While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

Matthew 17:5

In this year of presidential politics, besides the candidates’ voices, there are the voices of their supporters and detractors. And that’s just the political slice of life! There are just as many voices speaking in other areas: religion, health, finances, self-improvement, marriage and family, and more. How does one cut through the stream of voices?

Recommended Reading: Matthew 3:16-17

The Christian should begin by listening to one voice above all others: the voice of Jesus Christ. God the Father said as much when Jesus was transfigured into His glorious appearance in the presence of three of His disciples: “This is My beloved Son . . . . Hear Him!” Jesus affirmed the priority of His voice when He called Himself the Good Shepherd: “And the sheep follow [the shepherd], for they know his voice” (John 10:4). Knowing Christ’s voice comes from time spent listening through Bible study and prayer.

As you follow the Son this summer, don’t neglect daily times of meditating on His voice as found in God’s Word. Let His voice take priority over all others.

The Bible speaks to you in the very tones of God’s voice.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Read-Thru-the-Bible: Psalms 34 – 42

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 51:12

Recommended Reading

Psalm 51

Joy is one of the greatest gifts accompanying our salvation. Professor Lewis Smedes wrote, “You and I were created for joy, and if we miss it, we miss the reason for our existence! Moreover, the reason Jesus Christ lived and died on earth was to restore to us the joy we have lost…. His Spirit comes to us with the power to believe that joy is our birthright because the Lord has made this day for us.”1

The Bible calls it “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8, KJV).

When we allow disobedience to fester in our lives, it depresses our joy. When David sinned against God, he spent a year without joy before confessing his failure and asking for a restoration of joy.

Don’t wait as long as David. The joy of our salvation is too precious to allow sin to rob it away. Confess your wrongdoing; turn from it now with God’s help. He will restore your joy and uphold you with His generous Spirit.

You can be joyful again today!

Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.

Kay Warren

1Kay Warren, Choose Joy (Grand Rapids: Revell, 2012).

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Psalms 28 – 33

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Proverbs 28:13

Recommended Reading

Isaiah 1:18-20

There are two ways of covering sin. The first is by our own effort, which, in our society, is called a cover-up. Every political junkie knows that politicians get into more trouble covering up their crimes than by committing them to begin with, and the same is true for us. If you have a secret habit, a guilty conscience, or a moral failure, Proverbs 28:13 is a warning. Do not try to cover it up or explain it away.

There’s another way of covering our sin, and that’s by confessing it. Psalm 32 says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Isaiah said, “The iniquity of Jacob will be covered. For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 27:9; 61:10).

Hidden sin yields the crop of guilt, but confession brings release and peace. Is there something in your life that needs to be covered? Don’t try to hide it. Confess it, and let the blood of Jesus Christ cover your guilt with its crimson flow.

Jesus’ blood covers all of your sins—past, present, and future…. He wants you to tell Him straightforwardly what you’ve done so that you can experience the power of His forgiveness.

Charles Stanley

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Psalms 22 – 27

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Matthew 6:27

Recommended Reading

Philippians 4:6-7

Sometimes Bible translators can’t agree on the meaning of a text. For instance, in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus advises against worry. It’s the practical reason He gave that translators can’t agree on. He either said that worrying won’t add to your height (NKJV, The Message) or won’t add to your lifespan (NIV, NASB). Fortunately, both translations mean the exact same thing: Worry changes nothing and accomplishes nothing. You can’t grow taller or live longer by worrying.

Actually, worrying does accomplish something in a Christian’s life: Worry calls into question the sincerity of one’s profession of faith. Worry is not only ineffective, it seem irreligious. It gives the appearance that the “worrier” is indifferent to the role of a sovereign God. If we profess our faith in a loving God who cares for our life, and then worry about how life might turn out, what does that say? That’s why Jesus said, instead of worrying, to focus on God and His kingdom. When we focus on what we know about God, what we don’t know about the future pales in significance.

Are you worried about anything today? If so, put your faith in the One who cares for all His creation—including you.

Worry and worship are mutually exclusive.

