Daily Archives: August 5, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Honour the King

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My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels, for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?
Proverbs 24:21-22, NLT

Recommended Reading: Romans 13:1-7

One of the Pharisees’ attempts to entrap Jesus concerned paying taxes to Caesar. If Jesus said it was wrong to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees would have reported Him to the Roman governor. If He said it was appropriate to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees would have accused Him of being disloyal to God. His answer negated their attempts at entrapment: pay to Caesar what is owed to Caesar and pay to God what is owed to God (Matthew 22:15-22).

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we are told to honor both God and the king (Ecclesiastes 8:2-5; 1 Peter 2:17). Paul gives the most detailed explanation in Romans 13:1-7 where he says that civil rulers have been established by God. Therefore, to rebel against civil authority is to rebel against God. He says that civil authorities are God’s ministers who commend right behavior and punish wrong behavior.

We may not always agree with civil authorities, but we are to honor them just as we are to fear the Lord (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

All the world’s thrones are occupied by rulers under God’s authority.
John Blanchard

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Family in God

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Don’t you know me, Philip . . . ? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9

Today’s Scripture

John 14:5-11

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

“What makes you smile when you think about your son?” That was my question for Clarence—a younger man I was mentoring. The proud father proceeded to share some of his bright four-year-old’s accomplishments. One particular detail left me amused. Not only does the child have his father’s first and last names, but he already looks so much like his father that he can unlock his father’s smartphone using facial recognition!

In John 14, Jesus made it clear how closely He resembled His Father. When an inquisitive Philip requested, “Lord, show us the Father” (v. 8), Jesus responded, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (v. 9). How was it that the Father was revealed through the Son? It was through Jesus’ “words” (v. 10) and “works” (v. 11) that God’s love, mercy, grace, and more were brilliantly displayed.

Empowered by God’s Spirit, believers in Jesus are privileged to share family likeness. The invisible God becomes visible through His children. Regarding Christlike love, John reminds us, “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:12 nlt).

Reflect & Pray

What is it about your words and deeds that remind others of Jesus? How might you pray about the Holy Spirit working in and through you to bring honor to God the Father and Christ the Son?

Dear Father, please strengthen me to love Jesus, and to live like Him and for Him.

Today’s Insights

The beginning of John’s gospel describes those who don’t see Jesus for who He is: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (1:10-11).

Yet Christ had expectations for those who were closest to Him—those who’d heard His words, who’d seen and experienced His works. He rebuked His disciple for not recognizing Him: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” (14:9). When we honestly and prayerfully evaluate the words and works of Christ as seen in the Gospels, the Spirit can open our eyes and hearts regarding His identity as God’s Son and the King of Kings, and we’ll be welcomed into the family of God (1:12-13). When we become children of God, He can help us make Jesus visible to others through our words and actions.

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – What does the Bible say about Democratic Socialism?

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If you’re like me, the word “socialism” carries connotations of the Soviet Union’s oppression of its people and Cold War nuclear threats. You’re aware that China’s Communist government operates a socialist market economy and that Cuba and North Korea are led by “socialist” dictators. During my frequent visits to Cuba over the years, I often saw billboards proclaiming “¡El socialism vive!” (Socialism Lives!).

Those who call themselves “Democratic Socialists” in America would decry all of that. They are adamant that they are not Communist or in favor of authoritarian dictatorships. The word “Democratic” is important to their self-understanding.

So, what is “Democratic Socialism”? What does it want to do? Why is it growing more popular in the US? And what does the Bible say about its beliefs and cultural relevance today?

What is Democratic Socialism?

As Time reports, “There isn’t one universal definition of democratic socialism.” The writer is correct: it would take many pages for me to describe in detail the various versions of this movement. We can, however, find a succinct description on the website of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA):

Continue reading Denison Forum – What does the Bible say about Democratic Socialism? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – God Will Meet You Where You Are

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 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. 

—Psalm 18:25–26

Scripture:

Some of the most exciting passages of Scripture involve theophanies, occurrences when God made Himself known in observable and tangible form. What’s especially fascinating about these encounters is how God appeared to different people in the Bible. To Abraham, He came as a traveler. According to Genesis 18, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one day when three messengers arrived. Two of the messengers were angels; the other was God Himself. Centuries later, Jesus commented on the encounter. “Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56 NLT). Why did the Lord come to Abraham as a traveler? Because that’s what Abraham was: a traveler.

According to Joshua 5:13–15, on the night before the Israelites began their siege of Jericho, God appeared to Joshua as the commander of the Lord’s army. Why? Because Joshua was the commander of Israel’s army.

According to Genesis 32:22–32, when God appeared to Jacob, He came as a wrestler. Verse 24 says that God “wrestled with him until the dawn began to break” (NLT). Why did God choose that guise? Because Jacob was always fighting, conniving, resisting, and wrestling to get what he wanted.

Maybe you can relate to Jacob. Maybe there’s something you want from God, perhaps even a good thing, such as the salvation of a loved one. Maybe you’re tired of being single and want to get married. Or maybe you want to serve God in a ministry. Don’t resort to conniving, because you may get what you want, but at a great cost. Jacob got what he wanted and paid dearly for it. I believe that if he had waited on God, he would have received what he needed and what God had promised. And perhaps God would have appeared to him in a different form.

