Tag Archives: God’s family

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Family Of Faith

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Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:6-14
Bible in a Year: Joshua 10-12; Luke 1:39-56

 

You had become dear to us. —1 Thessalonians 2:8

During the 1980s, a singles’ class at our church became a close-knit family for many people who had lost a spouse through divorce or death. When someone needed to move, class members packed boxes, carried furniture, and provided food. Birthdays and holidays were no longer solitary events as faith and friendship merged into an ongoing relationship of encouragement. Many of those bonds forged during adversity three decades ago continue to flourish and sustain individuals and families today.

Paul’s letter to the followers of Jesus in Thessalonica paints a picture of life-giving relationships in God’s family. “We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7). “For you remember, [brothers and sisters], our labor and toil . . . that we might not be a burden to any of you” (v.9). “We exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children” (v.11). Like mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters, Paul and his associates shared the gospel and their lives with these fellow believers who “had become dear” to them (v.8).

In God’s family of faith, He provides mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers for us. The Lord gives His joy as we share our lives together in His grace and love. —David McCasland

Father, You’ve called us to serve one another. Give me a heart willing to accept the care of others. May I ask for help when I am in need and respond with a heart of grace to others when they ask me for help.

God loves you and me; let’s love one another.

INSIGHT: Paul often talks about the relationship that followers of Christ have with each other. This relationship is so close that he compares it to the parts of the body working together (1 Cor. 12). Jesus says that people will know we are His followers by the way we treat one another (John 13:35).
Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Choosing the Right Path

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Matthew 16:24-27

The Father has opened a way for sinners to be forgiven and set on the path of righteousness—namely, through faith in His Son. Trusting in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior makes us members of God’s family and takes us immediately onto the narrow road, which is only for His followers.

As we journey on this heavenward highway, the Holy Spirit acts as our guide and teaches us what we need to know. Through Him, we develop the ability to look beyond the temporal to the eternal: With spiritual eyes, we will catch glimpses of the Lord’s majesty, comprehend the depth of our Savior’s love for us, and experience the invisible, powerful presence of the Spirit. We will witness the awe-inspiring transformation of ordinary, pride-filled human beings into humble, loving ambassadors for Christ. Our minds will grasp the truths of God’s Word, and we will hear Him speaking to us through it. On the broad road, none of these things are possible.

Despite such amazing blessings, we at times all wander from the Lord’s will. We might be drawn away by the glitter of material things, the temporary satisfaction of self-indulgence, or a desire to be part of the crowd. Whatever we hope to find outside of God’s plan proves illusive and temporary. Only by walking with Christ on the path of godliness will we find the security and contentment we crave.

If you are drifting in your Christian life, allowing the world’s priorities to direct your steps, then you need to turn back. Jesus calls you to deny yourself and commit to following Him alone

John MacArthur

John MacArthur –  Anticipating Your Inheritance

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“In [Christ] also we have obtained an inheritance” (Eph. 1:10-11).

As a member of God’s family, you have obtained a future inheritance that has many present benefits.

An inheritance is something received by an heir as a result of a will or legal process. It’s a legacy one receives from family connections.

As a member of God’s family, you are an heir of God and fellow heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17). As such you have obtained an inheritance that Peter called “imperishable and undefiled . . . reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4). It cannot perish, fade away, or be defiled because heaven is timeless and sinless. It is a secure inheritance.

In Ephesians 1:11 Paul refers to it in the past tense (“have obtained”). That’s significant because the fullness of your inheritance won’t be revealed until you are glorified in God’s presence (1 John 3:2). But your inheritance is so sure, Paul refers to it as if it was already in hand.

Although its fullness is yet future, your inheritance has present benefits as well. In addition to inheriting Christ and the Holy Spirit, you also inherit peace, love, grace, wisdom, joy, victory, strength, guidance, mercy, forgiveness, righteousness, discernment, and every other spiritual benefit. Paul sums it all up in 1 Corinthians 3:22-23: “All things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.”

