“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33 (NIV)
God has a beautiful plan for your life. He wants you to live a blessed life of purpose and perseverance. So look ahead with excitement about your future and do everything you can to achieve your goals. Believe in His power to help you.
Thank You, Lord, for helping me believe in my goals and giving me the courage to pursue my dreams.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ––Hebrews 11:1
Willpower. It’s a word I heard a lot growing up. My Dad—who was a former military officer—used to say, “We need to exercise our willpower to live a healthy life.” And he was correct. However, for God’s man, a successful life is defined through a Kingdom lens: Submitting our will to the power of His purpose for us. That’s not easy to do, because we are trained to strive; we are trained to fight; and we are trained to succeed in our own gifts and talents and willpower (stick-to-it-iveness). And, hear me clearly: All those attributes are important and necessary!
In the end, every man will discipline himself to his strongest hope. To get the girl, we discipline ourselves to buy flowers, write sappy cards, and concentrate on listening. Why? We hope to win her affections. To get the contracts for our business, we network, smile, and dial, and follow up on leads. Why? We hope to get paid (financially, promotionally). To get that six-pack stomach, we discipline ourselves to eat right and suffer a core workout at the gym. Why? We hope to look like the dude on the cover of Men’s Health.
The soldier, athlete, and farmer are each married (or “wired”) to give in to temptation. The soldier is tempted by civilian life. The athlete is tempted to cut corners (steroids). The farmer is tempted to sleep in. But each also has a strong hope waiting for him that is stronger than the temptation, which causes him to discipline himself and practice self-control. The soldier’s hope is to win the approval of his commanding officer, so he concentrates on his military duty. The athlete’s hope is to attain the gold medal, so he follows the rules of the competition. The farmer’s hope is the upcoming harvest, so he wakes up early and walks behind smelly oxen while plowing his field. When the stimulus comes to those three guys, their hope intervenes, and they say no to their temptation and yes to their hope. Hope is power and it’s the Holy Spirit’s mission in our life is to remind us of our strongest hope.
It’s pretty nice to live a guilt-free life, to know that the Creator of the universe has decided to lay His hand on your shoulder and say, “I want you as my son.” That’s true willpower: Doing the Father’s will in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Father, it is You who has put this hope within me; thank You.
Bible in a Year :
The Lord turns my darkness into light.
Today’s Scripture & Insight :
2 Samuel 22:1-7, 29-30
The army wouldn’t give Tony Vaccaro a chance as a photographer, but that didn’t stop him. Between terrifying moments of dodging artillery shells and shrapnel that seemed to rain from the trees, he took pictures anyway. Then, as his friends slept, he used their helmets to mix the chemicals to develop his film. The nighttime forest became the darkroom in which Vaccaro created a timeless record of World War II’s battle of Hürtgen Forest.
King David lived through his share of battles and dark times. Second Samuel 22 says, “The Lord delivered [David] from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul” (v. 1). David used those experiences to produce a record of God’s faithfulness. He said, “Waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me” (v. 5).
David soon pivoted from desperation to hope: “In my distress I called to the Lord,” he recalled. “From his temple he heard my voice” (v. 7). David made certain to praise God for His unfailing help. “The Lord turns my darkness into light,” he said. “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall” (vv. 29-30).
David turned his difficulties into an opportunity to tell the world about his faithful God. We can do the same. After all, we rely on the One who turns darkness into light.
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt most desperate? How will you tell others about God’s faithfulness to you in that moment?
Dear God, please help me to see the many ways You protect and help me—especially when it’s darkest.
Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.
Proverbs 4:25 (AMPC)
I am leaving soon on a ministry trip to Europe where I will teach nine times. I want to be totally prepared for all of the teaching sessions when I leave, so I made a plan to stay home all day today and finish the messages I had not yet completed. I finished all of them except for one and started being double minded about whether or not I wanted to finish or quit working and do something more relaxing. Does that sound familiar?
I knew that the best choice was to stay on track, so I did. When I finished the last message, I felt a huge sense of relief that everything was done and I was ready to go. I was so glad that I was finished, and I didn’t have to face tomorrow with the project still needing to be done. I still have time to relax, but now I can do it with joy rather than a feeling that I really should have stayed on track.
