Tag Archives: Prayer

The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – The Reward of Grace

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 11:35

“Who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

Every aspect of our ministry is by the grace of God. We’re unworthy to minister, but God considers us worthy through Christ. We’re inadequate to minister, but God makes us adequate through the powerful working of his Holy Spirit. We’re not naturally given to self-sacrifice, but God gives us that spirit by his grace. All is of grace. No human worthiness or adequacy is required or accepted.

Such a strong, biblical emphasis on God’s grace apart from human worth or adequacy leads to the question of the relationship of grace and rewards. Doesn’t God promise rewards to his faithful servants? Didn’t Paul himself teach that we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due us?

God does promise rewards, and we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (see Matthew 25:21; 2 Corinthians 5:10). But these rewards are rewards of grace, not of merit. We never by our hard work or sacrificial service obligate God to reward us.

If all our service to God is made possible by his undeserved favor and made effective by the Spirit’s power, we’ve really brought nothing to him that we didn’t first receive from him. The Puritan Samuel Bolton said, “If there was anything of man’s bringing, which was not of God’s bestowing, though it were never so small, it would overturn the nature of grace, and make that of works which is of grace.” But every thought, word, or deed emanating from us that is in any way pleasing to God and glorifying to him has its ultimate origin in God, because apart from him, there’s nothing good in us (Romans 7:18).

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – The Flesh

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Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

There isn’t a person on earth who doesn’t experience temptation with fleshly lust at some time during life.

I recall being on a panel to discuss this in a high school class at a local church. The man who spoke before me was a local pastor, and since I was fairly new in my ministry with The Navigators, I was looking forward to what he would say. But when he began to speak, I couldn’t believe my ears. He told these kids, “Sure, it’s okay to park in a car on a dark, deserted country road. Just make sure you stay within the bounds of proper behavior.” Then it was my turn.

“Okay,” I said, “if you follow this man’s advice, make sure that when you park that car and turn off the lights on that dark, deserted country road that you both get out of the car, kneel down, and earnestly plead with the Lord in prayer that He will give you the strength and wisdom to stay within the bounds of proper behavior.”

The Bible tells the story of Achan, who stole something that didn’t belong to him. Listen to his explanation: “When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath” (Joshua 7:21).

Notice the progression. He saw it, he lusted after it, he took it, and then he tried to cover up his sin. Friend, is there a temptation you’re flirting with today that looks innocent on the surface? Yield yourself immediately in prayer to the power of Christ.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your victory over sin and Your saving power in my life. Amen.

To Ponder

God’s Word says that we are not controlled by the sinful nature (see Romans 8:9). How does that truth come into play when we are tempted?

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  LGBT Rights Vs. Religious Freedom: No Middle Ground?

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Last week a thought occurred to me. I wanted to tweet it out but wondered whether it would be too incendiary. The thought was this: “It seems odd how confident we are that folks can lose their unwanted sexual parts, but can’t lose their unwanted sexual attractions.”

And then I thought of the stunning article by Christian ethicist David Gushee. And if you follow me on Twitter, you know what I did next. I hit “Tweet.”

In his article at Religion News Service, Gushee fired a warning shot across the bow of conservative evangelicals and religious traditionalists. He writes, “[y]ou are either for full and unequivocal social and legal equality for LGBT people, or you are against it. . . neutrality is not an option. Neither is polite half-acceptance . . . Hide as you might, the issue will come and find you.”

Now, there have been honest attempts by people on both sides of these issues to offer third-way sensible solutions, even compromises, that accommodate religious freedom and LGBT rights. Still, I think Gushee is right when he said these solutions will largely be rejected, shouted down by demands of a full embrace of the LGBT agenda.

What bothered me, however, deeply about Gushee’s piece, was how he framed the struggle of those who hold strongly to the historic Christian vision of sex and marriage. Conservative religious holdouts, Gushee writes, “are organizing legal defense efforts under the guise of religious liberty, and interpreting their plight as religious persecution.”

Jake Meador, writing at Mere Orthodoxy, was bothered too, using much stronger words than I am today. We’ve seen time and again, and Jake lists them, how federal, state, and local governments are forcing people to choose between their livelihoods and their faith. Meador goes on to point out what is really going on here—a clash of worldviews. And one side, at least, sees it as a total war.

