Tag Archives: faith

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The Potter and the Clay

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Read: Jeremiah 18:1-23

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:1-4

We have commented in previous messages about the many things God uses to teach his people, these remarkable visual aids which appear from time to time in this book whereby God imparts lessons to this prophet. Jeremiah was sent down to the potter’s house, and there he saw three simple things, conveying to him a fantastic lesson. You may have observed the same things that Jeremiah did, for the art of making a pot has not changed through the centuries. The wheel is now turned by an electric motor, but that is about the only difference. Even this is still controlled by the foot of the potter. The clay is the same as it has always been. The potter is the same, with his capable hands, working to mold and shape the clay into the vessel he has in mind.

What did Jeremiah see in this lesson? First there was the clay. Jeremiah knew, as he watched the potter shaping and molding the clay, that he was looking at a picture of himself, and of every man, and of every nation. We are the clay. Both Isaiah and Zechariah, in the Old Testament, join with Jeremiah in presenting this picture of the potter and the clay. In the New Testament we have the voice of Paul in that great passage in Romans 9, reminding us that God is the Potter and we are the clay. So Jeremiah saw the clay being shaped and molded into a vessel. Then some imperfection in the clay spoiled it in the potter’s hand, and the potter crumbled it up, and began anew the process of shaping it into a vessel that pleased him.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – The Potter and the Clay →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – God’s Call Includes a Place Prepared for Us

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Read: John 14:1-7

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (v. 2)

The houses we constructed in Mexico were very simple. Built on 18-by-20-foot concrete pads, they have two small bedrooms and one common room. There is no plumbing. Despite their simplicity, these houses feel like a mansion to families that previously slept in lean-to tents, in overcrowded homes, or on the street.

In addition to the standard bedding provided by the local mission agency, we brought extra items to make the house feel more homey. This included tables and chairs, plates and silverware, curtains to provide some privacy for each room, and window treatments.

Once everything was prepared, we dedicated the home. We gathered in a circle outside and each volunteer said a few words of blessing to the family and then we presented them with the key. Once inside, we again prayed for God to bless them and their new home. Tears flowed freely from everyone, men and women, on our team.

As great as this experience was, it is only a glimpse of what joy those who have confessed with their mouth and believed in their heart will experience in heaven (Rom. 10:9-10, 13). Jesus is preparing a place for us now. A place we can call our eternal home with all the trimmings.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for preparing a place in heaven for me. May I help others to also find a room.

Author: Rob Donoho

 

https://woh.org/

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Patient

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“And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him [Elijah], and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” (1 Kings 19:7)

Do you ever feel tired and grumpy? Maybe you have heard your mom or dad make excuses for your little brother’s or sister’s bad behavior (or maybe even your own!) with phrases like these: “He’s just tired. It’s way past his bedtime.” Sometimes our bodies are so worn out that it becomes hard to keep from acting in grumpy and sinful ways.

The prophet Elijah understood the feelings of tiredness, hunger, and depression. In 1 Kings 19, he was so down in the dumps that he wanted to die – and he told God just that. There he was, sitting in the middle of a dry, rugged wilderness, his only shelter one lone juniper tree. He had no food for his next meal, and he could not go back to civilization to find any, because wicked Queen Jezebel had her soldiers out waiting to snatch him up and deliver him dead on her doorstep. Elijah felt sorry for himself and complained to the Lord. Maybe he was thinking to himself phrases like these: I can’t take it anymore! Just take my life. I’ve got nothing to look forward to, so I might as well lie in a grave next to my ancestors.

It is not hard to feel sorry for Elijah. He was not just tired or hungry; someone was even trying to murder him! But this is the same prophet Elijah who in just the previous chapter had boldly asked God, in front of thousands of people, to send down fire from heaven and had seen God answer his request. This is the same Elijah who had pleaded with God to send rain on a famine-stricken land, and God had answered! And now what does Elijah do? Does he confidently ask God to protect him from Queen Jezebel? Does he boldly ask God to provide him with just a little something to eat? No! Elijah forgets all about God’s past deliverance and instead, complains.

