Tag Archives: religion

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Turn To Me and Be Saved

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Read: Isaiah 45:9-25

Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, What are you making? Does your work say, The potter has no hands? (Isaiah 45:9)

It would be ridiculous if clay were to say to the potter, I don’t like the way you’re doing this. This design does not appeal to me at all. Listen to the irony of this passage: Woe to him who says to a father, What are you begetting? or to a woman, With what are you in travail? (Isaiah 45:10 RSV). This is the God with whom we have to deal. How incredibly arrogant of man to criticize the workings of a God like that! This passage is designed to humble man in his proud confidence and to show him how dependent he is upon the God whom he dares to criticize. C.S. Lewis once argued that to contend with God is to contend with the very One who makes it possible for us to contend in the first place, and how foolish we are to attempt that!

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Difference between Public Speaking and Preaching the Gospel

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“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”—2 Timothy 4:2

Someone who had just done a public talk asked me for some tips about speaking. They asked me if I ever had panic attacks when addressing a crowd. My answer was no, and that is for two reasons:

  1. I have confidence in my message. I know that God’s Word, which I am proclaiming, will not return void. I know there is power in it and I expect it to do its work.
  2. There is an urgency to what I am saying, as life and death hang in the balance.

Compare it to the talk they give you on the plane before takeoff. They are calm and collected as they tell you what to do in case of an emergency landing:

“In the event of an emergency, please assume the bracing position. A life vest is located in a pouch under your seat or between the armrests. When instructed to do so, open the plastic pouch and remove the vest. Slip it over your head. Pass the straps around your waist and adjust at the front. To inflate the vest, pull firmly on the red cord, only when leaving the aircraft. If you need to refill the vest, blow into the mouthpieces. Use the whistle and light to attract attention. Also, your seat bottom cushion can be used as a flotation device.”

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God expects us to think rightly toward others

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“And let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.” (Zech 7:10b)

It seems that brothers and sisters are naturally good at annoying their siblings. It is natural to love our family members, but sometimes it is hard to like them. Brothers and sisters seem to know just the right buttons to push in order to annoy one another. Our God is not like that. Think about it. What would we think of God if He were the kind of God Who would say “devise evil against your brother”? Our God does not say that. No way! He says, “let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart”! God is holy, and He has an opinion about the secret thoughts you have toward your brothers and sisters.

Right now, you may have no desire to be “pals” with your brother or sister. When they grow older, though, brothers and sisters often become the closest of friends. You might never dream that you could be good friends as grown-ups, even if your family ends up spread out all over the country. In fact, you might think, “No way! Impossible!” When you are in the middle of an argument, you can think only of ways to get back at that brother or sister. You might even feel tempted to think of him or her as your enemy!

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Propitiation? What’s That?

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Today’s Scripture: 1 John 2:2

“He is the propitiation for our sins.”

The Bible uses a strange word to describe what Christ did for us when he drank the cup of God’s wrath in our place: propitiation.

What does propitiation mean? I believe that the word exhausted forcefully captures the essence of Jesus’ work of propitiation. Jesus exhausted the wrath of God. He bore the full, unmitigated brunt of it. God’s wrath against sin was unleashed in all its fury on his beloved Son. He held nothing back.

Isaiah foretold this: “We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:4-5). The italicized words describe the pouring out of God’s wrath on his Son. During those awful hours when Jesus hung on the cross, the cup of God’s wrath was turned upside down. Christ exhausted God’s wrath. For all who trust in him, there is nothing more in the cup. It is empty.

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – DISCIPLINES OF REST: HOPE

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Read Romans 8:14-39

In common usage today, hope is synonymous with wishful thinking. When we say that we hope, we are usually only expressing a desire: “I hope it will not rain,” “I hope I get that job,” or “I hope you won’t mind.” These desires can go unfulfilled. We can also place our hope in things that are not strong enough to sustain the weight of expectation, and our hopes may be dashed.

The Bible has a view of hope that is stronger and more certain. The virtue of biblical hope depends on the power of God, who is the focus of our hope.