The next time you find yourself in a similar situation, I urge you to ask yourself how you will feel later if you quit halfway to your goal. A job half done doesn’t feel as good as a job completed!
Prayer of the Day: Father, help me stay focused and on track when I have a job to do. I want to be a person who finishes what I start.
Note: As a nonpartisan ministry, Denison Forum does not endorse political parties or candidates. I would offer the same observations if today’s news related more to Republicans than to Democrats.
The Democratic National Convention begins today in Chicago. Amid concerns that pro-Palestinian protesters will disrupt proceedings, many will be watching to see how Democrats frame Kamala Harris as their presidential nominee in an election season unlike any other.
She became their nominee two weeks ago through an unprecedented process. Her remarkable rise in popularity is bringing swing states into contention that were thought to be safe for Mr. Trump. She is also energizing her party: Kamala Harris’s 83 percent support among Democrats is 22 points higher than Joe Biden’s on the eve of his withdrawal from the race.
What explains her greater popularity with Democrats?
It’s not due primarily to policy, since both hold positions that largely align with their party and she has held no press conferences and given no formal interviews thus far. The explanation is simple: Many Democrats, fearing that Mr. Biden is too old to campaign or lead effectively, think she has a better chance of defeating Mr. Trump.
Mrs. Harris is obviously younger than Mr. Biden. And she would be the first female to become president. While she is only beginning to lay out her policy proposals and says she’ll do a full interview by the end of August, her rising popularity to this point is based more on who she is than on what she might do.
Mr. Trump’s popularity with his supporters is similarly based in large part on his personal story and courage in the face of political opponents and an attempted assassination. As one analyst noted, “Personality matters more than policy in presidential races.”
What does this say about our culture?
What comprises 82% of internet traffic?
You and I live in a capitalistic society. And capitalism makes us all consumers. Our spending accounts for roughly 70 percent of America’s GDP. Most companies make their money by convincing us to buy their products.
There was a day when they did so primarily through word-centric appeals in print ads and radio commercials. Then came television, followed by the internet, followed by online video, which comprises 82 percent of all internet traffic today.
Video persuades primarily through images and stories that appeal to our emotions. And these appeals work: it is estimated that viewers retain 95 percent of a message when watching it on video vs. 10 percent through text.
All this to say, we have become conditioned to make our decisions—from what to buy to whom to vote for—based primarily on emotions. And as David Brooks explains in his latest New York Times article, our emotions condition and direct our reasoning.
They always have.
“More crafty than any other beast”
Genesis 3 reports that “the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lᴏʀᴅ God had made” (v. 1a). Crafty translates a Hebrew word meaning “shrewd” or “cunning.”
He began his attack on rational grounds by calling God’s word into question: “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” (v. 1b). But when the woman responded rationally by repeating and even enlarging on God’s command (vv. 2–3), the enemy shifted tactics: “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (vv. 4–5).
This was a direct appeal to pride and ego, what Nietzsche called the “will to power.”
With this appeal in mind, “the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise” (v. 6a). As a result, “she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate” (v. 6b).
And the world has never recovered from the Fall that resulted (cf. Romans 8:22).
“My treasure Thou art”
Today’s conversation is about far more than partisan politics. In fact, it goes to the heart of what it means to follow Jesus today. In an emotionally driven culture that defines truth by what feels right to us, it is vital that we “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), seeking to think biblically about the decisions we face.
To do this, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to “guide [us] into all the truth” (John 16:13) and then submit to his authority (Ephesians 5:18). When we surrender our lives to Christ as our Lord (Romans 12:1) so fully that we are not “conformed to this world,” we can be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” (v. 2a). Then we will “discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (v. 2b).
God wants us to know his “perfect” will even more than we do. He will lead all who will follow him as Lord. The decision to experience his best is not with him but with us.
One of my favorite hymns is the eighth-century Irish poem, “Be Thou My Vision.” It includes this prayer:
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
Would the “High King of heaven” say he is “first in your heart” today?
Monday news to know:
*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.
Quote for the day:
“Truth is the agreement of our ideas with the ideas of God.” —Jonathan Edwards
by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.
