Tag Archives: nature

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The Purpose of Disabilities

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Read: John 9:1-39

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)

The disciples had evidently been taught that sin and hurt, injury and handicap are linked together; that human hurt is the result of human sin. Notice that Jesus does not deny that. It is helpful to note right from the beginning that he recognizes there is such a link. However, it is not the one that many people think, as he will make clear.

What that indicates is that we are not living in a world where we can always expect perfection; that God does not try to operate the world in such a way that everything works out beautifully. We are living in a fallen world. The Scriptures declare that we are living in a broken world, a fragmented world, a world which is not what it once was and is not what it shall be. For the present we are afflicted with hurts, injuries, difficulties and hardships.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Our Worst Nightmare

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Read: Matthew 7:21-23

Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (v. 23 NIV)

“I want to know Christ.” We began these meditations with those words of Paul in Philippians 3:10. That has been our challenge. Now we come to these words of Jesus: “I never knew you.” That is a believer’s worst nightmare. You spend your life calling on the name of the Lord, working faithfully in the church, and serving bravely in the kingdom, all the while thinking that you know Christ. And then at the end, Jesus says, “I never knew you.”

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Love Beyond Fear

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With as many as 100,000 Syrian refugees about to settle in the U.S., many citizens are frightened, worried or angry. What if terrorists are among them? What if the Islam religion takes over? What about the poor, the homeless, and the veterans of America? Some wonder if anything positive can come out of this situation.

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat.

Proverbs 25:21

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Only One You

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Have you ever complained about where you are in life right now? I hate my neighborhood. My neighbors are so weird. . . . I can’t stand where I work. There are certain people I work with who really irritate me. . . . I don’t like this about my life. . . .

Did you ever stop and think about the fact that God has put you where you are for such a time as this? It is providence. If you have suffered in life, God can take your hurt and pain and use it to make you a godly man or woman for such a time as this.

A classic example is Joseph. After he was sold into slavery by his brothers, he was purchased by a man named Potiphar. Joseph was so hardworking and godly that he was put in charge of Potiphar’s house. Potiphar’s wife, however, wanted to seduce Joseph. When he refused her repeated advances, she falsely accused him of rape.

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Light

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“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Walking around the garage in complete darkness is a bad idea. If the room is pitch black, you’ll probably hurt yourself. You might bump into the car or trip over a baseball bat or a basketball. And you’ll probably stub your toe or hit your head. That could be painful!

But if you take a flashlight with you, everything will change. You’ll see where you’re going, and you won’t stub your toe or hit your head, because of the light you have with you.

What are some facts about light? Light makes things clear and easy to see. Light shows us where to go and keeps us from getting hurt. Light draws our attention to things. Can you think of some other facts about light?

The Bible says that God is light.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Embraced

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Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 3:14

“We have come to share in Christ.”

Christ’s work is not effective for everyone because not everyone is in union with him.

We’re united to Christ by faith—that is, by trusting in him as our savior. And the moment we trust in Christ, we become partakers of and beneficiaries of all that he did in both his life and death. We’re united to Christ both legally and vitally. We can distinguish these two aspects in this way: our legal union with Christ entitles us to all that Christ did for us as he acted in our place, as our substitute. Our vital union with Christ is the means by which he works in us by his Holy Spirit. The legal union refers to his objective work outside of us that is credited to us through faith. The vital union refers to his subjective work in us, which is also realized through faith as we rely on his Spirit to work in and through us.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Wise Living

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Today’s Scripture: Proverbs 1-4

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. – Proverbs 1:7

There is a tremendous contrast between the book of Psalms and the book of Proverbs. Part of this contrast comes from the differences in the two principal writers, David and Solomon. Both were kings who loved the Lord. But David was a man of war, a soldier who fought the battles of Israel. Solomon spent time contemplating the great questions of life and applying his God-given wisdom to the difficult issues of everyday existence.

I believe there’s a lesson for us here as Christian parents. It has to do with allowing our children to be themselves and not trying to force them into the same kinds of educational and career choices we made for ourselves.

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  Critiquing Culture for Christ and Our Neighbor

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Back in the old days—so I’m told—Christians used to compete with one another to see who could reject culture the most. Sometimes this was good and necessary.

For example, whatever you think of the temperance movement of the early 1900s, there is no doubt that it addressed a massive social problem—widespread public drunkenness and addiction to alcohol.

Sometimes to embrace a good thing, such as a faithful walk with Christ, we must first reject a bad thing. But sometimes we reject things that maybe we shouldn’t, because rejecting them means cutting ourselves off from contact with people who need to hear about Jesus.

Now I’ve made a big deal about not having enough Christians in the arts telling our stories, based of course on the Greatest Story Ever Told, to a culture that’s unknowingly starving for the True, the Good, and the Beautiful.

And as I mentioned recently on BreakPoint, our culture makers seem to be running out of fresh ideas, so they keep recycling the old stuff. Take the commercially successful but artistically vacuous Star Wars remake, for example.