And that side, as I tweeted, sees biological physical reality as fully optional and malleable to our surgical and chemical demands, while at the same time seeing emotional inclinations and sexual attraction as fixed and permanent. This is nothing but pagan Gnosticism on steroids. Gnosticism, over which Christianity triumphed 17 or 18 hundred years ago, held that the body was at best inconsequential, at worst, outright evil. Physical, biological reality is no reality at all.

Continue reading BreakPoint –  LGBT Rights Vs. Religious Freedom: No Middle Ground? →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE TRINITY AND THE WORK OF SALVATION

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Read 1 PETER 1:1–5

Scottish theologian and pastor Sinclair Ferguson said, “Woven into the warp and woof of the New Testament’s exposition of what it means for us to be holy is the great groundwork that the self-existent, thrice holy, triune God has—in Himself, by Himself and for Himself—committed Himself and all three Persons of His being to bringing about the holiness of His own people. This is the Father’s purpose, the Son’s purchase and the Spirit’s ministry.”

Today’s reading again confirms that the entire Trinity is involved in the ongoing work of salvation. First, we as “God’s elect” have been “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (vv. 1–2). He predestined us for salvation, thus to be made holy, and thus to be adopted as His children. “He has given us new birth into a living hope” and an eternal inheritance (vv. 3–4). His merciful choice and plan existed from eternity past, a reassuring truth. Our salvation in no way depends on us, but entirely on our perfect and faithful Father (v. 5).

Second, God’s choice was implemented “through the sanctifying work of the Spirit” (v. 2). The term sanctification refers to God’s ongoing work of making us holy and Christlike. This work is being done by His Spirit. Through faith in Him, we are already counted righteous in Christ, and the Spirit works in our lives to reduce sin and to increase holiness.

Finally, God chose us “to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood” (v. 2). This sprinkling refers to Old Testament sacrifices, an image of atonement and cleansing (see Heb. 9:14). Jesus’ blood has freed us from sin to obedience. We eagerly await the “salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time,” that is, His Second Coming (v. 5).

APPLY THE WORD

Throughout our study, we’ve seen links between the Trinity and the command to praise God, as in verse 3 of our reading today. Praise includes both specific activities such as proclaiming the goodness of God through word or song and a general disposition oriented toward pleasing God in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Praise Him today!

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – 2 REASONS WHY I DISAGREE WITH COLIN KAEPERNICK             

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is generating headlines with his refusal to stand during the national anthem at football games. He explained his decision to reporters: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

He later added: “This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard and effect change. So I’m in the position where I can do that and I’m going to do that for people that can’t.” Response from NFL players and fans has been as varied as you’d expect, some voicing support for his position and others protesting vehemently.

Let’s begin with the obvious: Kaepernick has the right to stand or sit when the national anthem is played. He also has the right to express his views on our national challenges regarding racism, violence, and poverty. And it’s tragically clear that America has not yet achieved the racial and economic equality we should all seek for our country.

However, I disagree with the way Kaepernick has expressed his convictions, for two reasons.

One: He is wrong to redefine the meaning of the flag.

Kaepernick claims that the American flag represents justice and that so long as oppression remains, he will sit while the flag is honored. That may be what it means to him, but it’s not what the flag means to the vast majority of Americans.

To most of us, our flag represents freedom and those who have died in its defense. While Kaepernick has expressed his gratitude for the military, he should know that many see his actions as disrespecting the people who have died for our country. The anthem Kaepernick refuses to honor calls America “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” This is the land of the free precisely because it is the home of the brave.

Continue reading Denison Forum – 2 REASONS WHY I DISAGREE WITH COLIN KAEPERNICK              →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Trials of Life

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1 Peter 1:6-7

Most likely, you’ve heard the age-old question, “If God is good, how can He let bad things happen?” Since the fall of man, life has always included hardship. Though trials are painful, understanding the Lord’s purpose can bring joy and hope.

