Daily Archives: February 20, 2024

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — God’s Wise Purposes

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Bible in a Year :

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

Psalm 13:1

Today’s Scripture & Insight :

Psalm 13

The United Kingdom brims with history. Everywhere you go, you see plaques honoring historic figures or commemorating sites where important events occurred. But one such sign exemplifies the droll British sense of humor. On a weathered plaque outside a bed and breakfast in Sandwich, England, a message reads, “On this site, Sept. 5, 1782, nothing happened.”  

Sometimes it seems to us that nothing is happening regarding our prayers. We pray and pray, bringing our petitions to our Father with expectation that He’ll respond—right now. The psalmist David expressed such frustration when he prayed, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). We can easily echo those same thoughts: How long, Lord, before you respond?  

However, our God is not only perfect in His wisdom but also in His timing. David was able to say, “I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (v. 5). Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us, “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time.” The word beautiful means “appropriate” or “a source of delight.” God may not always respond to our prayers when we’d like Him to, but He’s always working out His wise purposes. We can take heart that when He does answer, it will be right and good and beautiful.

By:  Bill Crowder

Reflect & Pray

When have you prayed for something and felt that perhaps God was ignoring your requests? What lesson might you have learned in that time of waiting?

Loving God, please help me to learn a patience in prayer borne of trust in You.

http://www.odb.org

John MacArthur

Grace to You; John MacArthur – The Measure of Grace

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 “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20).

God will lavish grace upon sinners who are truly repentant.

Did you ever sin so terribly that you felt, I really blew it this time. There’s no way God would want to forgive me now? It’s easy sometimes to let our past sins be a constant burden to us, even after we’ve confessed and repented. Paul has comfort for those who feel this way, and that comfort is founded on the power and measure of God’s grace to us. Before his conversion, Paul (then known as Saul) persecuted the church mercilessly (see Acts 8:3 and 9:1-2). He was “a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” (1 Tim. 1:13; see also Gal. 1:13). If anyone could be beyond grace, it was Paul.

But God intervened and saved him (Acts 9:3-19). Why? “For this reason,” Paul says, “I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost [sinner], Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Tim. 1:16). If God would forgive Paul, He will forgive anyone who will confess their sins and repent. If He would show abundant grace to a violent unbeliever, He will also shower grace upon His penitent children.

God is not stingy with grace. Paul celebrates God’s saving “grace, which He freely bestowed on us” (Eph. 1:6), and “the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us” (vv. 7-8). Speaking of sustaining grace, Paul says, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Cor. 9:8). Notice the words Paul uses: “all grace,” “abound,” “all sufficiency,” “everything,” “abundance,” “every good deed.” God’s grace is inexhaustible and is given so freely that words cannot express it fully.

Great sins require great grace, but God will give super-abundant grace to those who seek forgiveness, for “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20). Don’t let your past sins weigh you down; learn to rest upon God’s super-abundant grace.

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask God to teach you to understand His grace more fully and help you forget “what lies behind” (Phil. 3:13).

For Further Study

Read Romans 6.

  • What is Paul’s argument here?
  • How are we to live now that we have received God’s grace?

From Strength for Today by John MacArthur

http://www.gty.org/

Uncategorized

Joyce Meyer – Guided by Peace

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And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds]….

— Colossians 3:15 (AMPC)

We often ask, “How can I know what God’s will is?” There are several ways that God speaks to His people, and peace—or the lack thereof—is one of the primary ways. Peace in your soul confirms that your actions or intended actions are within God’s will for you; it acts as an umpire, calling the “plays” or choices you’re making as right or wrong for you.

We make huge mistakes and put our futures in jeopardy when we move forward with things without having peace in our hearts about them. It is always best to wait to do anything until we are assured that it is pleasing to God.

There is also the principle of what I call “stepping out to find out.” We may never know what we are to do unless we begin to move in a certain direction. When we do, we will quickly discover whether peace and grace are with us to continue in that direction or perhaps to go another way. Always let the peace of God rule in your heart, and your life will be fulfilling rather than disappointing.

Prayer of the Day: Father, thank You for peace. Guide me by peace into Your perfect will for me. Teach me to wait on You until Your peace fills my heart as I make decisions. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Alistair Begg

Truth for Life; Alistair Begg – Anxiety’s Antidote

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.

Philippians 4:6–7

If I told you to write down all that you’ve been anxious about this week, or even today, I imagine you would have a substantial list. I know I would. And yet the word of God says to us, “Do not be anxious about anything.” How, then, are we to respond when we find ourselves feeling choked in a battle with anxiety?

