Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 2, 2008

Class Participation  READ: Psalm 119:129-136The entrance of Your words gives light. -Psalm 119:130

As a high school teacher and college professor, I have observed that learning is a cooperative effort between the student and the instructor. That's why educators try to get the student involved in class participation. The teacher does some work; the student does some work. Together progress is made. Education happens.

In Psalm 119, the writer suggests a similar pattern in verses 129-136. God is the teacher; we are the students.

Let's look at God's role in our education. He shows us mercy (v.132). He guides our steps (v.133). And He redeems us from outside trouble (v.134).

But first we must be eager students, ready to accept God's teaching, guidance, and help. We should enter His classroom with anticipation: "The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. . . . I longed for Your commandments" (vv.130-131). In our role as students of God's Word, we should fulfill three requirements: (1) examine God's words for what they are teaching, (2) gain understanding from those words, and (3) obey His statutes.

It's time to enter God's classroom and listen and learn from Him. When we do, we'll look at God with renewed love and at the world with renewed concern (v.136).  - Dave Branon

Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine,
And jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths
For every searcher there. -Hodder

Careful meditation on the Scriptures makes for a closer walk with the Savior.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional
By Dr. Bill Bright

Judging the World
"For He has set a day for justly judging the world by the man He has appointed, and has pointed Him out by bringing Him back to life again" (Acts 17:31).

Why does God command men and women to repent? And why does He expect you and me to relay His message to them?

The answer is simple: because "He has set a day for justly judging the world." And if people refuse to be penitent and thus become pardoned, they must be condemned.

"Justly," of course, can be interpreted: "according to the rules of strict justice." And who will do the judging? The man God has appointed - His only Son, Jesus Christ; the one He has pointed out to us clearly by bringing Him back to life again.

Jesus, you will remember, declared that He would judge the nations (John 5:25,26 and Matthew 25). God confirmed the truth of those declarations by raising Him from the dead - giving His sanction to what the Lord Jesus has said, for surely God would not work a miracle on behalf of an imposter.  What comfort and help can you and I receive from these truths today? Surely, this is a reminder that God is still on the throne; He is in control; nothing is going on in the world without His knowledge and consent. Further, we are reminded of God's justice, which assures us that He will always do right in behalf of His children. That falls right in line with Romans 8:28, of course, which concerns all things working together for our good.

Bible Reading: Psalm 9:7-10

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: World turmoil will not upset me, for I know the God who sits on the throne - and who rules over all


Obedience or Independence?

By Oswald Chambers
If you love Me, keep My commandments -John 14:15

Our Lord never insists obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He never forces us to do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit with Him. That is why whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an "If," meaning, "You do not need to do this unless you desire to do so." "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . ." ( Luke 9:23 ). In other words, "To be My disciple, let him give up his right to himself to Me." Our Lord is not talking about our eternal position, but about our being of value to Him in this life here and now. That is why He sounds so stern (see Luke 14:26  ). Never try to make sense from these words by separating them from the One who spoke them.

The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself. Jesus Christ will not force me to obey Him, but I must. And as soon as I obey Him, I fulfill my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God. Then, when I stand face to face with God, I will discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When God's redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces. If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 3, 2008

God's Catalog  READ: John 17:20-26  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. -John 13:35

Tis the season to receive catalogs in the mail. Every trip to the mailbox ends with an armload of slick holiday catalogs. Each one claims to offer me something I need-immediately. "Don't wait!" "Limited offer!" "Order now!"

The lure works. I open the pages to discover what I didn't know I needed. Sure enough, I see things that suddenly seem essential, even though a few minutes earlier I didn't know they existed. Manufacturers use catalog illustrations to create desire for their products.

In a way, Christians are God's catalogs. We are His illustration to the world of what He has to offer. His work in our lives makes us a picture of qualities that people may not know they need or want until they see them at work in us.

Jesus prayed that His followers would be unified so the world would know that God sent Him and loved them as God loved Him (John 17:23). When Christ is alive in us, we become examples of God's love. We can't manufacture love. God is the manufacturer, and we are His workmanship.