“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
Psalm 37 provides cures for the fretting (Hebrew charah, “anger”) that comes in a spiritual battle. These emotions explode from the heart of the righteous saint against those who would dare lift up their hand against the Lord.
This beautiful promise and command insists that we luxuriate in our Lord. He is the Lord of inexhaustible riches (Philippians 4:19), and His inexpressible power is at work in His children (Ephesians 3:20).
Isaiah records God’s rhetorical question: “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness” (Isaiah 55:2). God reminded Israel that the day was coming when they would “be delighted with the abundance of [Jerusalem’s] glory” (Isaiah 66:11).
Jesus also said, “How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11).
When we trust the Lord to give us what we need, is it any wonder that He who knows all and owns all will give us the desires of our hearts? If we long for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, why should we marvel when the King of kings grants our desires?
The delight that we have in the work and ministry of the Lord is the key to His answering our “effectual fervent prayer” (James 5:16).
Simply stated, a human heart that is aligned with the beat of the divine heart will receive God’s bountiful answers (Deuteronomy 5:29). HMM III
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. — Matthew 11:28
God intends for us to live a full-orbed life in Jesus Christ, a life defined by an unworrying oneness with him. But there are times when that life is attacked from the outside, when we find ourselves tumbling back into a habit of introspection we thought had gone. Self-consciousness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, because it produces a continual wrestling. Self-consciousness isn’t sin. It may be caused by a nervous temperament or by suddenly finding ourselves in new circumstances. But it’s never God’s will that we should be less than absolutely complete in him. Anything that disturbs our rest in him must be cured at once.
“Come to me.” You can’t cure self-consciousness by ignoring it; the only cure is to come to Jesus Christ. When we come to him and ask him to produce Christ-consciousness, he will do it, over and over again, until we learn to abide in him.
If your life in Christ is no longer whole, don’t refuse to face the problem. Beware of anything that splits up your oneness with him, whether it be the influence of friends or of circumstances. Beware of anything that makes you see yourself as separate from your Lord. Nothing is as important as keeping whole spiritually. The great solution is the simple one: “Come to me.” The depth of our reality—intellectually, morally, and spiritually—is tested by these words. In every matter in which we are not real, we will argue with God rather than come.
Psalms 103-104; 1 Corinthians 2
Wisdom from Oswald
The great point of Abraham’s faith in God was that he was prepared to do anything for God.
Not Knowing Whither
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
—Colossians 3:16
Christians are to rejoice. To do that, you need only to think of the great things God has done for you. Then we are told not to be anxious, but in our prayers to make our requests known to God. In your biggest problems you have One to whom you can go; and before Him you can pour out your heart with the assurance that He will not leave you without an answer to that great problem. Then we are to fill our minds with those things that are good. They are mentioned in the Scriptures as being things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and of virtue. It is upon these things that we are to think. Live positively, not negatively. Once you learn that secret, God will have given you the victory.
Read more: How to overcome fear, anxiety and worry.
Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.
Prayer for the day
You know what troubles me today, Lord Jesus. In faith, I give it all over to You and now praise You, knowing Your love will not fail.
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”—Philippians 3:13 (NIV)
The best way to connect with God is to be consistent. Make time for Him every day, and ask for His help in removing any barriers that keep you from Him. Have hope for your future, and strive to keep your spiritual life on track.
Heavenly Father, guide me to use each day to glorify You.
The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The LORD gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great. ––Joel 2:10-11 NKJV
During World War II a groundswell of everyday people rose up across Europe to combat the Nazi war machine. It’s estimated that 500,000 French men and women worked for the Resistance during Germany’s occupation of France. Resistance workers carried out thousands of acts of sabotage against the German occupiers. Many of these freedom fighters—called partisans—died doing so.
We don’t really hear the word partisans much anymore. However, I recently saw it in an article about the number of everyday folks in Ukraine fighting back against Russia’s bloody, illegal invasion of their sovereign nation. The Ukrainian Resistance includes old women—called babusyas—and old men, many of whom report Russian troop movements and materiel via encrypted social media channels.