Paul says that the antidote to suffocating anxiety is prayer and thanksgiving. This response isn’t natural. In fact, it goes directly against the tendencies of our sinful hearts. Most of us find it considerably easier to retreat into a corner and complain, or to chew over worrying circumstances in an effort to control them, rather than to bring anxiety-inducing matters before God in prayer. How easy—and how fruitless—it is to choose to sit and stew, allowing anxiety to paralyze us instead of getting down on our knees and crying out to Him.

Prayer swallows up the question “How am I going to cope with this?” by pointing us away from ourselves and to God’s provision. Prayer turns our focus toward God, who is totally competent, who knows our needs intimately, and who will give us either what we ask or something better than we can imagine. And a thankful heart helps us confront without bitterness the question “Why has this happened to me?” by helping us remember God’s promises. He always acts with purpose, fulfills His plan, and knows exactly what He’s doing.

Some of us had parents who would act as our alarm clocks when we lived at home. When we needed to wake up at a certain time in the morning, all we had to do was tell our father or our mother, and we were confident they would wake us. All that was left for us to do was sleep! This is the kind of response Paul wants from us in the face of anxiety. We are to go directly to our heavenly Father and say, “Will you take care of this for me?” And God always answers, I’ve got this. Trust Me.

When we understand that God is in control of all things, we’ll bring all of our struggles and challenges to Him. The peace He provides will be a stronghold for our hearts.

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though close friends should fail us and foes all unite,
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The promise assures us, “The Lord will provide.” [1]

So why not write out that list of things you’ve been anxious about this week? Then pray about them, taking those situations to the throne of heaven and leaving them there. And then next to each item you can write what God says to you: I’ve got this. Trust Me.

Questions for Thought

How is God calling me to think differently?

How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?

What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?

Further Reading

1 Peter 5:6–11

Topics: Anxiety Faith Peace Prayer

FOOTNOTES

1 John Newton, “Though Troubles Assail” (1775).

Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg

http://www.truthforlife.org

Kids 4 Truth

Kids4Truth Clubs Daily Devotional – God expects us to think rightly toward others

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“And let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.” (Zech 7:10b)

It seems that brothers and sisters are naturally good at annoying their siblings. It is natural to love our family members, but sometimes it is hard to like them. Brothers and sisters seem to know just the right buttons to push in order to annoy one another. Our God is not like that. Think about it. What would we think of God if He were the kind of God Who would say “devise evil against your brother”? Our God does not say that. No way! He says, “let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart”! God is holy, and He has an opinion about the secret thoughts you have toward your brothers and sisters.

Right now, you may have no desire to be “pals” with your brother or sister. When they grow older, though, brothers and sisters often become the closest of friends. You might never dream that you could be good friends as grown-ups, even if your family ends up spread out all over the country. In fact, you might think, “No way! Impossible!” When you are in the middle of an argument, you can think only of ways to get back at that brother or sister. You might even feel tempted to think of him or her as your enemy!

In His sovereign wisdom, God has placed us in the families and neighborhoods and churches where we live. We may not have perfect families. We may not even like some of our family members! But to spend time dreaming up ways to make them miserable–that is the opposite of God’s command. When we do these things to the people God has put in our lives, it is like we are telling God that He made a mistake and that He should have given us better people to live with.

In our natural sinfulness, we react against people–especially if we believe they have hurt us or wronged us. If we think people deserve punishment, we want to deal it out to them. And we cannot change our minds about people on our own. Where does that kind of heart change come from? What helps brothers and sisters change from enemies into friends? It is not what, but Who: God changes our hearts. God shows us how much He loves us, and then He shows us how much we should love the people He has given us. God tells us in I John 4:20, ” If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

When we refuse to think evil toward others, we honor God for His wisdom and goodness. And He can help us think rightly toward one another. When God changes your heart, you will not want to spend your time thinking of ways to hurt people. Ask God to forgive you of sinful thoughts toward Him and others. God will change your heart and help you obey His word!

We honor and obey God when we think rightly toward others.

My Response:
» Do I think of ways to get back at people?
» Do I ask for God’s help to change my mind about others?

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – “Couple to Throuple” normalizes polyamory: Responding with secular evidence for biblical morality

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Have you heard about the latest relationship “reality” show?

Couple to Throuple is airing on Peacock. It tells the story of four couples who are curious about polyamory (“many loves”) and head to a resort where they begin dating a group of singles. This is just one way many in our secular culture are working overtime to promote “consensual non-monogamy” through books, cover stories, and other articles extolling its virtues.