As you browse holiday catalogs, consider what the "catalog" of your life says about God. Do people see qualities in you that make them long for God?  - Julie Ackerman Link

What does the world see in us
That they can't live without?
Do they see winsome qualities
And love that reaches out? -Sper

As a Christian, you are "God's advertisement." Do people want what they see in you?

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional
By Dr. Bill Bright

He Welcomes You
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30, KJV).

Several years ago I had the privilege of meeting with a world-famous theologian. This great scholar had denied the deity of Christ and had taught thousands of seminarians who had studied under him that Jesus was only a great man and a great teacher. He was not God incarnate, and surely could not forgive sin and provide rest to His followers. Yet, in a unique way God had created a hunger in his heart for truth and for two years he had done an in-depth study of the life of Jesus.

As we met together in his office, he asked, "What do you tell a student when he asks you how to become a Christian?"

When I realized he was sincere, I proceeded to explain why I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and why all men everywhere need Him as their Savior and Lord, and how anyone who wants to can receive Him.

"I am persuaded," he said after a long while, "that no honest person who is willing to consider the overwhelming evidence for the deity of Christ can deny that He is the Son of God."

This great scholar, who had denied the deity of Christ all his life and encouraged millions of others to think likewise, bowed in prayer and received Christ into his life as Savior and Lord.

Jesus Christ stands out clearly as the one supernaturally unique figure in all of history. He is incomparable. He invites all who will to experience His love and forgiveness. "Come unto Me." He welcomes "all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...My yoke is easy and My burden is light."


Bible Reading: Matthew 11:23-27

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: Through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, I will seek to make sure that every loved one, every friend, every contact I make today is fully aware of the fact that God loves him, that Jesus Christ died for him and will welcome him into His family through a simple act of faith. I will tell him that He offers peace and rest - from life's burdens - to all who follow Him in faith and obedience

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts." 1 Chronicles 28:9 NIV

Thoughts for Today
Our natural tendency as human beings is to be attracted to sameness and resist all that is different. We congregate with people who are like us-the same color, culture, social level or income bracket. We tend to mistrust and even resist anyone who is different.

People often judge others by what they see on the outside. They lump everyone from a particular racial or cultural group in one basket. They shun one another and even engage wars against each other based solely on racial identity.

Aren't you glad Jesus doesn't see us that way? He loves us regardless of our race or culture or career or income. He searches every heart. He is interested in what's inside.

Consider this
Let's ask Jesus to help us search other people's hearts and see them through his eyes. As God's creation ... designed in his image. Jesus gave his life for all people of all races and cultures. He sees everyone through eyes of love and compassion. He looks beyond faults to needs. It is time for us to let go of our prejudices and see others as Jesus does.

Prayer
Father, help me to see others through the eyes of Jesus. Reveal to me any prejudices I may have hidden in my heart. Forgive me, and help me to let go of them and the walls they create. Help me to stop looking at the outside and to truly search every heart. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation. This study shows that the foundational truth for the entire process of overcoming prejudice is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

Visit our website to read more about this study and learn more about Living Free small groups.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

A Bondservant of Jesus

By Oswald Chambers

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . -Galatians 2:20

These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus. Once I am at that point, there is no possibility of misunderstanding. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ or understand what He meant when He said, ". . . for My sake" ( Matthew 5:11 ). That is what makes a strong saint.

Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is-will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable-"I have been crucified with Christ . . . ."

The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint.

One student a year who hears God's call would be sufficient for God to have called the Bible Training College into existence. This college has no value as an organization, not even academically. Its sole value for existence is for God to help Himself to lives. Will we allow Him to help Himself to us, or are we more concerned with our own ideas of what we are going to be?

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 4, 2008

Choosing Our Leader  READ: Joshua 24:14-25Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:15

Today, millions of people in the United States will cast their votes for a slate of political leaders, including President. After months of campaign speeches, television ads, and debates, each voter has the opportunity to say to one candidate, "I choose you." Not everyone's favorite will win, but every voter has a choice.

Unlike a political election in which the majority rules, each of us is given the opportunity to select our personal leader each day. In the spiritual election deep within our hearts, our choice will stand no matter what others may decide.

