Tag Archives: nature

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – You Are Special

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Read: Jeremiah 1:1-5

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:4-5

Is it not remarkable that when God began to talk to this young man and send him to his ministry, the first thing he did was to sit down and share with him that, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Is not that what he is saying? This is the preparation of God. The remarkable thing is that this preparation began long before Jeremiah was even conceived. In other words, God said, I started getting you ready, and the world ready for you, long before you were born. I worked through your father and your mother, your grandfathers and grandmothers, your great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers. For generations back I have been preparing you. What a remarkable revelation to this young man — that through the generations of the past God had begun to work!

When people face a crisis, they always start looking for a program, some method with which to attack the crisis. When God sets out to solve a crisis, he almost always starts with a baby. All the babies God sends into the world, who look so innocent and so helpless — and so useless — at their birth, have enormous potential. There is nothing very impressive in appearance about a baby, but that is God’s way of changing the world. That is what God said to Jeremiah: I’ve been working before you were born to prepare you to be a prophet, working through your father and your mother, and those who were before them.

If you read this account as though this were something extraordinary which applied only to Jeremiah the prophet, you have misread this whole passage. I often hear people say of some noted person, When God made him, he broke the mold. That is true, but what we fail to see is that this is true of each one of us. God never made another one like you, and he never will. God never made anyone else who can fill the place you can fill and do the things you can do. This is the wonder of the way God forms human life — that of the billions upon billions who have been spawned upon this earth there are no duplicates. Each one is unique, prepared of God for the time in which he is to live. That is the word which came to Jeremiah, to strengthen him. Look, God said, I have prepared you for this very hour, as he has prepared you and me for this time, for this world, for this hour of human history.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Hearing God’s Call

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Read: Exodus 4:1-17

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” (v. 1)

In Exodus 3 and 4, God made it obvious that he was calling Moses to return to Egypt. Moses had plenty of reasons not to answer God’s call. However, Moses eventually obeyed and God blessed an entire nation.

While I haven’t seen any burning bushes, I have sensed God’s call to serve. Last year, I sensed his call as a mission team spoke to our church about their work building homes in Mexico. I had occasionally thought about serving on a mission trip, but something always came up to prevent me from going.

I wasn’t totally ignoring God’s call. In my church I served as an elder and deacon, helped lead the men’s ministry, taught Sunday school, and led small groups. I had even led a capital campaign to grow the church. Surely, I had done enough! Besides, I didn’t know much about construction and probably wouldn’t be much help to a build team. And at 56 years of age, wasn’t I a little too old for doing hard physical labor? (Call me Moses!)

We all have good reasons to avoid answering God’s call, but if we don’t answer it, we may miss out on an incredible blessing. God doesn’t want part of our heart. He wants it all. Are you willing to completely surrender your will to God’s call?

Prayer:

Father, forgive me when I refuse to listen to you. Give me the courage and strength to obey, whatever it may be.

Author: Rob Donoho

 

https://woh.org/

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Learning to Trust

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 62:8

“Trust in him at all times.”

It’s difficult to believe God is in control when we’re in the midst of heartache or grief. I’ve struggled with this many times myself. Each time I’ve had to decide if I would trust him, even when my heart ached. I realized anew that we must learn to trust God one circumstance at a time.

It’s not a matter of my feelings but of my will. I never feel like trusting God when adversity strikes, but I can choose to do so anyway. That act of the will must be based on belief, and belief must be based on the truth that God is sovereign. He carries out his own good purposes without ever being thwarted, and nothing is outside of his sovereign will. We must cling to this in the face of adversity and tragedy, if we’re to glorify God by trusting him.

