Tag Archives: nature

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – The Unworthy Apostle

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Today’s Scripture: Ephesians 3:8

“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints . . . grace was given.”

Paul freely acknowledged that he received his apostleship purely as a result of God’s undeserved favor. God used Paul’s testimony to encourage me at a time when I most keenly felt my complete unworthiness to write on the subject of personal holiness.

So is all ministry—whether teaching a children’s Sunday school class, witnessing to inmates at the local prison, or preaching to thousands of people each Sunday—performed by the grace of God by people who are unworthy to be doing it?

Harry Blamires had an incisive answer to that question: “In the upshot there is only one answer for the preacher who wonders whether he is worthy to preach the sermon he has composed or for the writer who wonders whether he is worthy to write the religious book he is working on. The answer is: of course not. To ask yourself: am I worthy to perform this Christian task? Is really the peak of pride and presumption. For the very question carries the implication that we spend most of our time doing things we are worthy to do. We simply do not have that kind of worth.”

In Romans 12:6, Paul described us as “having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.” He was referring to spiritual gifts enabling believers to fulfill God-appointed ministry or service in the body of Christ. But note that Paul said these spiritual gifts are given according to God’s grace, not according to what we deserve. The Greek word for a spiritual gift is charisma, which means “a gift of God’s grace,” whether it is the gift of eternal life as in Romans 6:23 or the gift of a spiritual ability for use in the body. (Excerpt taken from Transforming Grace)

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – God, Our Refuge

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Today’s Scripture: Obadiah

He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. – Jeremiah 17:6

When I was a kid back in Iowa, we played a game called “King of the Mountain.” Someone would get up on a mound of dirt, and everyone else would try to get him off. There was one big kid we could never get off the hill. And he stayed on top until he was ready to come down.

In the book of Obadiah, we encounter the Edomites, who thought they were king of the mountain. But God saw things differently. “See,” [the Lord said], “I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord. (Obadiah 2-4).

I recall standing at the foot of the ancient Edomite capitol city of Petra, the stronghold from which the Edomites launched their raids. They thought they could get away with anything, but their invasion of Judah in 587 b.c. brought God’s judgment.

You don’t have to be an arrogant Edomite to trust in the wrong thing. Even Christians can make the mistake of trusting in hard work, physical appearance, finances. But all those sources of security and pride can be gone in an instant. We must keep our eyes on the Lord and trust in Him as our Rock and high tower.

Prayer

Lord, when I put my security in a fortress of my own making, bring me back to the shelter of God Most High. Amen.

To Ponder

Blessed is the man or woman who boasts in the Lord’s strength.

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint – The Election and the Judgment of God: ‘And God Gave Them Over’

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So, have you heard this one? Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are stranded at sea on a life boat. Who survives? Ha! America does!

Ok, now that I’ve offended everyone: What a bizarre election year this has been. As my BreakPoint this Week co-host Ed Stetzer has said quite a few times, “When political historians look back on the early 21st century, the phrase we’ll hear the most is, ‘except for 2016’.”

Now, despite the dire warnings from both candidates about the consequences of electing their opponent, the most important thing about this election is not who becomes president. The most important thing about this election is what it reveals about us as a society.

Nearly 40 years ago, in a famous speech at Harvard University, the great Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said: “There are meaningful warnings which history gives a threatened or perishing society. Such are, for instance, the decadence of art, or a lack of great statesmen.”

Talk about prophetic!

Folks, I might as well just say it: I am convinced that this election is an indication that God is judging America.

Now claiming to know God’s mind both for what and with what He is bringing judgment is theologically indefensible and only makes us look silly. (You may recall a few notable Christians who stuck their foot in their mouths after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina). And yet, as Stephen Keillor argued in his book “God’s Judgments,” it is also theologically indefensible to not acknowledge God’s working in history, including through acts of judgment.

And in this case, I am ready to say, God is judging our country. Why? As my colleague Roberto Rivera often says, “The five scariest words in the Bible are, ‘…and God gave them over’.”