After many years in the Promised Land of Canaan, the aged Joshua called the people of Israel together and issued this challenge: "If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15). In a great collective response, the people said, "We will serve the Lord!" (v.21).

Everyone serves some kind of god. Whom will we choose to have rule in our hearts today?  - David C. McCasland

Thy will I choose; I give to Thee
All of the life Thou gavest me;
Thy will I choose, no life I ask
Except to do Thy given task. -Anon.


Each day we choose the one we will follow in life.


Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional
By Dr. Bill Bright

Prayer Has Great Power
"Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results" (James 5:16).

"I can take my telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space," said the great scientist Sir Issac Newton , "but I can lay it aside and go into my room, shut the door, get down on my knees in earnest prayer, and see more of heaven and get closer to God than I can assisted by all the telescopes and material agencies on earth."

Among many other things, the carnal Christian is characterized by a poor prayer life. The spiritual Christian, on the other hand, is characterized by an effective fruitful prayer life.

Prayer is simply communicating with God by listening as well as talking. The acrostic ACTS is helpful in recalling the various components of effective prayer, though the order is not necessarily rigid.

"A" is for adoration - worship of God, first for who He is; and second for all of His benefits. He alone is worthy of our adoration and praise.

"C" stands for confession. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Sometimes this component should take priority, especially for the unbeliever and the disobedient believer, because God does not hear the prayers of the disobedient until they confess. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalms 66:18, KJV).

"T" is for thanksgiving - gratitude to God for His blessings.

"S" represents supplication - expressing our petitions to God for individuals and specific things and events.

Bible Reading: James 5:13-18

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: I will claim great power and wonderful results for supernatural living by a righteous life and by giving priority to prayer. I will remember to bring my adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication to God throughout the day

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know." 2 Corinthians 5:16 MSG

Thoughts for Today
Jesus doesn't look at how much we have in our bank account, or how talented we are, or what background we come from. He looks at our heart. Do you have a worldly point of view or a Christ-like point of view?

A worldly point of view considers how a person looks  what a person possesses or lacks or who a person knows. Financially well-to-do people may avoid associating with the working class. People in lower income brackets may assume that everyone with money is stuck-up and unkind. But Jesus doesn't see people on a ledger sheet. He sees each of us as an individual with needs and desires and feelings.

Consider this
Are there people you avoid because of their social or financial standing? Remember that they are God's creation-just like you. A successful businessperson who seems aloof may need a friend to talk to. Another person might not have the college degrees you have, but could have godly wisdom that would make a difference in your life.

We need to leave the worldly point of view, with all its prejudices and misconceptions, behind. Ask God to help you see people through his eyes and reach out to them with his love.

Prayer
Father, help me not to evaluate people by what they have or how they look. Help me to have a Christ-like point of view and to respond to the real person, not what I see on the surface. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation. This study shows that the foundational truth for the entire process of overcoming prejudice is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

Visit our website to read more about this study and learn more about Living Free small groups.   

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

The Authority of Truth

By Oswald Chambers
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you  -James 4:8

It is essential that you give people the opportunity to act on the truth of God. The responsibility must be left with the individual-you cannot act for him. It must be his own deliberate act, but the evangelical message should always lead him to action. Refusing to act leaves a person paralyzed, exactly where he was previously. But once he acts, he is never the same. It is the apparent folly of the truth that stands in the way of hundreds who have been convicted by the Spirit of God. Once I press myself into action, I immediately begin to live. Anything less is merely existing. The moments I truly live are the moments when I act with my entire will.

