Daily Archives: March 19, 2017

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley –What Does It Mean to Be “Saved”?

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Psalm 25

How does a person become acceptable to God? The path to redemption begins not with the decision to live a better life or to stop doing something wrong, but with the realization that we cannot correct our sinful nature. To find favor with the Lord, we must grasp that it’s impossible to make ourselves righteous. Instead, we need to depend on the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. When we trust in Christ as our Savior, God the Father applies the benefit of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice to our sin debt, thereby making us saved—that is, acceptable in His eyes.

Your good works and righteous acts are of absolutely no value in the mind of God. Compared to others’ actions, your generosity and good works might seem like enough to bring favor with the Lord, but Scripture tells us salvation is “not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:9). When you stand before God, the only way you can be forgiven of your sins is through Christ and His sacrificial, substitutionary atoning death at Calvary. The Savior came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Jesus’ crucifixion was a public demonstration of God’s hatred for sin and immense love for mankind. He who was blameless bore the penalty for all in order that wicked, corrupt people could be made righteous.

No matter what you have done, you can be cleansed of the stain left by sin. Confess any known transgressions to the Lord and turn from them. Then Jesus will forgive you and write your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life (1 John 1:9; Revelation 21:27). By trusting in Him, you are assured of eternity in His presence.

Bible in One Year: Judges 18-19

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — A Small Fire

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Read: James 3:3–12

Bible in a Year: Joshua 1–3; Mark 16

The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.—James 3:5

It was a Sunday night in September and most people were sleeping when a small fire broke out in Thomas Farriner’s bakery on Pudding Lane. Soon the flames spread from house to house and London was engulfed in the Great Fire of 1666. Over 70,000 people were left homeless by the blaze that leveled four-fifths of the city. So much destruction from such a small fire!

The Bible warns us of another small but destructive fire. James was concerned about lives and relationships, not buildings, when he wrote, “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark” (James 3:5).

But our words can also be constructive. Proverbs 16:24 reminds us, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” The apostle Paul says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6). As salt flavors our food, grace flavors our words for building up others.

Through the help of the Holy Spirit our words can encourage people who are hurting, who want to grow in their faith, or who need to come to the Savior. Our words can put out fires instead of starting them. —Bill Crowder

Lord, I can always use help with the way I talk. For this day, help me to speak words of hope and encouragement to build up others.

What will our words be like today?

INSIGHT: Foolish words are likened to a powerfully destructive “scorching fire” (Prov. 16:27), and the deadly weapons of war, the “flaming arrows of death” (26:18). Jesus said that our words come from our hearts and reveal if we are good or evil. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45). How can you use words that will delight God and bless others? Sim Kay Tee

 

http://www.odb.org

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Getting What We Want

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Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.—Proverbs 3:5-6

I usually know what I want, and I like to get it. I’m exactly like most people. When we don’t get what we want, our negative feelings flare up. (And remember those feelings began with thoughts.)

“I drove across town to buy that dress, and you’re out of my size?”

“What do you mean there are no HD TVs left? You advertised it in the paper.”

Most of us are like that—and when we don’t get what we want, we make people around us miserable. It’s not something we learn in school—it may be inborn.

As I wrote the above quotations, I thought of a scene in the grocery store. A young mother was pushing her cart along and stopped at the cereal. Her child—less than two years old—reached out for a box. “Want! Want!”

“No,” the mother said. “We have plenty at home.” She put a different box of cereal in the cart.

“Want! Want!” the child said. Getting no response, she began to kick and scream. To the mother’s credit, she did not give in but pushed the cart to another aisle and distracted her child.

Continue reading Joyce Meyer – Getting What We Want →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Not Hard at All

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“Loving God means doing what He tells us to do, and really that isn’t hard at all; for every child of God can obey Him, defeating sin and evil pleasure by trusting Christ to help him” (1 John 5:3,4).

I believe that we are on the threshold of witnessing the greatest spiritual revival in the history of the church. I believe that the Great Commission will indeed be fulfilled before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19,20).

Today, however, because of the subtle ways of the world system, there are more carnal Christians than at any other time in history. But the Bible tells us that the tide will turn and that the church will soon enter its finest hour.

We are beginning to see that turning of the tide. More and more Christians are discovering how to live supernaturally in the power and control of the Holy Spirit. The gospel is being spread throughout the world by many committed Christians who are determined, by faith, to help fulfill the Great Commission in this generation, whatever the cost.

I do not know anyone, however, who loves this world system who has ever been used of God in any significant way. There is nothing wrong with money and other material success. However, we are to wear the cloak of materialism loosely. We are to set our affection on Christ and His kingdom, not on the material things of this world.

The Lord left us with this wonderful promise…”every child of God can obey Him, defeating sin and evil pleasure by trusting Christ to help him”. Inviting Christ to help us is our decision to make. It is simply a matter of the will.