Partisans is also a great word to describe those who unflinchingly follow Jesus. Just as the European Resistance fought the Nazis, we are in a full-blown war against the kingdom of darkness. As God’s man, never doubt your place and your power in this epic struggle. You are, truly, one of God’s partisans on the winning side against spiritual tyranny. We all know how the war ends—Jesus returns triumphant and Satan is cast down for good—but we still have battles to fight.
So what does it look like to be a partisan for God? It starts with each of us, with the internal war for possession of our minds and souls. Are we winning the war of integrity regarding our thought life and what we do in private? As we walk in victory over Satan and his plans to wreck our lives, God uses us to our fullest extent. Once we are free, we can help other men still struggling with doubt, fear, addiction, and spiritual uncertainty. You are called to be a partisan—a warrior in the struggle to sabotage the enemy’s plans and defeat his strategies.
Father, thank You for equipping me with all I need to be a victorious partisan for Your Kingdom.
Bible in a Year :
They took offense at [Jesus].
Today’s Scripture & Insight :
Mark 6:1-6
Jon was installed as full professor in a prestigious college. His older brother David was pleased, but, as brothers do, he couldn’t resist teasing Jon how he’d wrestled him to the ground when they were boys. Jon had gone far in life, but he’d always be David’s little brother.
It’s hard to impress family—even if you’re the Messiah. Jesus had grown up among the people of Nazareth, so they struggled to believe He was special. Yet they were amazed by Him. “What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son . . . ?” (Mark 6:2-3). Jesus noted, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home” (v. 4). These people knew Jesus well, but they couldn’t believe He was the Son of God.
Perhaps you were raised in a godly home. Your earliest memories include going to church and singing hymns. Jesus has always felt like family. If you believe and follow Him, Jesus is family. He “is not ashamed to call [us] brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:11). Jesus is our older brother in the family of God (Romans 8:29)! This is a great privilege, but our closeness might make Him seem common. Just because someone is family doesn’t mean they’re not special.
Aren’t you glad Jesus is family, and more than family? May He become more personal, and more special, as you follow Him today.
By: Mike Wittmer
Reflect & Pray
How has Jesus become more personal to you? How might you make sure He remains special?
Dear Jesus, thank You for bringing me into the family of God.
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)
We rush to get every new upgrade available for our computer and phone. We spend money, wait in lines, do whatever it takes to have the newest and best. We are very aggressive about having the best equipment available, but are we as aggressive about having the upgraded life Jesus offers us?
The Bible says that the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter every day (Prov. 4:18). This means God is always drawing us toward better and better things. He continually offers upgrades, and we should be determined to have each one of them.
Living the best life God has for you will require some effort on your part. You will need to educate yourself on the life He offers and what it truly means to be born again. As a child of God, you have an inheritance and you have certain rights and privileges, but if you don’t know about them, you will never enjoy them. We educate ourselves through Bible study, reading good books about biblical principles, spending time with God, and being in com- munity with other people who are seeking God as we are. We also need a lot of patience because God is usually not in a hurry. He is always working in our lives, but we are not always aware of it.
Simply going to church once a week doesn’t necessarily help you attain the upgraded life you desire. It helps, but you will have to also seek God diligently every day of your life, not just once or twice a week. God has provided countless tools for us to help us grow, but we must avail ourselves of them. I want to challenge you to set aside at least 45 minutes to an hour a day and call it your “God Time.” Make it a goal, and if you need to begin with less time, that is okay because gradually you will desire more. During that time, you can study your Bible, talk to God in prayer, listen to a Bible teaching, read a book that will help you under- stand the Bible better, or simply sit in God’s presence and receive His love.
If you do this diligently, you will find over time that you have changed and are enjoying yourself and your life much more than ever before. Any good relationship requires time, and your relationship with God is no different. God has so many wonderful things in His plan for you, and during this time you will learn what they are and how to access them. You can’t use what you don’t know you have! For example, you have a Helper, who is the Holy Spirit, and He is with you all the time. Anytime you need help with anything, all you need to do is ask. This and many other wonderful things are yours in Christ, so get busy learning about them and start enjoying the upgraded life Jesus died for you to have.
Prayer of the Day: Father God, I think it’s time for an upgrade, and I know it begins with spending regular, set-apart time with You. So, here I am, asking that You help me to truly understand the importance of growing closer to You, amen.