Because God is holy, He never condones sinful behavior. But the way God responded to Elijah teaches us a lot about His patient character. God could have easily struck Elijah down with an immediate and painful death for the way he sinned by faithlessly complaining. But instead, verse 5 tells us that God treated Elijah gently, waiting, allowing Elijah to sleep, in the meantime sending an angel to give Elijah freshly baked bread and a jar of cool water.

Then God showed his might to Elijah through a strong hurricane-like wind, and then an earthquake, and then a huge fire. But when God finally did speak to Elijah, he didn’t yell angrily, or even lecture him sternly. Instead, 1 Kings 19:12 tells us that God’s answer to Elijah came in “a still, small voice.” God had patiently waited for Elijah to regain some physical strength. And when He finally did correct Elijah for his “pity party,” He simply gave Elijah his next assignment with hardly a rebuke at all.

God is often patient with people, even when they deserve a sharp rebuke.

My Response:

» Have I thanked God for being patient with me today?

» Am I being patient with others, even if I think they are reacting wrongly to their circumstances?

 

http://kids4truth.com/home.aspx

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – From Repentance to Blessing

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 4:7

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

David’s experience is very helpful to us in the relationship of repentance and grace: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:1-5).

Here David first stated his conclusion, as he spoke of the blessedness of being forgiven. Then he explained that blessedness by acknowledging his own guilt and his miserable condition before he repented. But with genuine repentance came the deep assurance that he was forgiven. In sequence of time, the blessedness actually came after his repentance and assurance of forgiveness. But just as we often do, David gave the “bottom line” before explaining how he got there.

We must do as David did if we want to experience God’s grace in our failures at mortifying sin. It’s not that repentance earns God’s forgiveness. Only the blood of Christ does that. God, however, does deal with us as a loving but firm father deals with his children. He accepts us unconditionally because we are his sons and daughters in Christ, but he disciplines us for our good. And in the administering of his discipline he withholds the assurance of his forgiveness until we, through repentance, are ready to receive it.

 

https://www.navigators.org/Home

The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Praying with God’s People

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Today’s Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. – Acts 4:24

There is a great amount of space given in the Bible regarding the fact that individuals should pray. We read of the prayers of Abraham, David, Jacob, Daniel, Solomon, Paul, and others–even Jesus Himself. But there is also a lot of instruction that we should pray together.

When Peter was thrown unjustly into prison, the church was not led to organize a protest but to organize a prayer meeting. The Bible says, “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5).

What makes group prayer meaningful and profitable? Here are a few tips that might add new life and spark to your prayer meeting. First, pray loud enough for others to hear so they can pray along with you. Second, don’t spend half the time discussing what to pray about. I know it’s helpful to list some specific needs, but don’t take the bulk of the time doing it. Third, pray about common needs. As a general rule, people get their hearts into those petitions that affect them as well–a missionary the church supports, a need in the Sunday school, a sickness suffered by a member of the class, and so on.

This next “don’t” is very important. Don’t hang your dirty linen out for all to see. If it involves someone else, go to the individual involved and get right with that person. Jesus taught, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you…first go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Praying with others is a part of worship we must exercise faithfully.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the privilege I enjoy of lifting my voice freely in corporate prayer. Amen.

To Ponder

God delights to see His children gather for prayer.

 

https://www.navigators.org/Home

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE TRINITY AND THE POWER OF GOD

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Read MATTHEW 12:22–32

Reasonable Faith, an organization led by philosophy professor William Lane Craig, “aims to provide in the public arena an intelligent, articulate, and uncompromising yet gracious Christian perspective on the most important issues concerning the truth of the Christian faith today.” Through scholarly articles, podcasts, debates, videos, and social media, this organization uses reason and logic to support and defend God’s truth.

