Tag Archives: theology

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – The Possibility of Knowing Christ

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Read: Luke 1:26-38

Nothing will be impossible with God. (v. 37)

Some readers might be skeptical about knowing Christ better because of their faith in the scientific method, which says that you can only know what you can test. Since you can’t test an unseen Christ, you can’t really know him. Testing is the only way of knowing.

Is that true? A college freshman meets an attractive girl and wants to know her better. So he tests her scientifically. He talks her into getting a complete physical and taking a battery of psychological tests. He observes her, develops hypotheses, and tests them out to see if they really explain her. He wants to know for sure, so he exercises appropriate scientific skepticism. And she finally tells him to take a hike back to his lab, tired of his testing.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.R. – Eternal Remembrance

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Hopefully, no one hates you this much. In the fourteenth century in England, theologian John Wycliffe believed God was calling him to translate the Holy Bible from Latin into English. Until then, parishioners went to church where the Scriptures were interpreted for them by priests. What Wycliffe proposed to do was illegal…and not well received. Wycliffe somehow avoided being burned at the stake – the typical fate of instigators in that age – and died a natural death. But 41 years later, authorities decided a normal burial was too good for Wycliffe. They had his bones dug up, burned, and scattered in a river. The plan was for his name and his work to be forever wiped from history.

The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

Proverbs 10:7

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Kids 4 Truth

International – God Is My Refuge

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“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:8)

Do you ever need a refuge? A refuge is a place where you go to be safe, a place where you can be free from danger and fear. Everyone is afraid at times. You might feel fearful when you’re alone or when you’re in bed at night with darkness all around. Sometimes you might worry that something bad will happen to your mom or dad. Sometimes you’re afraid because you know you’ve done something wrong – even if you haven’t been caught yet.

God wants to be your refuge at those times. He tells you to pour out your heart to Him. Does that mean you need to use just the right words when you pray? Should you try to pretend you’re a brave, good person who doesn’t really need His help? Pouring out your heart means telling Him exactly how you feel – because He already knows. Tell Him you feel afraid, or tell Him you know you’ve sinned and need His forgiveness. He is greater than anything that you fear. And He cares for you.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – No Cross, No Gospel

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Today’s Scripture: Romans 5:2

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.”

When you set yourself to seriously pursue holiness, you’ll begin realizing what an awful sinner you are. If you aren’t firmly rooted in the Gospel and haven’t learned to preach it to yourself every day, you’ll soon become discouraged and will slack off. In the pursuit of holiness, nothing’s more important than learning to preach the Gospel to yourself every day.

In doing so, we must be careful not to preach a Gospel without a cross. All the wonderful promises of forgiveness in Scripture are based upon Christ’s atoning death. Through it he satisfied God’s justice and averted from us God’s wrath. We must be careful not to rely on the so-called unconditional love of God without realizing his love can flow to us only as a result of Christ’s atoning death.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – The Power of Words

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 37-40

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. – Proverbs 12:18

The late Paul Little of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship used to tell us that when we speak unwisely or boastfully or pass along some gossip, it is hard to retrieve those words. It’s like trying to get toothpaste back in the tube.

In the story of Joseph, we find a young man who spoke unwisely and suffered the consequences for many years afterwards.

One day Joseph and his brothers were in the field, and Joseph told them his dream: “We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” And his brothers, who were jealous of his favored position with their father, hated him even more. They said, “Will you actually rule us?”

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – DAVID: SHAME IN REJECTION

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Read 2 Samuel 15:13-32

A child runs off the playing field because no one picked him for a team. A teenager frowns after the boy she likes ignores her. A man weeps when the company he faithfully served for decades includes his name in the first round of layoffs.

David also experienced rejection. He was devastated by how swiftly the hearts of his people had turned from him, how craftily his own son had plotted against him, and how thoroughly his life had been turned upside down. Seemingly overnight he had been changed from hero to zero. People who before had risked their lives for him were now acting as if he would be better off dead. Their actions sent the message that he was disgraced, without honor, and unworthy of their loyalty (v. 31; see 2 Sam. 17:1–4).

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Training in Godliness

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Deuteronomy 4:9-10

Our desire as Christian parents is to help our children mature into godly men and women. We want them to believe the Father has a plan for their lives and they’re accountable to Him.