The troubling reason America might not be far behind
While a number of stories, both at home and abroad, have taken their turn leading headlines, one of the more important and potentially troubling trends in recent months has been the continued downturn of China’s economy. I call it troubling less for what it means for the world economically—which is where much of the attention has focused—than for what it could mean for the world politically and militarily.
You see, China’s designs on becoming the world’s leading superpower, taking back Taiwan, and seeing their global influence spread while the West’s declines have not changed. To this point, however, those plans had the benefit of patience. Given the level of control President Xi exerts over the nation, they have had the freedom to choose their spots and wait for the best opportunities to act. Yet, as their economy continues to slide and the day-to-day lives of their people become increasingly difficult, that margin will begin to fade.
And, ultimately, a China that has to act could end up being a far greater threat than a China that believes time is on its side.
To that end, let’s examine why their economy has struggled and what those struggles could mean for China and the larger world.
China’s bursting bubble
Most of the global economy has had trouble bouncing back from COVID, and, in that regard, China is no different. While the nature of their top-down governance meant they could mask much of that struggle during the pandemic’s initial years, doing so simply pushed the problem down the road and exacerbated it once the bubble burst.
As such, the latest data demonstrates a decline in the world’s second largest economy that has many around the globe worried. In their most recent report, the National Bureau of Statistics found that:
This is despite the government announcing plans to spend 150 billion yuan—roughly $20.9 billion—in government debt to buy back older versions of appliances, cars, and other consumer goods to stimulate new spending. Even attempts to subsidize lending by providing Chinese banks with $42 billion to help state-owned firms buy excess homes and buildings have failed to make a difference.
And there is little to indicate that the situation will improve anytime soon.
A population in decline
While China’s strict COVID restrictions played a large part in changing the nation’s economic forecast, many of the trends at the heart of its decline have been around for far longer. And perhaps none will play a larger role going forward than its declining population.
While China’s one-child policy technically ended in 2015, they have continued to see a dearth of births, with 2023 marking the second straight year that the general population has declined. That two-year stretch—one likely to continue for the foreseeable future—marks the first time China’s population has fallen since the Great Famine of the early 1960s. As such, the country’s population is expected to be nearly cut by half—roughly 732 million people—by the end of this century.
Yet, the pain of that decline will not be felt equally. The impact of the low birth rate is compounded by a population that will continue to live far longer than they can work.
China’s retirement-age population—those 60 and older—is expected to grow to 400 million by 2035, which, for comparison, is substantially more than the entire population of the United States. That means even more of the stress and burden of maintaining their society will fall on those still able to be part of the labor force. Many of them cite such burdens as one of the chief reasons they simply can’t afford to have kids, thereby perpetuating the cycle.
And, unfortunately, what’s happening in China may be coming to our shores soon.
America is not immune
While America’s economic struggles may not mirror those in China, we share a similar issue regarding our declining birth rate and the problems it has already started to create. And we’re not alone.
I wrote more about the dangers of our decreasing population in a recent article, but fertility rates are currently below replacement level in more than half of all countries and territories around the world. Moreover, higher-income and more developed countries typically experience the greatest rate of decline while simultaneously also experiencing the longest lifespans for their people.
For a time, it appeared that the United States would remain an outlier in this regard. While Europe and many parts of Asia saw their birth rates plummet, America maintained a level that left some room for optimism. However, that began to change around 2007, and the decline has been fairly steady in the years since.
Most attempts to convince people to have more babies—whether through tax breaks, longer maternity leave, or a host of other initiatives—have proved either insufficient or unsuccessful regardless of the country in which they’ve been tried. As such, many of the world’s most powerful nations are waking up to the reality that, in order to survive, they’ll need a fairly large influx of people from outside their borders.
As we’ve seen and discussed in recent months, however, that solution is not without issues of its own.
Consequently, governments across the developed world are left without a clear solution to an increasingly desperate problem. That’s a scary place to be, as countries like China, Russia, and even the US will grow increasingly tempted to distract their populace from the crisis rather than try to solve it. And, as we’ve seen with Russia and Ukraine in recent years, that distraction often takes the form of war.
