Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

December 26, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

"Walk in the Light"
If we walk in the light as He is in the light . . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin -1 John 1:7

To mistake freedom from sin only on the conscious level of our lives for complete deliverance from sin by the atonement through the Cross of Christ is a great error. No one fully knows what sin is until he is born again. Sin is what Jesus Christ faced at Calvary. The evidence that I have been delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me. For a person to really know what sin is requires the full work and deep touch of the atonement of Jesus Christ, that is, the imparting of His absolute perfection.

The Holy Spirit applies or administers the work of the atonement to us in the deep unconscious realm as well as in the conscious realm. And it is not until we truly perceive the unrivaled power of the Spirit in us that we understand the meaning of 1 John 1:7 , which says, ". . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." This verse does not refer only to conscious sin, but also to the tremendously profound understanding of sin which only the Holy Spirit in me can accomplish.

I must "walk in the light as He is in the light . . ."- not in the light of my own conscience, but in God's light. If I will walk there, with nothing held back or hidden, then this amazing truth is revealed to me: ". . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses [me] from all sin" so that God Almighty can see nothing to rebuke in me. On the conscious level it produces a keen, sorrowful knowledge of what sin really is. The love of God working in me causes me to hate, with the Holy Spirit's hatred for sin, anything that is not in keeping with God's holiness. To "walk in the light" means that everything that is of the darkness actually drives me closer to the center of the light.

Protecting New Believers

We have been talking about the devil's attack on newborn babes in Christ. This is something we can expect. But what are the reasons for it?

Look at Isaiah 59:15-16, as it provides us with a clue,

So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

I want you to think about that. Truth fails, and the person who departs from evil makes himself a prey, in the same way that a lion looks at a wounded gazelle as prey.

To me this is a picture of what happens to some new believers. They depart from evil (get saved) and suddenly it seems like everything is going wrong for them. And God is not pleased about it!

Where it says He "wondered " literally means He was astonished that there was no intercessor. This means that there was no one praying. That is why they became prey!

If we do not pray for those who turn from evil, then they will become the prey of the devil. We have a responsibility to intercede for people who come to Christ. It puts up a barrier of protection around them.

Paul wrote to the Colossians about this when he said, Praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ. Paul didn't just pray for them before they were saved, he also prayed for them after they were saved.

Oh, may God not wonder in our day, "Where is the intercessor who should be praying for the new babes in Christ?"

Let's take our responsibility seriously and pray for those who have newly come to the faith.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read: Revelation 19:11-21
He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. - Revelation 19:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
Every thrilling war story describes the two sides and their leader or hero, the setting of the conflict, and then the military strategy. The story then explains how the strategy will be executed and which side will emerge victorious. These elements comprise the drama in battle accounts including Homer's Iliad, Judges 4, the Battle of Gettysburg, or the Battle of the Bulge.
Our text today describes the climactic battle of all history-and yet there's almost no discussion of the military strategy, the pitch of battle, or the raging warfare. Instead, Scripture wants us to focus our attention, and our worship, in one direction: toward Jesus.

First, John describes heaven as standing open (v. 11). Earlier in the book he had referenced the open door of heaven, and here again he indicated he was giving us a scene from heaven itself (see 4:1). Then heaven opened wide to reveal Jesus, the Rider on a white horse. To underscore that Jesus is fully God, the first description provided was that He is "Faithful and True," words used to describe God throughout the book (see 15:3; 16:7; 19:2). This title alerts us to the upcoming judgment in this passage. Jesus was given all authority (12:10), and He was preparing to unleash the wrath of God on the Beast, the False Prophet, and any aligned with them (v. 15).

Everything about evil is a perverted imitation of the truth of God. The Beast was covered in blasphemous names; Jesus has the name "King of kings and Lord of lords" (v. 16). The relationship between Jesus and His people led to the wedding supper of the Lamb; the relationship between the Beast and his followers resulted in the feast for birds on the flesh of rebellious sinners. The miracles of the False Prophet led unbelievers to destruction; the miracles of God protected and saved His people.

The battle was over before it began-the armies of earth were arrayed against Jesus and the armies of heaven, but instead of a description of the conflict, we see the execution of divine judgment. The Beast and False Prophet were thrown into the "fiery lake of burning sulfur" (v. 20), and their followers became a feast for the birds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Worship aligns our hearts to see reality. We see that evil offers nothing that is original or valuable, only worthless imitations. Spend time praising Jesus, using the words from our text today. Also ask the Lord to use your praise to sharpen your spiritual perspective to recognize and choose the worthy things of God and not the temptations of evil. As a reminder, you can write King of kings and Lord of lords on a notecard or sticky note-we worship the Lamb who triumphs!


GOD BLESS!


December 27, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Where the Battle is Won or Lost
'If you will return, O Israel,' says the Lord . . . -Jeremiah 4:1

Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God's presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.

I should never say, "I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I'll put God to the test." Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.

In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point- a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest- our best for His glory.

Getting Established in the Faith

If you are a new believer in Christ, or know someone who is, I want to talk to you today. I want to share with you four things that will help you get established in your faith.