This is why Paul remained unshaken by the suffering he experienced. The decay of the created world was merely a signpost pointing to the hope of redemption (vv. 20–23). This was not wishful thinking. Paul was not “hoping” that everything would work out in the end. Rather, for Paul hope meant the certainty of resurrection and the redemption of all creation.

Hope is a discipline because we must choose to take God at His word. Importantly, though, we should note that it is not a mere act of the will. The kind of hope that Paul speaks of in these verses is strengthened by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit prays for us and testifies to the truth of God’s promises within our own spirit (v. 16). The Spirit is God’s guarantee of what is to come (see 2 Cor. 1:22). As a result we can face the future with a hope that is marked by certainty.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Hearing the Call

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Read | Acts 6:4

God has issued some dramatic calls to service. For example, Moses heard His voice from a burning bush, and Isaiah saw a vision of heaven’s throne room (Ex. 3; Isa. 6). But a spectacle is the exception rather than the rule. For most who follow God to the mission field, His call is a tug on the heart, persistently whispering, “How will they know God unless someone tells them?” (See Rom. 10:14.)

It’s better if the Lord doesn’t have to use drama to get our attention. Consider Saul, who needed a serious talking to and temporary blindness to get him on the mission field (Acts 9:3-9; Acts 26:13-18). I know I’d rather hear the Lord’s still small voice (1 Kings 19:12)!

People can try to ignore the heart tug, block the ever-present call with activity, or satisfy it by giving money rather than themselves. Some say no outright. But the call persists. God’s will is set and His plan is steadfast. Though we may run, we can’t escape His call to obey (Jonah 1:1; Jonah 3:1).

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Solitude and Service

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Read: Luke 9:1-2,10-17

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 23-24; Mark 1:1-22

He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. —Luke 9:11

Comedian Fred Allen said, “A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well-known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.” Fame often brings loss of privacy along with a relentless frenzy of attention.

When Jesus began His public ministry of teaching and healing, He was catapulted into the public eye and thronged by people seeking help. Crowds followed Him wherever He went. But Jesus knew that having regular time alone with God was essential to maintaining strength and perspective.

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – In Pursuit of Happiness

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Recently, an interesting article caught my attention: “The Golden Triangle of Happiness” by William Verity and Yasmin Parry. The article attests that all over the world, people of all persuasions are in pursuit of happiness. It cites the latest findings of the Australian Wellbeing Index that involved more than sixty thousand participants. Conducted twice a year over the last fifteen years, the study concludes that besides genetics, there are three simple indicators of a happy life. Being part of an intimate relationship is the most vital component in contributing to a person’s sense of wellbeing. Second, people are happiest when they are active, when they have a goal and a sense of purpose in life. And third, people are happiest when they have financial control. While money alone cannot make us happy, a lack of stability can make us miserable.

To phrase it simply, the three components that define happiness according to this study are relationship, meaning, and security. In a world that constantly tries to project power, pleasure, and more pleasure as indispensable to human happiness, this may well offer a refreshing counter-perspective. I wonder if it might also reaffirm the truth of the Christian gospel? For relationship, meaning, and security are the very things God offers us through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – God’s Sacrificial Love

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“‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life’” (John 3:16).

God’s love is vicarious and sacrificial.

Today we continue a short study of a topic that brings joy to every Christian: God’s love. Both Paul and John call His love “great” (Eph. 2:4; 1 John 3:1), because only great love would provide such a sacrifice as God did in Christ.

We have already seen that God’s love is unconditional, unrequited, and righteous. God’s love is also vicarious; it bears the pain of others. In a prophecy about Christ, Isaiah wrote: “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried” (53:4). Christ bears our earthly sorrows, and, infinitely more significant, He bore the pain and punishment for our sins.

