Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

February 09, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Are You Exhausted Spiritually?
The everlasting God . . . neither faints nor is weary -Isaiah 40:28


Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," but He gave him nothing with which to feed them (John 21:17). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people's souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely- to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.

Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I am so exhausted." He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. "All my springs are in you" (Psalm 87:7).

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For Just a Little While

Today's Scripture will start with the very last word of 1 Peter 1:4, just so you know who it is talking about, and go through verse 7,

...you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Notice in verse 6 it says, Though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. That phrase "a little while" literally means a season. The King James Version says, Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.
 
I like the phrase "a little while". That tells me the season is going to end. It is not forever. Every season ends. Winter ends. Spring ends. Summer ends. Fall ends. Every season has a beginning, and every season has an end.

If you are in a trial right now and feeling the weight of it, you are grieved because of it, I have good news. It will not be forever. Things are going to change. It may not seem like it, but that season will come to an end.

Even if you are not experiencing a trial today, I am confident you have gone through such a season, and it is likely that you will probably experience such a season again.

When you do, or if you are today, be encouraged. God's Word wants you-and me-to remember it is for just a little while.

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Read: Hebrews 5:1-10
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered. - Hebrews 5:8

TODAY IN THE WORD
A new generation of American socialites, sometimes dubbed "celebutantes," has achieved fame for their narcissistic antics. They flaunt their families' riches and publicize their wild, spoiled lifestyles. One such starlet, whose net worth is estimated at over $45 million, epitomized the trend with this quote: "The only rule is don't be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in."
Inheriting a position of wealth, rank, or influence doesn't mean much without honor, responsibility, and meaningful achievements of one's own. Jesus, the Son of God, didn't simply inherit the role of high priest through a sense of entitlement or a grand coronation. Jesus was heard by the Father due to His "reverent submission" (v. 7). How is it that the Son of God had to learn obedience? Because the highest royalty in the universe took on humility for our sakes.

A student of the law might question Jesus' qualifications to be a priest since He was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. But Jesus didn't cut corners to gain that title. He was a priest in the order of Melchizedek, a distinction we'll explore in further detail later. For now we'll focus on the fact that He was appointed by God to the position. Therefore, there's no question that Jesus can relate to the people He represents.

Verse 9 states that Jesus was made perfect, which is not to say He was ever imperfect. Through His sufferings, Jesus was made complete as the perfect high priest who, like other priests, could relate to our sufferings and struggles as humans. But unlike other priests, Jesus had no sins of His own to confess. Thus, He is not merely a go-between who confesses our sins on our behalf; instead, He is the true source of our salvation (v. 9).

This passage is encouraging because it emphasizes not only the high qualifications of Christ but also the humble way He ascended to that position. As the Son of God, He had nothing to prove. But as one of us, He knows just what we're going through.

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APPLY THE WORD
It has become fashionable in recent years to speculate about what it would have been like to be Jesus, with an increased fascination on the details of Christ's humanity. Ironically, Jesus doesn't have to wonder at all what it's like to be us. He can sympathize completely with our struggles, and He assumed that position by choice. Rejoice today in the knowledge that Jesus relates to your pain. It should make obeying His Word that much easier to know His demands are never unreasonable.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 10, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?
 
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . . -Isaiah 40:26


The people of God in Isaiah's time had blinded their minds' ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.

The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don't look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.

One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
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Keep Trusting

In the passage we looked at yesterday, Peter encouraged us to see the trials we face as temporary, something that only lasts for a while. I want you to read that passage again today, and then I want to point your attention to another truth that is vital to enduring through whatever trial you may be facing.

It says in 1 Peter 1:5-7,

Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

One of the critical things you and I need to do when faced with trials is continue to trust God in the midst of those trials.

No matter how difficult, do not unplug your faith, even when things get rough. Keep trusting God and His promises. Why? Well, look at what verse 5 says: We are "kept by the power of God through faith."

When you keep your faith plugged in, you are then kept by God's power.

That word keep means to preserve. It means to protect, to guard. It is used elsewhere in Scripture of a garrison of soldiers protecting something. When you are going through a trial, God will protect you through His power when you trust Him.

That word power is the same word in the Bible translated miracle. I take it to mean this: When you or I are in a season of trial, if God has to work a miracle to keep us and protect us, He will do it.