As I have noted before, the ongoing sexual revolution follows a four-step strategy:

  1. Normalize aberrant behavior.
  2. Legalize.
  3. Stigmatize those who disagree.
  4. Criminalize such disagreement.

It is obviously best to respond as early as possible. To this end, what can those of us who believe in biblical morality say to persuade those who endorse and normalize polyamory?

Is polyamory “relationship suicide”?

I doubt that you need me to remind you that the Bible forbids sexual relationships outside the lifelong covenant of one man and one woman in marriage (cf. Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; Galatians 5:19).

But what about those who don’t care what the Bible says?

As a cultural apologist, I am called to declare and defend biblical responses to the critical issues we face today. This work often begins with the apagogic task of demonstrating the flaws in the worldview to which I am responding.

To this end, let’s note what is objectively wrong with polyamory, with links to articles by secular counselors and other professionals:

  • Polyamory prevents “the depth of intimacy human beings really want and need” that can be accomplished only through “deep commitment” to a single individual.
  • It raises enormous issues for children: “If one parental figure were to leave, and there wasn’t the institution of marriage stopping them, it can be extremely devastating for the child.”
  • Some argue that polyamorous families offer more love for the children, but in one counselor’s experience, they actually feel themselves to be less of a priority and learn that “significant people are replaceable.”
  • Many who engage in polyamorous relationships do so to avoid intimacy, hedge against real vulnerability, and sidestep adult responsibility.
  • According to one counselor, polyamory is “simply one more technique of conflict avoidance and problem escapism to the external.” She warns that “polyamory is a detrimental non-solution for marriages, it is relationship suicide and a problem just waiting to negatively impact the emotional welfare of children.”
  • A writer who tried polyamory said it did not work for her because of jealousy issues, power plays within the triad, and a deep sense of loneliness over not being someone’s primary love.

The best predictor for happiness

Now let’s pivot to the positive: Are there secular arguments in favor of the biblical version of marriage?

I just finished a fascinating and deeply researched book on the subject by University of Virginia sociologist Brad Wilcox. In Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization, he demonstrates conclusively that nothing predicts happiness better than a strong marriage between one man and one woman.

Here are some key facts:

  • Those who are married are nearly twice as likely to say they are “very happy” as those who are unmarried.
  • Both men and women who get and stay married accumulate much greater wealth than people who don’t marry or remarry.
  • Married men and women with families report more meaningful lives compared with their single and childless peers.
  • Married adults report much lower levels of loneliness than single parents and those who are single and childless.
  • Children from intact families (where their biological mother and father are still married) are far more likely to graduate from college and have far fewer problems at school. They are also far less likely to go to prison and far less likely to be the victims of abuse.
  • Parents are much less lonely and much more likely to say their lives are meaningful and happy than non-parents.
  • Those who believe marriage is for life are far more likely to be “very happy” in their marriage.
  • Married couples who regularly attend religious services together are more likely to say they are “very happy” with their marriage, “very happy” with their sexual relationship, and “very satisfied” with life than couples who do not.

Unsurprisingly, God’s word turns out to be right yet again. So, be encouraged: when you declare and defend biblical morality, you are offering others the truth they desperately need. When you live by that morality personally, you are showing them the reality and relevance of your faith.

To do both, ask the Holy Spirit to make you holy and to use you to help others be holy. A. W. Tozer was right:

“When we have the Holy Spirit we have all that is needed to be all that God desires us to be.”

If you’re a Christian, you “have the Holy Spirit” right now (1 Corinthians 3:16).

How fully does he have you?

Note: In addition to The Daily Article, Denison Ministries produces First15, a daily devotional experience with God; Foundations with Janet, a Bible study resource for individuals and small groups; and Christian Parenting, resources to help parents raise children to know and love the Lord. These ministries are intended to work collectively to build a movement of culture-changing Christians as a catalyst for spiritual awakening and more transformation. I encourage you to try them today.

Tuesday news to know

Quote for the day

“There is not one instance in all of God’s word where God advocates or celebrates sex outside of a marriage relationship between a husband and wife. Not one.” —David Platt

Denison Forum

John Hagee

Hagee Ministries; John Hagee –  Daily Devotion

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Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14

“And the two shall become one flesh” is not without challenges! Many couples falter early in their marriages because they lack wise counsel when navigating the transition of two individuals merging to become one unit.

The friends that we choose at this important juncture have the power to determine our future. A source that shares good, Godly counsel can determine a successful outcome.

Good counsel can be found in those couples who have negotiated this process successfully. They possess the experience and expertise that comes from charting a path through difficult, unknown waters. They have trusted God to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). They have held onto one another to discover the depths and richness of seasoned married love.