When a truth of God is brought home to your soul, never allow it to pass without acting on it internally in your will, not necessarily externally in your physical life. Record it with ink and with blood-work it into your life. The weakest saint who transacts business with Jesus Christ is liberated the second he acts and God's almighty power is available on his behalf. We come up to the truth of God, confess we are wrong, but go back again. Then we approach it again and turn back, until we finally learn we have no business going back. When we are confronted with such a word of truth from our redeeming Lord, we must move directly to transact business with Him. "Come to Me . . ." ( Matthew 11:28 ). His word come means "to act." Yet the last thing we want to do is come. But everyone who does come knows that, at that very moment, the supernatural power of the life of God invades him. The dominating power of the world, the flesh, and the devil is now paralyzed; not by your act, but because your act has joined you to God and tapped you in to His redemptive power.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 4, 2008

Exploratory Procedure   READ: Hebrews 4:11-16  The Word of God is living and powerful, . . . a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. -Hebrews 4:12

I have a friend who recently underwent a laryngoscopy. I winced as he explained how his doctor took a camera with a light on the end and stuck it down his throat to try to find the cause of his pain.

It reminded me that God's Word is like a laryngoscopy. It invades the unseen areas of our lives, exposing the diseased and damaged spiritual tissue that troubles us. If you're wincing at the thought of how uncomfortable this divine procedure might be, consider Jesus' words: "Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (John 3:20). Internal intrusions may be uncomfortable, but do you really want the disease?

Welcoming God's Word to penetrate the deep, dark places of our hearts is the only way to find true healing and the spiritual health we long for. Believe me, the procedure will be thorough. As the writer of Hebrews assures, God's Word is "sharper than any two-edged sword" (4:12)-piercing all the way through the external stuff of our lives, all the way down to our thoughts, intentions, and motives.

So what are you waiting for? With God's Word you don't need an appointment. The divine Surgeon is ready when you are!  - Joe Stowell

Ever present, truest Friend,
Ever near Thine aid to lend,
Guide us as we search the Word,
Make it both our shield and sword. -Anon.

Let God's Word explore your inner being.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

You Can Trust Him

"So don't worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and He will give them to you if you give Him first place in your life and live as He wants you to" (Matthew 6:31-33).

As a young businessman, I was strongly attracted to the material things of the world and worked very hard to achieve success. But when I became a Christian, I could not ignore the logic of Christ's command, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33, KJV).

I made my commitment to obey His command. Since that day so many years ago, I have sought to be obedient to that command. The Lord has graciously and abundantly blessed me with the fulfillment of the promise of His supernatural provision which follows:

"You heavenly father already knows perfectly well (the things you need), and He will give them to you if you give Him first place in your life and live as He wants you to."

God is trustworthy, and the obedient, faithful Christian soon learns that he, life the psalmist of old, can proclaim:

"I have never seen the Lord forsake a man who loves Him, nor have I seen the children of the godly go hungry" (Psalm 37:25).

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:25-30

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: Resting on the absolute certainties of the Word of God, I will refuse to worry about anything today (recognizing that concern involves others, while worry involves only myself). "All things work together for good to them that love God..." (Romans 8:28). "My God shall supply all your need..." (Philippians 4:19). By trusting these and other promises from God's word, I have no reason to worry

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture

"... People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

Thoughts for Today
It is said that you can't judge a book by its cover. You have to examine what is inside.

Isn't it the same with people? When we judge them by what is outside, we can miss what they are really all about. And yet, how often do we make quick judgments about individuals based only on what we see 

"Look at that that girl has three earrings in her nose! She must be wild and weird."  "Look at those tattoos. I'll bet he's never set a foot in church." "I can't understand that religious fanatic. He is more heavenly minded than earthly good."

Because of what we see on the outside, we judge, reject or just ignore "those kinds of people." We never try to get to know them. And so we may miss an opportunity to encourage to help or even to be blessed ourselves by the good inside of them that we'll never see.

Aren't you glad Jesus doesn't look just at the outside of us? That he cares enough to see what's really going on inside?

Consider this
The next time you come into contact with someone who looks or acts a little different, ask God for Christ-like vision. Spend some time getting to know the individual. you might be in for some pleasant surprises!

Prayer
Father, thank you for looking at my heart, for caring enough to see the "real me." Help me to do the same when I look at others. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation. This study shows that the foundational truth for the entire process of overcoming prejudice is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

Visit our website to read more about this study and learn more about Living Free small groups.

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

Partakers of His Suffering  READ: . . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings . . . -1 Peter 4:13

If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, "Oh, I can't deal with that person." Why can't you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.