A better place to focus
Only time will tell if history repeats itself once again, but, until we know one way or the other, our time and energy will be better spent praying for God to intervene and bring peace than worrying over the prospect of war.
After all, Jesus was clear that this world is far from perfect and will remain that way until he returns to establish a new heaven and a new earth to take its place. As such, our job is to help as many people as we can to place their faith in him between now and when his kingdom finally comes in all its glory.
How can you do that job today?
Friday news to know:
*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.
Quote of the day:
“Faith is measured by your feet, not your feelings … if your feet are not walking in faith, then there is no faith regardless of your emotions.” —Tony Evans
by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.
“[Christ] gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:14)
If one were to ask why Jesus died, the average evangelical would usually say that He died to save us from our sins. It is true that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3), but this is not the whole answer, by any means. Too many Christians think of the death of Christ only in terms of what it means for them—not what it meant to Him.
Our text says that He died for us and redeemed us from iniquity, not just to keep us from going to hell, but to “purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Paul says: “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living” (Romans 14:9). He wants a people who will have Him as Lord of their lives. “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;…That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
“He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). “How much more shall the blood of Christ…purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14). Finally, the apostle Peter reminds us that the Lord Jesus Christ “bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24) “that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).
We who have been saved by the redeeming death of Christ for our sins often thank Him for what He has done for us—and we should. But we also should praise Him for what He has thereby done for Himself and then seek always to live in such a way that His holy purpose is accomplished in our lives. HMM
He calls his own sheep by name. — John 10:3
Does he know me when I have failed to know him (John 20:11–16)? When Mary Magdalene saw Jesus outside his tomb, she didn’t recognize him. But he knew her: “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary’” (v. 16). The instant Mary heard her name, she cried out, “Teacher!”
Why was Mary weeping outside Jesus’s tomb? Not because she knew about Jesus, but because she had a personal history with her Lord. It is possible to know all about doctrine and not know Jesus. The soul is in danger when intellectual learning outstrips intimate touch with him. Doctrine was nothing more to Mary than grass beneath her feet. Any Pharisee could have made a fool of her doctrinally, but none could ridicule away the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her. And yet for Mary, Jesus’s blessings were nothing in comparison to himself.
Does he know me when I have stubbornly doubted (John 20:24–29)? Have I been doubting something about Jesus—an experience others testify to but which I haven’t had? The other disciples told Thomas that they’d seen Jesus, but Thomas doubted. “Unless I see . . . I will not believe” (v. 25). Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When our Lord’s touch will come, or how it will come, we do not know. But when it does come, it’s indescribably precious. Jesus told Thomas, “Reach out your hand and put it into my side,” and Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (vv. 27–28).
Does he know me when I have selfishly denied him (John 21:15–17)? Peter had denied Jesus Christ three times, yet after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter alone. He restored Peter in private, and then he restored him before the others. And Peter said, “Lord, you know that I love you” (v. 16).
Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one sign of discipleship is intimate connection with him, a knowledge of Jesus Christ that nothing can disturb.
Wisdom from Oswald
The life of Abraham is an illustration of two things: of unreserved surrender to God, and of God’s complete possession of a child of His for His own highest end.
Not Knowing Whither
I will give to the thirsty the springs of the Water of Life—as a gift!
—Revelation 21:6 (TLB)
God says that only those who hunger after righteousness will receive it. God thrusts this heavenly manna on no one. You must desire it, above everything else. Your yearning for God must supersede all other desires. It must be like a gnawing hunger and a burning thirst.
Read this classic Billy Graham message on being in the world but not of it.
Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.
Prayer for the day
Almighty God, my soul is parched and I’m so hungry without the spiritual food You so desire to give me. Take away anything in my life that would cause me not to give You pre-eminence.
Turn from evil and do good.—Psalm 34:14 (NIV)
When something bad happens, do you let it ruin the present and the future by dwelling on it? This verse instructs us not just to turn away from evil but to do good. When you encounter negative, difficult people and situations, strive to make things better. Bring love and understanding to the forefront.
Lord, please give me the patience to give thanks for my many blessings, to focus on the good, and to do good in return.