The Word of God is clear that suffering is purposeful. Primarily, the Lord is conforming His children to be like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). When a person is newly saved, he or she still has many “rough edges.” Sanctification, which takes place from that point on, is the process of becoming holy—and few things build character like sorrow. Unfortunately, people rarely mature during pleasant times. Instead, pain brings impurities to the surface and forces people to see the reality of their life.

Another reason the Father allows trials is to test the faith of His children. Of course, He doesn’t need this for His own information—it is the believers who benefit. Tested faith is stronger and more reliable than untried faith.

Furthermore, God allows hardship in order to reveal His character, love, and power. During life’s storms, people who cling to their heavenly Father will find Him trustworthy and real. When the next difficulty arises, they’ll remember His faithfulness during the previous trial and will rest confidently in Him.

While no one wants to suffer, experience and sorrow will mature the believer. We can learn certain things from books and other people’s stories, but most growth occurs during trials. So, when problems occur and sorrow seems piercing, thank God for His purpose in your suffering.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 7-9

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — The Ultimate Road Trip

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The Ultimate Road Trip

Read: Isaiah 40:1–11 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 126–128; 1 Corinthians 10:19–33

In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3

Madagascar’s National Road 5 offers the beauty of a white sand coastline, palm forests, and the Indian Ocean. Its 125 miles of two-track road, bare rock, sand, and mud, however, have given it a reputation for being one of the worst roads in the world. Tourists looking for breathtaking views are advised to have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, an experienced driver, and an onboard mechanic.

John the Baptist came to announce the good news of the coming Messiah to those traveling on rough roads and through barren landscape. Repeating the words of the prophet Isaiah written centuries earlier, he urged curious crowds to “prepare the way for the Lord” and to “make straight paths for him” (Luke 3:4–5; Isa. 40:3)

God, we need You to do in us what we cannot do for ourselves.

John knew that if the people of Jerusalem were going to be ready to welcome their long-awaited Messiah their hearts needed to change. Mountains of religious pride would need to come down. Those in the valley of despair because of their broken lives would need to be lifted up.

Neither could be done by human effort alone. Those who refused to respond to the Spirit of God by accepting John’s baptism of repentance failed to recognize their Messiah when He came (Luke 7:29–30). Yet those who saw their need for change discovered in Jesus the goodness and wonder of God.

Father in heaven, we need You to do in us what we cannot do for ourselves. Please remove any mountain of pride or valley of despair that would keep us from welcoming You into our lives.

Repentance clears the way for our walk with God.

INSIGHT:

This passage is not a message of hope only for exiled Jews. It is for us all. Isaiah is proclaiming a universal truth: “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” For Jesus’s followers, trouble, sorrow, and exile last only for a season. The hope of the Lord lasts forever.

 

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – The End of Hope

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In John Bunyan’s abiding allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, hope is personified in two ways. Hopeful is the traveling companion of Christian, the story’s protagonist, along the winding journey toward the Celestial City. Hopeful was born in the town of Vanity and grew up with great expectations of the things of the fair; honor and title, ownership and ease were his great hopes. But he had suffered bitter disappointment in these pursuits and found only shipwrecks of his own optimism. In this valley of emptiness, Hopeful was able to recognize the full and solid quest of Christian. And thus, Hopeful’s drastic conversion of hope begins with pilgrimage and community.

The other character marked by hope in Bunyan’s tale is encountered near the river one must cross on foot in order to enter the Celestial City. Vain-Hope is a ferryman, who offers to ferry travelers across the River of Death so that they don’t have to cross on their own. Yet as one man discovers, it is a promise that gets him across the river, but destroys all hope of staying there. In the end, Vain-Hope is a deadly end.

With these two lucid pictures, Bunyan divides hope in two, possibly simple, but maybe wise, categories: the life-giving and the destructive. Considering all the ways in which we use the word, it seems easily an oversimplification. In the painting above, for instance, artist George Frederic Watts shows a female allegorical figure of Hope, for which the painting is titled, sitting on a globe in a hunched position, blindfolded, clutching a wooden lyre with only one string left intact. According to Watts, “Hope need not mean expectancy. It suggests here rather the music which can come from the remaining chord.”(1)  G. K. Chesterton, who was far from alone in his criticism of Watt’s image, suggested that a better title for this work would be Despair. Chesterton describes the lone string of Hope’s lyre as “a string which is always stretched to snapping and yet never snaps. . . the queerest and most delicate thing in us, the most fragile, the most fantastic, is in truth the backbone and indestructible. . . Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all its conquerors.”(2)

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – The End of Hope →

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Our All-Knowing God

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“‘Do not be anxious then, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?” For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things’” (Matthew 6:31-32).