The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered "according to the will of God" ( 1 Peter 4:19  ), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God's purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God's orders through a shortcut of their own. God's way is always the way of suffering- the way of the "long road home."

Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through- we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize- "God has strengthened me and I didn't even know it!"

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 6, 2008

Serve Or Die  READ: Mark 10:35-45  The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. -Mark 10:45

Dr. Paul Brand told me of a memorable Frenchman named Pierre, who had served in Parliament until he became disillusioned with the slow pace of political change. During a harsh winter, many Parisian beggars froze to death. In desperation, Pierre became a friar to work among them and organize the beggars themselves.

They divided into teams to scour the city for bottles. Next, he led them to build a warehouse out of discarded bricks and start a business processing the bottles. Finally, he gave each beggar responsibility to help another poorer than himself. The project caught on. In a few years he founded the charitable organization Emmaus.

Eventually, there were few beggars to be found in Paris. So Pierre went to India. "If I don't find people worse off than my beggars," he said, "this movement could turn inward. They'll become a powerful, rich organization, and the whole spiritual impact will be lost. They'll have no one to serve."

At a leprosy colony in India, Pierre met patients worse off than his former beggars. Returning to France, he mobilized the beggars to build a leprosy ward at a hospital in India.

"It is you who have saved us," he told the grateful patients. "We must serve or we die."  - Philip Yancey

THINKING IT THROUGH
In Mark 10:35-37, what did James and John seek?
What did Jesus say about the world's authority? (v.42).
How are followers of Christ to be different? (vv.43-45).

If you want a field of service, look around you.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

How to Obey God's Laws

"So now we can obey God's laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit and no longer obey the old evil nature within us" (Romans 8:4).

Are you not glad that the Word of God make things so simple? If we really want to obey God's laws, His resources are available to us. First and foremost, the Holy Spirit abides within to guide us. While it is true that we have all of the Holy Spirit at the time of conversion, we cannot expect the full blessing and power of God until the Holy Spirit has full control of all of us.

As we appropriate the fullness of His Holy Spirit by faith, we are supplied with supernatural power to obey God's laws. That supernatural power, even, is contingent upon our cooperation in that we must not only commit ourselves to the Holy Spirit but we must also be familiar with the Word of God if we are indeed to obey its commands.

Obedience is a key word in the Christian life. This verse points it out quite clearly, for we either obey God's laws or we obey the old evil nature. The choice is ours as we are controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Someone has well pointed out that all of life, really, is nothing more nor less than a series of choices. The secret of the successful Christian life is in making the right choices. And even the wisdom to make the right choices is available - as a gift from God.

That leaves us, you and me, without excuse. We can, if we choose, through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, obey God's laws and thus accomplish His purpose for us as believers.

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:16-26

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: Drawing upon the supernatural resources of the Holy Spirit I choose to obey God's laws rather than yield to the pull of my old evil nature

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." Ephesians 5:2 NLT

Thoughts for Today
Society teaches us to judge the value of a person by outward characteristics-education, wealth, beauty and so forth. This kind of value system opens the door for envy, jealousy and division. It teaches us to judge not only others in these terms, but ourselves as well. We may begin to think that we are worthless unless we have a college degree or a power job or are thin and beautiful.

The Bible tells us that we are all valuable in God's eyes. Not because of what we do or don't do-but because he loves us and created us in his image. Because Jesus died for us. The Bible teaches that God treasures us ... we are precious to him.

This is how we should view others-as valuable and precious to God. Not because of their career success or lack of it, not because of who they know, not because of how they look or how intelligent they are-but because Jesus loved them enough to die for them.

Consider this
Do you have a biblical point of view when you look at people? We shouldn't look down-or up-to people because of their social position or bank account or career success. We shouldn't think they are better if they wear designer clothes or drive expensive cars. And we shouldn't let their race or cultural background determine their worth in our eyes.

Ask Jesus to help you know and appreciate people for who they really are-on the inside. Ask him to help you follow his example and see them through his eyes ... and love them with his love.