I’ll say this as gently and compassionately as I know how: our first priority in adversity is to honor and glorify God by trusting him. Gaining relief from our feelings of heartache or disappointment or frustration is a natural desire, and God has promised to give us grace sufficient for our trials and peace for our anxieties (2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:6-7). But just as God’s will is to take precedence over our will (“yet not as I will, but as you will” —Matthew 26:39), so God’s honor is to take precedence over our feelings. We honor God by choosing to trust him when we don’t understand what he is doing or why he has allowed some adverse circumstance to occur. As we seek God’s glory, we may be sure he has purposed our good and that he won’t be frustrated in fulfilling that purpose. (Excerpt taken from Trusting God)

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – A Mind for the Word

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Today’s Scripture: Acts 16-18

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11

What made the apostles of Jesus Christ so powerful in their ministry and so effective in their witness? I believe we find one of the keys in Acts 17:1-2: “They came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”

The Bible was absolutely indispensable to Paul’s witness for Christ. Now, think with me for a moment. Before you can quote the Bible, what must you do? You must memorize it. If you take the time to discipline yourself to memorize the Word, when the opportunity arises you can quote Scripture and help others understand the gospel.

Among the early apostles, memorizing the Old Testament Scriptures was a standard practice. They knew the Word of God, and when the opportunity arose for witness, they were ready. Remember Peter’s great opportunity on the day of Pentecost? There he was, out in the middle of the street with no Bible, no sermon notes–nothing but a heart filled with the Word of God. And he began his sermon by quoting from memory the Old Testament prophet Joel (2:28-32). God used Peter’s preaching to bring three thousand souls into the kingdom.

I see a great need today for us to return to this apostolic practice of memorizing the Word of God. I challenge you to get on your knees before God and ask Him to give you a hunger and a thirst for His Word. Then get started in the vital practice of memorizing key portions of the Bible as you prepare your mind and heart to speak to others about Christ.

Prayer

Lord, create in me a hunger and thirst for Your Word, and I will share it with others. Amen.

To Ponder

When we commit Scripture to memory, we’re committing to the transformation of our minds.

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint – Should Christians Engage the Culture?

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For more than two decades now, one of the most important voices on the subject of Christians’ relationship to culture has been Andy Crouch. From his work editing re:generation quarterly to books like “Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling,” Crouch has helped countless evangelicals navigate the shoals where faith and culture meet without running aground.

And that’s why I’m a bit puzzled by what he recently wrote about the subject of culture over at Christianity Today.

The piece had the provocative headline, “Stop Engaging ‘The Culture’ Because it Doesn’t Exist.” Now, as any writer will tell you, they usually don’t come up with the headline, so they shouldn’t be evaluated on the basis of it.

But in this case, the headline did convey the gist of Crouch’s arguments. As he wrote, “A nation of 300 million people, especially one as gloriously diverse as the United States, does not have one monolithic ‘culture.’” While it does have a “national ethos,” that ethos “is constantly being contested, challenged, and reimagined by different groups within the nation, and ignored or actively resisted by others.”

Now, overall I agree with this analysis, with a few caveats I’ll get into in a moment. As recent events in Baton Rouge, Minnesota, and Dallas painfully remind us, there are very real differences in people’s experiences and perceptions of American life.

I even largely agree with Crouch when he says that the best use of our limited time and resources is to “love our neighbor,” by whom he means “real people in a real place” and “living faithfully within our particular cultures and trusting God to weave out of our faithfulness the cosmic redemption he has promised and accomplished through his Son.” Absolutely.

Where I take issue with him is that this isn’t an “either/or” proposition. We can both love our flesh and blood neighbor and actively, strategically, and systemically oppose what Crouch calls the “systems of ideology and influence that operate independent of God.”

I am not sure what else our choice is, in fact. Not only can we walk and chew gum at the same time, sometimes we must.  Crouch’s analysis understates the impact of culture. While it’s true that American culture isn’t monolithic—after all, what culture is?—some ideas, trends, artifacts, and practices rise above the various subgroups that exist in our society and become part of our collective lives together. Here’s an example in two-words: Pokemon Go.

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word –THE TRINITY AND THE MISSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

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Read LUKE 1:8–17

The doctrine of the Trinity, God as Three-in-One, is one of the most difficult in Christian theology. John Wesley said, “Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God.” Though it is challenging, studying the Trinity can also be very rewarding. Augustine said, “There is no subject where error is more dangerous, research more laborious, and discovery more fruitful than the oneness of the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

This month’s study approaches this doctrinal topic within the four Gospels (mostly) and the life of Christ. In these familiar narratives, the Three-in-One often interact or are spoken about as identifiably different Persons. The goal of our study is to reach a richer and fuller understanding of God, including His love, His plan of salvation, and how the Trinity works in the world and in the lives of believers.