True love is a sacrificial love that gives without expecting anything in return. God gives so many good things to everyone, and He gave the greatest gift of all, His Son. As John 3:16 teaches, love was His motive for sending Christ to die; He wanted to provide salvation for us.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Image and Likeness  

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Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Genesis 1:26

One of the most remarkable aspects of being a human being is that, as an image bearer of God, you, in your body and in your relationships, have the capacity to reflect the very nature of God Himself. You are able to live your life in such a way that it can point beyond itself, encountering the love of God and sharing that love with the world.

Throughout the history of Christianity, this passage from Genesis has been one of the central verses to our entire understanding of what it means to be human. Rather than seeing “image” and “likeness” as two ways of making the same point, it has often been interpreted as making two separate statements. Simply put, every single human being who has ever lived is made in God’s image, yet the Scriptures remind us that not all humans equally reflect his likeness.

The image of God can never be lost. It is the very basis of what it means to be human. It is the source of our understanding of human rights and the universal dignity of every human being, regardless of anything they can do or say.

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – The God Who Made Us

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For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:36

Recommended Reading

Psalm 8:1-9

Scientists are learning more and more about the lives of animals. Primates have been found to use tools; fish have demonstrated memory and emotion; dogs have been trained to detect and point out human cancers. But so far, there is no record of any members of the animal kingdom contemplating their origin or expressing appreciation for their existence and the blessings of nature.

Self-awareness is on the human side of a large gap that separates the human from the non-human kingdoms. Even the psalmist, when contemplating the wonders of man’s place in God’s creation, notes that God created “the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea”—but makes no mention of those animals’ awareness of that fact (Psalm 8:8). Fortunately, humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) with the same self-awareness possessed by God. And our awareness lets us know that Someone else is responsible for our creation and sustenance.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Joyce Meyer – Sanctification of the Soul

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So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. —James 1:21

Once you are born again, your spirit has been reborn and you will go to heaven when you die. But God is not finished—He is just beginning. You need to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12 KJV). In other words, your soul needs to be saved. The 14 soul is often defined as the mind, the will, and the emotions. Each of these areas needs salvation.

The Holy Spirit works relentlessly to transform the whole man into God’s perfect will. This process is called sanctification. When your soul is renewed with His Word, you think His thoughts and not your own. Submit yourself to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to change every thought and motive.

From the book Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer.

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Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – What Do Others See in You?

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I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith…

Philippians 1:25

Friend to Friend

When I was growing up ours was on the doorframe between the kitchen and the hall with red carpet. A vertical trail of penciled dashes and dates that marked the growth of my siblings and I – that eventually got painted over. An archive of ages and heights that proved physical progress was really happening in the Eisaman household.

And boy did I want my growth to show.

Each time my dad lined us up to draw lines just above our highest hairs, I would stretch my spine to the sky. {It’s even possible that I might’ve lifted my heels occasionally. Possible. Just throwing it out there. Don’t judge me. Dad always bumped us back down…}

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Is Your Faith Worth Sharing?

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“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18, KJV).

I had just finished giving a message, challenging students and young executives to commit their lives to helping to fulfill the Great Commission when Steve approached me with words that shocked me. I had known him for a long time and believed his life to be totally committed to Christ.

“If I were to respond to your challenge to take what I have to the rest of the world,” he said, “I’m afraid not much would be accomplished, because my brand of Christianity -quite frankly – is not that attractive, exciting or fruitful.”

He went on to share how he was not experiencing the joy of the resurrection in his life. The study of the Word of God had no appeal, his prayer life was nil and it had been a long time since he had introduced anyone to Christ. His outward evidence of being a man of God was just a facade, by his own admission.

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Gospel Paradox

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Read: Isaiah 44:1-5

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. (Isaiah 44:3)

Chapter 44 opens with a beautiful promise, spoken by God through the prophet: Here is pictured the refreshment of spirit that God gives to those who are thirsty, those who recognize the dryness of their lives and who come to him for supply. Notice that the promise extends even to their offspring. Here is a great word for families: God will bless them as they take the place of a suppliant and bring their need before him.