Continue reading BreakPoint – The Election and the Judgment of God: ‘And God Gave Them Over’ →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE TRINITY AND THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY

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Read LUKE 4:14–21

The entire Trinity is involved in the work of salvation. As Philip Graham Ryken and Michael LeFebvre explain in Our Triune God: Living in the Love of the Three-in-One: “God plays the symphony of our salvation in three movements. Each movement is associated with a different Person of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. First, there is the work of God the Father in administering our salvation. The Father is the one who organizes and oversees the plan of salvation. Second, there is the work of God the Son in accomplishing our salvation. Jesus is the one who died on the cross for our sins and rose again to give us eternal life. Third, there is the work of God the Holy Spirit in applying our salvation. The Spirit is the one who takes what Jesus Christ has done and makes it ours. This is the plan, and the triune God has been working it out since before the beginning of time.”

We can see this beautiful truth in the fulfillment of messianic prophecy. Near the start of His public ministry, Jesus taught one Sabbath in His hometown synagogue in Nazareth. For the Scripture reading, He chose verses from Isaiah that described the Messiah as anointed by God, filled with the Spirit, and bringing good news of healing and freedom (vv. 18–19; Isa. 61:1–2). Stunningly, He then proclaimed, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (v. 21).

Jesus was filled with the Spirit (v. 14). He had been anointed by His Father and sent to bring the good news of salvation to a spiritually dead world. Miracles such as healing the blind helped validate His claims. He Himself was the fulfillment of the Father’s plan of redemption, and His arrival indeed heralded “the year of the Lord’s favor”!

APPLY THE WORD

Today, thank God—the Three-in-One—for the symphony of your salvation. Include thanks for His love that is the foundation for the work of salvation, the sovereign plan of the Father, the person and work of the Son, and the indwelling of the Spirit. Also ask God to show you how to live today in a way that reveals His love and salvation to others.

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – MARTHA STEWART AND SNOOP DOGG TO HOST TV SHOW

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Martha Stewart is the bestselling author of more than eighty-five books and an Emmy-winning television show host. She reaches 100 million consumers each month across her media and merchandising platforms as well as her branded products. Snoop Dogg recently released his fourteenth album. He is active in music, film, television, and his YouTube channel.

The two just announced that they will host “Martha and Snoop’s Dinner Party” on VH1 this fall. According to Yahoo!, they will “invite celebrity friends over for a half-baked evening of cocktails, cooking, conversation, and fun where nothing is off limits.”

Their collaboration is an odd pairing, and not just because they’re three decades apart in age.

In 2004, Martha Stewart was convicted of felony charges for insider trading and served five months in a federal prison. She then served five months in home confinement as part of a two-year term of supervised release.

Snoop Dogg, born Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., was arrested after high school for possession of cocaine. He has had numerous drug arrests in the years since. He has also been arrested several times for illegal possession of handguns and other weapons. He was banned from Australia in 2007 and Norway in 2012. Last year he was arrested in Sweden for illegal drug use.

My point is not that the two should not be able to host a television show together. It’s actually the opposite: there’s something in human nature that applauds redemption. When athletes overcome grave challenges to compete in the Olympics, we cheer especially hard for them. When politicians come back from defeat to achieve success, we often admire them. When celebrities are released from prison, many become even more popular.

Consider Suicide Squad, a movie in which supervillains save the world in exchange for more lenient prison sentences. Critics panned the film, but audiences have made it the highest-grossing August movie release in history. Will Smith, one of the actors in the film, explained its success: “There’s something about bad guys being given an opportunity at redemption that people can really respond to. . . . All of our characters have this slight tether back to our humanity.”

Continue reading Denison Forum – MARTHA STEWART AND SNOOP DOGG TO HOST TV SHOW →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Praying for a Change

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James 5:16

Hanging above the door in our house, my mother’s favorite plaque constantly reminded us, “Prayer changes things.” From an early age, I witnessed this powerful truth through her example. She’d tell me about some difficulties she was facing and then have me pray about them with her. And later, she’d always be sure to give God the glory when sharing the awesome news that He had answered those prayers.

