Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, January 23

Out on a Limb

Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:10

Recommended Reading
John 15:1-8 [ http://iz3.me/pXgP1zwXd1A1 ]

Will Rogers quipped, "You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is." Christians often find themselves out on a limb; but wherever we are, we're to bear fruit. The New Testament writers used the word "fruit" in many ways. Hebrews 13:15 talks about "the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." James used the word "fruit" to describe our good works (James 3:17). John the Baptist described our changed behaviors as "fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:. In Romans 1:13, Paul used "fruit" to describe those coming to Christ under his ministry. In Galatians 5:22, he used the same term for the attitudes that characterize mature Christianity: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace," and so on.

Listen to Today's Radio Message[ http://iz3.me/qXgP1zwXd1A1 ]

In all these cases, we can say the word "fruit" describes the demonstrative results of Christian maturity. If we're growing in Christ, there should be evidence of it. People should see the signs of our Christian faith. The Father is glorified when we bear much fruit.

Are you fruitful?

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 24-27 [ http://iz3.me/sXgP1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Friday, January 24

His House or Dollhouses?

Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
John 2:17

Recommended Reading
John 2:13-22 [ http://iz3.me/HBpP1zwXd1A1 ]

Huguette Clark was a reclusive heiress who owned mansions in California and New York, though she never visited them. She preferred her Fifth Avenue apartment. She also rented a room in a local hospital, despite being in ideal health (she lived to be 104 years old). Her one and only interest was collecting dolls. She spent millions of dollars on dolls, doll clothes, and dollhouses. Her biographer called it her passion and obsession. Her love for her dolls dominated her life.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/IBpP1zwXd1A1 ]

Every person needs a passionate pursuit. We need something we can pour our lives into, a cause to which we can give our lives. But it should be a worthy passion and a worthwhile pursuit. It should touch on the eternal -- on matters related to God's house, not dollhouses. It was said of Jesus: "Passion for God's house burns within me" (John 2:17, NLT).

People are passionate about many things in life -- politics, sports, health -- but let's be passionate about growing in our walk with God and advancing His work. Ask Him today for His zeal.

If we want to be thoroughly hot with zeal, we must go near to the furnace of the Saviour's love.
Lady Powerscourt

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 28-30 [ http://iz3.me/JBpP1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, January 25 & 26

A New Year to Clarify Your Purpose

Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again ... but the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:13-14

Recommended Reading
John 4:7-14 [ http://iz3.me/UKwP1zwXd1A1 ]

Scientists in drought-stricken Kenya have discovered enormous underground aquifers with water supplies fed by underground rivers from distant mountains. The largest of these newly found reservoirs is 62 miles long, 41 miles across, and contains 200 billion cubic meters of water -- a 900 percent increase over Kenya's current water preserves.

Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/VKwP1zwXd1A1 ]

Jesus promised us living water bubbling up from within those who trust Him. These rivers represent streams of eternal life, everlasting purpose, abundant living, and the waters of the Holy Spirit. In John 7, Jesus said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (verses 37-38).

Thank God for the jubilation of finding massive aquifers beneath the surface of a drought-stricken land. Now thank Him for the joy of having the purposeful, plentiful waters of Jesus beneath the surface of our lives like inexhaustible springs. Our driving purpose in life should be borne along by the currents of those waters. Take time today to make sure you're drilling down in the right places. Take time to be refreshed.

God is His own motive. His love is not drawn out by our loveableness, but wells up, like an artesian spring, from the depths of His nature.
Alexander Maclaren

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 31-37 [ http://iz3.me/WKwP1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Monday, January 27

Whatever!

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 4:13

Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 [ http://iz3.me/Uw0Q1zwXd1A1 ]

We often read a verse and think: "That's a command" or "That's a promise." While the Bible is filled with both promises and commands, the difference between the two isn't as great as we think. Every command, for example, is a promise in reverse, for God never commands us to do anything without supplying the strength. The Scottish preacher Alexander Maclaren put it this way in his sermon on John 5: "All Christ's commandments are gifts. When He says to you, 'Do this!' He pledges Himself to give you power to do it. Whatsoever He enjoins He strengthens for."