Our readings will begin in chronological order and then become organized thematically. August 1 to 10 will focus on the Trinity’s involvement in Christ’s birth. From August 11 to 20, the passages deal generally with the interaction and work of the Trinity. From August 21 to 31, the emphasis is on the Trinity’s roles with regard to redemption and the proclamation of the gospel.

In today’s reading, the three Persons of the Godhead are all involved. Zechariah offered incense in the temple to worship the Father (vv. 8–10), who sent an angel to him with an important message (v. 19). He and his wife would have a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah, the Son of God (vv. 16–17). This prophet, John, would be filled with the Holy Spirit throughout his life, beginning even before his birth (vv. 15, 41–45).

APPLY THE WORD

This month’s study provides an opportunity to discuss the Trinity with your pastor or other church leaders. What does your congregation’s doctrinal statement affirm about the Trinity? What biblical texts do they see as key in understanding it? Your small group Bible study or Sunday school class could also address this topic.

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – WHY MAN JUMPED FROM 25,000 FEET WITHOUT PARACHUTE

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It sounded too outlandish to be possible: a man was going to jump from an airplane at 25,000 feet without a parachute, trying to land on a net less than half the size of a football field. But that’s what Luke Aikins did last Saturday.

He became the first person to skydive with neither a parachute nor a wingsuit. Aikins jumped from an altitude just 4,000 feet short of the summit of Mount Everest, landing on his back in a net suspended 200 feet above the California desert. Then he climbed out into the arms of his wife. Why did he do it? To show that “if you train right you can make anything happen.”

Here’s my question: Why do we care?

We’re fascinated by the thrill of near-death experiences. We’ll hold our breath watching an acrobat cross a canyon on a high wire. We’ll buy a ticket to see trapeze artists and lion tamers. We’ll flock to movies like Jason Bourne that feature high-speed chase scenes and death-defying stunts.

We want to escape the normalcy of our routine to feel the excitement of the extreme. Somehow we know that the world we experience is not all there is. As C. S. Lewis notes, the most spectacular sunset evokes in us a sense that there is still “something more.” When you hear a brilliant musician or hike through a scenic forest, don’t you feel it? Our world at its most beautiful is not enough.

This “something more” is a symptom of the “God-shaped emptiness” Pascal found in every human heart. As St. Augustine noted, our hearts are restless until they rest in our Lord. Until we are home, we can expect to feel homesick. This world, no matter how much we invest in it, will never feed the deepest hunger of our soul.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Pathway of Faith

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Genesis 12

Faith is the foundation of our Christian life. Hebrews 11:1 gives us the biblical definition of this term: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

True belief is more than something we express verbally; it is a pathway you and I follow. Throughout life, our heavenly Father takes us on a journey, allowing us to experience a real relationship with Him as we face each circumstance. Today’s passage illustrates that God has a purpose for everything we encounter. The Lord promised Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars visible in the sky (Gen. 15:5). Then He directed His servant to obey several commands, such as moving from home. Abraham was not told the details of this plan but trusted God anyway.

We now know he was the father of the Jewish nation and his lineage included Jesus, the Savior of mankind. Though the patriarch didn’t obey perfectly, he did step forward in faith, trusting in God’s ultimate purpose.

We, too, can know with certainty that the Lord is weaving together a beautiful plan. He is not obligated to explain His reasoning or reveal every detail. Instead, God shows us what the next step will be (Ps. 119:105), and our job is to obey, even when it doesn’t make sense.

If you want to know what God is doing in your life, obey Him. Often, you won’t understand the intricacies of the plan, but you can trust the goodness of His heart. Rest assured that all He does is purposeful and for your benefit. So step forward in faith, and you will see His faithfulness.