Indeed, this is our confidence: Anything we pray for that aligns with the Father’s plan will be granted. And the more time we spend with Him, the more we’ll come to understand His will and how to pray for it.

Remember, prayer doesn’t change God’s mind, but it does transform the believer’s heart. Some requests are granted immediately, simply because our Father is good and He loves to give His children gifts. Other requests may require time or certain divine preparations before they can be given. We, meanwhile, must simply persevere in prayer.

Whatever the Lord’s response or timing, we trust that He has only the very best in store for His children. That means we might not receive exactly what we’re asking for, but something even better. Such is God’s great pleasure, for He alone perfectly knows each heart’s desire and wishes to fulfill it.

Our most powerful tool for shaping the world and lives around us is always available. Prayer lets us witness God’s hand in any situation. And as we give attention, time, and perseverance to conversation with Him, we find there’s no limit to what He can achieve in people’s hearts and circumstances.

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 1-3

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Because I Love Him

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Read: Revelation 22:12–21 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 74–76; Romans 9:16–33

“Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20

The day before my husband was to return home from a business trip my son said, “Mom! I want Daddy to come home.” I asked him why, expecting him to say something about the presents his daddy usually brings back or that he missed playing ball with him. But with solemn seriousness he answered, “I want him to come back because I love him!”

His answer made me think about our Lord and His promise to come back. “I am coming soon,” Jesus says (Rev. 22:20). I long for His return, but why do I want Him to come back? Is it because I will be in His presence, away from sickness and death? Is it because I am tired of living in a difficult world? Or is it because when you’ve loved Him so much of your life, when He has shared your tears and your laughter, when He has been more real than anybody else, you want to be with Him forever?

“Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20

I’m glad my son misses his daddy when he’s away. It would be terrible if he didn’t care at all about his return or if he thought it would interfere with his plans. How do we feel about our Lord’s return? Let us long for that day passionately, and earnestly say, “Lord, come back! We love You.”

Lord, please come back soon!

Look forward eagerly for the Lord’s appearing.

INSIGHT:

Jesus tells us that He is soon to return and will bring with Him a reward for each believer who faithfully waits for Him. We are also told that those who have “washed their robes” have the right to partake of the tree of life. Does this mean that they are meriting a place in heaven through good works? Most certainly not. The New Testament clearly declares: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8–9).

 

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – The Pendulum and the Cross

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The average cell phone user would likely now claim that life without one would be more than inconvenient. Upon its invention, in more ways than one, we became untethered. There are entire generations that cannot remember getting tangled up in phone cords while trying to make dinner or reach for the passing toddler, while finishing that conversation with the loquacious neighbor. The thought of dashing home from work in order to make that important phone call now seems ridiculous. We make it on the way, sitting in traffic, driving to the next appointment, making a stop at the grocery store, or all three. For those who remember that phones used to have cords, it is with great appreciation that we are no longer operating with a five-foot radius. Yet, this is not to say that we don’t feel a tethering of a different sort. Owning a cell phone can foster the attitude that its owner is always available, always working, always obtainable. While there is no cord to which we are confined, the phone itself can seem the tether.

Ironically, these kinds of shifting dilemmas are not all that uncommon. Just as the pendulum swings in one direction offering some kind of correction, so we often find that the other side introduces a new set of problems or the same problem in a new form. Major and minor movements of history possess a similar, corrective rhythm, swinging from one extreme to another and finding trouble with both. The pendulum swings from one direction, often to an opposite error, or at best, to a new set of challenges.