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/Vw0Q1zwXd1A1 ]

Whenever there's a command, whatever it is, He gives the strength to obey it. Whenever there's a promise, whatever it is, He gives the faith to claim it. We're to do all things for His glory, and we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.

Some people, when faced with a task, respond with a flippant: "Whatever!" When we read God's promises and commands, we too say "Whatever" -- whatever comes, it's for God's glory!

Whensoever we attempt to do what we know to be the Master's will, because He has given Himself for us, our power will be equal to our desire, and enough for our duty.
Alexander Maclaren

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Exodus 38-40 [ http://iz3.me/Ww0Q1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, January 28

Imitating Jesus

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
John 17:4

Recommended Reading
Ephesians 2:10 [ http://iz3.me/928Q1zwXd1A1 ]

It is not unusual in families for the firstborn child to establish a pattern or standard that younger siblings tend to imitate -- at least at first. It's only natural that young children look to older ones to learn family customs and expectations. When young children realize they have a will and a choice, imitation may give way to self-directed behavior -- for better or worse.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/A28Q1zwXd1A1 ]

The apostle Paul spoke of Jesus Christ as "the firstborn among many brethren," and of God's purpose in conforming us to Christ's image (Romans 8:29). Therefore, when it comes to relating to God the Father, Jesus becomes the model for us, His younger siblings in the faith. Jesus lived a life of complete obedience to the Father. He did nothing on His own initiative, but came into the world to accomplish the work the Father had given Him. Likewise, Paul writes that there are works "God prepared beforehand" for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Like Jesus, we have been given work to do by the Father. And Jesus is the model of obedience we should follow.

If you face a challenging task from God today, ask yourself, "How would Jesus handle this?" Then go and do the same.

Nowhere do we imitate God more than in showing mercy.
Albert Barnes

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 1-4 [ http://iz3.me/B28Q1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, January 30

Forest or Trees?

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Philippians 3:12

Recommended Reading
1 Timothy 4:15 [ http://iz3.me/eLQQ1zwXd1A1 ]

An arborist is a scientist who studies trees and other woody plants, usually individual specimens. A forester is a scientist who studies large swaths of woody plants like a forest. The domain of foresters and arborists overlaps at times in the pursuit of health of both trees and forests.

Listen to Today's Radio Message[ http://iz3.me/fLQQ1zwXd1A1 ]

The Christian life is made up of two similar domains -- individual days and life as a whole. Unfortunately, we get so caught up in the pressures of each day that we sometimes fail to step back and look at our spiritual life as a whole. Questions need to be asked: Since coming to know Christ, how have I grown spiritually and emotionally? What differences can I see over my entire Christian life, and over the last few months or years? What areas of my life in Christ need attention? The apostle Paul talked about "pressing on" toward Christ in his own life and talked to Timothy about making "progress" in his life (1 Timothy 4:15).

Are you a spiritual arborist or forester? Are you focusing more on the trees or the forest? Ask God for His help in showing you how to measure your maturity.

There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. It takes time to be holy.
Erwin W. Lutzer

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 8-10 [ http://iz3.me/gLQQ1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Friday, January 31

Future and Hope

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Recommended Reading
Proverbs 3:5-6 [ http://iz3.me/p0bQ1zwXd1A1 ]

It's easy to understand why God spoke the words of Jeremiah 29:11 through the prophet to His people. Jeremiah wrote during the time when Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians. The Jews could see nothing but disaster on the horizon; they wondered if all God's covenant promises had become null and void. So God spoke through Jeremiah to tell the people that His thoughts were not evil toward them, that He had a hopeful future in mind.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/q0bQ1zwXd1A1 ]

We may not look out our window and see invading Babylonians on the horizon, but we may see something that seems just as hopeless. We can cling to God's promise to Israel because it is a reflection of His character. God is the God of hope and the future. He "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). We are called in those moments to "trust in the Lord with all [ our ] heart," to "lean not on [ our ] own understanding," and to "acknowledge Him" in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6).

