missionary movement.

The Great Commission makes clear the missionary responsibility of the church, and it puts it clearly in the context of our Triune God. The disciples were commanded to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (vv. 19–20). This divine, authori- tative mandate came directly from God the Father via God the Son.

Realistically, the disciples were not represented in this passage as a crack team of evangelists. Very properly, they worshiped the risen Christ, but it also says that “some doubted” (v. 17). Faith isn’t instantaneous; it takes time to grow. Making disciples, not just converts, is a time-consuming process. The faith that saves is just the start of how God wants to transform our lives!

Most significantly, Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The tone is reminiscent of Moses addressing the Israelites before his death: “Be strong and courageous . . . for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). Though ascending to the Father, Jesus—God the Son and “God with us”—did not leave His church alone. He has promised to be with us throughout this present age!

APPLY THE WORD

Consider how you can be involved with missions. The Lord might call you to serve Him in a different cultural context, or perhaps share your gifts of financial or prayer support. Missionaries appreciate gifts of encouragement through email and remembered birthdays. And mission organizations need the gifts of organization.

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum –  ISIS MARTYR KAYLA MUELLER’S AMAZING FAITH          

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“She was always considerate of others, even though she herself was in a very difficult situation. She was always concerned for other prisoners. She never stopped being concerned for the Syrian population living through just horrible things in this war and still are. She never stopped caring for others.”

This is how a former ISIS hostage describes Kayla Mueller in a remarkable story on this morning’s ABC News website. Four former hostages will tell about their shared ordeal on tonight’s “20/20” broadcast.

We knew that Mueller was tortured and assaulted sexually by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of ISIS. But we are only now hearing remarkable accounts of her unfailing Christian commitment and character. Former hostages describe her sense of humor and unwavering faith. They testify that she defended her Christian commitment to “Jihadi John,” the infamous ISIS executioner, and inspired them all with her courage.

At one point she refused a chance to escape so that some teenage girls with her would have a better chance at freedom. “I am an American. If I escape with you, they will do everything to find us again,” she explained. One girl who escaped said Mueller “was praying for us to escape, to survive. I will never forget this sacrifice. She was very good to us. I will never forget.”

Mueller died in February 2015. ISIS stated that a Jordanian airstrike in Syria killed her, a claim the White House has denied. According to another former ISIS hostage, she was killed by the terrorists, perhaps by al-Baghdadi himself.

Scripture says, “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3). For Kayla Mueller, her righteousness was her sacrifice. She is now numbered among “those who had been slain for the word of God and the witness they had borne” (Revelation 6:9).

You and I are not likely to face anything like Kayla Mueller endured, but we will encounter our own temptations and challenges today. John Maxwell noted, “Your integrity is the foundation for lasting achievement. If you build it, success and significance will come. And you’ll be able to enjoy them for a long time.” Conversely, we all know what happens to a house with a flawed foundation: cracks hidden beneath the house produce cracks visible in its walls that only get worse over time.

The best time to choose character is before it is tested. At the start of this day, ask the Holy Spirit to manifest the fruit of “faithfulness” and “self-control” in your life (Galatians 5:22, 23). Decide that you will face temptation with integrity and opposition with grace. Remember that “whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9). And know that in a day of moral confusion and deception, your character is your most indispensable witness.

Thinking about Kayla Mueller this morning, I am reminded of martyred missionary Jim Elliott’s now-famous observation, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jesus told his persecuted followers, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Kayla Mueller is wearing her crown today.

 

Denison Forum

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Set Apart for God

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Romans 12:1-3

By placing faith in Jesus Christ, a person becomes a new believer and is sanctified—that is, set apart for God’s purposes. Unlike salvation, which takes place in a single moment, sanctification is a lifelong process. We who are followers of the Savior should be letting the Holy Spirit control our lives. If that’s the case, we are currently being sanctified, regardless of what we may feel or how our actions appear to those around us. In other words, we are progressively maturing in our faith.

And if we are progressing, we must be working our way toward something. The apostle Paul explained the Christian’s mission: “For those whom [God] foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). A believer’s character, conduct, and conversation should be reflections of Jesus, who lives within. On our own, we might place too much emphasis on behavior and get caught up in following rules and rituals that look Christian without truly reflecting Christ. But God has given each believer His Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide. The Spirit works to transform our minds and hearts so that we are markedly different from our unsaved peers. When we allow the Spirit to control us, we speak and act in accordance with our true identity: God’s sons and daughters.

Our Father wants His children to be living examples of who He is. He doesn’t expect perfection—He knows we can’t be totally sinless in our human body. But He shows us how to think and act so we may “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] have been called” (Eph. 4:1).

Bible in One Year: Lamentations 1-2

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Remembering . . .

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Read: Psalm 119:17–19, 130–134 | Bible in a Year: Psalm 119:1–88; 1 Corinthians 7:20–40

I have hidden your word in my heart. Psalm 119:11

One difficult part of growing older is the fear of dementia and the loss of short-term memory. But Dr. Benjamin Mast, an expert on the topic of Alzheimer’s disease, offers some encouragement. He says that patients’ brains are often so “well worn” and “habitual” that they can hear an old hymn and sing along to every word. He suggests that spiritual disciplines such as reading Scripture, praying, and singing hymns cause truth to become “embedded” in our brains, ready to be accessed when prompted.

In Psalm 119:11, we read how the power of hiding God’s words in our heart can keep us from sinning. It can strengthen us, teach us obedience, and direct our footsteps (vv. 28, 67, 133). This in turn gives us hope and understanding (vv. 49, 130). Even when we begin to notice memory slips in ourselves or in the life of a loved one, God’s Word, memorized years earlier, is still there, “stored up” or “treasured” in the heart (v. 11 esv, nasb). Even as our minds lose the keen edge of youth, we know that God’s words, hidden in our hearts, will continue to speak to us.

