I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 89:1
Recommended Reading
Psalm 78:1-4
Speaking a generation ago, evangelist Vance Havner said, “We are suffering today from a species of Christianity as dry as dust, as cold as ice, as pale as a corpse, and as dead as King Tut. We are suffering not from a lack of correct heads but of consumed hearts.”
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Tut-tut…
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you.
Genesis 12:3a
Recommended Reading
Genesis 27:27-29
NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is made up of 28 member nations with 37 other nations involved in NATO programs. NATO was formed in 1949 to defend its members against attacks by nonmembers. The basic idea of such a coalition is: Any attack on one is an attack on all.
God’s covenant with Israel is similar. God will bless all nations who bless Israel and will curse any nation that curses Israel. The ancient nations that attacked Israel have long since been covered over by the sands of time. It is no coincidence that America has been the most blessed and prosperous nation on earth while being the chief ally and defender of Israel since her statehood in 1948. The promises of God regarding His relationship with Israel stand as a stark warning to any nation that chooses to be the enemy of Israel. It would behoove America and all nations to stand beside God’s chosen people and pray and act for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Bless to Be Blessed
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.
Romans 15:30
Recommended Reading
Luke 23:34a
In the sentencing phase of a trial, the judge will often allow individuals to address the court to influence the judge’s decision about the sentence. Some are there to ask for a harsh sentence. But others are there out of love. They understand the need for justice, but they also are there to ask for mercy and fairness.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Love Languages: Pray Your Love
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36
Recommended Reading
Psalm 8:1-9
Scientists are learning more and more about the lives of animals. Primates have been found to use tools; fish have demonstrated memory and emotion; dogs have been trained to detect and point out human cancers. But so far, there is no record of any members of the animal kingdom contemplating their origin or expressing appreciation for their existence and the blessings of nature.
Self-awareness is on the human side of a large gap that separates the human from the non-human kingdoms. Even the psalmist, when contemplating the wonders of man’s place in God’s creation, notes that God created “the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea”—but makes no mention of those animals’ awareness of that fact (Psalm 8:8). Fortunately, humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) with the same self-awareness possessed by God. And our awareness lets us know that Someone else is responsible for our creation and sustenance.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – The God Who Made Us
Today’s Scripture: Galatians 5:6
“In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
There’s an inextricable link between faith and love. It’s impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6) and also impossible to please him without love. This love arises in our hearts only as we, by faith, lay hold of the great truths of the Gospel. To do this, our faith must be constantly nourished by feeding on the Gospel. It’s not the only message we need; we must also hear the requirements of discipleship. But the Gospel is most important because it alone provides both the proper motive and the only enduring motivation to respond to our Lord’s call to discipleship.
Continue reading The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Faith and Love
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 4:15
Famous passages of Scripture are often taken out of context. First Corinthians 13, Paul’s “love chapter,” is such a passage. Why did Paul write his beautiful words about love to the church at Corinth? The answer is simple: They were a carnal, unloving community of Christians! They had an abundance of spiritual gifts, but they used them in unloving ways.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Love Languages: Speak Your Love
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
Matthew 15:19
Recommended Reading
Matthew 15:1-20
Last year the American Environmental Protection Agency allowed an ocean of sludge to pollute Colorado’s Animas River, turning the tributary to a sickening bright yellow. The accident occurred when a crew tried to pump out the polluted buildup of an abandoned mine. The waste overflowed, ruining a hundred-mile stretch of river.
According to Jesus, the human heart is a cesspool of evil, which overflows into our words and deeds. Our world is polluted by the toxic buildup of our hearts. The problem isn’t political, and it can’t be solved by political means. It’s not legal, and all the laws in the world can’t solve it. It’s not educational. If everyone had a doctorate, we’d still have a corrupted culture. It’s not financial; and if everyone were a millionaire, we’d still be in trouble.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – The Yellow River
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.
Isaiah 30:15
Recommended Reading
Matthew 16:24-28
Psychologists are warning we’re losing some basic skills of life by our reliance on mobile devices. People no longer add or subtract, they use the calculators on their phones. We no longer type or keyboard; we punch icons with our thumbs. We don’t worry about memorizing anything; our devices have become our brains. We don’t even think as much because we plug in our earphones and listen to podcasts and music.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Be Still
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23
Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:16-26
In the book What My Parents Did Right! Bible teacher Jill Briscoe wrote of how her parents maintained their commitment to each other without ever considering divorce an option. “My sister and I knew that Mom and Dad enjoyed being married, would stay married, and hoped we’d do the same. Differences they had were kept between them and worked out in the context of the promises they made to each other and to God on their wedding day. There was no option out!”