When the Pharisees accused Him of performing miracles and driving out demons by the power of Satan, Jesus used reason and logic to refute their claim and instead prove that His power and authority were divine. To drive out demons in Satan’s name was an absurd idea. Why would a kingdom fight against itself? But if Jesus did these miracles with the power of a different and greater kingdom—God’s kingdom—shouldn’t they be responding very differently?

Sadly, the Pharisees’ hypocritical hearts were spiritually closed. They were grasping at straws, trying to find a way to ignore the signs and to avoid admitting that Jesus was the Messiah. As He said, because they were not for Him, they were against Him.

The significance of their accusation, and of Jesus’ identity, is shown by the fact that He cited the other two Persons of the Trinity in His response. Jesus had come in His Father’s name. It is His kingdom Jesus proclaimed and His power by which Jesus did miracles of healing. When He drove out demons, it was by the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees’ accusation was therefore against all three Persons of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Spirit. To call the Son’s work, done in the Spirit on behalf of the Father’s kingdom, satanic? That’s a sin worthy of damnation (vv. 31–32)!

APPLY THE WORD

Many today are pursuing their own priorities with no thought for God’s kingdom or following Jesus. They might not understand our choices to bring glory to God through the ways we use our time, money, or energy. When you are questioned on these issues, remember that standing with God is the safest place to be!

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Becoming a Patient Person

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Acts 25:1-16

Paul demonstrated the power of patience when he was brought to trial before Festus. Instead of letting his accusers’ false claims interfere with his calm demeanor, the apostle patiently went through the legal process while remaining faithful to the Lord. He refrained from attacking the opposition or decrying the injustice of the charges. His peaceful manner found favor with the governor and earned him a hearing for the gospel (Acts 25:24-25).

Because our “flesh” is inclined towards impatience, we need to seek God during difficult situations. We can ask Him to take control over our…

Thoughts. It is important that we shift our attention away from the circumstance and onto the Lord. His Spirit will help us gain the right perspective.

Emotions. When the Holy Spirit oversees our feelings and reactions, we will find ourselves becoming calmer. Then He will empower us to respond in a godly manner.

Speech. Asking Him to help us have self-control over our tongue is essential. A timely word can defuse a situation; speaking defensively or shouting angrily at the other person can inflame it (Prov. 15:18).

The Holy Spirit will answer our prayers and provide what we need, just as He did for Paul.

Patience requires self-control and a desire to please God. Paul had need of both. Despite the injustice of those situations, Paul held his ground and was not provoked. Imagine what God will do through you as you grow in the virtue of patience.

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 15-17

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — When We Don’t Understand

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Read: Isaiah 55:6–13 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 87–88; Romans 13

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Although I depend on technology every day to get my job done, I don’t understand much about how it works. I turn my computer on, bring up a Word document, and get to work on my writing. Yet my inability to comprehend how microchips, hard drives, Wi-Fi connections, and full-color displays actually function doesn’t get in the way of my benefiting from technology.

In a sense, this mirrors our relationship with God. Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us that God is far beyond us: “ ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ ”

God would not be worthy of our worship if He could be understood by our wisdom.

Even though we don’t understand everything about God, that doesn’t prevent us from trusting Him. He has proven His love for us. The apostle Paul wrote, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Trusting that love, we can walk with Him even when life doesn’t make sense.

Heavenly Father, thank You that although I cannot comprehend You, I can know You. I’m grateful. Remind me that even though You and Your ways might be beyond me, I can always count on Your love for me and Your presence with me.

Share your story of God’s faithfulness on ourdailybread.org/story.

God would not be worthy of our worship if He could be understood by our wisdom.

INSIGHT:

Isaiah had the unenviable task of proclaiming the sin of Judah and foretelling the impending Babylonian exile. His message, however, is not without hope. Verses eight and nine say quite a bit when seen in light of their context: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” Even though the Israelites are facing exile and are in the throes of judgment, God’s grace still shines through.

 

http://www.odb.org

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Giving Generously to the Lord

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“‘Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’” (Matthew 6:20).

The believer is to be generous in his giving.