Within and without the walls of religious institutions, people of faith, too, are continually responding to what we perceive needs correction. When the need to get away from dead, religious worship initiated certain shifts, it was an observation wisely discerned. But what this meant for many was unfortunately a shifting away from history, shared liturgies, and our own past—in many cases contributing to a different set of problems. While breaking away from the “religiosity” of history, many now find themselves tethered in a sense to all things contemporary and individual, unable to draw on the riches of the history from which we have isolated ourselves. While the intent may have been good, and in the case of the church, the shifts did separate us from certain problems within church history, it also seems to have separated us from all of history. As a result, many Christians now seem more divorced from history than ever, having swung so far in one direction that we can no longer see from whence we have come. Coupled with our culture’s general devaluing of anything that is “outdated,” the risk of seeing the church’s identity more in terms of today’s form than its enduring essence seems both high and hazardous.

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – The Pendulum and the Cross →

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Proof of Greed’s Dangers

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“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang” (1 Timothy 6:10).

There’s no doubt that the sinful effects of loving money actually occur in some people.

It is hard to imagine a sin that has not been committed for the sake of greed. It can lead to self-indulgence, flaunting of possessions, lying, stealing, murder, distortion of justice, and abusing the poor.

Today we return to 1 Timothy 6:10 to note how the apostle Paul proves that loving money is indeed dangerous. He knew that some were actually “longing for it [money]” or reaching after it as far as they could figuratively stretch their arms and hands. That means such people would have been passionately pursuing money. Paul does not give any names, but it is reasonable to think he was referring to ones such as Demas, who was perhaps beginning to pursue worldly things even as Paul wrote this letter (see 2 Tim. 4:10).

Such people “wandered away from the faith” or departed from the body of Christian truth (see Jude 3). Like Demas, they were exposed to truth, but they eventually chose material goods and comforts in preference to God. Those apostates were in effect proving what we noted earlier this month: you can’t serve both God and money (Matt. 6:24).

Such lovers of the temporal and the material also “pierced themselves with many a pang.” The word “pierced” originally referred to running a skewer through an animal as it was placed on a spit. Those who love money more than God impale their own souls and end up experiencing much grief—a condemning conscience, an unfulfilled heart, and complete disillusionment with life (see Ps. 32:10).

Continue reading John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Proof of Greed’s Dangers →

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Remember to Ignite Your Gift From God 

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For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Sometimes at the inception of salvation the fire of God’s Spirit burns the brightest, but then life happens—faith loses its fuel—smothered, lacking hope’s oxygen. Bustling activities tend to push Christ to an “as needed role”—as a spiritual EMT. “Jesus, I’ll involve you in my life when I can’t control it.” Instead of enjoying a blazing bonfire of belief, a distracted Christian falls into a routine that doesn’t rock the boat of status quo, and forgets to stoke the fire of God’s gift, as it turns cool and stale within their soul. Luke warm is not an acceptable option to our Lord!

With his authority from God, and his affection for Timothy, Paul reminded his mentee to fan into flame God’s gift of evangelism—which laid dormant in his heart. Like a campfire’s smoldering embers, Timothy needed to take a stick of faith and stir Christ’s simmering coals in his being, so the gospel flame would erupt in a life engulfed for the Lord. Every Christian has received the Spirit of God, who bestows on every believer, unique gifts from God. The warm gray ashes of an ignored gift—must be replaced by the orange-hot flame of an unleashed gift.

“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:14-15).

Humility is a good attitude to employ when we focus on kindling into fire the gift God has given us. Whatever our gift: service, administration, teaching, giving, leading, encouraging, hospitality, wisdom or mercy—make sure to exercise it with dependence on Christ and in deference to others. The Spirit gives us the resolve, the love and the self-discipline to see us through the process of growing our gifts. As with sports, we—practice, practice, practice—until we feel comfortable and at our best. Ongoing improvement helps a gift reach its capacity.

Develop your gift’s potential by learning from other gifted individuals—so, remain a student of seasoned practitioners. Apprentice, ask questions—as you concurrently apply what you learn. When you fail—adjust, and keep moving forward by using your gifts for the good of the Body of Christ. Rest in your unique gifting from God and resist wishing you had another’s giftedness. Ask the Holy Spirit’s fire to ignite your gifts for God’s glory and to strengthen the church. An under utilized gift fades away, but an enflamed gift delights heaven and disgusts hell.