If you feel besieged by life today, lean on the God of peace -- the God of hope and the future. The same God who has a plan for Israel has a plan for you. Trust that He will direct your path.

True faith is ever connected with hope.
John Calvin

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 11-13 [ http://iz3.me/r0bQ1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, February 1 & 2

Four Seasons: A Season of Rejoicing

The month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday.
Esther 9:22a

Recommended Reading
Philippians 4:4 [ http://iz3.me/13iQ1zwXd1A1 ]

While Israel's seasons are the same as ours, the Jewish calendar is different. The last month of the Jewish year, Adar, corresponds to our February-March. We consider February to be a short, intermission month standing between winter and spring. We celebrate Valentine's Day and presidential birthdays in February, but not too much else.

Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/23iQ1zwXd1A1 ]

But on the Jewish calendar, Adar (our February) is a time to rejoice! During Adar, the Jews celebrated (and still do) Purim -- the deliverance of the Jews in Persia from the plans of the wicked official named Haman (Esther 9:18-32). It is a time to remember that "which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; ... days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor" (Esther 9:22).

If February is nothing but a post-holiday month for you, don't spend it just waiting for spring. Take the opportunity this month to rejoice in your own deliverance "from the power of darkness ... into the kingdom of the Son ... in whom we have redemption through His blood" (Colossians 1:13-14). There is no greater reason to rejoice!

No duty almost is more pressed in both Testaments than this, of rejoicing in the Lord.
John Trapp

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 14-18 [ http://iz3.me/33iQ1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Monday, February 3

Boring? Never!

Let not your heart be troubled... In My Father's house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:1-2

Recommended Reading
John 14:1-6  [ http://iz3.me/FnkQ1zwXd1A1 ]

"In heaven," said philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, "all the interesting people are missing." That's how the world views heaven, as irrelevant, vague, and dull. According to the Bible, of course, heaven is none of those things. It's a real place, a home, a paradise, a city, a country, a new earth, a prepared place for prepared people. No one there will be bored or boring.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/GnkQ1zwXd1A1 ]

Yet many Christians reflect Nietzsche's view. We're confused about heaven, prone to view it as a never-ending church service or a vapory world with harps and halos. But heaven is mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible, and the information is designed to fill us with anticipation. Our Redeemer is in heaven; our relationships are there, those who have gone before us; our resources are there, the investments we've made in eternity; our residence is in heaven, our rewards and riches. Think about that often, and do not let your heart be troubled. He who has gone to prepare a place for us will soon come again, that where He is we may be also.

Heaven is not a figment of imagination. It is not a feeling or an emotion. It is not the "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." It is a prepared place for a prepared people.
David Jeremiah

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 19-21 [ http://iz3.me/HnkQ1zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, February 4

Reservations Required

But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27

Recommended Reading
John 6:35-40  [ http://iz3.me/E9sQ1zwXd1A1 ]

Has this happened to you? You get to a hotel at the end of a long trip only to find the front desk has no record of your reservation. Or perhaps an airline bungled a flight reservation for you, or a tour company lost your record. A trip can quickly become a nightmare. It's always best to confirm our reservations and have the paperwork in hand.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/F9sQ1zwXd1A1 ]

Heaven is only accessible with confirmed reservations, for those whose names are prerecorded in the Book of Life. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, our names are recorded, as if in blood. Jesus promised, "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day" (John 6:39-40 NIV).

Our Lord will never lose our reservations, but it's vital to know we've trusted in Him for salvation. Make sure your reservation is secure in Him.

A person's eternal destiny ... is based on whether or not his name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Tim LaHaye, in Understanding Bible Prophecy for Yourself

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Leviticus 22-23 [ http://iz3.me/G9sQ1zwXd1A1 ]