Whatever your trial...keep trusting.
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Read: Hebrews 5:11-6:12
The Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. - Ephesians 4:30

TODAY IN THE WORD
The eternal security of the believer is an important theological tenet of our faith. This doctrine teaches that our salvation comes from God and therefore cannot be removed or lost. Once we place our faith in Christ, it is secure (see John 6:37; 10:27-29; Rom. 8:35-39; Eph. 1:13-14). Some have read our passage for today and wondered whether this text undermines the doctrine of eternal security. Does Hebrews contradict the teaching of "once saved, always saved"?
Obviously, understanding this subject requires more than the span of one day's devotional study, but it will help to look at Hebrews 6:4-8 within the context of the whole passage and the message of Hebrews as a whole. Prior to today's passage, the author was explaining the essential points of Jesus' qualifications as high priest-an important, yet largely new, line of thinking for many readers of this letter. Beginning in 5:11, though, the writer expressed frustration with the fact that many of these believers had abandoned the discipline of growing in their knowledge of Christ.

In fact, they had yet to fully grasp foundational, elementary concepts such as repentance, faith, baptism, and eternal destiny (6:2). But, beginning with the phrase, "It is impossible," the stern warning that concludes in 6:8 takes the argument one step further. Those who mock Christ and dismiss His gift after tasting the goodness of His Word and experiencing the powerful influence of His Spirit reveal their true spiritual condition through their actions. They have mocked Christ with their dismissal of His gift. They have produced no fruit, so why should we expect anything else (v. ?

The writer of Hebrews expected his readers to have progressed in their understanding and obedience, not teetering on the edge of doing right or doing wrong. They should be growing in their knowledge of Jesus, flourishing in good works, and working diligently to live out their faith with every day of their lives. The Christian life isn't a matter of obeying the rules. We are expected to grow, to study diligently, and to actively inherit our salvation.
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APPLY THE WORD
Our works can never save us-but our saving faith will produce works. Yet we all know someone who has fallen away from the faith. The word that stings our hearts is impossible. Is it really impossible for a fallen brother or sister to return to repentance? The words of Christ tell us: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 9:26). God is full of grace and mercy, but that should encourage us to love and serve Him, not test His forbearance.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 11, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Is Your Mind Stayed on God?

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You -Isaiah 26:3

Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant's life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22).

Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . ." (2 Corinthians 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.

"We have sinned with our fathers . . . [and] . . . did not remember . . ." (Psalm 106:6-7). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don't say to yourself, "But God is not talking to me right now." He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.

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Keep Laughing

I want to head back to 1 Peter 1:5-7 again today. Something tells me we could all continue to use the encouragement of Peter's words, especially the advice I want you to focus on today. 1 Peter 1:5-7,

Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Regardless of what you may be going through today, you need to rejoice. Peter says in verse 6, In this you greatly rejoice, even if for a season you are experiencing various trials.

Friend, keep your sense of humor. It will help you outlast your trials.

I read a story once about a guy parachuting when the wind blew him onto a track where they were racing cars...not a good place to land in a parachute. He was trying to get his parachute off when another gust of wind came and started dragging him face first down the track.

He finally got the parachute off and stood up only to see a car racing towards him. He quickly jumped out of the way and said to himself, "Man, I'm glad that's over!" and turned to get off the track. As he did, he stepped in a hole and twisted his ankle.

That was just too much! Even in his pain, he just started laughing!

Keep your sense of humor. Even if you are going through the roughest patch you have ever been through.

Do not let your trials rob you of your joy.

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Read: Hebrews 6:13-20
I swear by myself, declares the LORD . . . I will surely bless you. - Genesis 22:16-17

TODAY IN THE WORD
The complete details are secret, but the rigorous security protecting the vault at Fort Knox is known worldwide. The walls of the vault are lined with granite. A 22-ton blast door protects the entrance. The combination to enter the vault has to be entered separately by ten different individuals who alone know their part of the code. In addition to the expected cameras, alarms, and guards, the Bullion Depository is rumored to boast lavish security measures such as attack helicopters, mines, automated machine guns, and a flooding system designed to drown any intruder.
Anyone looking for a loophole in God's promise of salvation to His people will have more success trying to infiltrate Fort Knox. God's Word on its own is unchangeable and sure, but to add an extravagant layer of security for our comfort, He sealed His promise with an oath sworn on the highest name possible: His own. By His Word and by His name-two things absolutely guaranteed to be true-God confirmed that a great nation would come from Abraham (v. 18).

Take note: even though there is no one higher than God, He found it suitable to relate to Abraham and to us using a humanly understood authentication of His promise. He didn't need to. The promise itself was sufficient. He did so to help us understand more clearly just how invariable His salvation would be (v. 17). He did this after Abraham verified his faith beyond dispute through his willingness to sacrifice his own son (Genesis 22). Was Abraham's faith born out in works? Yes. Were his works the reason for his assurance? Not at all. Abraham may have waited patiently (v. 15), but we know he didn't wait perfectly. It was the Word and name of God that assured him.