John Blanchard

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Psalms 9 – 17

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Recommended Reading

Joshua 1:5-9

There are many Baptist congregations today in Myanmar that trace their lineage to the work of missionary Adoniram Judson. He translated the Bible and created a dictionary to establish literacy. But in spite of his kingdom work, Adoniram Judson died alone, at sea, in 1850. Accompanied by one friend, Judson was sailing in search of medical help for himself. Dying before reaching the help he needed, Judson was buried at sea.

Did Adoniram Judson really die alone? He could have been the only person on the ship and still he would not have been alone. He would have echoed the words of David who passed by himself through his own “valley of the shadow of death”: “You are with me.” We will inevitably find ourselves alone at some point in life. But a Christian can be alone without being lonely. Feelings of loneliness should not deceive us into thinking no one is with us. The presence of God, based on the promises in His Word, means we are never truly alone.

If you are by yourself—or feel like you are—reach out to the One who has promised never to leave you or forsake you.

The problem with being an atheist is you have no one to talk to when you’re alone.

Unknown

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Psalms 1 – 8

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Matthew 8:20

It is easy to pass over some things Jesus said because their meaning is not obvious. Or perhaps the meaning is clear but demanding. Would Jesus really ask us to do that?

Recommended Reading: Matthew 19:16-22

When a man declared his desire to follow Jesus, Jesus warned the man that it was not a comfortable life—Jesus had nowhere to sleep at night. And when another young man asked what it would take to inherit eternal life besides keeping God’s laws, Jesus told him to sell his many possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. In both cases, Jesus was illustrating the temporal nature of life on this earth. Homes, goods, wealth—all these are possessions which can confuse us about the nature of our true home. We all must be careful about putting down permanent roots on earth and losing sight of the new earth to come.

Following Christ means having the same detached relationship to the things of this earth that He did. As you follow Christ this summer, hold lightly that which you will one day leave behind.

There is nothing the Christian life suffers more from than the subtle and indescribable worldliness that comes from the cares or the possessions of this life.

Andrew Murray

Read-Thru-the-Bible: Job 35 – 42

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring.

Malachi 2:15

Recommended Reading

Malachi 2:10-16

Jane, 18, a widow with two small children, descended into deep depression. One day while walking along a river with thoughts of suicide, she heard a ploughman on the other bank. As he began his work in the fields, he whistled Christian hymns and something about his spirit touched Jane. If a simple ploughman could display such enthusiasm for the mundane work of his life, why couldn’t she? Armed with a new perspective, Jane returned to Dublin where she answered the call to follow Christ. She began praying earnestly for her children and for the next twelve generations who would follow her.

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – A Legacy for the Lord →

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:33

Recommended Reading

Ephesians 5:25-33

The Bible opens and closes with a wedding. In the earliest pages of Genesis, God brought Adam and Eve together and officiated the first marriage in history. At the end of the Bible, the Lord Jesus and His Bride, the Church, are united at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Additionally, Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding; and according to the book of Ephesians, marriage is emblematic of the relationship between Christ and His Church.

Marriage, it seems, is worth fighting for. It’s worth fighting for in our culture, and it’s also worth fighting for in our own lives. Most marriages go from the dream stage to the disappointment stage to the disillusionment stage. There’s not a perfect husband or wife on earth, and no one can live up to our moonlight ideas of romance. But the next stage is the most important—the decision stage. We have to choose to love the one we’ve married.

If you’re discouraged with your marriage, don’t give up. Give it to Him. The Creator of weddings is the Corrector of marriage. He can help you love and respect your husband or wife.

A Single Thought: Respect is a crucial ingredient in any successful relationship—families, coworkers, and friends all need to value one another.

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Nehemiah 8 – 10

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

[The union of husband and wife] is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:32

Recommended Reading

Ephesians 5:22-23

Counselors sometimes suggest that a sure way to avoid disappointment is to avoid expectations. Married couples are sometimes told if they expect nothing from a spouse, they will not be disappointed if they receive nothing.