Nowadays many Christians are so preoccupied with acquiring material goods that they miss many of the present benefits of their spiritual inheritance and the joy of anticipating its future fulfillment. Don’t fall into that trap!

Looking forward to your eternal inheritance will help you maintain a proper perspective on temporal things and motivate you to praise and adore God.

Suggestions for Prayer; Praise the Lord for the incredible inheritance that awaits you in heaven.

Thank Him for the present benefits of your inheritance, which are yours to enjoy daily.

For Further Study; One precious aspect of your eternal inheritance is God’s mercy. Psalm 136 reflects on the mercy God demonstrated toward Israel. Read that psalm, noting the manifestations of mercy that relate to your life.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Right to Enter Paradise

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Revelation 21:22-22:7

Death is inevitable. The thief on the cross knew when his would occur, but most of us can’t predict our own. Following his death, the crucified criminal went to live in paradise with Jesus. Some of us will also live eternally in God’s presence, but others will experience everlasting torment, forever separated from Him.

If we trust Jesus as Savior, our penalty for sin is paid, we are adopted into God’s family, and heaven is our eternal home. But if we reject Jesus, we remain alienated from the Lord and under condemnation for our sin, destined to face eternal judgment. God will not listen to any excuses, as there is no acceptable defense for unbelief (Acts 4:12).

Become part of God’s family today by acknowledging your sinfulness and expressing your faith in words similar to these: “God, I have sinned against You—I’ve followed my own way and refused to give You the right to rule in my life (Rom. 3:10-12, 23). I recognize that I am separated from You and cannot rescue myself. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I accept that His death on the cross paid my sin debt in full, and I ask You to forgive me of my sins (1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 John 1:9). By faith, I receive Jesus as my personal Savior from this moment on.” If you just spoke to God this way, then, like the thief on the cross, you have received salvation, a gift of God’s grace.

The heavenly Father welcomes every person who comes to Him through His Son, regardless of background, age, or current situation. Through Jesus, the right to enter paradise is yours!

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Facing Death

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Luke 23:32-43

The thief on the cross—condemned by both God and man—was just hours away from death. But before he took his last breath, something absolutely glorious occurred. The criminal, in the very process of dying, was rescued by Jesus right in front of the mocking crowd. The thief’s name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and all of heaven rejoiced. Jesus promised him a place in paradise in the presence of God.

On those three crosses at Calvary, one robber died in his sin; another man—the Son of Man—died to pay the penalty for sin; and the third, a thief like the first, was redeemed from sin. His sin debt was paid in full, and he became part of God’s family. What evidence do we have that his deathbed conversion was real?

  • Change in behavior. Initially, both thieves hurled insults and blasphemies against Jesus (Matt. 27:44). In a total turnaround, the second robber later chastised the first man for his words (Luke 23:40).
  • Admission of guilt. The robber publicly acknowledged that he was being justly punished for his wicked deeds (v. 41).
  • Expression of faith in the Lord. The man called Jesus by name, acknowledged that He was a king with a kingdom, believed there was life after death, and asked the Savior to rescue him (v. 42).
  • Jesus’ promise to the thief. The Lord told him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (v. 43).

Every one of us is just a heartbeat away from dying. Let this sobering thought propel you to examine your life. Are you part of God’s family? Are you living to please Him?

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; H.L.M. – Spiritual Birthday

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Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday to you… That’s the song you often hear on that special day you celebrate your physical birth and were placed in your parents’ family. Yet even more important is the day that you prayed and invited Jesus Christ into your heart and your life. You were reborn spiritually, receiving new life from God. Through faith in Christ, this new birth changes you from the inside out, makes you spiritually alive and puts you in God’s family!

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

As His child, God has given you the greatest privilege to receive His blessing, favor and eternal life. However, did you know that God sings over you? Zephaniah 3:17 says, “He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” That’s an amazing way He celebrates you every day!