Bible in a Year: Isaiah 36-39

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — The Price of Admission

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Read: Romans 3:21–26 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 54–56; Romans 3

All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24

Every year some two million people from all over the world visit St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It is well worth the admission fee to experience the magnificent structure designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren during the late 17th century. But tourism is secondary at this place of Christian worship. A primary mission of the cathedral is “to enable people in all their diversity to encounter the transforming presence of God in Jesus Christ.” If you want to tour the building and admire the architecture, you must pay an admission fee. But there is no charge to enter and attend any of the daily worship services at St. Paul’s.

How much does it cost to enter the kingdom of God? Entry is free because Jesus Christ paid the price for us by His death. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23–24). When we acknowledge our spiritual need and accept by faith God’s forgiveness for our sins, we have a new and everlasting life in Him.

Jesus paid the price so we can enter God’s kingdom.

You can enter a new life today because, by His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, Jesus has paid the price of admission!

You can invite Jesus into your life by praying something like this: Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I want to accept You as my Savior and follow You. Please forgive my sins and help me, from this moment on, to live a life that is pleasing to You.

Jesus paid the price so we can enter God’s kingdom.

INSIGHT:

What does it mean to “fall short of the glory of God”? (Rom. 3:23). The glory of God is the outward manifestation of God’s character, which, at the center, is holiness and love. In God’s plan of redemption, human beings are to share in this glory. Those who respond to Christ’s offer of salvation begin a process of reflecting God’s character (2 Cor. 3:18). In heaven multitudes will ascribe glory to God for His work of salvation (Rev. 19:1). In contrast, those who have rebelled against God have chosen a path that does not seek or reflect God’s holy love.

 

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – The Blessings of Assurance

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“For as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10).

Assurance of salvation lets us enjoy earthly blessings.

It is encouraging that scriptural assurance results in specific, practical blessings in the Christian life. Here are six I’d like to share with you today.

Assurance makes you praise God. There is no way you can be filled with praise and gratitude to God if you’re not sure you’re saved.

Assurance adds joy to your earthly duties and trials. No matter what happens to you, you can be certain that all will work out well in the end. Difficulties are easier to handle when you know they’re temporary.

Assurance makes you zealous in obedience and service. If you’re doubtful about your salvation, you will be apathetic and discouraged. But if you’re sure, you will be hard-working and encouraged in serving the Lord.

Assurance gives you victory in temptation. When you are confident about your salvation, you can overcome the strongest temptation (see 1 Cor. 10:13). Even if you stumble occasionally, you will know that those events have not changed your standing before God. But you will be depressed and discouraged by temptation if you have no assurance. You’ll doubt your ability to cope with temptations and will wonder if falling victim to one or two will send you to Hell.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Drastic Measures 

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We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. Acts 27:18-19

Some situations call for drastic measures, such that you cannot continue as usual or you will miss an opportunity to make major adjustments. Figuratively speaking, your boat needs to be lightened for you to stay afloat. This may apply to finances. Because of your increase in debt and your decrease in income, your spending must be drastically curtailed. Your lifestyle cannot continue to rise on the back of credit cards and equity lines. This straw house of credit will collapse one day under the weight of one small crisis. One misstep can cause everything to quickly tumble down.

God’s best is not for you to live on the verge of financial frustration and failure. Start now and pay down debt while you can. Your next job may not be as financially friendly. Prepare today for tomorrow’s turmoil. It is not a question of if things can go wrong, but when things will go wrong. Adversity has a way of revealing bad habits. Success can mask mistakes but failures bring them  front and center. Don’t risk your relational wellbeing for the sake of stuff. “Simple” equals “Freedom,” but “Complex” can be “Bondage.” Maybe you need to lower your stress by lessening your commitments.