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – What Marriage Needs
But from the beginning of the creation, God “made them male and female.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
Mark 10:6-8
Recommended Reading
Genesis 2:21-25
As it relates to human sexuality and marriage, no human government can define its terms. Not even the church can do that. Human sexuality and marriage were determined and defined by God before the church came into existence, before the Jewish nation was formed, and before human government was established. The biblical definition of marriage goes back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2, and it was set by God. It was already in place when human government was ordained, when the Jewish nation was established, and the church was born.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Established in Eden
For in [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:9
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 1:3
The first known use of the English phrase “spitting image” was in the 1901 novel Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch by Alice Rice. In her book a character says, “He’s jes’ like his pa—the very spittin’ image of him!” But what does “spitting image” mean? For centuries, versions of the phrase evolved, all involving spittle as a measure of likeness. The earliest versions suggested one person was so like another, it was if he was spat out of the other’s mouth—meaning almost identical.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Spittin’ Image
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Think about what the following words have in common with “love”: address, report, dream, risk, force, joke, license, tour, plan, whisper, stand, peel, hammer, fly, delay, comb, loan, permit, yawn, shape, and judge. All those words are both nouns and verbs, things and actions. And the digital revolution has given us even more: tweet, google, e-mail, text, and others.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Love Languages: Demonstrate Your Love
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:1-4
The story of Jonathan and David in the Old Testament is well known. It is the story of two friends who illustrate the principle of Proverbs 18:24: friends who are closer than brothers. David and Jonathan weren’t related, yet they committed their lives and resources to one another—something brothers might not do. The basis for their friendship was the covenant they made with one another. In their day, a covenant was the strongest form of commitment. The parties would do whatever one another needed.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Closer Than a Brother
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8
Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Imagine walking into a pitch-dark room—no windows, no lamps, no shadows, no light of any kind. You light a single candle and hold it over your head. When your eyes adjust, you can see a bit of what’s in the room. Now imagine that same room with five people with candles—the overall light is brighter. Then imagine ten people with candles, then twenty-five, then fifty. At some point the darkness is overcome by the light.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – One Light at a Time
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:7
Recommended Reading
Isaiah 31:1-3
Has there ever been a more turbulent era in American history? The two political parties seem hopelessly divided, our role in the flammable Middle East seems indefinable, the value of the unborn and marriage drift further from God’s ideal, and our fiscal indebtedness grows by the hour. Yet God remains uninvited into our situation. A nation that proclaims “In God We Trust” seems to put trust in everything but Him.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Man or God?
Then the king said to [Nehemiah], “What do you request?” So [Nehemiah] prayed to the God of heaven. And [he] said to the king, “If it pleases the king . . . .”
Nehemiah 2:4-5
Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:6-7
Stewards are in constant touch with their masters regarding the master’s plans. When it comes to Christian leadership, the same stewardship principle applies—constant communication. Therefore, prayer is the foundational principle for Christian leaders. Prayer is how Christian stewards stay in touch with the Master about His plans.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Constant Communication
So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.
Nehemiah 4:16
Recommended Reading
Nehemiah 4:15-23
In September 2015, one of America’s largest evangelical seminaries refused future employment to a faculty member whose views on marriage and sexuality differed from Jesus’ teachings in Scripture. Imagine the months of research, deliberations, prayer, and counting of costs involved in such a decision. But in the end only one thing mattered: What saith the Lord?
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Stand Guard, Stand Firm
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Recommended Reading
Psalm 1
The neck of a guitar with steel strings has a natural tendency to bend in on itself because of the strong tension of the strings, stressing the instrument over time. Similarly, our natural tendency when faced with challenges and tension is to fold in on ourselves. Challenging situations often feel as though they are tearing us apart and we find ourselves spiraling into worry and fear.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Hand It Over
…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11
Recommended Reading
James 4:7-10
Last fall, an employee at a museum in Washington State tried to feed Stella, a Burmese python. When the creature smelled its dinner of rats, it became aggressive and struck the woman’s leg. Firefighters had to pry the snake loose. The museum’s owner told reporters the woman hadn’t been properly trained to handle the snake.
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Snake Handlers
Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.
Mark 3:14
Recommended Reading
Acts 4:5-13
In 1957, Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb starred in a movie called 12 Angry Men. It’s an unusual film because it’s almost exclusively set in one room, the jury room of a courthouse. For an hour and a half, the cameras pan from face to face as the jurors debate the guilt or innocence of an eighteen-year-old accused of murder. Today 12 Angry Men is considered a classic, and is rated as one of the most inspiring films ever made.
The twelve men who really changed the world weren’t angry, and they didn’t stay in one room—not even the Upper Room. Filled with the Spirit, they took the Gospel to the ends of the earth. When their critics saw them they “perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men …. And they realized they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Strength in Numbers: The Twelve