To worry is to be like an unbeliever.

For us as believers, worry is needless because of God’s bounty, senseless because of God’s promise to provide, useless because of our inability to do anything, and faithless because by doing so we put ourselves in the same category as an unbeliever. In Matthew 6:32 the Greek term translated “Gentiles” can also be translated “pagans” or “heathen” and speaks of people without God and Christ. The Gentiles are consumed with seeking material gratification because they are ignorant of God’s supply and can’t claim His promise to provide. Instead of looking to God, they anxiously try to meet their needs on their own. But for a Christian to be preoccupied with material possessions and worry about the basics of life is a serious sin and uncharacteristic of his Christian faith.

The Christian faith says that God will supply all your needs and that you can trust Him (cf. Phil. 4:19). To worry about your food or your physical welfare or your clothing is to have a worldly mind. What about you? Do you face life like a Christian or an unbeliever? When things are difficult or the future is insecure, how do you react? Does your Christian faith affect your view of life? You should place everything in your life in the context of your faith—every trial, every anticipation of the future, and every present reality.

The Christian faith also says that “your heavenly Father knows” your needs (Matt. 6:32). If He knows your life and your needs, all you need to know is that He cares. And if He knows and cares, there’s no need for you to worry about anything. Your Heavenly Father has all the resources and love to provide for you.

Suggestions for Prayer

Praise your Father for knowing, caring, and providing for you.

For Further Study

Read and meditate on Psalm 145. Notice especially what God does in verses 14-16.

 

http://www.gty.org

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – How to Deal with Disappointment 

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I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Revelation 5:4

Everyone deals with disappointment—some more than others. These let downs vary in scope: another year of no raises at work, a friend’s forgetfulness, a lost opportunity, a teenager’s poor choices, a missed deadline, a relative’s financial woes, a boss’s oversight, an injured body or unexpected dental work. In this world troubles abound, but in Christ peace is profound. Yes, disappointment is a fact that forces us to make appointments with Jesus. He doesn’t disappoint.

John wept over the the inaccessibility of God’s Word. In his vision of coming events in heaven, the apostle experienced the disappointment of finding someone worthy of unleashing the scroll of Scripture. But immediately the prophet was reassured by a wise elder to trust the Lion of the tribe of Judah—Jesus Christ—as worthy to uncage the truth. An explosion of worship echoed in unison throughout heaven, “Worthy is the Lamb!” In Christ we are worthy to access His Word.

“God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Disappointment left unattended leads to disobedience. The hole in our heart is meant to grow our dependency on God. He brings wholeness and holiness to a lacerated soul. The Lord heals hurt feelings when we offer forgiveness. Disappointment feeds selfishness when we don’t get our way. So be wise, if your frustration replaces your faith you can lose patience and respect. Allow your trust in Jesus to trump testy relationships. Adjust your expectations to His concerns.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – How to Deal with Disappointment  →

Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Why We Work

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For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Recommended Reading

Matthew 5:13-16

Not all employers are happy with a generation of young employees who were raised receiving “participation trophies” for being on an athletic team. Older generations were taught that showing up and doing one’s best was normal—a responsibility not deserving of a trophy.

There is a parallel in the Christian life. There are things expected of us as Christians. But we do not receive the “prize” of salvation for doing those works. Scripture makes it abundantly clear that we are saved “by grace . . . through faith,” not by works. Young athletes can take pride in the trophies they win for hard-fought victories. But if we were awarded the prize of salvation for our works, our pride would be a problem. There is only one “work” that has ever earned salvation—the death of Christ out of obedience to the Father. But His death did not earn His salvation; He didn’t need to be saved. Instead, His death earned salvation for us. And our works are an imitation of His—our gratitude for His obedience.

