Daily Archives: August 4, 2018

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Proven Faith

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1 Peter 1:3-9

Faith is a central element in the Christian life because it is the means by which we enter into salvation. But that’s only the beginning. From then onward, our faith­—or lack of it—shapes our lives and determines what happens to us when the winds of adversity blow. Some Christians learn to hold their footing even in hurricane-force gales, but others are toppled by the slightest gust. To understand why this is true, we need to examine the source of our faith.

Inherited faith. If you grew up in a Christian home, you probably adopted some of your parents’ beliefs. This kind of godly foundation is a wonderful gift from the Lord, but eventually, each person must assume responsibility for his or her own beliefs.

Textbook faith. The Bible is the ultimate guide for establishing our beliefs. But that’s not the only source of influence. Books, preachers, teachers, and friends all impact our convictions. Our theology may in fact be sound, but faith is only mental acceptance until it’s put to the test.

Proven faith. Only when we trust in the Lord through the fires of adversity will we have faith that can stand. Then it’s no longer based on what others have told us or what we’ve accepted as true but is built on our firsthand experience of His faithfulness.

To evaluate your faith, consider how you react to difficulties. Do you cling to the Lord or get angry at Him? Is your attitude one of thanksgiving because He’s making you more like His Son, or are you frustrated? No one can escape hardship, but those with proven faith will benefit from it.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 50-53

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Radical Love

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Read: Luke 14:7–14 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 66–67; Romans 7

When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Luke 14:13

Just one week before her scheduled wedding date, Sarah’s engagement ended. Despite her sadness and disappointment, she decided not to waste the food she had purchased for her wedding reception. She did, however, decide to change the celebration plans. She took down the gift table and revamped the guest list, inviting the residents of local homeless shelters to the feast.

Jesus upheld this sort of no-strings-attached kindness when speaking to the Pharisees, saying, “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed” (Luke 14:13–14). He noted that the blessing would come from God because these guests would not be able to repay the host. Jesus approved of helping people who couldn’t supply charity donations, sparkling conversation, or social connections.

When we consider that Jesus spoke these words as He sat at a meal given by a Pharisee, His message seems provocative and radical. But real love is radical. I’ve heard it said that love is giving to meet the needs of others without expecting anything in return. This is how Jesus has loved each of us. He saw our inner poverty and responded by giving His life for us.

Knowing Christ personally is a journey into His infinite love. All of us are invited to explore “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18).

Dear God, help me to explore the depths of Your love. I want to give to others what You have given to me.

How deep is the Father’s love for us!

By Jennifer Benson Schuldt

INSIGHT

As Jesus attends a dinner party hosted by a “prominent Pharisee” (Luke 14:1), He turns our human desire for social recognition into an opportunity to teach His kingdom values: Don’t seek out positions of prominence but exalt others instead (vv. 7–11). Then He turns that lesson into one tailored for His host: Don’t give a party simply to enhance your own economic prospects or to build your reputation in the community. Instead, give lavishly to those who have a genuine need and cannot repay you (vv. 12–14). This aligns with the Lord’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: “When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets” (Matthew 6:2).

What motivates my giving and my social interactions? Do I serve God’s kingdom values of unconditional love and mercy?

Tim Gustafson

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert for Kids – Shout for Joy

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Isaiah 24:15, The Message

When your favorite team wins a huge victory, you just can’t help shouting for joy. When you are given an important award, you jump up and down in happiness. When you get a gift you have been wanting for a long time, you want to tell all your friends about it. You want to broadcast the good news.

When we take the time to think about all God has done for us, there is so much good stuff that we could certainly shout for joy about it. What has God done for you that could make you jump for joy? Has he healed a grandparent from a scary illness? Has he given your mom or dad a job or a better job? Has he helped you improve your grades or your basketball game when you prayed and asked him?

Even if he hasn’t done any of those things for you, he has made a way for you to go to heaven with him. Also remember that in tough situations, God is doing good things. He loves you even when you act ugly. When you are sick, he may use it to help you rest or to encourage someone else who is ill. Maybe you don’t feel like yelling out loud to God in all situations, but look for reasons to praise him. Something about giving thanks and praise to God out loud makes us feel better.