Think of someone who does not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Commit to pray for that person every day. Look for opportunities to share God’s love through your actions and your words. Pray also for America’s leaders who don’t know Him to embrace a spiritual birthday!

Recommended Reading: Galatians 4:1-7

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Family Trademarks

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Our Daily Bread

1 John 4:7-16

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. —1 John 4:7

The Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland, are known for their beautiful sweaters. Patterns are woven into the fabric using sheep’s wool to craft the garments. Many of them relate to the culture and folklore of these small islands, but some are more personal. Each family on the islands has its own trademark pattern, which is so distinctive that if a fisherman were to drown it is said that he could be identified simply by examining his sweater for the family trademark.

In John’s first letter, the apostle describes things that are to be trademarks of those who are members of God’s family. In 1 John 3:1, John affirms that we are indeed part of God’s family by saying, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” He then describes the trademarks of those who are the children of God, including, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (4:7).

Because “love is of God,” the chief way to reflect the heart of the Father is by displaying the love that characterizes Him. May we allow His love to reach out to others through us—for love is one of our family trademarks. —Bill Crowder

Father, teach me to love with the love of Christ

that others might see Your love reflected in my

care and concern for them. May Your love

drive and dominate my responses to life and to others.

Love is the family resemblance the world should see in followers of Christ.

Bible in a year: Psalms 51-53; Romans 2

Insight

In 1 John 4:9, John’s words parallel those of Paul in Romans 5:8, which reads: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Notice that with both Paul and John the emphasis is on how God’s love has been proven through the sending of His Son to us. Paul’s perspective, however, is rooted in our unworthiness while John’s focus is on the gift of life in Christ.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God’s Perfect Love

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Charles Stanley

1 John 4:7-9

We were created to be members of God’s family and recipients of His perfect love. In fact, through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus, He demonstrated just how much He loves us.

When we receive Christ as our Savior, we become children of God and experience His unconditional love. Divine affection for us does not vary in quality or quantity. It will never end or even diminish. No circumstance can cause the Lord to stop loving us. Several stories in the New Testament exemplify this:

  • Consider the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant. Was the soldier’s request ignored because he wasn’t one of God’s chosen people—the Jews? No. Seeing the man’s genuine faith, the Lord granted his request out of love for him (Luke 7:2-10).
  • Jesus extended forgiveness to the thief on the cross, who placed his faith in Christ (23:39-43).
  • Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus was convinced that Jesus was not the promised Messiah and His followers must be stopped. To that end, the future apostle Paul persecuted the Christian Jews and uttered murderous threats against the church. God’s love did not even skip over one so violently opposed to His children. On the road to Damascus, the Lord appeared to him with an offer of salvation and gave him a great work to do—evangelizing the Gentile world (Acts 9:15).

The human mind cannot fully comprehend divine love. In Christ, thieves, persecutors, and those who may look like outsiders are all equally loved.

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Can’t Keep on Sinning

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dr_bright

“The person who has been born into God’s family does not make a practice of sinning, because now God’s life is in him; so he can’t keep on sinning, for this new life has been born into him and controls him – he has been born again” (1 John 3:9).

I am sobered by the very thought that, having served the Lord for more than 30 exciting, wonderful, fruitful years, I might yet dishonor His name and bring disgrace to His cause. I know what has happened to other brothers and sisters in Christ – some of whom had apparently at one time been Spirit- filled Christian leaders, and I know that I too could fail the Lord if I do not continue to trust and obey Him. Even the apostle Paul lived in reverential fear that he might dishonor the name and cause of our Lord.

“So be careful. If you are thinking, ‘Oh, I would never behave like that,’ let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin. But remember this: The wrong desires that come into your life aren’t anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible.

“You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it” (1 Corinthians 10:12,13).

For many years it has been my prayer, as I pray on the offensive, “Oh, God, if there is a possibility that I may dishonor or disgrace Your name by becoming involved in a moral, financial or any other kind of scandal that you would discredit my ministry and nullify my love and witness for You, I would rather You take my life first before such a thing could happen.”