Work hard for Christ! But work for the right reason—a “Thank You” for the gift you have received by faith.

The church is a community of the works and words of Jesus.

Donald English

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Ezekiel 18 – 20

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Who Are You Asking?

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Today’s Truth

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Isaiah 55:6

Friend to Friend

Four years ago we installed a new bathroom sink in our downstairs powder room. While I love the way it looks, I have not loved the way it has worked – because the water pressure has been a dreary drizzle.

I asked my husband Brad if he could fix the water pressure a few times. Let me say this: my man is awesome at a million and one things – he’s super smart and awesome around the house – but he has no plumbing experience. Being the great guy he is, he dutifully checked what he knew to check on the faucet, but had no success.

Recently, we had a plumber come to our house to install a new kitchen sink. While he worked, he and my husband chatted away. Eventually Brad casually mentioned that we had an issue with the water pressure in our downstairs powder room.

Once the kitchen sink was fully installed, the plumber asked to see the bathroom sink. Within 30 seconds he not only identified our four-year-old problem, but he fixed it!

In 30 seconds!

It was a simple filter problem. Our filter had been clogged. For four years.

Get. Out. Of. Here.

He unscrewed the tip of our faucet and rinsed out the filter, then put it back in place. Problem solved. The water flows perfectly now.

The sink is the same sink, the faucet is the same faucet, but now it works great because we finally asked the right person about our problem! The plumber knows all about sinks and he knew just what needed to be done.

Hello!

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – Who Are You Asking? →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – No Abuse Tolerated

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“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19, KJV).

A prominent secular columnist and a businessman were united in their efforts to destroy a well-known godly Christian leader. It seemed that they would stoop to whatever mischief was necessary to accomplish their goal: Discredit this man of God.

One day they were warned of the danger of attacking God’s anointed. They were shown that they were not simply attacking an individual, but they were actually tempting God, because this man was His servant and it was God’s responsibility to take care of him. The warning was given in these words, “If I were you, I’d be petrified with fear because you are not attacking a man, but a servant of God. I’d be afraid of what God would do to me to punish me if I were guilty of doing what you are doing.”

They laughed at such a warning, but only a few hours later one of them was killed in a tragic accident. The other was very sobered by this dramatic demonstration of how God protects His own.

I agree with the man who gave the warning. In fact, I would hate to be a critic or an enemy, not just of a godly Christian leader, but of any child of God who seeks to live a holy life because that individual can be assured that God will fight for Him. Whenever a person who desires to please the Lord with all of his attitudes and actions and desires and motives is attacked, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against the adversary.

If you are a man or woman of God, I would be scared to death to criticize you, or to find fault with you, or to attack you in any way. All who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ have been purchased with His own precious blood, and he will not tolerate the abuse of His blood-purchased followers.

Bible Reading: Isaiah 59:16-21

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: With God’s help, I will guard my tongue, my attitudes and actions concerning other believers, following the admonition, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). I will seek to love all men as an expression of the supernatural life-style.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Overthrow the Flesh

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Read: Jeremiah 45:1-5

But the Lord has told me to say to you, This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life. Jeremiah 45:4-5

What is the root of all our troubles with the flesh? It is seeking great things for ourselves. That is behind the naiveté, the secret vengeance, the treachery and murder, the unjustified fear, the pious deceit, the baseless hopes, the misdirected blame, the insolent rebellion — all of these arise out of a heart which longs to have glory that belongs to God. That is the basic problem, is it not? As we look at this we say to ourselves, Who is sufficient for these things? How can we lick this terrible enemy within? The only answer, of course, is the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. This is all that has ever been able to deal with the flesh in man’s life: the cross which puts it to death; the resurrection which provides another life in its place. That is the glory of the gospel.

Near Watsonville, California there is a creek that has a strange name: Salsi Puedes Creek. Salsi Puedes is Spanish for Get out of it if you can. The creek is lined with quicksand, and the story is that many years ago, in the early days of California, a Mexican laborer fell into the quicksand. A Spaniard, riding by on a horse, saw him and yelled out to him, Salsi puedes! (Get out if you can!) which was not very helpful. The creek has been so named ever since.