The early church was not interested in accumulating great wealth for itself. In Acts 2, for example, thousands of pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. When Peter preached the gospel on that day, 3,000 persons became believers, and soon afterward thousands more were added to the church. The pilgrims who became believers didn’t want to return to their former homes since they were now part of the church. So the believers in Jerusalem had to absorb them. Since many of the inhabitants were undoubtedly poor, the early church had to give to meet their needs. As a result, believers “began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need” (Acts 2:45). The early church illustrates what it means to lay up treasure in Heaven.

Like the early church, we are to lay up for ourselves treasure in Heaven (Matt. 6:20). What is our treasure in Heaven? In a broad sense it is “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). We could say that, above all, our treasure in Heaven is Christ.

In a specific sense, Jesus is referring in Matthew 6:20 to money, luxury, and wealth. He is saying that to lay up treasure in Heaven is to be generous and ready to share the riches God has given to us, instead of hoarding and stockpiling them. By being generous, you expose yourself to the full potential of all that eternal life can mean. First Timothy 6:18-19 says you are “to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for [yourself] the treasure of a good foundation for the future.” The more you send into Heaven, the greater the glory when you arrive. The greater the investment, the greater the reward. Make it your aim to invest for eternity, where you will never lose your reward.

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask the Lord to help you be generous toward others who are in need.

For Further Study

According to Galatians 6:10, to whom are we to do good?

 

http://www.gty.org

Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Together, Forever, on the Streets of Gold: Unity in Heaven

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You . . . have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Revelation 5:9

“Immigration” is presently the hottest geo-political word in the world. America is trying to solve the question of undocumented aliens entering without legal permission. And Europe is wrestling with additional millions who are fleeing persecution and war in their Middle Eastern homelands.

Recommended Reading: Colossians 1:9-29

“Birds of a feather flock together” is a truism for a reason. Human beings prefer the comfort of familiarity to the discomfort of changing surroundings—including new languages, customs, and religions. But in heaven, God’s original vision for humanity will be restored. Humanity will be unified, on the basis of faith in Christ, as a physical body that manifests the spiritual body we are on earth. Christians will be redeemed “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” on earth. That doesn’t mean our “tribes” and “tongues” will be preserved in heaven. It does mean that the fears we have now of “others” will be erased as we are united in love for eternity.

Better to live now as we will live in heaven—immigrants united as one in Christ.

You must therefore live, in the present, as far as possible like you will live in the future. 
N. T. Wright

Read-Thru-the-Bible: Jeremiah 31 – 36

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Key to Fulfillment

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Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways and set your mind on what has come to you. – Haggai 1:5

God has a great big, wonderful, fulfilling life planned for you and me, but if we are stubborn (see Exodus 33:3) or hard-hearted, then we will miss what He has for us. Stubbornness and refusal to hear and obey God’s voice keeps us set in our ways and unable to make progress. When we find ourselves in this condition, we often fail to stop and ask ourselves what the problem is.

Today’s verse recounts a time when God’s people were dissatisfied and experiencing many problems, so God told them to consider their ways. Many times when people are not fulfilled in life, they look everywhere except within themselves to find the reason. If you are unfulfilled in your life, do as God told the Old Testament people to do and “Consider your ways.” Ask God to speak to you about “your ways,” and pay attention to what He says. I have had to do this many times, and I have had to make changes in my thinking, my motives, or my behavior as a result. As I considered my ways over time, I found I was stubborn, hardheaded, opinionated, proud, and many other things that kept me from making progress. But, thank God, He has changed me! I pray He keeps on changing me and never stops.

I want everything God wants me to have and nothing He doesn’t. I belong to Him and so do you. He wants you to have a happy, blessed, wonderful life, full of satisfaction and fulfillment. If you aren’t living that kind of life, take time to consider your ways; ask God to show you what needs to change; and then do what He tells you to do.

God’s word for you today: Don’t be afraid to face the truth about yourself, because it sets you free.