1. Read your Bible every day. That's food for your spirit. Psalm 119:11 says, Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. It is vital you spend time in God's Word.

2. Pray every day. Spend time talking to God and then listening in your heart for His answers. As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 admonishes us, Pray without ceasing. This is a vital part of your growth and protection as a believer.

3. Fellowship with other believers. Do not get isolated from the church. Do not get isolated from the rest of the body. Scripture tells us to not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as is the manner of some (Hebrews 10:25). In fact, it is important to get integrated into a smaller circle of fellowship. You need to get connected relationally. There is a real safety in that.

4. Listen to your spiritual leaders. Go to church whenever the doors are open, and go expecting God to speak to you through the teaching and preaching. One translation of Hebrews 13:17 says, Give ear to your spiritual leaders and be willing to do what they say for their work is to watch over your souls. Become a part of a strong Bible-believing fellowship and take heed to what is taught.

If you will do those things: read your Bible every day, pray every day, get involved in a smaller circle of fellowship and listen to your spiritual leaders, you will be all right.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read: Revelation 20:1-6
They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him. - Revelation 20:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Worship is important because we begin to resemble what we worship. Psalm 115 exposes the folly of idols, for they are helpless, mute, blind, deaf, and lame. Not only are idols impotent, unable to communicate or meet any of our needs, but "those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them" (vv. 5-8). If what you worship is empty, you will be empty.
In contrast, when we worship the one, true God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-we become conformed to His image (Rom. 12:1-2). As we worship the One who is Faithful and True, we become faithful and true followers. As we adore the God who is loving and holy, we are able to be loving and holy. And as we see in our passage today, if we worship the Lord who is King of kings and Lord of lords, we are also given the power and authority to reign with Him.

As we have proceeded through the chapters describing God's righteous judgment against evil, we have seen the bowls of His wrath poured out on unbelievers, thejudgment of the woman, and Jesus' victory over the Beast and False Prophet. Next, Satan himself was about to reap the reward for his evil deceptions and rebellion against God. In our passage today, he was bound for 1,000 years, demonstrating that he was subject to the will of God. This binding was a foretaste of his ultimate doom, which we'll read about tomorrow.

A God powerful enough to bind Satan is also powerful enough to resurrect from death those who were faithful to His name (v. 4). Those who suffered the degradation of death for the sake of Jesus received the right to rule with Him. Not only would faithful believers reign with Christ for the thousand years of Satan's bondage, but death could never again assert any claim over them.

Finally, note the words of blessing bestowed on believers: "Blessed and holy . . . priests of God and of Christ . . . reign with him" (v. 6). Worshipers of God become like Him!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One commentator observed: "[Believers] should draw instant conclusions for their actions and conduct: the magnitude of the promise rewards the effort, but at stake is nothing less than complete, indestructible fellowship with Christ." This prophecy should motivate our present actions-the whole of our worship-in light of future promises. Is the character of Christ increasingly defining your existence? We will receive the consequences of our worship in eternity-will you be destroyed or redeemed?

GOD  LESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 28, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Continuous Conversion
. . . unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven -Matthew 18:3

These words of our Lord refer to our initial conversion, but we should continue to turn to God as children, being continuously converted every day of our lives. If we trust in our own abilities, instead of God's, we produce consequences for which God will hold us responsible. When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. Just because we have responded properly in the past is no guarantee that we will do so again. The response of the natural to the spiritual should be continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains unchanged and His salvation unaltered. But we must "put on the new man . . ." (Ephesians 4:24). God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our natural life must not rule- God must rule in us.

To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the growth of our spiritual life. There are areas of self-will in our lives where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, "I won't submit." We deify our independence and self-will and call them by the wrong name. What God sees as stubborn weakness, we call strength. There are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into submission, and this can only be done by this continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God.

Samson and Jesus-Part 1

For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines (Judges 13:5).

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS... And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:31 & 35).

There are some striking similarities between Samson the Nazarite and Jesus the Nazarine. Here are a few of them.

· Both the birth of Samson and the birth of Christ were announced through angelic messengers.

· Samson's father said, "Let your words come to pass." Mary, the mother of Jesus, said, "Let it be unto me according to your word."

· Samson was born to deliver the Israelites who were in bondage to and oppressed by the Philistines. Jesus was born to deliver the world that was in bondage to and oppressed by Satan.

· The Spirit moved upon Samson. The Spirit descended upon and anointed Jesus.

· Samson was a thorn in the Philistines' side, going about destroying their yoke over Israel. Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil and thereby destroying Satan's yoke of bondage.

· Samson's own people rejected him and turned him over to the Philistines. Jesus' own people (the Jews) rejected Him and turned Him over to the Romans.