What an inspiring assurance after the warning in yesterday's passage! To prevent anyone from falling prey to the belief that our salvation is based on works, the author of Hebrews reminded us of the true anchor firmly holding our souls secure. It is our hope in Christ, who is already enjoying the rest of resurrection and communion on high with the Father in His sanctuary.

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APPLY THE WORD
The doubly guaranteed promise of God should provide incomparable assurance in our hearts. How can we let doubt creep in when God has given us such an ironclad covenant? He didn't swear by Himself for His own good but for ours. Let the truth of His Word and His name cast all doubt from your mind. Spend at least a few minutes quietly savoring the hope we have in Him. Or sing aloud a hymn such as "Blessed Assurance," and praise your Savior all day long!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 12, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Are You Listening to God?
They said to Moses, 'You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die' `-Exodus 20:19


We don't consciously and deliberately disobey God- we simply don't listen to Him. God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them- not because of willful disobedience, but because we do not truly love and respect Him. "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Once we realize we have constantly been showing disrespect to God, we will be filled with shame and humiliation for ignoring Him.

"You speak with us, . . . but let not God speak with us . . . ." We show how little love we have for God by preferring to listen to His servants rather than to Him. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we don't want God Himself to speak to us. Why are we so terrified for God to speak to us? It is because we know that when God speaks we must either do what He asks or tell Him we will not obey. But if it is simply one of God's servants speaking to us, we feel obedience is optional, not imperative. We respond by saying, "Well, that's only your own idea, even though I don't deny that what you said is probably God's truth."

Am I constantly humiliating God by ignoring Him, while He lovingly continues to treat me as His child? Once I finally do hear Him, the humiliation I have heaped on Him returns to me. My response then becomes, "Lord, why was I so insensitive and obstinate?" This is always the result once we hear God. But our real delight in finally hearing Him is tempered with the shame we feel for having taken so long to do so.
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Stop the Worry



Over the last few devotionals, we have been talking about trials and how we should respond. Today I have a simple but important word for you directly from God's Word: Don't worry.

1 Peter 5:6-7 tells us,

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Jesus said, "Don't take an anxious thought for tomorrow. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." When we worry about tomorrow, we pull tomorrow's clouds over today's sunshine.

I have shared many times in my ministry about the incredible truth of Jesus' command, "Do not worry about tomorrow." It is like we have this 24-hour fuse. We are wired up to deal with the stresses of life one day at a time.

If you worry about tomorrow today, you are putting a 48-hour load on a 24-hour fuse, and something is going to give somewhere.

Some people don't just worry about tomorrow, they worry about next week and next month. No wonder the fuse is blowing!

You see, what the mind cannot contain, it will impose upon the body. If your health is breaking down, worry may just be the problem. The Bible says to cast all of your care, the whole of your care, all your anxieties, on Him, once and for all.

Roll your burden on the Lord. The Bible says be anxious for nothing. And that means nothing. Do not worry about your children, do not worry about your money, do not worry about your future, do not worry about anything.

Your Heavenly Father does care for you, and it is His good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
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Read: Hebrews 7:1-10
Melchizedek king of Salem . . . was priest of God Most High. - Genesis 14:18

TODAY IN THE WORD
"Father Abraham" is a children's song rehearsed in Sunday schools for generations. The implicit message, one adopted by many believers even without singing the song or conducting the motions, is that Abraham is the father of faith in the one true God. We tend to assume that when Abraham was called by God, he represented the lone pillar of faith in the world, and all believers are spiritual descendants from Abraham and his decision to follow God.
But the biblical account in both our reading today and in Genesis 14 offers interesting additional information. After Abram valiantly rescued Lot, he was greeted by Melchizedek, who was a leader without genealogy (v. 3 in today's reading). He was both king and priest, and he was a righteous and obedient servant of God. We aren't provided with many details about Melchizedek, but clearly he is important for us to understand the nature of Jesus' priesthood and our faith.

If we were tempted to think that all faith in the history of creation springs from Abraham, we would be sorely mistaken. Abraham is a spiritual father, to be sure. But he is not the author of faith. In fact, he recognized the authority of Melchizedek above his own and paid a tithe to him accordingly (v. 4). Melchizedek provides evidence against anyone who would object to Christ's qualifications as high priest on the basis of His tribal lineage. While Jesus is not his physical descendant, he is a priest of that order or of that nature, independent of (and, the author argued, even superior to) the Levitical line from which Hebrew priests were selected (v. 9).