As is true many times in Isaiah, all this is to be ultimately true of the nation of Israel. We must never steal these promises away from the Jewish people. God will fulfill them literally one of these days. But this is also applicable to those who, by faith in Jesus Christ, have become sons and daughters of Abraham. These promises, that God will pour water on the thirsty, and streams on the dry ground, are made to us, as well. This is one of the most remarkable paradoxes in the Scripture. What man could ever devise a plan that if you fail, you win, if you lose, you will succeed, if you are broken, you will be lifted up? But that is God’s plan. He always deals realistically with us. He will not force us to be humiliated, but he wants us to face the whole picture. He is totally honest. He knows exactly who we are and what our problem is. The folly of man is that he seeks to smooth that over and to pretend to be something he is not. All this is remarkable proof that the Bible is a divine Book, for no man would ever come up with a program for success that starts with an admission of failure.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

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Read: Judges 3:1-8

They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord. (v. 4)

In seeking a one-sentence definition of sin I asked another professor of theology and received a more traditional answer: “Sin is violating God’s law, which immediately results in alienation from God, self, neighbors, and creation.”

Certainly this is the situation Israel found itself in as Judges 3 opens. The conquest of the Promised Land had devolved into an accommodation with the people already living there. The author of Judges tells us these people remained in the land to test Israel, and Israel failed the test by worshipping their pagan gods. The nation of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord’s anger kindled against them. Once again, Israel went into slavery.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; H.L.M. – Advance Praise

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Lori “Lolo” Jones is an American track and field and bobsled athlete who specializes in the 60- and 100-meter hurdles. Jones has won both United States and World Championships in hurdle events and competed at the 2008, 2012, and 2014 Olympic Games. Jones continually seeks to trust God despite the personal hurdles she faces. When the 33-year-old athlete had to have hip surgery, she set goals for her recovery and chose to “praise Him in advance” for whatever lay ahead in her rehabilitation.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart.

Psalm 86:12

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Our Stronghold

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Psalm 144:1-2 “Blessed be the LORD my strength… my goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust.”

God is a stronghold for us when Satan tempts us to sin.

There is a place in Israel near the Dead Sea called Masada. It looks like a mountain with a flat, square top. Masada was once a huge getaway palace for Herod the Great. In the first century after the time of Christ, Jewish people used it as a fortress. Men, women, and children lived there for three years, hiding from the Romans who had attacked and destroyed their cities. “The Romans cannot get to us here,” they thought. “We are safe in Masada.”

But they were not safe. The Roman army built a siege ramp all the way up the side of the mountain. Day after day, the Jews saw the Romans working on the ramp, and they knew that they had only a little time.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Why We Worry

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Today’s Scripture: Matthew 6:25

“Do not be anxious about your life.”

Why do we worry? Because we don’t believe. We’re not really convinced the same Jesus who can keep a sparrow in the air knows where our lost luggage is, or how we’ll pay that car repair bill. Or if we believe he can deliver us through our difficulties, we doubt if he will. We let Satan sow seeds of doubt in our minds about God’s love and care for us.

The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer about everything. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Nothing’s too big for him to handle or too small to escape his attention. Paul said we’re to come to God “with thanksgiving.” We should thank him for his past faithfulness in delivering us from troubles. We should thank him for the fact that he’s in control of every circumstance of our lives and that nothing can touch us that he doesn’t allow. We should thank him that in his infinite wisdom he’s able to work in this circumstance for our good. We can thank him that he won’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The promised result is not deliverance, but the peace of God. One of the reasons we don’t find this peace is that all too often we won’t settle for anything other than deliverance from the trouble. But God, through Paul, promises us peace, a peace that is unexplainable. It will guard our hearts and minds against the anxiety to which you and I are so prone.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Dispelling the Darkness

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Today’s Scripture: Leviticus 24-27

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” – Matthew 5:15

In today’s passage about the tabernacle, we read that the lamps were to burn continually. They were to be tended and supplied with oil so their light would never go out. Throughout the Bible, lamps are used to picture our lives as believers.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Where does a lamp do the most good? Outside at high noon or in a dark place where there is no other source of illumination? Yet how many times we complain when God puts us in a situation where we are about the only source of light.

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