These similarities between Samson and Jesus are not coincidental. Samson's story is meant to point the way to Jesus. God wants people to know about the blessed Savior. You can point the way to Him as well. Tell someone today about Jesus!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Revelation 20:7-15
Another book was opened, which is the book of life. - Revelation 20:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1936, Toni Kurz, a German mountain climber, attempted to scale the imposing north face of the Eiger mountain in Switzerland. The expedition turned disastrous, with all three of his fellow climbers dying during their attempted descent. A storm made a rescue attempt for Kurz even more harrowing. After spending an entire night hanging on the side of the mountain exposed to the elements, and now with one arm frozen, Kurz received rope from his rescuers-but it was too short to reach them. He attempted to separate the rope and retie it, but as he worked his way to safety, the knot caught on his carabiner. Without the strength to lift himself up to free the knot, he died-just a few meters above the waiting rescue team.
Some people try to rescue themselves spiritually in a similarly tragic way. They trust their own works, or the advice of others, or a good reputation. Their hope of salvation lies in a patchwork of good deeds and intentions. Like Kurz's rope, none of these things will be sufficient to bring salvation and spiritual safety. In our passage today, we see the final outcome of those who have trusted anything other than Jesus Christ.

The long-awaited final judgment of Satan is completed in our passage. After being loosed from hell, Satan remained consistent with his character of deception and rebellion against God (vv. 7-8). His resistance was futile; God cast him into eternal torment in the "lake of burning sulfur," where he joined the Beast and False Prophet (v. 10).

Next, the scene shifts to the Great White Throne Judgment, where all the dead stood before the throne of God, subject to His judgment. The books were opened, and their deeds were evaluated. Ultimately, no sum of the deeds can equal salvation. The only hope of eternal life lies in having your name found in the Lamb's Book of Life (v. 15). And only by trusting in Jesus and holding fast to Him can we have the eternal safety of life with God, escaping the judgment of the lake of fire (see Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Will you trust in Jesus, the secure rock of salvation? Or will you trust in the too-short rope of your own deeds? The answer is a question of eternal life and death. If you aren't sure whether your name is in the Book of Life, surrender your life to God today, trusting that Jesus-the worthy Lamb-has died on the cross as the payment for your sin and been raised from the dead, defeating the power of sin and death. If you need to talk to someone, call 1-800-NEED HIM.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 29, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Deserter or Disciple?
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more -John 6:66

When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must "walk in the light" of that vision (1 John 1:7). Even though your mind and soul may be thrilled by it, if you don't "walk in the light" of it you will sink to a level of bondage never envisioned by our Lord. Mentally disobeying the "heavenly vision" (Acts 26:19) will make you a slave to ideas and views that are completely foreign to Jesus Christ. Don't look at someone else and say, "Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can't I?" You have to "walk in the light" of the vision that has been given to you. Don't compare yourself with others or judge them- that is between God and them. When you find that one of your favorite and strongly held views clashes with the "heavenly vision," do not begin to debate it. If you do, a sense of property and personal right will emerge in you- things on which Jesus placed no value. He was against these things as being the root of everything foreign to Himself- ". . . for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15). If we don't see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord's teaching.

Our tendency is to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we had when God revealed His will to us. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don't try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.

Samson and Jesus-Part 2

For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines (Judges 13:5).

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS (Luke 1:31).

In yesterday's devotional we examined some amazing similarities between Samson and Jesus. Here are a few more parallels to ponder:

· Samson was betrayed by Delilah. Jesus was betrayed by Judas.

· Samson was taken prisoner and tortured by the Philistines. Jesus was taken prisoner and tortured by the Romans.

· Samson, while being mocked in Dagon's temple, wrought his greatest victory and gave the Philistines their worst defeat-the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. Jesus, while being mocked on the cross by his persecutors, wrought His greatest victory and handed hell its ultimate defeat. And He did it through His death.

It is said that Samson "began to deliver Israel," indicating that his work was to be carried on by others. Jesus has left the work of evangelism to us. Though He paid the price, we are to carry the good news of His victory to the ends of the earth.

As you think about these similarities, I want you to especially consider the last one I presented. Once we receive the gospel, we are then to be carriers of the gospel. Tell someone about Jesus and what He has done for them-today!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Revelation 20:7-15
Another book was opened, which is the book of life. - Revelation 20:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1936, Toni Kurz, a German mountain climber, attempted to scale the imposing north face of the Eiger mountain in Switzerland. The expedition turned disastrous, with all three of his fellow climbers dying during their attempted descent. A storm made a rescue attempt for Kurz even more harrowing. After spending an entire night hanging on the side of the mountain exposed to the elements, and now with one
Read: Revelation 21
It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. - Revelation 21:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In September, the Finn family experienced great joy and sorrow at the same time. Ashley Finn delivered a healthy baby boy. But there were complications during the delivery, and blood clots began to spread throughout her body. Within a week a clot made its way to her brain, causing a massive hemorrhage and death. And this was not the only tragic event that happened in that month, or that week, or even that day. All around the world people are suffering and grieving, powerless to prevent the death of a loved one. As Christians, how do we have hope in the face of such sorrow?
Part of the answer is found in our passage today. Sorrow is real in our world today-but this world will not last forever. For the last three days of our study we'll see what Scripture says about the end of the story, which we can only know if we worship the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega (v. 6).