One last quality about Melchizedek relates very closely to the nature of Christ: the meaning of his name. His name and title meant king of righteousness and king of peace (v. 2). How fitting that such an affiliation would be bestowed on Jesus Christ, the source of our righteousness and the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). It also helps convey that Christ's priesthood was not a hostile takeover but the ultimate phase of an established, superior priesthood.

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APPLY THE WORD
If your view of Christian faith has become confined to only the people like you, perhaps it's time to look for how God is working in other places. You could read a biography of a Christian from another denomination, or read some testimonies of believers in other parts of the world. The point of this exercise is not to identify theological variances, but to be encouraged by how God calls, equips, and preserves His people in all times and all places in the world.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 13, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

The Devotion of Hearing
Samuel answered, 'Speak, for Your servant hears' -1 Samuel 3:10

Just because I have listened carefully and intently to one thing from God does not mean that I will listen to everything He says. I show God my lack of love and respect for Him by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. If I love my friend, I will instinctively understand what he wants. And Jesus said, "You are My friends . . ." (John 15:14). Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord's this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed it. But most of us show incredible disrespect to God because we don't even hear Him. He might as well never have spoken to us.

The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me (see John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God's message to me. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don't want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions. God may say whatever He wants, but I just don't hear Him. The attitude of a child of God should always be, "Speak, for Your servant hears." If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God's voice at certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things- things which I think I must do. This is not living the life of a child of God. Have you heard God's voice today?
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Your Real Adversary

As we continue to think about the reality of trials in our lives, and the challenge it is to handle those trials, I want to point you to another important teaching about trials in today's devotional.

You need to realize who your adversary is. It is not God; it is the devil. Look at 1 Peter 5:8-9,

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Some of the trials and sufferings that we experience are the direct result of the adversary's work.

Some people want to blame God for everything, but the Bible says it is the thief- the devil-who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give us life and more abundantly.

Peter makes this even clearer in verse 10,

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Our God is the God of grace. The devil is seeking to devour.

Frankly, I hate the middle part of this verse, After you have suffered for a while.... Clearly, God wants us to understand that suffering is going to happen. Trials are going to happen. No matter how much you may say, "I don't receive it!", it is still there! You are going to go through difficult times. It is part of the human experience.

But when you go through that time of trial, remember not to blame God. It is the devil who is your adversary!
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Read: Hebrews 7:11-28
A better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. - Hebrews 7:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
The advent of ultrasound technology revolutionized the medical field of obstetrics. Prior to its advancement in the 1960s (and its popularity boom in the decades that followed), doctors and midwives used techniques that provided a much more limited knowledge of the health and development of unborn children. These ultrasonic images convey a wealth of potentially life-saving information.
In similar fashion, the priesthood in the order of Aaron served its purpose for a time, but it was limited in its effectiveness. Compared to the priesthood of Christ, the function of the Levitical priesthood was helplessly incomplete.

The author made it clear that Jesus did not fit the traditional pattern that Israel expected from a priest. But that was actually a blessing rather than a detriment, because the work of the traditional priest was forever unfinished. The work of Jesus Christ was complete forever (v. 25)! And Christ's qualification as priest was secured with a divine oath (vv. 17, 20; cf. Ps. 110:4). Notice how the author of Hebrews continually used Old Testament passages to verify the authenticity of this New Testament priesthood in Christ.

One chief limitation of any human priest is the one that plagues us all: death (v. 23). That wasn't a problem for Jesus, because He died and rose again before taking His place as priest. Whereas other priests offered a service to people of faith for a time but were constrained by their own mortality, Jesus is able to save us completely even from death because He has already crossed that chasm. He is all that we are not: holy, sinless, set apart, and exalted. Yet He is not detached.

Through Christ, we draw near to God (v. 19)! As Hebrews has established again and again, Jesus Christ relates to us, and in addition, He intercedes for us and brings us close to our Heavenly Father. He bridges a spiritual and natural gap that we could never cross on our own. He also takes us from temporal to eternal-this relationship with God, established through His priesthood, will never end!
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APPLY THE WORD
We can draw near to God. The power of that simple yet profound truth astounds us. We might not fully grasp the eternal process of Christ's priesthood, but the result for our lives is clear. Yet how often do we avail ourselves of the throne of grace to which we can draw near? If the answer to that question isn't "every possible waking moment," we are missing out. We have a permanent connection beyond this fallen world. Rejoice in that and make full use of it today!
 
GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 14, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

The Discipline of Hearing
Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops -Matthew 10:27


Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and God puts us into "the shadow of His hand" until we learn to hear Him (Isaiah 49:2). "Whatever I tell you in the dark. . ."- pay attention when God puts you into darkness, and keep your mouth closed while you are there. Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood- darkness is the time to listen. Don't talk to other people about it; don't read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.

After every time of darkness, we should experience a mixture of delight and humiliation. If there is only delight, I question whether we have really heard God at all. We should experience delight for having heard God speak, but mostly humiliation for having taken so long to hear Him! Then we will exclaim, "How slow I have been to listen and understand what God has been telling me!" And yet God has been saying it for days and even weeks. But once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart- a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now.
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The Path to Maturity

1 Peter 5:10 provides a very critical principle for those times when we are going through trials, a principle that is easy to miss,

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

You need to realize that even though God did not initiate your trouble, He can still use it to work something good in you. What the devil means for evil, God can turn into something good.

Even though the devil's purpose is to destroy you, if you will respond correctly, God can work good things. Notice the verse says after you have suffered a short season, God will perfect. It brings maturity to you.

While we might hate it, how we respond in times of trial makes us who we are-and it fits us to accomplish God's will. I hate some of the things I have gone through! But you know what? I would not be who I am had I not experienced those things. It has fitted me to do the will of God.

And while it may not seem like it, your present difficulty may be instrumental in your future success.

It reminds me of the guy who was shipwrecked on a deserted island. One day he decided to go across the island for food. When he got to the other side he looked back and saw a plume of smoke in the sky. He ran back only to find that his shack burnt to the ground!

It stung him to the core! Except the next morning a ship arrived and rescued him. When he asked the sailors, "How'd you know I was here?" they said, "We saw your smoke signal."

Your present trials just may be fitting you for something you would never expect!
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Read: Hebrews 8:1-13
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. - Hebrews 8:5

TODAY IN THE WORD
In geometry, a circle is defined as the set of all points in a plane that are a set distance from the center. Although we can see drawings of a circle and observe objects that are circular in shape, they aren't true circles. The points that make up a circle are immeasurably small, having no width, height, or depth. A true circle would be imperceptible to the naked eye. What we see are mere representations of an ideal concept.
Like a representative sketch, so too the earthly tabernacle, the sanctuary of the Lord set up by Moses in the wilderness, was an imperfect symbol. The main difference is that, unlike a geometrical ideal, there is a true heavenly original upon which the earthly tabernacle was based. It was neither set up by Moses nor intended for transitory life. The true sanctuary is permanently stationed in heaven.

Today's passage marks the logical conclusion about Christ's status as the perfect high priest with the perfect qualifications, in an established place of service, living in the true tabernacle (vv. 1, 2). For any Jewish believers who may have been wavering between their commitment to their new Savior and the comfortable familiarity of their old traditions, the argument made in chapter 8 would have been quite convincing. The temporary nature of the old covenant was obvious.

The writer was not making a new point. A significant portion of this chapter is in fact yet another quote from the Old Testament (Jer. 31:31-34). The law would no longer be engraved in stone or inscribed on a scroll; God planned to implement a new law and record it in the minds and hearts of His people (v. 10). The prophecy foretold a people who would not only know the Word of God, but one who would know God Himself (v. 11). The means to that end was Jesus Christ. This High Priest, promise, law, covenant, and tabernacle are superior to their earthly manifestations. The temporal was nothing to cling to, but rather a system intended to point to the perfect future ahead. People of faith had no reason to turn back to past traditions. The future in Christ was so much brighter.

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APPLY THE WORD
The imagery and tradition of modern worship may be very different from past Jewish practices, but both are merely foretastes of coming glory. We celebrate the New Covenant, but our hymns and songs are but a preview of eternal praise. Our sermons and teaching preview an eternity with the Word Himself. We are not meant to be complacent with where we are in our spiritual growth-remember your citizenship in heaven and focus on the real home we have yet to enter.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 15, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

"Am I My Brother's Keeper?"
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We "sit together in the heavenly places . . ." (Ephesians 2:6). "If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . ." (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, "Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?" "Our sufficiency is from God . . ." and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
"You shall be witnesses to Me . . ." (Acts 1:. How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone- to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say "thank you" to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him- ". . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27).
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Rich Blessings 

Let me ask you a question.  Do you believe God wants to bless you?  You may say, "Yes," but in your heart do you really believe this to be true?