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me the discipline to grow to capacity the gifts You have given me.

Application: What gift do I need to regularly exercise and develop for God’s glory?

Related Readings: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:9-11

 

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Bridge Between God and Man

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For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

Recommended Reading

Job 9:32-35

Labor unions began forming in the United States in the middle of the nineteenth century. The demands of workers concerning wages and working conditions often brought them into conflict with employers. Those conflicts gave rise to the roles of arbitrators and mediators—third parties who helped settle labor-management disputes.

The role of mediators is not a modern one. Job lamented that there was no one to mediate between him and God (Job 9:32-35). But the absence of a divine mediator was solved with the coming of Jesus Christ, the “one Mediator between God and men.” The presence of a mediator implies a conflict between two parties. In the case of God and mankind, the problem was sin manifested in rebellion and disobedience; we were the “enemies” of God as a result (Romans 5:10). But God reached out and “reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ” our Mediator (2 Corinthians 5:18). Christ was the bridge between God and man.

If you have not taken advantage of Christ’s mediation, you should today. Be reconciled to God by accepting the agreed-upon settlement of salvation by grace through faith.

The saved are singled out not by their own merits, but by the grace of the Mediator.

Martin Luther

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Jeremiah 15 – 17

 

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Keep Alert

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Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are those servants whom the master finds awake and alert and watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself and have them recline at table and will come and serve them! – Luke 12:37

In Ephesians 6:10 God’s word teaches, Be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. We are to put on God’s armor so we won’t be deceived by the devil. Verse 16 says, Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

In verse 18 we are also told to pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people) (emphasis mine).

From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – You Are Reflection of God’s Glory?

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Today’s Truth

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

Friend to Friend

My friends Gwen, Lisa, and Bill joined Steve and I for a shrimp boil at my home. We spread out the steamed shrimp and then made a glorious mess as we shucked and ate one tasty morsel after another.

After dinner, Gwen and I challenged Bill and Lisa to a paddleboat race across the lake. “Oh, we’ll cream you guys,” Bill boasted as he and his paddling partner accepted the challenge. He puffed up, knowing that victory was eminent. He was pumped.

I pointed Bill to one of our two vessels. “Here, you take this one.”

“Fine with me,” he said, self-assured.

My husband, with a knowing smile, signaled for the race to begin. Off we went. Bill and Lisa paddled furiously and pulled out ahead. While Bill had his eye on the finish line across the lake, I turned around in my seat and lowered our secret weapon. Unbeknownst to Bill, our boat had a silent, hidden, battery-powered bass motor. I dropped the motor, flipped the switch, and in no time we passed our competitors and left them in our tiny wake. While Bill and Lisa paddled frantically like milkmaids churning butter, Gwen and I sliced through the water like a hot knife through cream.

Bill was confused. We were tickled.

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – You Are Reflection of God’s Glory? →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Trusting Means Safety

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“Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety” (Proverbs 29:25).

One of the delegates attending a lay institute for evangelism protested that he was not going to go out into the community to share his faith, something he had never done before. I assured him that he was not required to go; it was simply an optional assignment. But I explained that if he would go along and observe a more mature witnessing Christian, he would learn something and would feel greater freedom in the future to witness on his own. Again he expressed his fear, but he did go, and God marvelously used him and his witnessing partner to introduce two people to Christ. He came home absolutely radiant, joyful, overflowing with thanksgiving and praise to God. He came to me immediately to say, “I am so glad that I went. I would have missed one of the greatest blessings of my life had I not gone. Thank you so much for encouraging me to go.”

The number one barrier to witnessing in the Christian life is the fear of man. Think of the contradiction. It never occurs to the average Christian that not to witness is to disobey God, and the consequences can be devastating to his spiritual life. Therefore the average Christian risks offending God for the fear of offending man.