From the book Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – A Matter of the Will 

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“If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself” (John 7:17, KJV).

At the conclusion of an address I gave at M.I.T., a skeptical young man approached me. He said, “I am a scientist. I can’t believe anything that I can’t see. I must be able to go into the laboratory and test a proposition or a theory. I must prove its authenticity before I will believe and accept.

“Religion,” he said, “is a matter of faith. It has no substance and, as far as I’m concerned, no validity.”

I turned to the seventh chapter of John, verse 17 – our Scripture portion for today – and asked him to read it aloud.

“Do you understand what Jesus is saying here?” I asked.

“Well, I’m not sure,” he replied. “What is your point?”

“Your problem is not your intellect, but your will. Are you willing to do what God wants you to do? Are there relationships in your life that you’re not willing to surrender in order to do the will of God? Are there moral problems, problems of integrity that you are not willing to relinquish?”

An odd expression came over his countenance.

“How did you know?” Then he said, “I’d like to talk to you privately.” Later, as we sat together alone, he poured out his heart to me. He said, “I know that what you’re saying is true. I know that there’s a God in heaven, and I know that Jesus Christ is His Son and that He died on the cross for me.

“But,” he said, “there is sin in my life. I have been living with a young woman without the benefit of marriage for the last couple of years. Today you have exposed me for what I really am – a fraud, a sham, a hypocrite, and I want with God’s help to terminate my present relationship with this young woman and receive Christ into my life.”

I am happy to report that, soon after, he and the young woman both surrendered their lives to Christ and were married. Together they are making their lives count for the glory of God.

Bible Reading: John 7:14-18

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Today I will confess – and turn from – all known sin that keeps me from knowing and doing the will of God. I will also share this message with others.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The True Sabbath

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Read: Jeremiah 17:19-27

But if you are careful to obey me, declares the Lord, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials…. But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses. Jeremiah 17:24, 27

What a strange message to send! Why is God so concerned about the Sabbath all through the Bible, from beginning to end, and especially here in the last days of this nation? Why is it the Sabbath he focuses on? It is amazing how this message about the Sabbath has been distorted in the understanding of men in the church through the ages.

The Sabbath, you remember, began when God ceased from the work of creation and rested on the seventh day. He ceased from all his works. He tells man all through the Scriptures that this is a picture of the life of faith and trust in him. That life of faith is to cease from your own works and trust in God to work for you. That is keeping the Sabbath. All the ceremonials and rituals which gathered around this day are only to illustrate to us what God is getting at. In the book of Hebrews he says, …for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:10 RSV)

Continue reading Ray Stedman – The True Sabbath →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – God’s Call Creates Unity

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Read: Titus 3:1-11

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent

and profitable for people. (v. 8)

Paul’s advice to Titus is still good advice to us today. As Christians we often see opposition to our worldview. The same was true in Paul’s day. That’s why Paul emphasized the need for unity and for good works. We won’t change the world by winning an argument. The kind of change the world needs to see is the body of Christ standing unified while loving one another and showing love for the world through acts of service.

Our church was going through a period of disunity during the Mexico mission trip due to a decision to terminate the contract of one of our pastors. Disagreement over this decision also divided our mission team.

But no one raised the issue during the mission trip. All of the volunteers focused on serving the homeless by building houses. All of us put our individual preferences and opinions aside to focus on fulfilling our call. In doing so, we experienced great unity.

What an important lesson for us. Serving others releases us from focusing on ourselves and creates a spirit of unity in Christ that may not have existed before.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, forgive me when I make my preferences and opinions more important than loving others. Help me to focus on others by doing your good works in a spirit of unity.

Author: Rob Donoho

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Was Jesus God?

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I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.—Revelation 22:13

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1–2 KJV).

In the original text, there is not a definite article before the word “beginning,” meaning you cannot pinpoint the moment in time where there was a beginning. This verse stretches back in time to eternity past—farther than our minds can imagine.

Before there was a world, before there were planets, before there was light or darkness, before there was matter, before there was anything but the Godhead, there was Jesus.