First, God fulfilled His promise to create a new heaven and a new earth (v. 1; cf. Isa. 65:17). Next, God fulfilled His promise to dwell in intimate communion with His people (v. 3; cf. Ezek. 37:27; Zech. 2:14). This intimacy means that God Himself will "wipe away every tear from their eyes." God's love and tenderness is combined with His power and faithfulness to result in the comfort of His people and the destruction of death, suffering, weeping, and distress-forever (v. 4). Never again can tragedy grip the lives of those who worship the Lord.

As you read verses 9 through 27, note all the beautiful descriptions used for this "bride, the wife of the Lamb" (v. 9). She was radiant with the glory of God, adorned with gold and precious jewels. She was open, not closed off (v. 25), and she was pure. Most spectacularly, there was no sun or moon, because the "glory of God is its light" (v. 23).

God's redeeming work of history was complete (v. 6). He began history as Creator, and, at the conclusion of this prophecy, he had completed history as Redeemer and Judge. He alone is worthy of our faithful worship.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of God's most precious promises-and a recurring theme throughout this book-is found in verse 7: "He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." God knows the heartache we experience on this earth, but He has promised that in the new heaven and new earth no suffering or sin can reach us. What a motivation to worship this "trustworthy and true" God (v. 5)! Praise Him for His power and love and promises today.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 30, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

"And Every Virtue We Possess"
. . . All my springs are in you -Psalm 87:7

Our Lord never "patches up" our natural virtues, that is, our natural traits, qualities, or characteristics. He completely remakes a person on the inside- ". . . put on the new man . . ." (Ephesians 4:24). In other words, see that your natural human life is putting on all that is in keeping with the new life. The life God places within us develops its own new virtues, not the virtues of the seed of Adam, but of Jesus Christ. Once God has begun the process of sanctification in your life, watch and see how God causes your confidence in your own natural virtues and power to wither away. He will continue until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus. Thank God if you are going through this drying-up experience!

The sign that God is at work in us is that He is destroying our confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but only a wasted reminder of what God created man to be. We want to cling to our natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us in contact with the life of Jesus Christ- a life that can never be described in terms of natural virtues. It is the saddest thing to see people who are trying to serve God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them. They are depending solely on what they have by virtue of heredity. God does not take our natural virtues and transform them, because our natural virtues could never even come close to what Jesus Christ wants. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every part of our natural bodily life into harmony with the new life God has placed within us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristic of the Lord Jesus.

And every virtue we possess
Is His alone.

Prosperity

In Luke 12, Jesus has some very direct and clear teaching on prosperity. For instance, take a look at Luke 12:13-15,

Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

It's easy to read these verses and believe that God is against prosperity. But if you look at what I call the Genesis Principle, I think you can see that prosperity is God's will.

When God created man, He gave him abundance. You can't read the story in the Garden of Eden and think that Adam lacked for anything. And God's plan, His idea, His heart for humanity has never changed.

But God did not give Adam all that abundance so that the abundance itself would be the focus of his life. His focus was to be his relationship with the Father as they walked and talked in the garden. His life did not consist in the abundance of things, but in his relationship to his Creator.

So what is abundance? Abundance, or prosperity, is having all that you need to meet any circumstance, with enough left over to give wherever God might direct you.

Jesus certainly is not against prosperity. In fact, prosperity is what I believe is God's will for all of His children. I don't think God wants any of His kids to be in poverty. Poverty is not a virtue unless you choose it for some reason.

God wants you to be prosperous, but there are some principles to properly understand prosperity, which we will discover in the next few devotionals.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Revelation 22:1-11
In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and . . . a river watering the garden. - Genesis 2:9-10
TODAY IN THE WORD
The coda of a symphony is the final section that summarizes and concludes the piece of music. While a distinct musical section, it highlights earlier musical themes and refrains, pulling them together into a fitting finale for the entire symphony.
The analogy of a coda helps us to understand our passage for today. It continues to expand on the description of the heavenly city, the bride of Christ (see Rev. 21:9). And then it seems to repeat information we've already been told in the book. That repetition of themes highlights for us what we remember as the main themes of the entire symphony that is the book of Revelation.

The new information in this description of the city should cause us to reflect on God's creation of the world, especially the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 2). There He had placed the Tree of Life, and a river running through the Garden. Now, in John's account of the new creation of heaven and earth we again see God's life-giving gifts, yet this time without any curse or Fall (vv. 1-3).

Next comes the repeated description of fellowship with God. We should be clear that eternity is not about freedom from pain and being surrounded by gold and gems. It is about communion with God that is face to face! Truly, can we even imagine what this fellowship will be like? The beauty and joy will also be real, but those things flow from our presence with God; they are the results of our communion with God, not the cause of our eternal bliss.

This section ends with a warning, one repeated from earlier in the book. As John beheld this vision, he fell down in worship-but at the feet of the angel (see Rev. 19:10). The angel reminded him that worship is not to be directed toward fellow servants, but only toward God. In this closing coda, a theme was issued as an imperative: "Worship God!"