That is what the flesh is like. We struggle to correct these tendencies ourselves, but we cannot do it. Only God has the wisdom to do it. That is why Jeremiah’s word in the tenth chapter comes to mind again. He said, I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. And we are driven again to the wisdom of the Proverbs:

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Overthrow the Flesh →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Tree of Life for All

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Read: Acts 10

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day. (vv. 39-40)

What a remarkable story. Cornelius was a captain in the Roman army. A devout non-Jew, he feared God, gave alms, and prayed continually. And he paid attention to the angel who visited him, and so sent three people to find someone named Simon Peter in Joppa. Meanwhile Peter has had a mind-boggling vision that revolutionizes his view of who is clean and unclean. The living God of Jesus, he learns, loves not only Jews, but all people. In God’s eyes no one is profane. God shows no partiality.

Cornelius’s search party finds Peter, and Peter returns to Caesarea where Cornelius’s whole family and many friends are waiting. Cornelius and Peter each recount their stories. Peter offers a testimony that summarizes the gospel. While Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit, like water, is poured out on Cornelius and his clan, so that they speak in tongues and offer praise to God. They are then baptized.

This story summarizes the gospel in a nutshell: Jesus was put to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day. And this good news includes everyone, even people you may have believed (with Peter) were outside the pale, perpetually unclean, eternally damned. Yet another surprise from a grace-filled God. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Prayer:

God of all, open our eyes to the astounding reach of your all-encompassing love.

Author: Steven Bouma-Prediger

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Fruitful Hearers

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“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”—Luke 8:15

Once when I was on a flight returning to California, the captain announced he would have to make an emergency landing. The flight attendants went through the protocol, and I listened carefully. As we went into our descent, we were told to lean forward, grab our legs, and get ready. Thankfully we landed safely, and everything was okay.

When your life depends on something, you listen. That is how we should be as we listen to God’s Word. In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about seeds that fell on good ground: “honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest” (Luke 8:15).

These are what I call fruitful hearers. Having heard God’s Word, they keep it. One key is how we listen. It is not just hearing the Word of God; it is keeping it. It is no light thing to constantly hear the Scriptures preached and taught. Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”

It is a great thing to read through the Bible. It is a great thing to read chapters of the Bible. But I would rather read eight verses with comprehension than eight chapters without it. Psalm 1 talks about those who “delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.” The word meditate means “to chew, to contemplate.”

Those who hear God’s Word are made more responsible than those who did not hear. God expects us to act on what we have heard. God expects us to obey His Word, not just hear it. Good ground is made that way by the work of the Gardener and by our cooperation.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Our Refuge

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“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Emily stood on third base, nervously waiting for the final pitch. The softball game score was tied, and this was her last chance to get a run for her team. Crack! The ball sailed past her. Her heartbeat doubled, and she ran for home plate as fast as she could. The outfielders were yelling at each other, but Emily did not listen. They would throw the ball to home any second, but Emily did not look behind her to see how close they were to getting her. Faster, faster! she thought. She ran harder than she had ever run before.

Emily was not thinking about being tagged on her way to home plate. She was not thinking about the catcher getting the ball before she got there. She was thinking only about one thing: getting to home plate as soon as possible. The catcher held her arms out for the ball, waiting. Emily dove, sliding through the dust and over the plate. Thump! The ball hit the catcher’s mitt. Emily paused and listened. “Safe!” yelled the umpire. Emily stood and smiled. Safe.

Emily must have felt a little like the man who wrote Psalm 46. His country was at war, and he was surrounded by danger and death. But he was not afraid. He knew that no matter what happened around him, he was safe with God. He calls God his “refuge.” A refuge is a place of safety in danger, a place that you can run to for help and comfort. The author of Psalm 46 did not waste time being scared. Instead, he remembered that God is always there to give help in times of trouble.

God is still a refuge for Christians today. Sometimes life seems scary, but we know that God is our “refuge and strength.” Like the author of Psalm 46, we need to remember that God will protect us if we trust Him. Then, like Emily, we need to run to Him in prayer.

God keeps you safe in times of trouble.

My Response:

» When life seems scary, do I remember that God is my refuge?