Titus 2 encourages the more mature women to be “teachers of good things” – to nurture the younger women so that they will know how to love their husbands and children well, create happy homes, and be good wives.

The older men are exhorted to model dignity, wisdom, faith, and endurance. By following their example, the younger men will learn discipline. In this way, how we live will enhance – not detract – from the Gospel message that we carry. Seek out the Godly counsel that leads to success!

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you seek Godly counsel to build a strong marriage. May you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ so your marriage flourishes and thrives!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 9:7-10:20

New Testament 

Mark 4:26-5:20

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 37:29-40

Proverbs 10:6-7

https://www.jhm.org

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Gospel Conversations

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This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
Acts 2:32

 Recommended Reading: Acts 5:29-32

As we grow in Christ, we learn to engage in Gospel conversations with people. Norman Geisler wrote, “If we have God’s heart, we will do whatever we can to advance His kingdom purposes in every conversation we have with our nonbelieving friends…. Once our heart is right with God, we can begin to talk to people in a more effective way so that many may believe.”1

It’s important to bring our Christian maturity into every relationship. People must see us as different—and different in ways they want to emulate. Then we look for opportunities to say a word, even if it’s as simple as: “I’ll pray about that for you.” The time will come when we can say: “Let me tell you about a verse I found today in the Bible,” or, “We’re having a concert at my church this weekend. Would you be able to come?”

As we try to live a godly life, we must remember we are God’s platform. Thank God for the opportunities that come your way and ask Him to keep you sharp enough to see them. 

Evangelism is every day and in every way helping your nonbelieving friends to take one step closer to Jesus Christ. 
Norman Geisler

  1. David Geisler and Norman Geisler, Conversational Evangelism (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2009), 17.

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Greg Laurie
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Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – God’s Greatest Creation

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 

—Psalm 139:16

Scripture:

Psalm 139:16 

Without question, people are God’s greatest creation. We are His crowning achievement. In fact, the psalmist David wrote about the intricacies of the human body that God created. He said, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it” (Psalm 139:13–14 NLT).

David continued, “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (verses 15–16 NLT).

As we look at Scripture, it appears that God has a plan for each of us, even before we were conceived. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The Lord gave me this message: ‘I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations’ ” (Jeremiah 1:4–5 NLT).

These verses, among others, certainly lay to rest any warped concept that the Bible would somehow allow for abortion.

This masterpiece of God’s creation, the human being, is incredible. Scientists estimate that adult human bodies contain 16 trillion cells, all carefully organized to perform life’s various functions in harmony.

Consider these statistics about the human body and the amazing things it is capable of: The nose can recognize 10,000 different aromas. The tongue has about 6,000 taste buds. And the brain contains 10 billion nerve cells. Each nerve cell connects to as many as 10,000 other nerve cells throughout the body. In fact, the body has so many blood vessels that the combined length could circle the planet two and a half times.

God has custom-designed each of us with our own DNA blueprint, which every cell contains. And if you were to write out your individual blueprint in a book, it would require an estimated 200,000 pages. God, of course, knows about every word on every page.

We have the astounding capacity to store millions of bits of information, keep it in order, and recall it when necessary. We are “wonderfully complex,” as Psalm 139 tells us. And God’s plan for those who put their faith in Christ is even more amazing. We don’t have to be afraid because His motive is always love for us.

Ephesians 2:6–7 tells us, “He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus” (NLT).

God wants to spend all of eternity revealing to us His kindness, goodness, and grace. He wants to spend eternity showing us how much He loves us.

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie
Days of Praise

Days of Praise – How to Please the Lord

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9)

In this verse, Paul expresses the strong desire to be “pleasing to” (the idea behind “accepted of”) the Lord Jesus Christ. It should likewise be our own ambition—whatever we do and wherever we are—to please Him. This, of course, will make a difference in what we do and where we go!

The Scriptures give us a number of specific ways in which we can be confident of pleasing Him. For example, “we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). That is, our criterion should be pleasing Him—not ourselves. Similarly, we are warned that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). That is, our thoughts and deeds must not be governed by worldly considerations.

By suffering, willingly, for His sake, we can please Him. “If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable [‘well-pleasing’] with God” (1 Peter 2:20).

“Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). We must walk by faith if we would please the Lord. This is not faith in the abstract but specific truth—faith to believe the revealed Word of God and to act on that faith.

God is pleased with generosity. “But to do good and to communicate [to share what we have with others, for His sake] forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). This certainly includes sharing the gospel as well as our material possessions. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

Finally, when our ways please the Lord, we have this gracious promise: “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). HMM

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6