The angel also repeated a warning and motivation here. Those who persisted in evil would find that God's promise equals judgment. Those who persisted in righteous worship would find that God's promise equals eternal life with Him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As a way of creating your own coda for our study this month, reflect back through the book of Revelation and record in a notebook or your spiritual journal the themes, messages, and promises that especially spoke to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform your study of His Word into renewed motivation to worship and praise God in your faithful life, your testimony of His protection, your witness of His salvation, your offering of praise, and your prayers. "Worship God!"

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

December 31, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Yesterday
You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard -Isaiah 52:12

Security from Yesterday. ". . . God requires an account of what is past" (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God's grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday's sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.

Security for Tomorrow. ". . . the Lord will go before you . . . ." This is a gracious revelation- that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our "rear guard." And God's hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

Security for Today. "You shall not go out with haste . . . ." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

It Might Be Today

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

I want to direct our thoughts to verses 19-20 today.

Sometimes it is easy for people to think they have many years left. But that is a foolish perspective. We need to live like we will meet with the Lord tonight.

That doesn't mean you don't work towards the future; it doesn't mean you don't save. In fact, the Bible says a righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children's children.

But we need to live in such a way that we will not be ashamed because we have left all sorts of unused and undesignated funds sitting in the bank that are not going to do anybody any good.

Someday we will have to stand before Jesus and give an account for all of our stuff. And that may be sooner than later!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Revelation 22:12-21
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" - Revelation 22:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
When a child hears, "Just wait until your father gets home!", is he filled with eager anticipation or heavy dread? The answer depends on two factors: Is the father a good and just man, or a capricious and manipulative man? And is the child looking forward to a reward or treat, or expecting a penalty or punishment?
As worshipers of God, we know that our Father is good-He is holy, true, faithful, loving, and almighty. And if we are maintaining our faithful confession of praise, then we should await the return of Jesus with eager anticipation. Soon! Soon all the promises of God will be fulfilled and we will experience full communion with Him!

Jesus directly addressed His people in this passage, which concludes the book with a call-and-response between the Lamb and the bride. This final section also emphasizes themes from the first chapter of Revelation. First, Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming soon!" Everyone will be rewarded, unbelievers with judgment and worshipers with eternal life. Jesus identified Himself as God-He is the Alpha and the Omega (v. 13; see Rev. 1:8; 21:6).

In response to Jesus' announcement of His imminent coming, the Spirit and the bride responded, "Come!" The bride, the redeemed, sanctified, purified people of God, long to see Jesus "coming with the clouds" (1:7). The invitation is extended to any who longed to have their thirst quenched by the Living Water (see John 4). This gift is free! But it is not cheap. To emphasize that, John warned those who would manipulate this word in any way. You cannot approach the free gift of living water and eternal life and still cling to your habits of deception. In fact, this would reveal the truth about a heart that rejects worship, and the penalty will be sure (vv. 18-19).

On the basis of His authority as the Faithful and True Word, Jesus again called: "Yes, I am coming soon." And God's people again responded, "Amen. Come, LORD Jesus" (v. 20; see 1 Cor. 16:22). Our worship should always shape us to long for the coming of our Savior, the worthy Lamb, Jesus Christ.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Worship has theological significance in Revelation. That is, it is not just something we do, but it shapes who we are. Worship forces us to abandon the idol of our own dominion and power. Worship prepares us for fellowship with God. Worship identifies us as the people of God who long to see Him face to face. Tomorrow marks the first day of a new year. As you transition from 2010 into 2011, spend time in praise and worship, responding to the Lord: "Amen. Come, LORD Jesus!"

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Happy New Year from KGHY
Daily Devotional

January 01, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Let Us Keep to the Point
". . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death" -Philippians 1:20

My Utmost for His Highest. ". . . my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed . . . ." We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It's as if Paul were saying, "My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest- my best for His glory." To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn't know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point- He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only- my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.

My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. "Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!" (see Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God's will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God's gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide- for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.

It Might Be Today

Over the last few devotionals, we have been looking at Luke 12. Today I want you to read verses 16-21, which will be the basis for our next few days of devotionals,

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

I want to direct our thoughts to verses 19-20 today.

Sometimes it is easy for people to think they have many years left. But that is a foolish perspective. We need to live like we will meet with the Lord tonight.

That doesn't mean you don't work towards the future; it doesn't mean you don't save. In fact, the Bible says a righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children's children.

But we need to live in such a way that we will not be ashamed because we have left all sorts of unused and undesignated funds sitting in the bank that are not going to do anybody any good.

Someday we will have to stand before Jesus and give an account for all of our stuff. And that may be sooner than later!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Luke 12:32-34
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
Have you heard the news? The American economic recession is over, at least according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). The NBER pegged the recession as having lasted from December 2007 to June 2009-at eighteen months, the longest recession since World War II. Though the worst is supposedly over, the economy is still in the process of recovery, as many of us know all too well. The NBER looks at national-level numbers, not the personal costs of lost jobs, shrunken retirement savings, and "underwater" home mortgages (in which the value of a home has decreased to less than the amount still owed on the loan).
Given the still-weak state of the economy and the difficult financial situations of many Americans, this month's devotional topic of Money & Godliness is particularly timely. In the coming days and weeks we'll dig into Scripture to learn how and why we are to handle our money. The Bible is not a textbook on finances or business, but it does have a good deal to say about money-related topics, including proper priorities (with regard to money), stewardship, wealth, simplicity, and giving.