Prayer
Lord, thank you for your assurance that you love me and value me-not because of what I have or how I look-but because you love me and created me in your image. Because Jesus died for me. Help me to follow your example and begin to love others with your kind of love. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation. This study shows that the foundational truth for the entire process of overcoming prejudice is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

Visit our website to read more about this study and learn more about Living Free small groups. 

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

Intimate Theology  READ: Do you believe this? -John 11:26

Martha believed in the power available to Jesus Christ; she believed that if He had been there He could have healed her brother; she also believed that Jesus had a special intimacy with God, and that whatever He asked of God, God would do. But- she needed a closer personal intimacy with Jesus. Martha's theology had its fulfillment in the future. But Jesus continued to attract and draw her in until her belief became an intimate possession. It then slowly emerged into a personal inheritance- "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ . . ." ( John 11:27  ).

Is the Lord dealing with you in the same way? Is Jesus teaching you to have a personal intimacy with Himself? Allow Him to drive His question home to you- "Do you believe this?" Are you facing an area of doubt in your life? Have you come, like Martha, to a crossroads of overwhelming circumstances where your theology is about to become a very personal belief? This happens only when a personal problem brings the awareness of our personal need.

To believe is to commit. In the area of intellectual learning I commit myself mentally, and reject anything not related to that belief. In the realm of personal belief I commit myself morally to my convictions and refuse to compromise. But in intimate personal belief I commit myself spiritually to Jesus Christ and make a determination to be dominated by Him alone.

Then, when I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and He says to me, "Do you believe this?" I find that faith is as natural as breathing. And I am staggered when I think how foolish I have been in not trusting Him earlier

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 7, 2008

Waiting  READ: Psalm 70 Make haste to help me, O Lord! -Psalm 70:1
Make haste to help me, O Lord!" the psalmist David prayed (Ps. 70:1).

Like him, we don't like to wait. We dislike the long lines at super-market checkout counters, and the traffic jams downtown and around shopping malls. We hate to wait at the bank or at a restaurant.

And then there are the harder waits: a childless couple waiting for a child; a single person waiting for marriage; an addict waiting for deliverance; a spouse waiting for a kind and gentle word; a worried patient waiting for a diagnosis from a doctor.

What we wait for, however, is far less important than what God is doing while we wait. In such times He works in us to develop those hard-to-achieve spiritual virtues of meekness, kindness, and patience with others. But more important, we learn to lean on God alone and to "rejoice and be glad" in Him (v.4).

F. B. Meyer said, "What a chapter might be written of God's delays! It is the mystery of the art of educating human spirits to the finest temper of which they are capable. What searchings of heart, what analyzings of motives, what testings of the Word of God, what upliftings of soul. . . . All these are associated with those weary days of waiting, which are, nevertheless, big with spiritual destiny."  - David H. Roper

Be still, My child, and know that I am God!
Wait thou patiently-I know the path you trod.
So falter not, nor fear, nor think to run and hide,
For I, thy hope and strength, am waiting by thy side. -Hein

God stretches our patience to enlarge our soul.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional
By Dr. Bill Bright

No Other Savior
"There is salvation in no one else! Under all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them" (Acts 4:12).

As a young sceptic, I had difficulty believing in the resurrection, for I could not believe in the supernatural. But as I became aware of the uniqueness of Jesus and of the different quality of life that was His, I was forced to reconsider the biblical claim to His resurrection.

Since it is a matter of historical fact that the tomb in which His dead body was placed was empty three days later, I set out to discover if the tomb could have been empty on any other basis than the biblical claim that He had been raised from the dead. In my research, I learned that there were three different theories explaining the empty tomb.

First, it was proposed that He was not really dead but had fainted from the loss of blood on the cross, and that He recovered in the cool of the tomb (this notion is today expounded by certain skeptics under the name of the "swoon theory"). Second, it was conceivable that Jesus' body was stolen by His enemies; or third, that it was stolen by the disciples.

Experience and logic have forced me to discount all three of these theories as impossibilities. First, Jesus could never have moved the stone or escaped from the guards in His weakened condition. Second, Jesus' enemies had no reason to steal His body since they did not want to give credence to a belief in His resurrection. Even if they had stolen the body, they could simply have produced it to discount the resurrection.