It is interesting that there are 365 “fear nots” in the Bible – one for every day of the year. And yet there is one fear in particular that thwarts effective witnessing for Christ more than any other – the fear of man.

It would not be a distorted picture to envision thousands – and even millions – of believers caught in that dangerous trap referred to by the psalmist. And what a deadly snare! Martin Luther, years ago, found a solution to this deadly enemy:

Continue reading Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Trusting Means Safety →

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Boasting in God

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Read: Jeremiah 9:1-26

This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

What a revelation of the greatness of God! Far beyond the greatness of men, a God of wisdom and knowledge and power is at work. The prophet’s heart was directed to think of that. Man’s wisdom is not enough. Let not the wise boast of their wisdom… Why not? Well, because man’s wisdom is always partial wisdom. It never sees the whole story, never is it wide enough to take in all the factors involved. It is tunnel vision, narrow and limited. And that is why we are always thinking we have arrived at solutions to problems only to find in a few years that the solution has only made the problem worse. Pollution is a case in point, is it not? Warfare, and all the other great problems that confront us today. Man’s wisdom is not enough. It is limited.

No, you cannot trust in the wisdom of man, can you? Nor in the might of man — …let not the strong boast of their strength… Why not? Here is a man with great power and authority, a great force at his command to do what he wants — a dictator, a tyrant. Why does he not have the right to boast? Because his force is directed only at material things. It has no power to oppose an idea or a moral value.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Boasting in God →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – God’s Call Provides Strength

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Read: Ephesians 3:14-21

That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through

his Spirit in your inner being. (v. 16)

I was exhausted after the first day of work building a house for a Mexican family. Paint covered my clothes and every inch of my body felt dirty. My back ached and my neck was stiff. I wanted nothing more than a warm shower, a quick meal, and a good night’s sleep.

As we drove away, I was surprised to see the family for whom we were building a house remain on the home site. The father sat on the ground guarding the building materials. The mother held her one-year-old son, and the three-year-old girl sat on the steps of the framed house, waving good-bye to us with a big smile, eyes beaming. The family was so excited to have a home, they were ready to move in despite not having finished walls, a roof, or furniture.

Suddenly, I didn’t feel so tired. Not only did I feel a new sense of commitment towards the task, I felt reenergized by God’s Spirit. God filled my heart with love and compassion for this family.

Answering God’s call can be tiring. When we feel our strength waning and our commitment wavering let’s put our eyes on Jesus and those he loves. Doing so will provide us with renewed strength.

Prayer:

Lord God, strengthen me when I am weak by helping me see the purpose of your call. May I always keep my eyes on you, Lord.

Author: Rob Donoho

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Coming Back to Life

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Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name. —Psalm 80:18

America needs an awakening, but the church needs a revival. We often use the words revival and awakening interchangeably, but there is a distinction. An awakening is when a nation comes alive spiritually, sees its need for God, and turns to Him. A revival is when God’s people come back to life again.

Revival simply means to bring back to life, to restore. To be revived is to wake up from a state of sleep. As C. S. Lewis pointed out, “A moderately bad man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right. . . . You understand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeping.” In other words, if you think you are a great person with no problems, then you are really more asleep than you realize.

Revival is coming back. It is waking up. Revival is getting back to the Christian life as it was meant to be lived. Revival is being in the bloom of first love for a lifetime, walking closely with the Lord. You can’t always have those initial emotions you had as a new believer any more than you can have the same butterflies in your stomach you had when you first met your husband or wife to be. That is unrealistic. But your love can grow deeper. Your love can grow stronger.

That is how we ought to be as followers of Jesus. We need the faith of the Christians of the first century, the faith that turned the world upside down. Revival is nothing more or less than a new obedience to God. Then it is, to quote Nietzsche, a “long obedience in the same direction.”