Dear Lord, As the writer of Isaiah said, “All praise to the Righteous One!” You are my God, and you are mighty. Thank you for loving me. Amen

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Finishing Well

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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. — 2 Timothy 4:7

Adapted from the resource My Time with God Devotional – by Joyce Meyer

It seems to me that I can sense the satisfaction Paul felt in knowing he had finished what he had set out to do. I know that feeling, and I enjoy it very much. I doubt that any of us feel good about ourselves when we give up on something and don’t finish what we begin. I encourage you today to stand strong in faith, knowing that God is with you and that He wants you to go all the way to the finish line.

Even when we are weary and think of giving up, let’s remember the joy we will have when we complete what we have started. God’s grace and power are with us to help us keep going when it is difficult. Paul said it didn’t matter how hard it was or what it cost him, if only he could finish his course with joy (see Acts 20:24). It requires determination, but with God’s help we can do it!

Prayer Starter: Father, help me finish what I have started no matter how challenging it is. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Never Too Busy

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“He will listen to the prayers of the destitute for He is never too busy to heed their requests” (Psalm 102:17).

As a relatively young Christian businessman, I was deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. I was asked to be the chairman of all of our deputation ministry involving more than 100 college- and post college-age men and women who dedicated their lives to serving Christ in the hospitals, jails and skid row missions.

On many occasions it was my responsibility and privilege to speak at various mission meetings attended by hundreds of destitute winos, alcoholics, drug addicts and others who had lost their way and were now in desperate need of help, physically and spiritually. God always ministered to me as well as to them for I seldom spoke to such a group without my heart being deeply stirred. Inevitably I found myself reaching out to these men, poor, dejected, discouraged, many of whom had not bathed for months, and yet I found myself embracing them in the name of Jesus, pleading with them to allow Him to turn the tragedy of their lives into His eternal triumph. Many did and with life-changing results.

But unfortunately, there were far more who refused Christ. I am reminded of one with whom I pleaded to surrender his life to Christ and receive the gift of God’s grace. He had, through the ravages of drink, lost his wife, his children, his business and even his health. He had absolutely nothing left, but his response to my insistence that he receive Christ was, “I cannot, I have too much to give up.” I could hardly believe my ears! God was waiting with arms outstretched, eager to embrace him with His love and forgiveness, to transform his life. Let us never forget that this is God’s desire for every person for He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Bible Reading:Psalm 102:18-28

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Today I will encourage others, rich and poor, old and young, all who are spiritually destitute, to turn to God, who loves and forgives, that they, too may experience eternal and supernatural life.

 

 

http://www.cru.org

Today in the Word

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – Joseph and God’s Plan – A Change of Perspective

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Genesis 38:12–30

In the opening line of his Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin observes, “Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: knowledge of God and of ourselves.” Our Scripture passage today is a story about recognition. Judah comes to know himself more truthfully, which leads to a significant change in his life.

Years passed since Tamar was dismissed by Judah to go back to her father’s house (v. 12). She realized Judah deceived her by not giving her his youngest son in marriage. Cast aside by Judah, she acted in desperation.

The time of shearing sheep was frequently accompanied by parties and social gatherings. When Tamar heard that Judah was coming to Timnah for this festival, she decided to act. She posed as a prostitute, and Judah took the bait. He propositioned her, and she took his seal, cord, and staff as a pledge until her payment arrived. Her scheme succeeded, and she became pregnant with Judah’s child (v. 18).

His lack of sexual restraint stands in sharp contrast to Joseph’s response to temptation in the next chapter.

When Judah discovered that Tamar was pregnant, he responded: “Bring her out and have her burned to death!” (v. 24). Tamar then played her trump card. She used the same words that Judah and his brothers said when showing the bloody garment of Joseph to Jacob: She asked Judah to “recognize” the seal, cord, and staff she had taken (v. 25).

The deceiver had been deceived. Judah’s response is a model of repentance and change. He acknowledged his wrongdoing, and as we’ll see later in the story, for the rest of his life he was a changed man.

APPLY THE WORD

The sons of Tamar and Judah are Perez and Zerah. Perez is an ancestor of David (see Ruth 4:18). The Gospel of Matthew reminds us that Perez is also in the line of the Messiah, Jesus (see Matt. 1:3). God can use and redeem every part of our lives, even what we’ve deemed shameful or embarrassing. Praise Him for His redemption in your life!

http://www.todayintheword.org