Take a moment to read Ezekiel 34:26,

"...I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing."
I believe the Bible teaches us that just like there are seasons of trial, there are seasons of exceptional blessing that come from God.  And those seasons of exceptional blessing should not be taken for granted.  We should capitalize on them and seize the momentum when those seasons come.

Don't get me wrong, God is good all the time, and He is good to all.  His tender mercies are over all His works.  He causes His sun to rise on the good and on the evil, and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  The fact of the matter is, God is good even to people who are not good because it is His nature.

However, there are richer, more frequent blessings that come from the hand of God.  And they come to those who do a particular thing.

Tomorrow I want you to look with me in the book of Galatians.  As we look at these verses, we will find that though God is good to all, the richer and more frequent blessings come to those who do a particular thing.  Together we will see what that thing is.

Today, I just want you to grasp the truth that God does want to bless your life in an extraordinary way. 
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Read: Hebrews 9:1-10

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. - Matthew 27:51

TODAY IN THE WORD
The city of St. Petersburg, Russia, has a rich history. For over two centuries, it served as the capital of the Russian Empire, but when the capital relocated to Moscow in 1918, St. Petersburg lost its status as the center of the Russian world. As Czech author and journalist Joseph Wechsberg quipped, "To the Russians [St. Petersburg] is not what Rome is to the Italians or Paris to the French. The decisions are made in the Kremlin. The city of Peter remains a museum, open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M."
Upon the crucifixion of Christ, the role of the temple sanctuary in a life of faith and a relationship with God changed dramatically. What was once of central importance was intended to point to a greater reality about God and His people. Although lost, destroyed, or irretrievably hidden after the Babylonian destruction of the temple in 586 B.C., the contents of the original tabernacle sanctuary had been crucial instruments of worship and atonement for generations of priests. They represented the presence, provision, and protection of God-and yet they were not perfect.

The things the author of Hebrews described in these verses were considered the holiest objects and places of the Jewish faith. Had they been preserved to this day (or were they to be discovered) they would be considered the most valuable archaeological treasures in the world. Even now as we read of the Ark of the Covenant, the gold jar of manna, Aaron's budded staff, and the stone tablets of the covenant, the thought of those artifacts is awe-inspiring. But here the author called it all just an illustration (v. 9), carrying out mere external regulations (v. 10).

The holy objects and rituals, amazing as they were, were not sufficient to clear the conscience or cleanse the stain of sin (v. 9). What's more, everyone was not free to enter the place where the Lord dwelt. When Jesus died, He tore the curtain that separated the entire world from the Most Holy Place and He completed the ceremonial sacrifices. He had no sins of His own to atone for-only the sins of the world.
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APPLY THE WORD
The initial list of qualifications and regulations needed to enter or even draw near to the inner rooms of the tabernacle appear in Leviticus 16. Read through that description and then go back to a verse we focused on earlier this month: Hebrews 4:16. "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence." Rejoice in what the work of Christ has accomplished! Where man could rarely set foot, Jesus has a permanent place. Through Him, so do we.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 16, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

The Inspiration of Spiritual Initiative
Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, "Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard-just do what needs to be done!" That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, "Get up and get going," suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.
We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, "Arise from the dead . . . ." When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to "arise from the dead" and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we "get up and get going." God does not give us overcoming life-He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, "Arise from the dead . . . ," we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch out your hand" (Matthew 12:13). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.
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Sow Good...Reap Blessing 

As I mentioned in yesterday's devotional, God wants to bless your life, and the richer, more frequent blessings come to those who do a particular thing.  We find that thing in Galatians 6:9-10,

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
The seasons of blessing come due more often to those who consistently sow, to those who seize opportunities that are afforded them to do good.  Notice again in verse 9, Let us not grow weary while doing good.  Verse 10 says, Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all.

This same truth is reinforced by verse 7, which states,

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
If we sow good, we will reap good.  A season of blessing will come.

What many Christians tend to do is stand before a field in which they planted no seed, and pray, "God, give me a miracle harvest."

Now, God is God, and He certainly can do things out of the ordinary.  But He also works according to laws and principles that He has set into motion.  One of those laws is the law of sowing and reaping.

Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.  Therefore, do not grow weary while doing good.  In due season, you will reap, if you do not faint.  When you have opportunity, do good.  Get some seed in the ground.

Because the richer and more frequent blessings come to those who sow good. 
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Read: Hebrews 9:11-14
You who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. - Ephesians 2:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
After an explosion sank an off-shore oil rig, The Deepwater Horizon, into the Gulf of Mexico, crews attempted to clean up the nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil using a number of methods. One of the more controversial approaches was the use of an unprecedented amount of a dispersant called Corexit. The blend of chemicals allows the oil to more easily blend with water, preventing it from coating elements of the ecosystem. It doesn't technically remove the oil, but it does clean the surface.
The presentation of the blood of Old Testament sacrifices provided cleansing and purity for the people of God. It provided atonement, and it allowed the high priest to enter the Most Holy Place once every year. But it did not assuage guilt of their sins from their consciences, and it had to be repeated continually.