Only God can send an awakening to America. But revival can happen right here, right now.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Never Changes

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“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)

Cabinet doors were slamming; angry looks were given; Dan was snapping commands to everyone, and now his entire family was in a bad mood. All of them were wondering what they had done to cause Dan to be so rude. What happened? Normally Dan was a nice kid, always helping his family and never saying unkind words. But today it seemed like no one could do anything right, and he acted as though everything and everyone was against him. Did someone say something mean to him? Did he have a bad day at school? Why was he so upset and mad?

Sometimes we let people and events affect our moods and attitudes. If we are sick, if someone is mean to us, if we have lost a soccer game, or if we perform badly in a recital, we let it show through our attitudes and actions. For example, when someone is not feeling well, he might be tempted to “take it out on” everyone around him. Many people are affected by the moods, attitudes, and actions of one.

Have you ever noticed that your moods affects others? Whether you are in a bad mood or a good mood, people around you are affected. If you walk into a room, smile, and greet a person with a pleasant hello, he will probably smile and respond with an equal amount of cheerfulness. But if you come in and scowl at a person, you will probably cause him to frown and look away to avoid your glance. When you are in a bad mood, You might allow your attitude, actions, or even the tone of your voice to change. You let the way you feel cause you to treat others badly.

We are all human, and our moods change. Some people are even more like that than others; we call them “moody” because their moods swing back and forth all the time. But do you know Who never changes? God! God never changes – He is always the same. It doesn’t matter what is going on in the world or what you do – God still loves and cares for His children. Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t change His mind about loving you when you do something wrong?

Let’s list some ways that God does not change:

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – God Never Changes →

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The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Being Like Him

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 8:29

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”

The Spirit’s work within us is as much a gift of God’s grace as is our justification and adoption as sons. But whereas justification and adoption are instantaneous and complete at once, our growth in Christ-likeness is a lifelong process. Therefore, we should never look solely to our love and obedience for our assurance of salvation. At most they can demonstrate our salvation, never prove it. Ultimately our assurance must rest on the Gospel and on the promises of God.

Meanwhile, we can grow in realizing how those promises point to both a glorious present and an even more glorious future. John spoke of our glorious present when he wrote, “Beloved, we are God’s children now” (1 John 3:2). In the same verse he went on to speak of our even more glorious future: “We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” Likeness to Christ is God’s ultimate purpose for us and the hope we look forward to.

What does it mean to be like Jesus?

First, it means to be like him in spirit, in our true inner being. This is a process that begins at conversion and will reach its ultimate fulfillment when we enter the Lord’s presence at death. Paul calls this process transformation. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). God has predestined us to be conformed to the likeness or image of his Son, and he’s now at work in us through his Spirit to bring that to pass.

 

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The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Ritual or Reverence?

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Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 1-4

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” – John 4:23

There is an old story about two families in the mountains of Kentucky who had been feuding for years. When a young man was asked why he was fighting the other family, he had no idea. It’s what his family had always done.

That was exactly the situation in Isaiah’s time. When the Lord spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah, it wasn’t good news, because judgment was on the way. The reason? They were going through various rituals and religious activities, but they had forsaken the Lord, spurned the Holy One of Israel, and turned their backs on Him.

Oh, they were bringing offerings, but they were meaningless. They celebrated various convocations–feasts of the new moon and special Sabbaths–but God said, “They have become a burden to me.” Isaiah 1:15 records these words of the Lord: “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.”

They had kept the form but lost the meaning. And the problem is still with us today.

A close pastor friend of mine spent twenty years in Christian work, but all the time he was drifting away from the Lord. He doubled the membership, tripled the budget, and built a 100,000-square-foot building. But today he weeps and says that not one person came to faith in Jesus Christ during that time. He had kept the form but lost the meaning.

Christian, do you read the Bible merely to satisfy a habit? How do you approach your time of worship at church? Take a moment and reflect on Isaiah’s words. God longs to restore the meaning to your walk of daily discipleship.

Prayer

Lord, I want to be the kind of worshiper You seek. Show me how to worship You in truth. Amen.

To Ponder

In our worship of God, what pleases Him most?

 

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