The Scripture warns all believers that any one of them, too, could fall. No one reaches the place of spiritual maturity or perfection where he can say, “I don’t need the Lord’s help anymore.” The only one who can enable us to live victorious lives is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Bible Reading: I John 2:21-29

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: At the very first sign of yielding to Satan in any way, large or small, I will remind the Lord of my utter dependence on Him and I will claim by faith His power to live a supernatural life.

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Mis-use of the Mouth

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Max Lucado

There are those in God’s family who find a controversy and stake their claim to it. Every church has at least one stubborn soul who has mastered a minutiae of the message and made a mission out of it.

As long as Christians split hairs, Christians will split churches. Religious leaders thought they could manipulate Jesus with their controversies. But they were wrong. He was not trapped by their trickery, flattered by their flattery, or fooled by their hypotheses.

Perhaps we should take note. I’d like to say to you what I need someone to say to me when I get territorial about my opinions.  I challenge you to look around you. Let go of your territory for a while. Scout some new regions. Explore some new reefs.  Much is gained by closing your mouth and opening your eyes every so often.

From And the Angels Were Silent

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – How We Can Relate to God

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Charles Stanley

Matthew 13:18-23

Scripture teaches that when one is born from above by the Spirit, that person becomes a child in God’s family. Such wording expresses the nature of our relationship with God: He interacts with us as a father does, and we should respond like loving, obedient children. God took the first step in the relationship by opening His family to us. Man’s initial response involves saying yes to Jesus and trusting Him as personal Savior. But even after accepting that invitation, we’re still responsible to respond in a way that keeps our fellowship with Him strong.

Our part consists largely in noticing when the Father is speaking so we can learn to become good listeners and obedient followers. That is why we need to spend time in the Bible, where the Father speaks clearly. Many pretend to be interested in hearing from God and yet invent excuses for neglecting His Word. Some say, “I read Scripture but don’t understand it.” Do you think God would write us an important message in a way we wouldn’t be able to understand? If you keep reading the Bible, the Spirit of God, who inhabits the believer’s heart, will give you understanding.

Once we are born into God’s family, nothing—not even sin—can destroy our relationship with the Father. However, disobedience can interrupt our fellowship with Him by breaking communication, in which case restoring broken fellowship is essential to spiritual growth (1 John 1:9).

Do you belong to God’s family? If so, are you obeying your Father? Obedience is crucial to a deepening relationship with our loving Creator.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – How God Sees the Unbeliever

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Charles Stanley

Ephesians 2:1-5

God’s Word is always true but not always popular. When it runs counter to cultural preferences, the message of the gospel can be uncomfortable to hear and may lead to challenge and confrontation. We need to know biblical truth, including the fact that God sees unbelievers as . . .

• Dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). As newborn babies, we are physically alive but spiritually dead. Spiritual death came to all generations through the first Adam (Rom. 5:12); spiritual life comes only through Jesus, the “last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45).

• Unable to grasp spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). Those who are spiritually dead can’t perceive the things of God. Divine truth can’t penetrate because their “receiver,” or spirit, is dead within them.

• Not part of God’s family (John 1:12). Spiritually, there are only two families in the world: God’s and Satan’s (John 8:44). A person is born into God’s family—or “born again”—by trusting in Christ’s sacrifice and receiving Him as Savior.

• Under wrath (Eph. 2:3). Unbelievers, even kind and loving ones, are under judgment. A sin debt is owed (Rom. 6:23), and it can’t be paid by kind or loving acts of service. Jesus paid on our behalf, and only by trusting in His substitutionary sacrifice can we escape God’s wrath.

Unbelievers are in grave danger, but most do not realize it. The good news is that God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ is still available. Have you reached out for the hand of your Rescuer? If your answer is yes, are you pointing others to the One who wants to rescue them?