Jesus did what the high priests before Him could not do: He entered a better tabernacle that was not of this earth (v. 11). A quick translation note: some Bible versions (NIV) translate the phrase in verse 11 as "the good things that are now already here," while others (NASB) render it "the good things that are to come." The reason for the difference stems from a textual variant in the ancient manuscripts, and while most scholars tend to side with the latter translation, the certainty of Christ's complete work is maintained by both wordings. The important point in these verses is that Jesus alone could enter the heavenly Most Holy Place.

He didn't enter only a superior tabernacle as a superior high priest, but also He offered a superior sacrifice. The presentation of His own blood brought eternal redemption that could cleanse us inwardly, spiritually. His sacrifice needed to be made but once. And there's an added level of redemption here. Not only are we protected from the penalty of eternal death caused by sin, but we are also freed from the control of sin and able to serve the living God this very day (v. 14)! Our consciences are clean, and our ability to serve is untarnished!
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APPLY THE WORD
How often do we forget that there is another world beyond what we see with our eyes? Let today's study remind you that our eternal destination is in a better place because Christ offered a better sacrifice to pave a better way. And He did more: He cleansed the invisible stain of sin in our souls when we placed our trust in Him. Find strength for what you face today knowing that all that you need has already been given to you by Christ.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 17, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Taking the Initiative Against Depression
The angel in this passage did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable. He simply told Elijah to do a very ordinary thing, that is, to get up and eat. If we were never depressed, we would not be alive-only material things don't suffer depression. If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for happiness and exaltation. There are things in life that are designed to depress us; for example, things that are associated with death. Whenever you examine yourself, always take into account your capacity for depression.
When the Spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable. Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God's creation. But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things-things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there. The inspiration that comes to us in this way is an initiative against depression. But we must take the first step and do it in the inspiration of God. If, however, we do something simply to overcome our depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone. As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life.
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Real Treasure

Proverbs 15:6 says,

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
Notice that this verse does not just declare there is treasure in the house of the righteous.  It says there is much treasure in the house of the righteous.

You can also find treasure in the house of the wicked, but Solomon says it is laced with trouble.  The income of the wicked has a bunch of trouble with it.

But the same is not true for those who are right with God.  When the treasure is found in their house, it does not have the same trouble that it does when it is found in the house of the wicked.

If you read on, the Lord shares two things that must accompany this treasure if it is going to be enjoyed.  First, you must have a right relationship with God.  Proverbs 15:16says, Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.

It is better to have almost nothing and have a right relationship with God than to have everything money can buy and not have a relationship with God.  We must get our priorities right.

The second thing we need to have is a right relationship with people, lest the treasure become hollow and become a curse.  Proverbs 15:17says, Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.

Some people have more prosperity than they know what to do with, but all of their relationships fail.  They do not have love.  Consequently, there is a vacuum they can never fill with things, that they can never fill by accumulating more possessions.

Pursue your relationship with God, and a right relationship with people.  Then you will enjoy the treasure God gives you! 
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Read: Hebrews 9:15-28
For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. - Isaiah 53:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In legal parlance, a covenant generally stipulates an action or actions that both parties agree to carry out (or refrain from). It is a promise to behave in a certain way. At this point in his letter to the Hebrews, the author points out a peculiar detail of God's covenants, new and old, with His people. In some ways these covenants of promised action take on the function of a last will and testament. They are covenants because both parties live on (for eternity, no less). But the covenant also calls for an inheritance, as in the case of a will-and to enact it, someone has to die.
To make this legal arrangement even more interesting, Jesus is the Testator (the one whose will it is), the Decedent (the one who has died), the Executor of the will (who carries out the provisions), and the Mediator of the covenant (who intercedes on our behalf before the Father). We've already discussed how He is both the high priest and the sacrifice, and at the beginning of the book we learned that the world was created through and is sustained by Christ (1:2, 3). How significant do you feel by comparison?

Somehow, though, in all His glory and authority, the reason Christ mediates this covenant-the reason He offered His own blood as a sacrifice-is so that we could receive our inheritance, which is eternal salvation and relationship with God (v. 15). If Christ's many roles had you feeling small, His sacrifice should make you feel quite special.