The most important principle for handling our financial resources in a godly way is to walk in faith in this area of our life no less than in every other area. Worry sometimes dominates our thinking about money. Will we have enough to pay the bills? Will we have enough to retire? But Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, little flock" (v. 32), a reminder that He is our Good Shepherd. The same God who has given us His kingdom can take care of our present needs! If we trust in Him, we have the freedom to be extravagantly generous and to use our temporal resources to store up eternal rewards (v. 33).

The attractions of wealth can be a powerful temptation to serve another master, but we should see money as another tool with many potential purposes (see Matt. 6:19-24). Our hearts need to treasure that which is truly a treasure-not money or material goods, but Christ and His kingdom (v. 34).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you anxious about your financial situation? Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, remembering Paul's words, "My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). The Lord has already given us a treasure that won't decay, can't be lost, and is incalculably more valuable than the largest earthly fortune. There's no reason to stay up nights worrying fearfully about the future. As the song says, "He's got the whole world in His hands."

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 02, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Will You Go Out Without Knowing?
He went out, not knowing where he was going -Hebrews 11:8

Have you ever "gone out" in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, "What do you expect to do?"You don't know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don't know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to "go out," building your confidence in God. ". . . do not worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . ." (Luke 12:22). In other words, don't worry about the things that concerned you before you did "go out."

Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do- He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you "go out" in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?

Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to "go out" in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to "go out" through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.

The Seduction of Covetousness

Luke 12:15, says, And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

Jesus begins His teaching regarding prosperity in this passage by saying, "Beware of covetousness." In our society, even in the Church, there are a lot of people whose lives are tied up in "things." The focus of their life is their stuff, and doing whatever they can to acquire even more things.

It is what the Bible calls covetousness.

I want to ask you today, is your heart filled with covetousness? Do you find yourself thinking, "I know the missing ingredient in my life, I just need a little more. If I could just get a little more, I would be happy. If I could just build a bigger house and fill it with a little more stuff...if I could get a nicer car...if I could upgrade...then I would be happy, and then I would be successful."?

A little more, a little more, a little more.

The problem is, however, that desire for more never stops. In fact, as we will see in our next devotional, God called a man a fool because he never realized that riches are only temporary.

If you find your life driven by the need for more things, if you are consumed with stuff, if you define your success by what you have (or do not have), then you have been seduced by covetousness, and you will never find the happiness you are looking for.

Do not be a fool seeking after things. Instead, make the passion of your life seeking after God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read: Proverbs 2:1-11
The LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. - Proverbs 2:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2007, rare coin dealer John Feigenbaum flew coast-to-coast with a special dime in his pocket. He didn't eat and he didn't sleep; he was nervous. He bought an economy-class ticket and dressed to be inconspicuous. After his flight landed in New York, he had to kill time in a Starbucks, waiting for a bank to open. Finally it did, and Feigenbaum breathed a sigh of relief. The dime Feigenbaum was delivering to a buyer was worth $1.9 million. It's called an 1894-S dime-only 24 were known to have been minted, and only nine are still known to exist. That's one expensive 10-cent coin!
The Bible, though, keeps matters in perspective: The financial value of such treasures pales in comparison to wisdom. It is "more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her" (Prov. 8:11).

Today's reading is basically a long conditional statement, that is, an if/then statement. If we search after wisdom, then God

will give it to us. The search for wisdom is described as a whole-person, holding-nothing-back, all-out endeavor (vv. 1-4). It involves listening, obeying, diligence, and passion. One must understand the value of wisdom in order to "search for it as for hidden treasure" (v. 4).

The key truth undergirding this quest is that God is the source and giver of wisdom (vv. 5-8). That's why wisdom is described here and elsewhere as "the fear of the LORD." Even while suffering, Job grasped this truth. Men dig gold and silver mines and find precious gems deep in the earth, but they cannot find wisdom. "God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells" (Job 28:23). When God gives wisdom to those who pursue and call out for it, there are many positive and pleasurable results, including moral understanding and discretion (vv. 9-11). Wisdom, though, is not simply a means to an end-it is a relationship with the Giver, with Wisdom Himself. And that is something that money just can't buy!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage gives us many reasons to put our trust in God rather than money. Not only is the Lord the giver of wisdom and the source of all knowledge and understanding, He also gives victory to the upright, is a shield to the blameless, guards the path of the just, and protects the way of the faithful (vv. 6-8). Trusting in Him is the very definition of wisdom, and putting our trust in anything else the very definition of foolishness!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 03, 2011
 
Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Clouds and Darkness
Clouds and darkness surround Him . . . -Psalm 97:2


A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. But when he is baptized by the Holy Spirit, he finds that "clouds and darkness surround Him . . . ." When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet- getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God- it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable "darkness" of realizing who He is.

Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). Once, the Bible was just so many words to us - "clouds and darkness"- then, suddenly, the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us when our circumstances make the words new. That is the way God speaks to us; not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God, it is by the most simple way- words.