Bible Reading: I John 5:1-8

TODAY’S ACTION POINT:  I will obey God and trust Christ to defeat sin and evil pleasure in my life, so that I can live a supernatural life and help take His gospel to all men throughout the world.

 

http://www.cru.org

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Honest with Us about Sin

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“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Have you ever been told: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it!”? If you have, it was probably your parents stopping you from saying something mean to your brother or sister!

Sometimes the things God says to us in His Word do not seem very nice. In fact, sometimes God says very honest and serious words that can be hard to hear. Have you ever wondered why sometimes it seems like God says mean things about people in His Word? Here are some of God’s words to us about ourselves:

“The heart [of man] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9)

“For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

“There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:3)

These are very hard things to hear, but God says them. People often say, “The truth hurts.” But sometimes the truth is the best possible thing for you.

What if you had a dentist appointment, but the dentist who examined your teeth would not tell you what he was seeing? Imagine that he looks into your mouth and says, “Hmmm.” You would not want to be left in the dark if he sees something wrong. You might say, “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Now, what if the dentist sees that you have a very bad cavity. He would know that your cavity needs to be fixed before it causes you lots of pain and trouble. But what if he were afraid to upset you with the bad news, so he just says: “Well, everything looks great! I’ve never seen someone with such great teeth! See you next year at your checkup!”

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Honest with Us about Sin →

Today in the Word

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – WE FACE DEATH

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Read romans 5:1-20

Many people feel uncomfortable in cemeteries. Psychologists say it is closely tied to our fear of our own mortality. When we see a gravestone, we may feel the emotional loss tied to the death of a loved one. We may be reminded that we too will one day die.

Although much of Romans 5 is spent discussing sin and death, the apostle Paul begins by assuring us of peace and hope. We can experience “peace with God” through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf (v. 1). The word peace describes our present condition, and hope looks forward, past our own physical death, to eternity.

Verse 12 describes the central problem for humanity: we have all sinned, and because of sin we all face death. The apostle Paul contrasts the sin we inherited through Adam with what we were given through Christ. The death of Jesus, on behalf of the ungodly, is very rare indeed (v. 7). Christ did not die because we had somehow proved ourselves worthy. Rather, He died for us as we were—sinners (v. 8).

Note the difference between Adam’s actions and Christ’s. The consequence of Adam’s sin was death. Physical death and sickness are a common part of our existence. But this sin also resulted in spiritual death or separation from God. Death “reigned” (v. 14) from the time of Adam onward. The act of Adam had grave consequences, but the act of Jesus on the Cross brought grace (v. 15). The gift of Christ counteracted physical and spiritual death. By rising from the dead, Jesus conquered the grave and guaranteed eternal life.

Every one of us will face physical death. The grave is a bitter reality. But through Christ, we have been given the extraordinary gift of eternal life.

APPLY THE WORD

Graveyards are a stark reminder that none of us will live forever. Does the thought of death fill you with fear or hope? Be assured that you can have a hope for eternity guaranteed by God. When you believe in Christ as your Savior, you can be assured that when your body dies, you will be present with the Lord. Trust in Him today!

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – God Expects Respect 

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A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?’ Says the LORD Almighty.   Malachi 1:6

Almighty God expects respect due His name, for He is your heavenly Father, your Lord and Master. The quantity of respect due Him makes respect to the monarchs of this world look minuscule. This is one reason followers of Jesus attend church; it honors Him. Worship, teaching the Bible, and fellowship with other followers of Christ show respect for the Lord. It may be subtle but people slip into a role reversal when they expect respect from people on earth, while they extend little or no respect toward heaven. Because of your honor and admiration of Him, you can’t help but exclaim His goodness and glory.

Respectful people are quick to extend respect. They do not sit back and wait for respect, but take the time to offer it. So, love God as your heavenly father and submit to Him as your Master. It is disrespectful to disregard the things of God and drive ahead in your own strength. However, respect slows down, listens to the Lord, and connects with Christ’s wisdom. You show respect by relishing your role as follower and God’s role as leader. Be respectful by way of regular prayers and following His voice of reason. Respect for the Lord leads to respect for others. This is a natural place to grow in your respect for people.

“Your loving kindness leads to respect. Wisdom says, “A kindhearted woman gains respect…”(Proverbs 11:16a).

People are all made in the image of their Maker, and they long for respect. The DNA of your soul regularly requests respect. So, start by receiving respect from the One who is entitled to all respect. God honors His children, and He respects you as the apex of His creation. He does not disrespect His own; you are a work of His grace and a reflection of His glory. Once you receive God’s respect, give it to others, even when they are disrespectful.

Respect does not mean you mutter in disagreement on the inside and smile on the outside. It means you voice your concerns and conflicting ideas clearly, concisely, and with a spirit of humility and calmness. Respect resists attacking people and instead challenges assumptions and processes, so it goes a long way in relational growth. There is a good chance a wife will experience deeper love at a more consistent level when she respects her husband.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – God Expects Respect  →