Tag Archives: religion

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – This Kingdom

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“The ‘kingdom of God’ is for the gullible,” I read recently.  “You enter by putting an end to all your questions.”

It’s true that Jesus moved all over Judea pronouncing the reign of God and the kingdom of heaven as if it were a notion he wanted the simplest soul to get his mind around.  But simplicity was not what hearers walked away with. With great disparity, he made it clear that this kingdom was approaching, that it was here, that it was among us, that we needed to enter it, that we need to wait for it, that we desperately need the one who reigns within it. The tension within so many different and dynamic realities turned the clarity of each individual picture into a great and ambiguous portrait. He insisted, the kingdom “has come near you.” Yet he prayed, “Thy kingdom come.“(1) Paul, too, described the placement of believers in the kingdom as something established: “God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.”(2) While the writer of Hebrews described the kingdom as an ongoing gift we must accept: “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us therefore give thanks.”(3) To make matters all the more complex, Jesus also assigned the kingdom imagery such as a mustard seed, a treasure in a field, and a great banquet, among others.

Contrary to putting an end to one’s questions, the kingdom of God incites inquiry all the more. What is the nature of this kingdom? Can it be all of these things? Who is this messenger? And what kind of proclamation requires the herald to pour out his very life to tell it? Whatever this kingdom is, it unmistakably introduces to a world far different from the one around us, one we cannot quite get our minds around, with tensions and dynamisms reminiscent of the promise of God to answer our cries “with great and unsearchable things you do not know.”(4) It is a kingdom that tells a story grand enough to master the metanarratives which otherwise compel us into thoughtless, gullible obedience. It is a kingdom with a king whose very authority exposes our idols as wood and reforms our numbed minds with great and surprising reversals of reality.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem.

In this kingdom Jesus proclaims we are shown a God who opens the eyes of the blind and raises the dead, who claims the last will be the first, and the servant is the greatest. But his proclamations did not cease with mere easy words. Jesus put these claims into action, placing this kingdom before us in such a way that forbids us to see any of it as mere religion, abstraction, gullibility, or sentimentality:

“Then the whole assembly rose and led Jesus off to Pilate.  And they began to accuse him, saying, ‘We have found this man subverting our nation.  He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.’

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – A Society of Things

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“‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’” (Matthew 6:21).

In wealthy countries, where the focus is on material things, believers must strive for the right perspective on possessions.

Today’s text answers the simple but age-old question, Where is your heart? When our Lord answers the question, it is clear He is referring to all of life’s major preoccupations and investments—anything that receives most of our thinking, planning, and expenditure of energy.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had their hearts in the wrong places. Among their many other sins, the Pharisees were thing-oriented—covetous, greedy, avaricious, and manipulative. Matthew 6:21 is right in the middle of a portion of the Sermon on the Mount that deals with the Pharisees’ misplaced priorities regarding material possessions. The verse fits with Christ’s overall purpose in the Sermon, which was to affirm His standard of righteous living in contrast to the Pharisees’ inferior, hypocritical standard (Matt. 5:20).

Matthew 6:19-24 tells us how believers should view their luxuries and wealth. Most of us live in cultures that constantly challenge us with their emphases on materialism. We all spend some time thinking about those things, whether it be a house, a car, furniture, investment portfolios, computers, our wardrobes, or whatever. And many people become slaves to consumerism and greed. Therefore we need to deal with these issues and have a biblical viewpoint concerning the many material comforts we have.

Above all, if we want the same perspective on wealth that Jesus had, our view must far exceed that of the Pharisees with their proud, earthbound viewpoint. They were focusing all of their time and devotion on selfishly laying up worldly treasures. Theirs is not the godly standard of those who want to exemplify Christ in the midst of a materialistic society.

Suggestions for Prayer

What thoughts and activities occupy most of your extra time? Pray that they would not be merely about things, but about the things of God.

For Further Study

  • You need to have a right view of yourself before any other area of life is properly understood. Read again the familiar opening passage of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-12.
  • Memorize or meditate on one verse or more that ministers to a need you have.

 

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Why Every Life Matters to God 

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So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

As a young boy the importance of treating everyone with respect and love was illustrated for me: all races, genders and religions. For most of my adolescence I attended a predominantly African American grade school. I distinctly remember my English teacher, Mrs. Rooks, model for us the simple lesson of love and acceptance for everyone. Fast forward to the year  1995 when my African American friend—Lee Jenkins and I met weekly to read and discuss Tony Evan’s book, Let’s Get to Know Each Other. Lee’s wife Martica did the makeup for three of our four daughters’ weddings—and Rita and I have attended the Jenkin’s church over the years.

I have been disturbed to learn the mutual love and respect the Jenkins and Baileys enjoy with one another is unfortunately the exception rather than the rule—even for followers of Jesus. Why is this? One reason is our country’s shift away from Christ’s commands. Like a deadly tornado our society has been swept away by its arrogant redefinition of what’s right. The further a generation distances itself from loving the Lord—the further they distance themselves from loving all people. The more our Creator is marginalized—the more His creation is marginalized. So for every life to matter— Christ has to matter—-otherwise, only “I” matter!

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness” (James 3:9).

Holy Scripture is crystal clear: male and female are created in the image of God. So, to dismiss a fellow human being is to dismiss the Lord’s crowning creation. To treat another race or gender with contempt is to treat Christ with contempt. How can we praise the Lord on Sunday and not praise and support a different race or religion during the week? I am learning there are two ways we can grow in our love and respect for those different than ourselves: empathy and education.