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Today in the Word

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – AVOIDING SHAME

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Today in the Word – Read Psalm 31

During the South Asian monsoons, heavy rains can swell rivers and flood entire cities. Mixed with mud, debris, and sewage, the unavoidable floodwaters invade streets, homes, and businesses alike. Residents have no choice but to wade through the sometimes chest-deep filth, carrying their precious possessions high over their heads to keep them safe.

The desperate attempt to preserve our lives and dignity in the midst of overwhelming circumstances is an experience that David knew all too well. Psalm 31 describes a metaphorical rising river carrying slander, contempt, abandonment, and terror. This river stemmed from the evil intentions of his enemies and was compounded by the unwitting cooperation of his friends. It seemed only a matter of time until he would be completely engulfed. His only hope was to lift his spirit over the muddy floodwaters and commit it into God’s hands for safekeeping (v. 5), just as Jesus did when He quoted the verse as a final prayer from the cross (Luke 23:46).

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – WASHINGTON DIGGING OUT FROM ANOTHER SNOWMAGEDDON

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Winter Storm Jonas has dominated the news for days. At least 29 deaths have now been blamed on the record snowfall. Government offices in Washington DC are closed today as the city recovers.

The story started last week when the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for parts of Maryland, Washington, Virginia, and West Virginia. Residents were told to expect significant travel delays, closures, and threats to life and property. Airlines began cancelling flights and allowing passengers to reschedule flights without extra fees.

All this before Jonas dropped a single snowflake. If meteorologists were limited to what they could see, obviously no one could predict tomorrow’s weather today.

Another story making headlines is Planet Nine. Ten times more massive than Earth, this new planet is so distant from us that it takes 10,000 to 20,000 years to orbit the sun just once. Scientists cannot see it. They postulate its existence from its apparent effect on space rocks in its vicinity (specifically, six of the thirteen Kuiper belt objects).

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Keeping Your Eye on the Lord

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Psalms 25:15

Have you ever tried to make a perfectly straight line of footprints in the snow? It’s not as easy as you might think! Most people would tread slow and steady, heads down, focusing intensely on their feet. Whenever someone faces this challenge with their eyes turned downward, you can be sure that they’ll fail. Those footprints will be as crooked as can be.

When you’re walking with your eyes on your feet, you have no idea where you’re going. The experience is entirely self-centered. There’s no perspective, because you can’t see how you fit into the larger landscape. Genuine focus is missing, since every step treads over the last step’s focal point. You haven’t envisioned yourself as part of a bigger picture. So you simply plod through the snow aimlessly.

The only way to make a straight line of footprints in the snow is to ignore your feet. Instead, look directly ahead and find a fence post, street sign, or tree in the distance. Then, with your eyes fixed on that target, start to walk towards it. If you’ve locked your focus on something other than yourself, the path will be straight every time.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. If we walk through life concentrating inwardly, we’ll fail to see the bigger picture and likely go off course. But when we focus beyond ourselves, fixing our thoughts and spiritual eyes on Jesus Christ, we can trust our path will be straight and trustworthy every step of the way (Isa. 26:3 NLT).

Bible in One Year: Exodus 25-27

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Honoring God

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Read: John 15:1-5

Bible in a Year: Exodus 9-11; Matthew 15:21-39

[Jesus said,] “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. —John 15:5

The church service was still in progress, and we had some visitors there that morning. The speaker was only halfway through his sermon when I noticed one of our visitors walking out. I was curious and concerned, so I walked out to talk with her.

“You’re leaving so soon,” I said, approaching her. “Is there a problem I can help with?” She was frank and forthright. “Yes,” she said, “my problem is that sermon! I don’t accept what the preacher is saying.” He had said that no matter what we accomplish in life, the credit and praise belong to God. “At least,” the woman moaned, “I deserve some credit for my achievements!”

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Forbearing Love

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“. . . Showing forbearance to one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

In order to walk worthy, we must forgive our enemies and love them.

The term forbearance is not often used today and is therefore unfamiliar to many of us. The Greek word translated “showing forbearance” means “suppressing with silence.” It carries the idea of throwing a blanket over sin. First Peter 4:8 says, “Love covers a multitude of sins,” and Proverbs 10:12 declares, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.” A forbearing person doesn’t trumpet other people’s sins but rather forgives them. Forbearance has room for the failures of others. A forbearing person also loves people in spite of the wrongs they might have done to him.

Agape, the word used for “love” in this verse, is the love that gives but never takes. It’s the kind of love that seeks the highest good for another, no matter what the cost. God showed His agape by giving us His only Son (John 3:16). Jesus said, “Greater love [agape] has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (15:13). Agape is unconquerable benevolence and invincible goodness; it is completely selfless.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Discreet Deeds 

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Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Matthew 6:1

Discretion is the better part of doing good deeds. Why? One reason is that it does not bring attention to the giver but to the motive behind the gift. If I am the main attraction of a good act, then praise from men is my reward. But if I am serving others for an audience of One, then the Almighty’s pleasure is my reward. His smile is enough remuneration for my good works. If not, I fall prey to the need for people’s praise as fuel for my faith.