Much of today's reading restates what we've already read and puts it into its logical context in the story of our salvation. Jesus, our high priest, entered heaven in a manner that previous high priests could only symbolize on earth. Once and for all, at the culmination of the ages in a realm not bound by time as we know it, Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and eradicated the power of sin (v. 26). From the moment Adam and Eve first sinned, it was mankind's destiny to die once and appear before God to face judgment. Jesus countered by dying once and offering His sacrifice before God in order to accomplish salvation.

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APPLY THE WORD
If we think about it long enough, the greatness of Jesus Christ will make our heads spin. We can't grasp the enormity of His glory in our finite minds, but we can testify to His vital importance with our actions. The Testator, Decedent, Executor, and Mediator of God's covenant ensures your salvation! How can we let our own selfish inklings and material desires get in the way of serving Him? Let us live like people who are waiting eagerly for His return.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

February 18, 2011

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers 

Taking the Initiative Against Despair
Rise, let us be going -Matthew 26:46


In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, "Well, it's all over and ruined now; what's the point in trying anymore." If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, "Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can't change that. But get up, and let's go on to the next thing." In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.

There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing- they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, "Get up, and do the next thing." If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.

Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.
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Overrated

We read in Proverbs 23:4, Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!

First, I want you to notice that this verse does not say don't work.  And it does not say don't work hard.  It says don't overwork.

There are some people in God's family who are not led, they are driven.  They are so focused on reaching their goals and achieving whatever level of success they are going after, that they are making a lot of sacrifices along the way.

But they are making the wrong sacrifices.  They are sacrificing their marriage and they are sacrificing their relationship with their kids.  Why?  Because they overwork.  And, friend, that is not healthy.

In fact, I would say that overworking is as unhealthy as not working.  You miss out on the grand things in life, the important things in life.  With some people, even their relationship with God gets squeezed out because they overwork.

You need to be motivated; you need to work hard; but you don't want to overdo it to the point that you don't have time for your children.  You don't want to work so hard that you don't have time for your spouse.  And you don't want to so overwork that you don't have time for your God. 

You are missing life if you are just after possessions, and you are sacrificing the more important things along the way.

How does your work life measure up today?  Are you overworking at the expense of your marriage, your family, and your relationship with God?  If so, determine today to get your life back in balance.

Overworking is overrated! 

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Read: Hebrews 10:1-18
And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. - Hebrews 10:18

TODAY IN THE WORD
On June 2, 2010, pitcher Armando Galarraga had a perfect game, one of the rarest achievements in baseball. But on the would-be final play at first base, umpire Jim Joyce ruled the runner safe, a call every observer could see was wrong. After the game, Joyce admitted he was wrong and ruefully said: "I just cost that kid a perfect game." The call could not be reversed, but the next day, June 3, the pitcher and umpire met at home plate, and the audience stood in applause in recognition of a different kind of perfection-the kind that comes from forgiveness and restoration.
Human attempts at perfection are almost always doomed from the start. Even a mistake-free performance is subject not only to the mistakes of others but also to the impermanence of the temporal world. What we often consider perfection is just the act of being error-free for a limited time. We can't stave off sin on our own. Animal sacrifices brought ceremonial atonement and purity for a year only. And even after a spotless sacrifice was presented, the guilt of sin remained on the consciences of those who worshiped (v. 2). Even an unblemished sacrifice was still not perfect.

Again, the author of Hebrews used Old Testament messianic prophecies to establish Jesus' standing as a better sacrifice and priest (cf. Ps. 40:6-8; Jer. 31:33-34). He will also bring about a better covenant. Instead of a written law, the earthly copy of God's heavenly realities (v. 1), Christ will usher in a law that is programmed into our very makeup (v. 16). Rather than obeying a list of rules, we will be ruled by the righteousness of Christ within us!

The picture of the future in Christ painted in these last verses is vivid, bright, and promising. All enemies of Christ will be defeated. All believers are made perfect in Him, although our sanctification is a process (v. 14). And perhaps the most miraculous act of all is that the sin we have already committed, which is prevalent and despicable, will be erased from God's consideration (v. 17). We have every reason to be hopeful and motivated to serve in obedience.

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APPLY THE WORD
The reality of our weaknesses and shortcomings can depress and discourage us if we focus on them. But we are, at this very moment, forgiven of our sins! Allow that truth to sink into your heart today. Remember that as you consider those who have wronged you, even those who refuse to apologize. What grounds do any of us have to hold grudges? Soften your heart toward those in the wrong and ask the Spirit to help you forgive, for you have been forgiven much.

GOD BLESS!