I have hidden your word in my heart. Psalm 119:11

Nothing—not even failing memories—can separate us from His love and care. We have His word on it.

Lord, You are such an amazing comfort to us. Thank You that our salvation and spiritual well-being does not depend on our failing minds and bodies, but on You and Your faithfulness to Your Word.

God’s promises never fail.

INSIGHT:

Psalm 119 is well known as the longest chapter in the Bible. It is an acrostic (each section beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) that praises the goodness and value of God’s law. While it may be tempting to ignore the significance of what the writer of this psalm says and consider it mere poetic license, Scripture repeatedly praises the law of God as good and valuable. Jesus Himself affirmed the value and benefit of the law on numerous occasions. Most notably in His Sermon on the Mount when He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matt. 5:17).

 

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Misdiagnosing ‘Normal’

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Almost everyday, we are beset with news of daily atrocities, murders, and tragedies that continue to shake us. I sit in a somewhat curious state as I hear certain phrases so often repeated. “They seemed like such a normal person.” “My kids played at his/her house regularly.” Then the reporter chimes in, “How could such a normal person do such a thing?”

I guess what intrigues me in this constant replay from daily and weekly life is the surprise. The reporters genuinely seem surprised by the actions committed and in joining in with the social narrative’s rules, so do we! Many centuries ago, the ancient writer Herodotus wrote, “The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.” This is perceptive.

The modern era was birthed in the consciousness of rational men and women in control of their own destinies. It was the age of reason; we can and would figure everything out. It was the age of man; no need for god, the gods, or superstitions of any kind. It was the age of science; the new insights, techniques, and technologies would allow us to build our brave new world. It was the age of progress, as many believed we would grow from good to great, and perhaps end up in something like Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek future, where all need has been eradicated and all live for justice and the good of all.

The problem with this, and with all utopian dreams, is that they are illusions or delusions. They are fantasy constructs of the very sort Schopenhauer and Freud attacked in terms of religion. Despite promethean promises, guru advice, or our deepest sincere desires, wanting it badly enough does not make it so. What kind of a world do we live in? Who and what are we? What is wrong in life and with me? How can anything be improved? These are world and life view questions.

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – The Giver of Life

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“‘Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on’” (Matthew 6:25).

God gives you life and sustains your life.

If you were living in Palestine during the time of Jesus, you might have been concerned about having the basics of life. That’s because there were times when the snows didn’t come to the mountains, and as a result the streams didn’t run. When the streams dried up, there was no water. Crops didn’t always produce either. They were subject to the onslaught of insects, disease, and weather. When the crops didn’t produce, there was famine in the land. And when there was famine, there was also no income. When there was no income, there was no purchase of clothing.

When Jesus spoke the words of Matthew 6:25 to those people on the edge of a parched desert who were totally dependent upon natural resources, it must have been a shocking statement. Our Lord recognized that man, in whatever time he lives, becomes obsessed with the externals.

The externals that Jesus mentioned—food, drink, and clothing—all pertain to the body. The world believes that man lives because of his body, and man therefore lives for his body. But Jesus asked, “Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?” (v. 25). In other words, your body does not give you life but is given life by God, who is the source of all life. Jesus is arguing from the greater to the lesser. If God gives you life (the greater), will He not also provide what you need for life (the lesser)? God gives you life and also sustains your life by providing food, drink, and clothing. Therefore, there’s no reason for you to worry.

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for giving you life and sustaining your life.

For Further Study

Read 1 Kings 19:1-8. How did the Lord provide for the prophet Elijah?

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Saved from Death, Saved for Life 

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For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13

The beauty of poetic language is that, in just a few short words, an entire world of vivid imagery opens up before the reader. In the Psalms, so often we are presented with contrasting but related themes. Today, in just one verse, we are given a potent picture that captures in many ways the whole of our life before God and with one another. Likewise, it is a passage that invites intentional self-reflection and contemplation: is my life in free fall or are my feet grounded on the path of life?

The psalmist here accurately and acutely diagnoses the universal human condition. Due to the sin and rebellion of our first parents, brokenness entered into the world, creating a break in the perfect relationship of love that we once knew with our creator. In a sense, you could say sin pulled the rug out from under our feet! It left us off balance, disoriented, and ultimately free falling away from the love of God and towards a life of separation and isolation.

This is the world into which every person is born. Though our lungs may fill with air and give life to our bodies, apart from the goodness and love of God our souls remain in a free fall towards death. Yet thanks be to God, in his goodness, mercy, and love, he sent his Son to set our feet back on solid ground, teaching us once again how to love and how to live in the light of his life.

I find this central point of our Christian life is so often overlooked and underemphasized. When we speak of salvation, often it is reduced to our salvation from death and separation from God. However, we are never simply saved from death, but we are also saved for new life! As it says elsewhere in the Psalms, God has “set our feet upon a rock.” (Ps. 40:2) Yet the Christian life is never a mere progression from a free fall to safe and secure inactivity. As the very next words of Psalm 40 remind us, the Lord “makes our steps secure.” Our feet are firmly set upon the ground so that we can walk!

God saves us from death, but more gloriously and wonderfully invites us to learn what it means to journey with him, behold him in his beauty, and become more and more like him each and every day.

Prayer: Father, we thank you for saving us from the free fall of sin and death, and ask that you would fill us with your Spirit each day that we might learn what it means to follow you and live in the light of your love.

Application: Are there parts of your journey with Christ that have stalled that you can commit afresh to the Lord?

Related Readings: Isaiah 2:5; Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:7

By Tripp Prince

 

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