Hypocrites have to be stroked by someone other than their Savior Jesus. However, mature followers of Christ are satisfied to know their Lord is delighted with their discreet deeds. Jesus warns that our Christian duties of giving, praying, and fasting be done in secret so we do not become like those who wear their religion to impress others. Moreover, when your deeds are discreet, you do well for yourself, and you benefit. Your secret service serves your soul in prayer, your body in fasting, and your emotions in giving.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Blame Game

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No temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. —1 Corinthians 10:13

Years ago, a comedian’s favorite punch line was, “The devil made me do it.” The audience roared. Why did people laugh so hard? Was it because they wanted it to be true? Did they want to absolve themselves of responsibility for their actions by pointing to an outside force?

It’s always easy to blame someone else or outside forces for our actions. We hear people all the time who tell us, “My father never said a kind word to me.” “My cousin abused me.” “People in our neighborhood shunned me because I wore old and patched clothes.” “I never had money when I was growing up, so now as soon as my paycheck comes, it’s gone.”

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Christ Our Attorney

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“If anyone publicly acknowledges Me as his friend, I will openly acknowledge him as My friend before My Father in heaven. But if anyone publicly denies Me, I will openly deny him before My Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32,33).

Some time ago, I challenged a famous and successful statesman to share his Christian faith.

“I believe that religion is personal and private, not something to wear on your sleeve,” he replied. “I am a Christian, but I don’t want to talk about it.”

I reminded him that Jesus loved him enough to die for him. His disciples were so convinced of the urgency of passing on to others the message of God’s love and forgiveness through Christ that they, and many thousands like them – though they died as martyrs – did not give up their efforts to get the message to us.

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – True Freedom

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Read: John 8:31-59

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32)

What a wonderful word! It constitutes a short course in discipleship. But it is more than that. It is a declaration that discipleship is the only true path to freedom, to being all that you were meant to be. If you want that, then Jesus says the way is to become his disciple. This is the path to freedom. It is the only way to be all that you want to be.

Here Jesus tells us in precise detail how to be free. It begins with belief: Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him. They had not yet trusted him, but they had believed him. They had been intellectually grasped by his arguments and his words, but they had not yet committed themselves to him. Discipleship begins with belief; even intellectual belief; they were there at the door, at the first step.

Then, he says, if you continue in my word. Listen to Jesus. Compare what he says with your own experience. Does what he says agree with what you have found to be true in living life? The test of any religion is not whether it is pleasing, or whether you enjoy it. The test is: Is it true? Does it accord with life? Does it fit what is happening? Does it explain what is going on? That is the test, and that you can only establish as you continue in his word, as you think long and deeply, read fully and frequently. Jesus suggests here that when you do that something will happen to you: If you continue in my word, you will truly be my disciple. If you read his word and you continue in it, somewhere along the line a crisis will occur. You will find that his words have grabbed you, and you will commit yourself to him, and then you are really a disciple.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Practicing Your Serve

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Read: Mark 1:14-20

“Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (v. 17)

Various other practices have helped Christ’s disciples grow closer to him over the centuries, but I’ll offer just one more. We see it in Mark 1 at the very beginning of Jesus ministry. When he called his first disciples, Jesus immediately told them that following him involves service: “I will make you become fishers of men.” We also heard that in Mark 3, where Jesus called his apostles to be with him “that he might send them out to preach and . . . drive out demons” (vv. 14-15 NIV).

I’m talking now about the discipline of service. For the apostles, fishing for lost sinners involved the service of preaching and exorcising demons. For us, fishing might require the service of visiting the sick, working for justice, teaching a class, sending out cards, or caring for children.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.R. – Perilous Paybacks

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If you happen to kill someone – either by malice or by accident – New Guinea is definitely not the place to do it. Although the practice of “payback killings” has been illegal for a century, many of the Pacific island’s inhabitants continue to adhere to the ancient tribal code. It works like this: if a relative of yours is killed, you have a right to personally kill the offender. However, retribution must be delivered on the same day as the original offense. If for some reason that isn’t possible, the families of the victim and the perpetrator must arrange for monetary compensation instead. Then, if the payment demand isn’t met, the “payback killing” becomes permissible again.

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

Proverbs 24:29

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Taking Sin Seriously

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 6:23

“The wages of sin is death.”

Yet another reason we don’t experience more holiness in our daily lives is that we don’t take some sin seriously. We’ve mentally categorized sins into that which is unacceptable and that which may be tolerated a bit.

In commenting on some of the more minute Old Testament dietary laws God gave to the children of Israel, Andrew Bonar said, “It is not the importance of the thing, but the majesty of the lawgiver, that is to be the standard of obedience. Some, indeed, might reckon such minute and arbitrary rules as these as trifling. But the principle involved in obedience or disobedience was none other than the same principle which was tried in Eden at the foot of the forbidden tree. It is really this: Is the Lord to be obeyed in all things whatsoever he commands? Is he a holy lawgiver? Are his creatures bound to give implicit assent to his will?”

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