Prosperity

In Luke 12, Jesus has some very direct and clear teaching on prosperity. For instance, take a look at Luke 12:13-15,

Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

It's easy to read these verses and believe that God is against prosperity. But if you look at what I call the Genesis Principle, I think you can see that prosperity is God's will.

When God created man, He gave him abundance. You can't read the story in the Garden of Eden and think that Adam lacked for anything. And God's plan, His idea, His heart for humanity has never changed.

But God did not give Adam all that abundance so that the abundance itself would be the focus of his life. His focus was to be his relationship with the Father as they walked and talked in the garden. His life did not consist in the abundance of things, but in his relationship to his Creator.

So what is abundance? Abundance, or prosperity, is having all that you need to meet any circumstance, with enough left over to give wherever God might direct you.

Jesus certainly is not against prosperity. In fact, prosperity is what I believe is God's will for all of His children. I don't think God wants any of His kids to be in poverty. Poverty is not a virtue unless you choose it for some reason.

God wants you to be prosperous, but there are some principles to properly understand prosperity, which we will discover in the next few devotionals.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read: Revelation 18:4-20
In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin! - Revelation 18:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
The prophet Ezekiel brought an oracle of judgment against the cities of Tyre and Sidon (Ezekiel 26-28). These were important cities in the kingdom of Phoenicia (modern Lebanon), an economically prosperous country to the north of Israel. The Phoenicians had become wealthy by trading throughout the known world, using their impressive fleet of ships to carry goods and earning a healthy profit. The financial success wasn't inherently the problem, but their riches had led to pride and disrespect for the Lord. They pursued worldly pleasures and made arrogant business plans to get even richer. The Phoenicians trusted in their wealth and success, but God condemned them for their sinfulness.
As today's reading shows, material prosperity can be a barrier to godliness and righteousness. From God's point of view, righteousness is far more valuable than wealth. This is another foundational principle or perspective that must guide how we handle money as followers of Christ. In John's apocalyptic vision, "Babylon" is a rich and powerful city that opposes God and that's why is doomed to fall. "Her sins are piled up to heaven" (v. 5) and include pride, self-indulgence, and injustice. Wealth is one factor behind these sins. Though Babylon reveled in its own glory and luxury, and believed it was secure because of its power and prosperity, it would be repaid by the mighty Judge with grief and pain (vv. 7-8).

Verses 9 through 20 are modeled on the lament for Tyre (Phoenicia) in Ezekiel 27. In both cases, the destruction is sudden, complete, terrifying, and just. The mourners include those who had profited by the system-the powerful (kings), the rich (merchants), and the opportunistic (sailors). But the system was rotten to the core-the kings had "committed adultery" by reveling in Babylon's luxury (v. 9), the merchants had slave-traded in the "bodies and souls of men" (v. 13), and the sailors had been involved in all this as well. They recognized the justice of the city's ruin (v. 20). Those who trust in God and pursue righteousness must heed the call: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins" (v. 4).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like Jesus' disciples (Mark 10:23-26), we, too, can fall into the trap of interpreting material wealth as God's blessing. Many sinful people achieve financial success and prosperity, but it's no sign of favor with God! His blessing and provision may come in material forms, but we should consider more important factors, like wisdom and righteousness, as evidence of God's work.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 04, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Why Can I Not Follow You Now?
Peter said to Him, 'Lord, why can I not follow You now?' -John 13:37

There are times when you can't understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings a time of waiting, and appears to be unresponsive, don't fill it with busyness, just wait. The time of waiting may come to teach you the meaning of sanctification- to be set apart from sin and made holy- or it may come after the process of sanctification has begun to teach you what service means. Never run before God gives you His direction. If you have the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt- wait.

At first you may see clearly what God's will is- the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God's will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God's timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.

Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. "I will lay down my life for Your sake." Peter's statement was honest but ignorant. "Jesus answered him, ' . . . the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times' " (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him.

Giving When No One Sees

Matthew 6:1-4 gives some important insight into giving,

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.  Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."

Jesus points us to a truth that is vital to us as Christians:  Giving is an issue of the heart.

God will not honor your giving if, when you give, your heart is saying, "I want everyone to know what I'm doing.  I want to be noticed when I give.  I want everyone to know just how generous and kind I am and what a benevolent heart I have."

We should give with a pure motive.  When we give with the right motive, not to be seen by men but out of a right heart, God will reward us openly.  That may not exactly translate into dollars and cents, but it will translate into tangible blessings, things that people can see.

If nobody else knows you kicked in the extra hundred bucks, don't worry about it.  God sees, and He has a way of rewarding you openly.  Everyone will recognize the hand of God is on you.  God's blessings will come into your life.