Jesus Christ: coequal, coeternal, coexistent with the Father and Holy Spirit. He was “with God” and He “was God.”

Yet, Jesus did not stay in the safety of heaven. Jesus became “Deity in diapers.” He entered our world. He breathed our air. He shared our pain. He walked in our shoes, and then some.

He lived our life and then He died our death.

Jesus did not become identical to us, but He did become identified with us. In fact, He could not have identified with us more closely than He did. It was total identification without any loss of identity, for He became one of us without ceasing to be Himself. He became human without ceasing to be God.

The Bible is clear in pointing out that Jesus Christ was and is God Himself. Even before the creation of the universe, Jesus was always there, as God without beginning or end.

Jesus said of Himself, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:13 NKJV).

With this in mind, there is no question that Jesus, who is our all-powerful God, can help us in our time of need.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Gives Wisdom

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“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

Michael’s parents were late picking him up from school, so he walked down the hall to Mr. Bruce’s classroom to wait until they came. Mr. Bruce was the 10th grade teacher at Michael’s school, and he had the most interesting room! Michael and the other 4th-graders were never sorry when they had to wait a little longer if it meant being able to visit Mr. Bruce!

Michael found a desk and plopped himself down. Then he started to look around Mr. Bruce’s classroom. Right away, the bulletin board caught his attention. There was a poster of a man with lots of books around him. The man looked like he was thinking really hard and that he was writing something important. Next to the poster were these words: “Lack wisdom? Ask God! James 1:5.”

Wisdom. What is wisdom anyway? Michael really wanted to know, so he decided to ask Mr. Bruce. “Mr. Bruce, what does your bulletin board mean? I don’t understand it.”

“That’s a great question, Michael!” replied Mr. Bruce. “It’s a wonderful promise God has given to us! Let me read the whole verse out of the Bible to you. It’s from James 1:5: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.'”

“Oh. That verse is full of all kinds of big words I don’t know!” exclaimed Michael.

“Well, let’s see if I can explain it to you in an easier way,” said Mr. Bruce. “Having wisdom means knowing how to decide what is right and good. And if you lack something, well, to lack means that you need something that you don’t have. So the first part of the verse says that if you need help with knowing about doing the right thing, you can ask God. But the verse says more than that. God gives wisdom ‘liberally’ and He doesn’t ‘upbraid’ us. If someone is a liberal giver, he’s not stingy. And to upbraid someone means to scold him, or give him a hard time.”

“Like my sister Tracey does when I ask her if she’ll help me with my homework?” asked Michael.

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – God Gives Wisdom →

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Made Perfect

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Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 12:22-23

“You have come . . . to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”

Although the Spirit is at work in us to transform us, our sinful nature opposes him every step of the way. We find we still struggle with indwelling sin. “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want” (Galatians 5:17, NIV). A continuous conflict wages between two opposing forces in our hearts. When we want to do good, evil is right there with us (Romans 7:21). We struggle with pride, selfishness, impatience, a critical spirit, a sharp tongue, a lack of love, and countless expressions of our sinful natures.

We’ll have this struggle as long as we live in these bodies. It’s painful because we’re at war within ourselves, and continually we have to say no to sinful desires. It’s sometimes humiliating as sinful traits reveal themselves to our consciousness. Sometimes we soar into the heavenlies with Christ in our morning devotions, only to come crashing down with a thud before nine o’clock through some conflict with another person.

We long to be released from this warfare, and one day we will be. In Hebrews 12:22-24, a quick preview of heaven as it is now, we read of “the spirits of the righteous made perfect” (verse 23). This is a reference to believers of all ages whose spirits are now with Christ in heaven, and who are now “made perfect.” The sinful nature that now clings to our spirits like dirty, wet clothes will be done away with, and our spirits will be completely conformed to the likeness of Christ. This happens immediately at death when we go directly into the presence of the Lord. (Excerpt taken from The Gospel for Real Life)

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – True Religion

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Today’s Scripture: Zechariah 7-8

They would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. – Psalm 78:36-37

In Zechariah 7:4-6, we read: “Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: ‘Ask all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?’”