Each season of life calls for re-evaluation of what’s needed. The needs of an empty nest marriage are much different than when the children scurried all through the house. This is especially difficult for a wife who has drawn emotional strength and security from the love of the children. She feels insecure and less significant when the kids are no longer under the roof, waiting to be mothered. Yes, she needs the love of her heavenly Father, but she desperately needs the love of her earthly husband. It is during this season of major transition in motherhood that a wise husband loves more. It may mean taking drastic measures in how you love your wife. She needs your love in ways that she defines as love. It probably means more communication, sensitivity, and service. Do not let her frustrations and anger make you defensive or cause you to shut down. She wants to connect. She is longing for love that only you can give.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Kingdom Living

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[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. —Romans 14:17

God’s kingdom is made up of things far greater and more beneficial than worldly possessions. God does bless us with material possessions, but the kingdom is much more than that: It is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Righteousness is not the result of what we do, but rather what Jesus has done for us (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). When we accept this truth by faith and receive it personally, we are free to live and enjoy the life Jesus died to give us.

Peace is so wonderful—it is definitely kingdom living. This is why we pursue peace, crave it, and go after it (see Psalm 34:14; 1 Peter 3:11). The closer we get to God, the more we understand that Jesus is our peace (see Ephesians 2:14). God’s will for you and me is to enjoy His peace that goes beyond understanding (see Philippians 4:7).

Joy can be anything from calm delight to extreme hilarity. Joy improves our countenance, our health, and the quality of our lives. It strengthens our witness to others and gives us a godly perspective on life (see Nehemiah 8:10).

It is clear in the Word of God: Seek God and His kingdom, and He will take care of everything else (see Matthew 6:33).

There is no better life than life in the kingdom of God.

From the book Closer to God Each Day by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The End of the Beginning

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Read: Acts 28:30-31

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ — with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts 28:30-31

This is what I like to call the end of the beginning. The book of Acts is just the beginning of the record of the operation of the body of Christ at work in the world since his resurrection and ascension. It is just the first chapter. We have come now to the last page of that chapter. The rest of the record is being written as history is being unfolded. Fresh and wonderful chapters are now being written in our own day, ultimately to be incorporated into this account. It is a tremendous privilege and joy to be a part of this divine record.

One of the most impressive things about this last section is the two last words. Do you notice how the book of Acts ends? With the word without hindrance. That describes the freedom of the gospel. Paul was hindered; still chained day and night to a Roman guard. But he could welcome friends in. He could walk around his house and yard, and he could minister and teach there. Paul never chafed under this restraint. His letters from this period are filled with joy and rejoicing. He never fretted about his condition, but he welcomed all who came and he sent letters back with them. It was during this time that he wrote Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and the letter to Philemon. What tremendous truths are set forth in these letters which he had time to write because he could no longer travel abroad.

You and I can be grateful that God kept him still long enough to write them; otherwise we might have been deprived of these great messages which have changed history. Still, Paul had to appear before the emperor. In the next year or so, a great persecution broke out under the vicious Emperor Nero which was one of the greatest that Christians have ever experienced. But the Word was not hindered. No matter what the condition of the church, the Word of God is never bound.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Crossroads

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Read: Ephesians 3:1-21

I pray that you [may be] rooted and established in [Christ’s] love. (v. 7 NIV)

The central figure in this story is God. Jonah is fascinating (“villains” often are), but not nearly as interesting as the character of God revealed in his interactions with Jonah. The big fish interests people of all ages (like all monsters and miracles), but its role isn’t as astounding as what God does. Nineveh was important in the ancient world (this story highlights that history), but God’s plan of salvation for time and eternity (illustrated by Jonah) transcends an earthly empire.

Jonah struggles to overcome personal prejudices and preconceived ideas about God and the world. He runs on anger more than truth. He fails to grasp the centrality of God’s mission to the purpose of his life. He recognizes sin in others but not in himself. He fails to appreciate how God is able to bring perfect love and justice together, and what that means for his personal guilt, grace, and gratitude. We need to learn from Jonah. It doesn’t matter if we ever see a monster fish, but it matters terribly if we don’t apply the lessons of this book.

Did Jonah finally get it? Did he become a prophet majoring in God’s love, grace, and good news? Or did he stay an angry, bitter man, outside God’s mission looking in? The story doesn’t tell us, because the real point isn’t Jonah’s final response, but yours and mine.

Prayer:

Lord, I know Jonah’s struggles all too well. Open my mind to your Word and my heart to your mission in the world. Amen.