I remember teaching my children from a young age about these important truths. I wanted biblical principles to shape their thinking, their choices, and their hearts. After explaining about God’s will, I told them they were accountable to the Lord for their behavior—as well as to their mother and me. If kids believe they are accountable only to their parents, then when apart from Mom and Dad, they’re likely to think they don’t have to answer to anyone.

My children didn’t always agree with my decisions, so I taught them to speak to their heavenly Father about it. Over time, they developed the habit of talking with Him. This training became very important in their teenage years. Instead of giving a quick no to some of their requests, I said, “Find out what God wants you to do. Whatever you two agree on, I will accept.” I knew this was risky, but I had to trust the Lord and give my children the opportunity to practice what I’d been teaching them throughout their lives—that they’re accountable to the Father.

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Wells of Salvation

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Read: Isaiah 12

Bible in a Year: Genesis 23-24; Matthew 7

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. —Isaiah 12:3

When people drill holes deep into the earth, it is normally for pulling up core samples of rock, accessing oil, or finding water.

In Isaiah 12, we learn that God wanted His people, who were living in a spiritual desert as well as a geographical desert, to discover His “wells of salvation.” The prophet Isaiah compared God’s salvation to a well from which the most refreshing of all waters can be drawn. After many years of turning their back on God, the nation of Judah was destined for exile as God allowed foreign invaders to conquer the nation, scattering the people. Yet, said the prophet Isaiah, a remnant would eventually return to their homeland as a sign that God was with them (Isa. 11:11-12).

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – The Importance of Humility

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“Walk . . . with all humility” (Ephesians 4:2).

Humility is fundamental to spiritual growth and blessing.

It’s no secret that family problems are on the rise. Husbands and wives can’t get along. Children rebel against their parents. Unfortunately, most of the proposed solutions deal only with the peripheral issues instead of the central issue, which is pride. There will never be unity or happiness in a family without humility.

Humility is not only essential in families; it is also a basic ingredient for all spiritual blessing. The book of Proverbs is rich with such teaching. “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom” (11:2). “Before honor comes humility” (15:33). “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life” (22:4). James tells us, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (4:6). Too often we forget how important humility is.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Pursuit of Pleasure 

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He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich. Proverbs 21:17

The pursuit of pleasure leads to poverty. The logical conclusion of pleasure, void of eternal influence, is a man or woman poorly principled, poor with people, poor in soul and a poor manager of God’s provision. Pleasure, without a greater purpose, produces a lame life. However, earthly enjoyments, wed within God’s will, open up the windows of heaven. “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ…” (Ephesians 1:9). His pleasure is good.

Pleasure in and of itself is not evil, but when it becomes competition with our devotion to Christ it is down right dangerous. Paul said in the last days we will live with this tension. “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Strength in Numbers: Naaman

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Go and wash in the Jordan seven times.

2 Kings 5:10

Recommended Reading

2 Kings 5:1-19

The story of Naaman teaches the importance of detailed obedience. Though he was a mighty Syrian commander, Naaman was a leper. When a Jewish girl suggested he consult the prophet Elisha, he was desperate enough to try it. Elisha told him to wash seven times in the Jordan River, but Naaman resisted at first. Afterward, urged by his men, he went to the Jordan and humbly dipped into its muddy waters seven times. He came up the seventh time healed.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Touch of God

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I will give them one heart [a new heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God]. —Ezekiel 11:19

God has made us sensitive to His touch and wants to lead us to do things that are good for us, like spending time with Him, but He doesn’t want us to turn our devotional time into a law—like believing we have to pray for fifteen minutes, read the Word for twenty minutes, and confess the Word for ten minutes each day in order to please Him.

As soon as we view things as laws and rules, the joy is drained out of them and they are turned into works of the flesh. Let God lead you in your time spent with Him, and you will never get bored. The Holy Spirit is creative, and He will help you keep your time with God fresh and exciting.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Seeking God’s Face

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“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV).

“Humility is perfect quietness of heart,” Andrew Murray once wrote. “It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.”

For years, I have claimed God’s promise recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14. My emphasis has been on the humbling of ourselves and turning from sin. But recently a minister friend made a passing reference to the phrase, “seeking God’s face,” and it triggered in my mind some new thoughts about this great promise from God.

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – To Save Or Condemn?

