Daily Archives: August 26, 2017

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley –The Truth Can Set You Free

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Ephesians 1:3-6

All of us have probably enjoyed times when we were selected for some honor or given an assignment that we considered special. Though such moments pale in comparison, they can remind us of the deep joy that comes from knowing we belong to Jesus forever.

How sublime it is to realize that before the foundation of the world, God chose us to be part of His family! This choice—which means we were divinely selected to become conformed to the likeness of Christ—undergirds and defines our identity as God’s children. It stands as a great rock that stabilizes us when fears multiply and anxieties attack.

In spite of this, however, many believers become unsettled when they think about their own sin nature. Knowing God will condemn all sin, they become fearful that the condemnation of the wicked might fall on them. At the same time, Satan is forever whispering in our ears accusatory remarks about our behavior. He preys on our feelings of worthlessness. When this happens, we need to remind him—and ourselves—of God’s Word, which assures us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).

Remember that the Father has marked you as one of His own. You are somebody very special to God. In fact, you are so dear to Him that He sent His only begotten Son into a sinful world to die on the cross so that you and I could be near to Him (John 3:16). This is pure, unadulterated grace, for which we should praise Him unceasingly.

Bible in One Year: Lamentations 3-5

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — The Snake and the Tricycle

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Read: Luke 1:1–4

Bible in a Year: Psalm 119:89–176; 1 Corinthians 8

I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning.—Luke 1:3

For years, I had retold a story from a time in Ghana when my brother and I were toddlers. As I recalled it, he had parked our old iron tricycle on a small cobra. The trike was too heavy for the snake, which remained trapped under the front wheel.

But after my aunt and my mother had both passed away, we discovered a long-lost letter from Mom recounting the incident. In reality, I had parked the tricycle on the snake, and my brother had run to tell Mom. Her eyewitness account, written close to the actual event, revealed the reality.

The historian Luke understood the importance of accurate records. He explained how the story of Jesus was “handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses” (Luke 1:2). “I too decided to write an orderly account for you,” he wrote to Theophilus, “so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (vv. 3–4). The result was the gospel of Luke. Then, in his introduction to the book of Acts, Luke said of Jesus, “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive” (Acts 1:3).

Our faith is not based on hearsay or wishful thinking. It is rooted in the well-documented life of Jesus, who came to give us peace with God. His Story stands. —Tim Gustafson

Father, our hope is in Your Son. Thank You for preserving His story for us in the pages of the Bible.

Genuine faith is rooted in reason.

INSIGHT: Luke was a highly educated physician in the Greek academic tradition. As a result, his word choice and grammar are eloquent and descriptive. Today’s reading is an introduction to his narrative of the life of Christ. We can be assured that what Luke writes is not based on hearsay but is deeply rooted in a well-documented eyewitness record of Jesus as the Christ. Luke acknowledges that other trustworthy biographies of Jesus of Nazareth had preceded his account. But he felt compelled to write his own eyewitness narrative. It’s interesting to note that the book is addressed to Theophilus, which in Greek means “lover of God.” Most believe Theophilus was an actual person, but others say this name is a term that could refer to any of us who are lovers of God and yearn to learn more about His dear Son.

How does knowing eyewitnesses wrote the Gospel accounts of Christ encourage you in your spiritual life?

For further study read Beyond Reasonable Doubt at discoveryseries.org/q0411. Dennis Fisher

 

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Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert for Kids – High and Low

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Luke 4:1–2

Have you ever noticed that after you’ve had a “high” day like a birthday or passing a test or a vacation, sometimes you have a “low” day? On high days everything seems to be going great and you are happy. On low days nothing seems to go right. You are grumpy and sad and you may not even know why.

Everyone has high days and low days. Jesus had a wonderful day when he was baptized by his cousin John in the Jordan River. The Bible says he was full of the Holy Spirit, and being full of the Holy Spirit makes you feel great. But immediately, the same Holy Spirit led him out into the desert, and there the Devil came to visit him and to tempt him. It was an awful time for Jesus. So how did he get through it? He responded to every temptation by quoting God’s Word, and the Devil finally gave up and left him.

So when a high day comes your way, don’t be surprised if a low day follows. And when the low day comes, believe that it will go away in time. Hide God’s Word in your heart for those low days, and use it to help you resist the temptations that you face.