Third, the disciples who deserted Jesus at His trial and crucifixion were the same men who, having seen Him after His resurrection, spent the rest of their lives telling everyone who would listen, even at the cost of their own lives, that Jesus was alive. Ask yourself this question, "Would the disciples be willing to die as martyrs propagating a lie?"

Christianity alone has a living Savior; in Him alone is salvation.

Bible Reading: Romans 10:9-13

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: Several times today, as the Holy Spirit prompts me, I will remember to thank God for the gift of His Son as my personal Savior and will tell someone else that Jesus is alive and wants to be his Savior, too

Living Free Every Day®

Today's Scripture
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14 NIV

Thoughts for Today
This week we have discussed the fact that society tends to rate people according to race, gender, class and worldly achievements. But none of these things are significant in the eyes of Christ. He sees all people as equal. All have sinned All need forgiveness  Jesus died for all  All who receive his gift of life are forgiven and will live with him in heaven forever.

Jesus doesn't treat us differently because of our worldly achievements or economic class  or race  or gender. He sees every one of us as special.

Understanding all this should change the way we view people. Each of us is special to God because he created us and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He loves every individual. And each person should be special to us because they are special to God.

Consider this
We need to ask God to help us see each other through his eyes so that the walls we have built between the races and the social classes ... and denominations ... will fall. So that we will see each other as individuals and reach out to one another in understanding. So that we will look beyond fault to need. So that we will see with the eyes of Jesus and reach out to each other in his love.

Prayer
Lord, help me to remember that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made by you, our creator. Teach me to look beyond fault to need. Teach me to see with your eyes. Teach me to love with your love. In Jesus' name

These thoughts were drawn from
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation. This study shows that the foundational truth for the entire process of overcoming prejudice is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.

Visit our website to read more about this study and learn more about Living Free small groups.

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

The Undetected Sacredness of Circumstances We know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . . -Romans 8:28

The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you can't understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands. God brings you to places, among people, and into certain conditions to accomplish a definite purpose through the intercession of the Spirit in you. Never put yourself in front of your circumstances and say, "I'm going to be my own providence here; I will watch this closely, or protect myself from that." All your circumstances are in the hand of God, and therefore you don't ever have to think they are unnatural or unique. Your part in intercessory prayer is not to agonize over how to intercede, but to use the everyday circumstances and people God puts around you by His providence to bring them before His throne, and to allow the Spirit in you the opportunity to intercede for them. In this way God is going to touch the whole world with His saints.

Am I making the Holy Spirit's work difficult by being vague and unsure, or by trying to do His work for Him? I must do the human side of intercession- utilizing the circumstances in which I find myself and the people who surround me. I must keep my conscious life as a sacred place for the Holy Spirit. Then as I lift different ones to God through prayer, the Holy Spirit intercedes for them.

Your intercessions can never be mine, and my intercessions can never be yours, ". . . but the Spirit Himself makes intercession" in each of our lives ( Romans 8:26 ). And without that intercession, the lives of others would be left in poverty and in ruin.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 8, 2008

Flawed And Frail 

READ: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise. -1 Corinthians 1:27

One of my boyhood heroes was Davy Crockett, the "King of the Wild Frontier." I looked up to him, admiring his courage and exploits.

Years later, my brother gave me a book that traced the experiences of the real-life David Crockett. I was surprised by his humanness. The real Davy Crockett made mistakes and had serious personal problems. The book depicted him as both flawed and frail.

This was both disappointing and reassuring to me. It was disappointing because he was less than I had come to believe, but reassuring because that reality made Crockett more accessible to me-and even more of a hero.

In the Bible we see that God consistently used people who were far less than perfect. That shouldn't surprise us. God is glorified by showing Himself strong through our weaknesses. It shows us that He desires to work through our lives not because we are perfect but because He is. And since He uses weak and foolish things (1 Cor. 1:27), it means you and I are prime candidates for His work.