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Read: John 3:16-36

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17)

This verse is a great guideline as to how we ought to talk about the gospel to people who do not know God, to those who are living careless, indifferent, often sinfully wretched lives. We ought not to come shaking our finger at them, pointing out how terrible they are and what evil things they are doing to themselves. We ought to come sensing the agony, the hurt, the inward shame, the loneliness, misery and anguish they are going through. That is the way God feels and that is the way we should feel too.

Paul puts this very beautifully in his second letter to the Corinthians: God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, (2 Corinthians 5:19). That is why in every vignette we have of Jesus in the gospels, where he is dealing with acknowledged, open, blatant sinners, we never hear a word of condemnation. Witness the woman at the well of Samaria. She had five husbands and was now living with a man outside of marriage. Jesus was courteous to her. He did not attack her, blame her, or judge her. There is no condemnation.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Oh, the Possibilities!

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Read: 2 Peter 1:3-8

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (v. 4 NIV)

To sweeten the pot even further, Peter holds out some tantalizing possibilities for our lives when we know Christ better. It is possible, he says, to “participate in the divine nature.” Have you ever read anything like that? Not only pardon for sin and a peace that endures, not only a place in heaven and a profound sense of being loved, not only a deep assurance that all will be well and an energizing conviction that we have an important role in making things right, but also such a closeness with God that we somehow participate in God’s nature. What does that mean? We can understand that about as well as a toddler on a scooter understands flying to the moon in a spaceship. But it’s possible because it’s part of the grace and peace we have through knowing Christ.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.K.- Reverence Deserved

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Christmas has come and gone. Maybe you gave or received a gift that came with instructions. Did you put first things first and read the directions before doing anything else? First things first – it means to sequence tasks so your ultimate goal will be completed successfully.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 9:10

Apply this to your life in 2016. Plan to have a closer relationship with the Lord. You will want to make the right decisions when the tests of life come upon you. Understand that God gives wisdom only to those who approach life with a deep awe and fear of Him, to those who love Him with their heart and soul, and to those who recognize Him as Creator God whose plans stand firm. He will give you understanding and guidance when you show Him the reverence He so deserves.

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Uncomplicating Evangelism

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“Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not.” —2 Timothy 4:2

We overcomplicate this thing called evangelism. I’ve read that 95% of Christians have never led another person to Christ.

Let’s look at the basics: The Who, Where, Why, and When of Evangelism.

Who is called to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel”? Answer: We are.

Matthew 28:19–20 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is Safety

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“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

When Corey was scared, there was only one place he wanted to be. If he had a nightmare, if thunder clashes woke him up, or if the tree branches outside his window looked like giant hands ready to grab him, he ran to his parents’ bedroom. In their room there was a small space between the wall and the bed, and Corey was allowed to sleep there on the floor when he was scared. Corey knew that if someone or something was going to get him, they would have to crawl over his dad first. And Corey knew that his father would never let anything bad happen to him.

Psalm 29:25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” The word snare means trap. Man isn’t strong enough to win every battle or defeat every bad guy. If we trust in men and not in God, we will end up being trapped someday.

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The Navigators

– Holiness Day by Day Devotional – The Heartbeat of the Godly

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Today’s Scripture: Psalm 42:2

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

In Psalm 27:4, David expressed an intense desire for God: “one thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” David yearned intensely for God himself that he might enjoy his presence and his beauty. Because God is a spirit, his beauty obviously refers not to a physical appearance but to his attributes. David enjoyed dwelling upon the majesty and greatness, the holiness and goodness of God. But David did more than contemplate the beauty of God’s attributes; he sought God himself, for elsewhere he says, “earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you” (Psalm 63:1, NIV).

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – The Word Convicts of Sin

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 6-9

What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? – Romans 3:3

Today’s passage concerning the Flood is directly related to a modern difficulty you may be facing. Maybe you’ve talked with someone about Christ, only to have them respond, “I don’t believe the Bible.” What does that have to do with the Flood, you ask?

Let me illustrate. I took a course on evolution in college. One of the professor’s stated objectives was to destroy the faith of any Christian in the class. So I began to witness to him. One day when I left the room, his lab assistant followed me and expressed interest in what I had been saying. I invited him to see the Moody Science film “Dust or Destiny,” which showed the remarkable wisdom in the creative acts of God.

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