» How can I “run to Him” today ?

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – With Him Forever

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Today’s Scripture: John 12:26

“Where I am, there will my servant be also.”

While Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 emphasized the reality of an immortal, spiritual body, John in revelation called our attention to the reality of our eternal presence with God: “and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away’” (Revelation 21:3-4).

In the next chapter we read, “no longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:3-5).

The day will come when our perfected spirits and immortal bodies are forever united. And in that glorious condition “we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17, NIV). Hallelujah! At that time we will experience the full reality of the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Before we experience that glorious reality, we still live in this life. We’re not just to wait for our hope of heaven, but to be actively and vigorously engaged in becoming more like Christ (the process called sanctification) and of extending the rule of his kingdom (the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13). (Excerpt taken from The Gospel for Real Life)

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – A Powerful Enemy

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Today’s Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. – 2 Timothy 2:22

The mistake I made was trying to read in bed by lamplight. We were in the jungles of Colombia, South America, and I should have known better. Within minutes, thousands of tiny bugs were flying in circles around the lamp.

I jumped up, turned on the ceiling light, and turned off the light by the bed. Immediately, these pesky insects flew to the top of the room and began to circle that light. Next, I opened the door to the hallway and turned on the hall light, then turned off the ceiling light in the bedroom. Off they flew into the hallway and began to fly circles around the light in the hall.

I quickly shut the door, kept all lights off in the bedroom, and had a good night’s sleep. The next morning when I stepped into the hallway, there they were–thousands of insects dead on the floor directly under the light. They had circled hundreds of times, then got too close and were killed.

Friend, I have seen a similar thing happen to people who play around with sexual lust. Like these insects, they flit around and finally go too far. I watched this happen to a friend of mine who seemed to be a dedicated Christian. He was a handsome guy who easily attracted women. When we ate together in a restaurant, he’d often kid around with the waitress, making some witty remark, and the two of them would laugh and wink and flirt with each other. Then it happened. He got caught up in a sexual sin and today he is not serving God.

Beware! Lust is a powerful enemy.

Prayer

Lord, Your Word says that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Help me to honor You with my body. Amen.

To Ponder

To continue to play around danger is to end up serving the sin we thought we were master of.

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  How Can You find Your Calling in an Age of Entitlement?

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A couple years ago, the Huffington Post’s “Wait But Why” blog created Lucy, an imagined embodiment of today’s emerging adult. Lucy is what the article called a GYPSY, short for Generation Y Protagonists and Special Yuppy. Lucy is destined to be unhappy.

From their earliest years, GYPSYs like Lucy, born between the late 70s and mid-90s, were told that they’re special, that they can be whatever they want to be, and that they should just “follow their passions” when choosing a career. Not surprisingly GYPSYs tend to struggle with a sense of entitlement.

According to the article, “The GYPSY needs a lot more from a career than … prosperity and security. …where the Baby Boomers wanted to live The American Dream, GYPSYs want to live Their Own Personal Dream.”

And this is a recipe for unhappiness. In those rare situations when reality exceeds our expectations, those convinced of the inherent goodness of their own personal dreams will be happy. But when reality falls short, as is most often the case, these dreamers will be unhappy, even depressed. Reality will never match the dreams GYPSYs have been told to expect.

Christians are guilty of inculcating false expectations to their young as well. For at least a couple of generations, Christian colleges and other educational institutions, with the noble intent of communicating the Biblical concept of “calling” being more than just full-time ministry jobs, have taught students to look at their own giftedness as the key (and sometimes the only key) to discovering “God’s will.” I must confess my own guilt in this regard.

Of course, it’s true the Lord has gifted us in unique ways to serve Him, and that we can discover these gifts through our passions and use them for His glory. Remember Olympian Eric Liddell’s wonderful line from Chariots of Fire? “God has made me…fast, and when I run I feel God’s pleasure.”

While the biblical picture of calling and vocation includes our giftedness, it also includes things like sacrifice, persecution, and an awareness of the needs of my neighbors. Jesus said that those who follow him carry crosses. Paul said that anyone who wishes to follow Christ will be persecuted. (Remember, Eric Liddell died in a Japanese prison camp.)

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