So when you give, check your heart to make sure you are giving with the right motive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read: Genesis 13
He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. - Hebrews 11:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
As a huge crowd gathered outside a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, New York, on Black Friday in 2008, the mood was ugly. People had come for holiday bargains, but it seemed they would have to struggle to get what they wanted. They shoved forward, the glass doors shattered, and a mob of desperate shoppers rushed into the store. In the process, they trampled worker Jdimytai Damour to death, despite the best efforts of his co-workers and emergency personnel to rescue him. When an announcement was made that a person had been killed and the store would have to be cleared, people protested that they had been waiting a long time and deserved to keep shopping!
Greed is ugly and has tragic results, as Lot's choice in today's reading also demonstrates. Abram and his nephew had both become quite wealthy, creating a practical need to move to separate lands in order to sustain their large flocks and herds. As a peacemaker, Abraham initiated the conversation. Though it was countercultural to defer to the younger man, he gave Lot first choice because he wasn't anxious about the future (v. 9). When our eyes are fixed on the Lord, circumstances and others' actions don't seem so threatening. God is the one in control, our true "insurance policy." Abram kept his word even when Lot chose greedily and selfishly, picking the best for himself-the thriving Jordan Valley would surely provide opportunities to increase his wealth. Lot showed no concern about either the well being of Abram or his own spiritual well being when he chose the sinfulness of Sodom.

As the book of Heb-rews confirms, Abraham's wealth was not the result of a self-centered plan, as was Lot's. It was because he lived by faith (11:8-10). People are more likely to prosper in familiar places, but trusting in God's promise, Abraham journeyed to an unknown land. People are more likely to prosper in cities than as nomadic tent-dwellers, but Abraham was content to live without a permanent home. In all situations, he continued to worship (vv. 3-4, 18). As today's verse shows, he chose God's promises as the best investment for his life (vv. 14-17).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Does the story of Lot mean we should never choose anything to our financial advantage? Not at all-it means that we should test all financial decisions by the rule of faith. Are we choosing something out of greed or self-centered opportunism? Are we putting hope in the material and the temporal? Discerning what is wise or prudent, as opposed to what is selfish or self-indulgent, is not always easy. But for faith-filled worshipers of God this is one of the daily responsibilities.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

January 05, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

The Life of Power to Follow
Jesus answered him, 'Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward' -John 13:36

"And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me' " (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, "Follow Me" (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first "Follow Me" was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).

Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. ". . . He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit' " (John 20:22). No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.

All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to "receive the Holy Spirit." "Receive the Holy Spirit "- the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.

What Has You?

In Mark 10:17-22, this is what we read,

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"  So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is, God.  You know the commandments:  'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"  And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth."  Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack:  Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."  But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.


This is an interesting passage, isn't it?!  I think verse 22 could probably be read as "great possessions had him," and we wouldn't do too much damage to the text.  Possessions possessed him, and he went away from his conversation with Jesus sorrowful.


When Jesus met this guy, He was able to cut right to the heart issue, what controlled his life.  Verse 21 could be paraphrased, "Okay, you really want it?  Here's your roadblock, baby."  It was the guy's attitude toward his stuff. 


This man loved possessions, wealth, and the things of this life more than he loved Jesus.


Where are you today, my friend?  Have you allowed our world to con you into believing that you should base your life on the stuff you accumulate?  Or do you love God the most?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: James 4:13-17
If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. - James 4:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
A single mother named Kelly was preparing to head out to the laundromat when a friend stopped by. She had no money, she said, and her kids had no clean clothes. Could she borrow some laundry money? What should Kelly do? If she loaned her friend the money, she herself would be broke. Nonetheless, trusting God to provide, she gave her friend what she had. Later that afternoon, the phone rang. "Do you know anyone who could use a free washer and dryer?" her pastor asked. He had been praying and her name had come to mind. "I sure do!" she answered. "Me!" God had provided above and beyond-not just laundry money but a washer and dryer!
Kelly submitted her finances and plans to God's will, and He richly blessed her for it. Being a good steward means that we don't have to obsessively try to control every detail or make plans for every contingency. Kelly, like Abram in yesterday's reading, kept her eyes on the Lord and followed His call to be generous. When our plans are submitted to God's will, the topic of today's reading, we acknowledge and depend upon Him as the Provider who cares for us.

James used business people's plans as his example (v. 13). The point here is not that we shouldn't make plans-the point is not to have faith in those plans, and by extension our own brilliant strategy or competent execution. Nothing is certain except that God is in control. To be frank, we don't even know what tomorrow will bring (v. 14). Our knowledge is limited, our lives are but a vapor (cf. Ps. 90:10), and many factors could disrupt our plans.

We should plan for the future with a humble spirit-our finiteness makes speaking with certainty a prideful thing to do. To talk as if a plan has already come to pass is empty bragging (v. 16). Perhaps the business people were previously unaware of the sinfulness of this attitude, but now that James had taught them they had to change (v. 17). For all of us, the bottom line is that all our plans should be made in submission to God's will (v. 15).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we've seen, wisdom and faith must go hand in hand in financial matters, just as in every other area of the Christian life. Wisdom or intelligence without faith turns all too quickly into pride or selfishness. Faith or confidence without wisdom turns all too quickly into foolishness or irresponsibility. How we deal with our financial resources can very easily fall into these twin traps. We can steer between them by making sure our plans and actions are done in submission to the Lord.

GOD BLESS!