Dear Lord, I love high days, and I wish they could stay all the time. I hate low days, but help me to realize they won’t last forever. Help me to hide your Word in my heart for those low days. Amen.

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

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

Today in the Word

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – EYES, LIGHT, PASSION, AND TREASURE

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Read MATTHEW 6:19-24

Eyes have more than two million working parts. They involve about half the brain in the act of seeing. They are the second most complex organ (after the brain). Eye muscles are the most active in the entire body, as well as the strongest (relative to their size). Specific types of cells enable us to see shapes and colors. And while a fingerprint has 40 unique characteristics, an iris has 256.

Today’s passage begins with the idea of storing up treasure in heaven (vv. 19–21). Earthly treasures are at risk of decay and theft. Heavenly treasures are eternal and cannot be lost or destroyed. We should prioritize and prize the heavenly ones, seeking after them rather than pursuing earthly goods. Good deeds and acts of obedience can make us “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).

This truth about heavenly treasure can only be seen with clear spiritual eyes or understanding. “Healthy” and “unhealthy” eyes are analogous to “generosity” and “stinginess.”

Just as physical eyes let in the light by which we see material reality, only clear spiritual eyes can see the folly of riches. Just as a blind person lives in the dark physically, so coveting or trusting in wealth is living in the dark spiritually. Just as seeing affects everything else, our attitude to money ripples into many other areas of life: “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (vv. 22–23).

This one point is crucially important. “No one can serve two masters” or have divided loyalties (v. 24). God and money are mutually exclusive in this sense. We live in the most affluent society in history, so we should take this warning to heart!

APPLY THE WORD

Putting our hope in earthly riches is futile (see Eccl. 5:8–17; Luke 12:13–21). Wealth can be a strong temptation against faith in God (Matt. 19:24). It can also easily lead to greed, pride, abuse of power, and other sins. What is our attitude toward money and finances? Do we see it as an area of stewardship under the Lordship of Christ?

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Wisdom Hunters

A Wisdom Hunters – Good Imitation 

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Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.   3 John1:11

Imitation of good is good, but imitation of evil is bad. So look for the good in others and compliment them with imitation. When you copy another’s character, you extend an affirmation of who they are. You validate them when you follow their example. They are encouraged and you are equipped to live a better life. Everyone is happy when imitation of good is applied. But be discerning in your imitation of others. A smile does not assure that someone is good. People may be friendly only for their own sake. A religious person does not guarantee good. Probe their motives for being good, and beware of self-righteousness and performance-driven living.

However, when you discover a good person, you have a gift. Honor them with respect and recognition, and give God the glory for their goodness. If you want to grow as a giver, pray for generous givers whom you can follow. Pray for people from whom you can learn, and emulate their goodness in giving. If you want to grow in your marriage, be around married people who put God first and their spouse second. You are wise to imitate the healthy habits of good people because you can’t be good alone. You need good examples to educate you. Goodness is relative, so make sure their goodness is from God.

Authentic goodness is from God. The Holy Spirit creates godly goodness in the heart of Christ-followers. It is a goodness orchestrated and motivated by Almighty God. Goodness without God is sentimental, shallow, and has no eternal consequences. It is only when your goodness promotes God that you are genuinely good. The God factor is what gives goodness depth and breadth. His goodness travels from one generation to the next. The goodness of God penetrates the hardness of hearts and the most evil of circumstances. It transcends cultures and language. This quality of goodness goes a long way in living, governing, leading, and relating well. When you imitate goodness given by God, you embrace a life with positive eternal consequences.

So, above all else, imitate the goodness of God. Look at the life of Christ and, by God’s grace, seek to imitate Him. Jesus is your model for goodness. Taste the Lord and see that He is good (Psalm 34:8). The goodness of God satisfies your hungry heart. Be cautious not to do good deeds without first receiving the goodness of God in Christ. Your benevolent behavior promotes eternal good only when Christ has conditioned you. Godly goodness flows from the inside out. It is an internal imitation with eternal outcomes. Therefore, imitate good, so when others imitate you they imitate a good thing. Imitation of good begins by receiving Christ into your heart by faith.

The Bible says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me wisdom to imitate good and reject evil in Jesus’ name, amen.

Application: Who’s negative influence do I need to cease being influenced by and from whom do I need to learn from their positive example?

Related Readings: Deuteronomy 18:9; 2 Kings 17:15; 1 Corinthians 4:15-17; 3 John 1:11

 

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