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ––Acts 20:35
The most lethal blow a man can give discontentment is a strong purpose for living. That is why part of the Holy Spirit’s mission in your life is to keep you engaged in chasing God’s purpose. You can’t ask for better instruction. Paul tells Timothy the secret of the one-two-punch, warns him not to seek satisfaction outside of God by seeking contentment of self by chasing the buck. He teaches Timothy a life of godliness and a life of giving.
Sacrificial giving of time, finances, and skills to help others and further God’s purposes in the world breaks the power of materialism and puts us in touch with our brothers and ourselves. Paul was in the habit of not neglecting the poor; specifically, by taking up collections and personally delivering them (Romans 15:26-27). This was part of the Holy Spirit’s work in his life, teaching him to be content in all circumstances. The poor taught him to answer the question: “What do I really need?”
This all seems so simple, and we have heard it many times: others versus self. Hearing it and doing it, however, are two very different things. Paul struggled with this as a Christian in Romans 7, and showed his discontent when he exposed himself and the struggle that was going on within himself. He knew the difference between right and wrong, especially because of his background as a Pharisee. He was extremely frustrated because he could see the losing battle he was fighting. He then reveals the answer to his dilemma in Romans 8: He will never be able answer this question. The light bulb goes on, the law of measurement is defeated. No more comparison; it’s over. God relieved the pressure of being “good enough” for Paul, and He does it for us as well.
Live a life of godliness and gratitude by giving of yourself. It can be frightening at first, because we don’t know what we are giving up in exchange for giving our time to others. But then, once we start the journey of giving, we see the beauty in it. We see that rather than giving up something, we gain so much more. We gain connection, we gain fulfillment, and we gain enrichment. A lifestyle of giving never disappoints.
Father, thank You for giving so freely of Yourself, and also for teaching me how to give to others.
Bible in a Year :
I acknowledged my sin to you.
Today’s Scripture & Insight :
Psalm 32:1-7
“I didn’t do it!” It was a lie, and I almost got away with it, until God stopped me. When I was in middle school, I was part of a group shooting spitballs in the back of our band during a performance. Our director was an ex-marine and famous for discipline, and I was terrified of him. So when my partners in crime implicated me, I lied to him about it. Then I lied to my father also.
But God wouldn’t allow the lie to go on. He gave me a very guilty conscience about it. After resisting for weeks, I relented. I asked God and my dad for forgiveness. A while later, I went to my director’s house and tearfully confessed. Thankfully, he was kind and forgiving.
I’ll never forget how good it felt to have that burden lifted. I was free from the weight of guilt and happy for the first time in weeks. David describes a time of conviction and confession in his life too. He tells God, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away . . . . For day and night your hand was heavy on me.” He continues, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you” (Psalm 32:3-5).
Authenticity matters to God. He wants us to confess our sins to Him and also to ask forgiveness of those we’ve wronged. “You forgave the guilt of my sin,” David proclaims (v. 5). How good it is to know the freedom of God’s forgiveness!
By: James Banks
Reflect & Pray
How has being authentic with God helped you? How has Jesus’ forgiveness lightened your load and changed your life?
Thank You for forgiving my sins when I confess them to You, loving Father. Please help me to always be authentic with You.
To you it was shown, that you might realize and have personal knowledge that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him. Out of heaven He made you hear His voice, that He might correct, discipline, and admonish you; and on earth He made you see His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire.
Deuteronomy 4:35-36 (AMPC)
One night I was lying in bed and heard a noise upstairs. The longer I listened to it, the more frightened I became. Finally, shaking from fear, I went upstairs to see what it was. I had to laugh when I discovered it was ice cubes falling in the ice tray from the ice maker. It just happened that the way they were falling was making a noise they did not normally make.
Lack of knowledge causes fear, and knowledge removes it. Knowledge will help you have confidence. If you are going for a job interview, make sure you are prepared and have all the knowledge you will need with you to answer questions the interviewer may ask you. We live in a world today where knowledge is as close as your computer. Not only can you do online research about the company you’re applying to, but you can find tips on how to have a successful interview!
Prayer of the Day: Lord, equip me with the knowledge I need to be confident, and grant me the kind of confidence that leads to success. Point me to what I need to know to be effective for You, amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS, NEWS AND INFORMATION 