These three biblical accounts reveal an amazing truth about our heavenly Father. He meets us where we are. That’s not to say you can expect a theophany in your life. You don’t need one. If you’re a believer, you have something better. God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. That’s what Jesus was talking about when He told His disciples, “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you” (John 16:7 NLT). God communicates to us from within, through His Spirit. And He does it in ways that resonate powerfully with us, just as He did with Abraham, Joshua, and Jacob.

The bottom line is this: God wants to do His will in your life in His way and in His time. If you need something from God, be patient and wait on Him. God will meet you wherever you are to lift you to where He wants you to be.

 

Reflection question: When has God met you where you were? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Practicing What We Preach

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by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)

Christ’s life matched His teachings, and so must ours. Consider, for example, Christ’s teaching that we should “pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This is matched by His prayer for His tormentors while on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Elsewhere, He taught that our circle of influence should be greater than those of like thinking (Matthew 5:47), a fact that caused His detractors great consternation (Luke 15:2). He taught that our prayers should not be done so that “they may be seen of men” (Matthew 6:5), and the gospels record several times where He went “into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35; see also Mark 6:46). Christ placed great value on children, as we see in Matthew 18:6, and later He welcomed them (Matthew 19:14). He taught Peter to forgive “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22) and later forgave Peter for his continued denials (Mark 16:7).

Christ advocated paying taxes (Mark 12:17) and later enabled Peter to pay tribute for both of them (Matthew 17:27). He taught that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15), and He Himself had “not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). Likewise, He placed great store in aiding the poor (Luke 14:13), both in teaching and in practice (Matthew 14:13–21). Perhaps His teaching “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) is best illustrated by His tender prayer for those who would soon take His life as He hung on the cross for the very ones responsible for His death (our text), all the while dying for them.

May God grant us the strength to follow not only our own teachings, but His teachings as well. JDM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Protect Your Hope

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Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

1 Peter 5:9 (AMPC)

All of us will deal with disappointments from time to time—that’s part of life. However, if we let it, our disappointment can lead to discouragement, and discouragement can lead to despair and depression.

I’ve said this for years: If you don’t let the devil impress you with what he does, then he can’t oppress you, and if he can’t oppress you, then he can’t depress you. When depression attacks, we usually feel like giving up, but how we respond to it makes all the difference.

One of the most important things we can do is resist the devil at his onset (1 Peter 5:9 AMPC). It’s so important to resist the feeling of depression immediately, because the longer we allow it to remain, the harder it is to resist.

While we can’t control all of our circumstances and won’t be completely free of pain or disappointment, we don’t have to let today’s struggles ruin our hope for tomorrow.

Prayer of the Day: God, there are times when I feel like giving up, like I can’t do it anymore, like things will never be good again. The next time that happens, help me rebuke the devil at his onset. Remind me not to be impressed by him, because the battle is Yours and You’ve already won, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Strength to Ride the Storm 

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Play

Do you feel it is you against the world? Not so, my friend. Outnumbered by foes and outdone by fear? Please reconsider. Surrounded by adversity? Perhaps. Yet, you are also encircled by divinity. With God’s help you can ride these raging rapids with unbreakable courage.

Immovable. Determined. Square-jawed and resolved. Like the prophet Elijah who “…went and did according to the word of the Lord…” (1 Kings 17:5 NKJV). Elijah affirms a positive answer to these questions: Can a person maintain faith in a world that has little? When a culture belittles belief, can a believer beget strength? Yes! With God’s help, we will discover strength to ride this storm, an unbreakable courage and steadfast faith.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – I Will Help You Speak

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Read Exodus 4:10–17

Public speaking is an important—even essential—skill for leaders. A confident leader uses speech to articulate vision, impart training, motivate team members, persuade thinking, and inspire trust. Yet, public speaking is also a significant fear for many people. According to several studies, about 75 percent of us suffer from glossophobia (the fear of public speaking).

Clearly, public speaking was a key part of the role to which God called Moses (Ex. 3, 4). First, Moses would need to persuade the elders of Israel that God had appeared to him, articulating His exit plan (3:16). Then, God instructed Moses to go—with the elders—to the king of Egypt and ask him to release the Israelites for a three-day worship retreat (3:18). God warned Moses upfront that the king would refuse (3:19), at which point God would display His power through the plagues (3:20).

But even when presented with God’s comprehensive plan, Moses doubted his own credibility (4:1). So, God also provided Moses with multiple, miraculous proofs that would demonstrate his supernatural authority (4:2–9). However, even then, Moses voiced an objection: “I am slow of speech and tongue” (4:10). Did he have a speech impediment? Was he just inexperienced and fearful? ? Regardless, God responded with a series of rhetorical questions, emphasizing His own ability to work through the limited gifts of His faithful servants.

Powerful public speaking requires insightful thinking, coherent organization, and compelling language. It incorporates the poise and presence of the speaker, as well as their eye contact, gestures, and voice. But the most effective public speaking ultimately depends on God-given truth and Spirit-filled delivery.

Go Deeper

Are you a confident speaker? Have you experienced God’s calling to speak to or even in front of others? How did He work through your weakness?

Pray with Us

Jesus, we do not want to get in the way of the messages You want us to communicate. Grant us the courage to speak Your truth with bold confidence.

I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.Exodus 4:12

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/