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Life Dots

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LORD, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

Psalm 141:1

Recommended Reading

Psalm 10

It took two years to paint A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, the famous seaside scene. Each color that the eye sees is composed of countless contrasting dots. It is only as the viewer steps back from the painting that the picture emerges from the seemingly random dots.

When we are on the brink of despair, all we see is the color of our current situation. Our souls long for relief. When Job lost everything, he came to a point where he longed for death and wondered why God had forgotten him. Similarly the psalms of David are full of laments, heartfelt prayers to God expressing profound grief and sorrow. When we are in a dark place, it is comforting to know we are not alone.

Biblical stories can encourage us when we feel stuck and hopeless. This is not the end of our story but only a single dot or season. God is at work. He sees and affectionately holds the entire painting of our lives in His hands and has promised to create something beautiful. Don’t give up.

Is it not without its comfort that the two men that conversed with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration both broke under the strain of their ministry and prayed that they might die?

  1. Oswald Sanders

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Isaiah 60 – 63

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Transformation

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So that they [even] kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured. – Acts 5:15–16

Peter was a man with a past. He was bold and not afraid of change, but he also had many faults. In Matthew 16:22–23, we see Peter trying to correct Jesus. In Matthew 26:31–35, we see that Peter thought more highly of himself than he should have. In Matthew 26:69–75, it is recorded that Peter denied even knowing Jesus.

Once Peter realized the depth of his sin, he wept bitterly, which showed that he had a repentant heart (v. 75). God is merciful and understands our weaknesses. In John 21, we see Jesus lovingly restore Peter. Peter had been included in God’s plans for the future even though he had a past record of foolishness and failure. Peter had denied Christ, and yet he became one of the best-known apostles. Peter could have spent his entire life feeling bad about his denial of Jesus, but he pressed past that failure and became valuable to God’s kingdom.

Lord, You are a God of transformation. Help me to press past my failures and become a valuable servant of Yours today. Thank You for including me in Your plans for the future. Amen.

From the book The Confident Woman Devotional: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – You Are Somebody

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Today’s Truth

“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 1:5

Friend to Friend

I want to know God’s will for my life. Don’t you? However I have learned that identity comes before activity. In other words, I must have a proper perspective of who I am before I can grasp what God wants me to do. This was true of Jeremiah: “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 1:5). He didn’t choose Jeremiah after he proved himself worthy of the task, but before he was even born. That was true for Joshua (Joshua 1:6-9), Gideon (Judges 6:12), and Mary (Luke 1:28)—and that is true for you.

God didn’t throw up His hand when you were born and say, “Now what am I going to do with this one?” He had a plan and a purpose for you before you were born. Isn’t that exciting? David wrote this about God: “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16 NIV).

Just before Jesus began his earthly ministry, he traveled to the Jordan to be baptized by his cousin John. As soon as he came up out of the water, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended, and God spoke. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” Matthew 3:17 NIV).

Before Jesus performed the first miracle, preached the first sermon, or called the first disciple, God made sure that His identity was clear. He was accepted, approved, and completely loved. So many Christians are trying to earn an acceptance and approval that Jesus already earned for them. God’s acceptance of you is not based on your performance. That doesn’t mean that we stop trying to do our best to live a God-honoring life. But it does mean that we stop trying out for a position or role God’s already given you. As someone once said, “The audition has been canceled. You’ve already got the part.” You have nothing to prove because you have already been pre-approved.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – He Does Such Wonders

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“I will cry to the God of heaven who does such wonders for me” (Psalm 57:2).

I cannot begin to count the times, even during just one 24-hour day, that I lift my heart in praise, worship and adoration and thanksgiving to God in heaven. I begin the day by acknowledging His lordship of my life and inviting Him to have complete control of my thoughts, my attitudes, my actions, my motives, my desires, my words; to walk around in my body, think with my mind, love with my heart, speak with my lips and continue through me to seek and save the lost and minister to those in need. Throughout the day I bring before Him the personal needs of my family. I pray for the extended family of Campus Crusade for Christ and staff and their families and for all those who support this ministry through their prayers and finances. I pray for business and professional people, that God will bless their finances as well as their lives so that they can continue to help support this and other ministries for His kingdom.

As I look through the mail, I breathe a prayer to God for some staff member, friend, associate, or supporter who is hurting, needing encouragement, strength and peace. At all of my many daily conferences, I will begin and close with a brief word of prayer claiming the promise of God-given wisdom for the matters we shall be discussing, for supernatural discernment that will enable me to see through all the intricacies of the problems presented. When the phone rings, I breathe a silent prayer and often a vocal one at the appropriate time with that person on the other end of the line who is in distress, whether from family problems or work-related difficulties.

In between, I pray alone and with others for the hundreds of different people, events and circumstances that involve the worldwide ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ and the ministry of His Body throughout the world.

Bible Reading: Psalm 57:1-11

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Recognizing that prayer is as vital to my spiritual life as air is to my physical being, I will pray without ceasing and in all things give thanks to our God in heaven who does such wonders for me.

 

http://www.cru.org

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.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – You Are Special →

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.

Continue reading BreakPoint – Should Christians Engage the Culture? →

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.

 

http://www.odb.org

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.

Continue reading John MacArthur – Strength for Today – The Blessings of Assurance →

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.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – The End of the Beginning →