Often, we confuse expectations with rights, especially in marriage—“It is my right to be loved and understood by my spouse.” Demanding rights can be problematic. But are expectations in marriage wrong? When we follow Paul’s lead, comparing marriage to Christ and His Church, it would seem not (Ephesians 5:22-33). Do we as the Bride of Christ have expectations of Christ? Yes, and He is always faithful. Does Christ have expectations of us, His Bride—expectations of love, loyalty, obedience, service, and more? Yes. And while we sometimes disappoint Him, expectations remain.

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – What Spouses Should Expect →

The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was set apart, he and his sons forever, that he should sanctify the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to Him, and to give the blessing in His name forever.

1 Chronicles 23:13

Recommended Reading

1 Peter 1:13-16

It’s Saturday and you’re going to paint the bedroom. You choose your oldest pair of shorts, most faded T-shirt, and rattiest sneakers and dedicate them to painting; you set them apart forever, never to be nice clothes again. In biblical terms, you have made those clothes holy.

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Holy Matrimony →

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:10-11

Recommended Reading

1 John 4:7-19

Love is an emotion that’s hard to describe. It’s an emotional longing for another person and a deep satisfaction when that love is reciprocated. It suffers intense anguish when it isn’t.

Love is an attitude that operates more deeply than feelings. Attitudes are dispositions of the heart that anchor our emotions, just as the unshakable mountains support the trees on its slopes.

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – The Golden River →

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

Recommended Reading

Jeremiah 29:11

Psalm 30:5 is an example of Scripture explaining Scripture. The second half of the verse is often quoted during times of trouble: “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” But weeping can sometimes last for many nights—or weeks or months, even years. But the first part of the verse explains the second: The psalmist is talking about relative periods of time—a “moment” compared with a “lifetime.”

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Who Holds the Future →

But one thing I do . . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13b-14

Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

While it’s hard to imagine a doctor or other person saying this to us—“It’s time to get your affairs in order”—we understand the kind of situations in which it might be necessary. But it also begs the question: Why should we live without having our affairs in order? Why shouldn’t “getting our affairs in order” be a continual process of assessing and resetting instead of an end-of-life challenge?

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Spring Cleaning: De-clutter Your Life—Reset Your Priorities →

…for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

1 Samuel 2:30

Recommended Reading

1 Samuel 2

Paris was in the grip of a heat wave during the 1924 Summer Olympics, and the Colombes Stadium was like a frying pan. For runner Eric Liddell, heat was the least of his concerns. His best event—the 100-meter—had been scheduled for a Sunday. He withdrew because he didn’t want to run on the Lord’s Day. He set his sights on the 400-meter instead. In the dressing room before the event, the masseur handed him a folded paper. It contained a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30: “Those who honor Me I will honor.” Inspired by those words, Eric Liddell broke the existing world record and won the gold medal.

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Honor →

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).

Galatians 3:13

Recommended Reading

Ruth 2:19-20

Israel had statutes that provided for stability in society: regulation of debt, slavery, poverty, the transfer of property, and the preservation of families and clans. The story of Ruth is an example. When she found herself a young widow, one of her former husband’s relatives—Boaz, known as a kinsman-redeemer—stepped in to marry her and purchase her former father-in-law’s property.

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Our Kinsman-Redeemer →

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.

1 Peter 3:8

Recommended Reading: Luke 6:41-42

The story is told of a woman who could look out her kitchen window and see her neighbor’s laundry drying on the line. But the woman continually complained to her husband about how dingy the neighbor’s laundry looked: “Doesn’t she know how to get her clothes clean?” But one day she announced, “Finally—our neighbor has learned to do her laundry! I wonder what has changed?” Her husband said, “It may be because I washed the outside of that window yesterday.”

Sometimes, our own impaired vision causes us to see faults in others. It reminds us of what Jesus said about removing the beam in our own eye before trying to remove a speck from someone else’s eye. And of how Paul wrote that we should focus more on the needs of others rather than our own needs. Jesus had the ability to see people as they really were—and His clear spiritual sight moved Him to compassion toward them (Matthew 9:36). We need to see with the eyes of Jesus.

Continue reading Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Spring Cleaning: Wash the Windows—See Others in Need →