Author: Doug VanBronkhorst

 

https://woh.org/

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Answers Prayers

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“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

Kelly was in second grade. Her parents were teachers in a Christian school. They lived a happy life, serving God in their church and school. But all the sudden, something happened that changed their lives forever: doctors found a deadly tumor at the base of Kelly’s brain.

The students in Kelly’s school, people at her church, family members, and many others who heard about Kelly prayed for her. She had surgery, but the surgeon was unable to remove the entire tumor. She was a good girl with a bright smile and cheerful attitude through all the doctor visits, hospital stays, and extra attention she got from everyone. The family took a dream vacation so that they could have some wonderful memories with Kelly before she died. Would God answer many people’s prayers that Kelly would be healed, even when the doctors said it was hopeless?

Kelly’s parents showed awesome trust and dependence upon God, but doctors did not expect for her to live very long. Surgery and medication could not get rid of all of the tumor, and there was nothing else the doctors could do! But God stepped in and miraculously healed Kelly. Her health continued to improve, and years later, she is still doing well and is serving the Lord in full-time Christian ministry. She has been cancer-free for years.

God delights in answering our prayers, but He does not always answer them immediately or in the way we think they should be answered. In Kelly’s case, God chose to answer people’s prayers in the way they wanted Him to. Sometimes, God says “yes” to us; sometimes he says “no”; sometimes he says “wait.” We can always trust Him to choose the answer that will give Him the most glory and be best for us.

God answers prayer in different ways, but He always answers in a way that shows His power and His goodness.

My Response:

» Do I trust God to answer my prayers?

» What prayers has God answered for me lately?

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Two Are Better Than One

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Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 27:17

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Because mortifying sins is difficult, we need the help of one or two friends to engage in the struggle with us. These friends should be believers who share our commitment to pursuing holiness and who are also willing to be mutually open with us about their own struggles. This principle is well expressed in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

In the battle of putting sin to death, we need the mutual support of one another. In the New Testament we’re taught to admonish one another (Colossians 3:16), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), confess our sins to one another (James 5:16), bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and pray for one another (James 5:16).

Although this principle applies to every aspect of the Christian life, it’s particularly helpful in the pursuit of holiness. We need at least one other person of like heart to pray with us, encourage us, and if necessary, admonish us. This person must be someone who’s also personally involved in the struggle to mortify sin, so that he or she can enter into our struggles and not be scandalized by the nature of our deepest sins. It’s said that the Puritans used to ask God for one “bosom friend” with whom they could share absolutely everything. This is the type of friend we should also pray for and seek out to help us in our struggle to mortify sin in our lives. Remember, however, it’s a mutual effort. Each one should be committed to both helping and receiving help.

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Listening to the Word

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Today’s Scripture: Acts 2:42

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. – James 1:25

Think about the last airplane flight you took. When it came time for the flight attendant to impart the vital information about oxygen masks, exit doors, and the workings of your seat belt, how closely did you or your fellow travelers pay attention? Most people were probably knitting, reading, chatting–anything but listening to the attendant.

I’m usually just as lackadaisical, but there was one particular flight in which I hung on the flight attendant’s every word. I was flying from Bogota, Colombia, over the high, rugged peaks of the Andes Mountains, to Loma Linda, the Wycliffe Bible Translators jungle base. The airplane had gone into service in the 1930s and was not equipped with an automatic oxygen system for high altitude, so all of us on board were instructed in the use of the emergency oxygen system that might keep us alive. I not only listened and paid attention, I asked the steward questions to make sure I had it right.

In many ways, going to church on Sunday morning is like an airplane ride. You’ve heard it all before. You’ve sung the hymns a hundred times; the sermon topic is familiar. So your mind drifts, and you don’t really listen to the vital information passed along by the minister of Christ, the steward of the mysteries of God. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Ask God to give you the spirit of our early ancestors in the faith, who devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. Ask the Lord to give you the same hunger God’s people exemplified when they gathered together to hear the Word of God expounded and hung on to every word. Be one of those who truly hears the Word.