God questioned the heart motive behind their religious practices. And then in verse 9: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’” You see, the real issue is not fasting or feasting, but a commitment to live in a way that pleases the Lord.

As I studied this passage, I thought of a man I knew in high school and served with in the Marines during World War II. After the war, we returned to our hometown in Iowa and continued to pal around. We were pretty wild in those days. But this guy had a practice I thought was strange. After a wild week of rough living, he went to church on Sunday and made his confessions. Then it was back to another week of drunken brawls and wild parties. Even though I wasn’t a Christian at the time, I wondered if his confession was genuine, and I questioned in my heart if it was doing him any good.

The end result of our fasting, confession, Bible study, church attendance, and every other religious practice should be a life that brings honor and glory to God.

Prayer

Lord, keep me from empty religious ritual, and help me to live in close relationship with You. Amen.

To Ponder

How has last Sunday’s church service affected your life this week?

 

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE FATHER IS REVEALED IN THE SON

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Read MATTHEW 11:25–30

In Beholding the Glory: Incarnation Through the Arts, Trevor Hart wrote of the necessity of Christ becoming human: “[I]n order for God to transfigure our broken humanity it was necessary for him to lay hold of it in all its brokenness. . . . He redeemed it [our humanness] through a moment to moment Spirit-filled obedience, offering his humanity to his heavenly Father in a continuous sacrifice of praise and worship which culminated in the cross and resurrection.”

The Incarnation gives us a glimpse of the shared purpose of the Trinity, which is key to understanding Jesus’ mission of redemption. As He proclaimed in today’s reading, the Father is revealed in the Son. As John had reflected in the prologue to his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1:1). When “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14), it was the best possible revelation of God—because the Word was God!

The Father and the Son have perfect knowledge of one another. The Father reveals the Son to whomever He chooses, and the Son reveals the Father to whomever He chooses. Israel’s religious leaders were not included, for they had failed to respond in faith to clear signs that the Messiah had arrived. Jesus called a motley band of followers that included several fishermen and a tax collector!

Verses 28 to 30 are well known, but how do they connect in context to the Father-Son relationship? When the Father reveals the Son, and the Son reveals the Father, and we respond to God’s grace in humble faith. Note that this response gives us rest. God does not call us to achievement-driven anxiety or works-oriented legalism but to peace and calm.

APPLY THE WORD

Praying the words of Scripture can enrich our lives; people have prayed the psalms and other Scriptures for centuries. Beginning with Jesus’ prayer in verse 25, thank God for His self- revelation in His Son. Thank Him that you received His grace. And thank Him that salvation provides rest, peace, and assurance rooted in God’s love.

 

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Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert for Kids – It’s All Good

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Romans 8:28

If ever there was a story of how God can take the worst stuff that happens to us and turn it to good, it is the biblical story of Joseph. Joseph was the second youngest son of Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons and when Joseph, the little guy, said that one day he would rule over his brothers, they got angry. They threw him in a pit then sold him to the first caravan of traders that came along.

Those rotten brothers told their father that Joseph had been eaten by wild animals. It broke Jacob’s heart. But Joseph was not dead. He was beginning a new life in Egypt. First, he was a lead servant in the household of Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife told lies about him, and he wound up in prison. Then through an amazing series of divine events, Joseph was taken from prison and made the ruler of the land. And it all happened just in time to save Egypt from a seven-year famine.

Oh, and those brothers who threw him in a pit? They came begging for food in Egypt. Joseph gave it to them twice before he told them that he was their little brother. They were really scared that he was going to have them all killed for what they had done to him. Instead, Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). Everything worked out for the best because God was watching over them.

Dear Lord, Help me to trust you. Everything bad that happened to Joseph turned out to be for the best. I know I belong to you and that everything that happens is part of your plan for me. Amen.