Prayer

Lord, only You have the words of life. As I sit in church this Sunday, give me a passion for what I hear, and keep me from taking Your truth for granted. Amen.

To Ponder

“The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6).

 

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – FORGIVENESS: THE FINAL CALL

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Read GENESIS 49:29–50:26

“Revenge is a dish best served cold!” Historians debate the origins of this quote, but the sentiment is unmistakable: rather than take vengeance while an insult is still fresh, better to wait so that the offending party does not see your revenge coming.

Jacob had died. Per his father’s last request, Joseph and his brothers returned to Canaan with “a very large company” (50:9) to bury him in the cave of his forefathers. Once they all returned to Egypt, however, the brothers’ fears about Joseph’s true intentions emerged. Perhaps Joseph had delayed vengeance only to serve it up now.

They concocted a story about Jacob’s dying wish was to have Joseph forgive his brothers. They threw themselves before Joseph, confessing their crime against him, and pledging themselves to Joseph as his slaves. Four times they mentioned their “sins” and “wrongs” committed against Joseph (vv. 15–17). They were repentant, but also worried about revenge.

But Joseph displayed no grudge at all. Upon hearing their plea, he wept and then spoke words of kindness and wisdom: “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (50:19–20). Following those words, Joseph pledged to provide for his brothers and their families. His deep sense of God’s providential goodness (even in harmful circumstances) led Joseph to exercise similar goodness and reconciliation with his brothers.

This was Joseph’s calling—to turn evil into a blessing for others. His only request in these last verses of Genesis is to have his bones returned to Canaan, knowing that God would one day return His people to the land of promise.

APPLY THE WORD

As we close our study of Genesis, we see how understanding God’s providence can lead to proper reconciliation. Where is God calling you to forgive and reconcile with someone who has harmed you? Ask God for the wisdom to see His hand in all things, and the grace to grant true forgiveness to that person in your life.

 

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Pursuit of Glory

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1 Peter 4:11

When we become Christ followers, our view of life should change. No longer are we the center of our world; instead, Christ is (Gal. 2:20). It’s essential that we switch our thinking to a Christian worldview because what we believe dictates how we behave. Many of us have a “patchwork quilt” type of perspective, where we have taken some truths from Scripture, some from our upbringing, and some from our culture to determine what we believe. We often don’t even realize we have done this.

As believers, we are to search Scripture to find answers for all of life’s questions, such as: Where did I come from? (see Gen. 1.); What happens when I die? (John 14:1-4); How do I explain human behavior? (Rom. 3:9-18); How can I determine right from wrong? (2 Tim. 3:16); and What is the purpose of man? (Isa. 43:7). If we have biblical answers—a Christian worldview—we will think and behave in ways that glorify God.

The most vital question is, What is important to God? From the Bible, we learn that all of nature declares the glory of God (Ps. 19:1), the chief aim of man is to glorify the Lord, and Jesus’ mission on earth revealed God’s glory. So we know that what matters to God is His glory.

Does this surprise you? We often fall into thinking that the world revolves around us and the Lord’s work has to do with our needs, wants, and pleasures. But the truth is that life is all about God and glorifying Him. Let us humbly bow before Him, change our thinking, and join Him in the pursuit of His glory.

Bible in a Year: Isaiah 19-22

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Visible Vulnerability

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Visible Vulnerability

Read: Ephesians 4:2–6 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 43–45; Acts 27:27–44

Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

As I ventured out several weeks after shoulder surgery, I was fearful. I had become comfortable using my arm sling, but both my surgeon and physical therapist now told me to stop wearing it. That’s when I saw this statement: “At this stage, sling wear is discouraged except as a visible sign of vulnerability in an uncontrolled environment.”

Ah, that was it! I feared the enthusiastic person who might give me a bear hug or the unaware friend who might bump me accidentally. I was hiding behind my flimsy baby-blue sling because I feared being hurt.

Being honest about our struggles allows us to help each other.

Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable can be scary. We want to be loved and accepted for who we are, but we fear that if people truly knew us, they would reject us and we could get hurt. What if they found out we are not smart enough . . . kind enough . . . good enough?

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