The Lord isn't looking for superheroes. He uses those of us who are flawed and frail, so that He can show His strength and grace. He wants those with a willing and available heart.  - Bill Crowder

It's not in the flash of the style that you hone,
Nor all the degrees you've compiled;
The Savior is looking for servants who own
The warm, willing heart of a child. -Gustafson

In God's service, our greatest ability is our availability.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

Claiming the Promise

"But when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in You. Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting Him, what can mere man do to me?" (Psalm 56:3,4).

Raymond and Martha were active church members and gave generously to the needs of the fellowship. But their real security, as Raymond shared, was largely in monetary holdings. After working hard for many years to build a financial empire, they had nothing to worry about. They were on "Easy Street" and could do anything for the rest of their lives, confident of being able to pass on a sizable fortune to their children and grandchildren.

But at this point, Raymond turned over the reins of his business to a trusted employee who, through mismanagement and embezzlement, coupled with a severe economic depression, was able to destroy in approximately two years what had taken Raymond more than thirty years to accumulate.

Devastated and fearful, Raymond and Martha turned to God and His Word. As they claimed God's promises, the Savior whom they had professed to know but had not really known, became a reality in their lives. They became joyful, radiant and victorious. Though they had lost almost everything materially, they had, in the process, gained all that was really important. Now their trust was in the Lord who filled their lives with His love and grace. They passed on God's blessing to others, including me.

Bible Reading: Psalm 25:4-10

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: I will not wait until personal tragedy, physical illness, financial reverses, heartache or sorrow cross my path, but will place my confidence in the Lord and in his Word and begin now to draw upon His supernatural resources to live a full and meaningful life for His glory

Transforming Your Life

When a person does a job well, we find ourselves wanting to praise him. But what about our praise to the Lord for who He is and what He has done for us? Charles Spurgeon writes:

The Lord always deserves to be praised for what He is in Himself, for His works of creation and providence, for His goodness towards His creatures, and especially for the transcendent act of redemption.

Praise is a constant reminder of God's unconditional love, His all-knowing wisdom, and His unchanging power. The more realistic we are about our weaknesses and faults, the more we comprehend God's graciousness toward us.

Spurgeon goes on to say, "It is always beneficial to praise the Lord; it cheers the day and brightens the night; it lightens toil and softens sorrow."

Praise reminds of us of who God is, and who we really are-sinful human beings, redeemed and saved solely by the grace of God. Without Christ we are nothing, but in Christ we have every good thing.

Because Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of mankind, those who believe in Him have newness of life and the promise of eternity with Him. But we don't have to wait for eternity to enter God's presence. Through praise we can enter His presence every minute of every day.

As we praise God, He begins to work in our lives, conforming us to His image. Our prayer should be, "Lord, make me into the person You desire me to be." His power will transform your life and give you strength and hope for what He has called you to do.

Whatever your past difficulties may be, there continues to be many reasons to praise the Lord. For it is through our praise that we enter His presence-into His very throne room. There is no better place to be.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands (Psalm 63:4).

Learn how praise can make all the difference in your life.  Michael Youssef explores this topic in our free resource this month-"Empowered by Praise." Download it today.

By Passionately Proclaiming Uncompromising Truth, Leading The Way is revolutionizing lives at home and around the world.
Discover more at www.leadingtheway.org.

The Unrivaled Power of Prayer
We do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered -Romans 8:26

We realize that we are energized by the Holy Spirit for prayer; and we know what it is to pray in accordance with the Spirit; but we don't often realize that the Holy Spirit Himself prays prayers in us which we cannot utter ourselves. When we are born again of God and are indwelt by the Spirit of God, He expresses for us the unutterable.

"He," the Holy Spirit in you, "makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God" ( Romans 8:27  ). And God searches your heart, not to know what your conscious prayers are, but to find out what the prayer of the Holy Spirit is.

The Spirit of God uses the nature of the believer as a temple in which to offer His prayers of intercession. ". . . your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . ." (1 Corinthians 6:19 ). When Jesus Christ cleansed the temple, ". . . He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple" ( Mark 11:16 ). The Spirit of God will not allow you to use your body for your own convenience. Jesus ruthlessly cast out everyone who bought and sold in the temple, and said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer . . . . But you have made it a 'den of thieves' " (Mark 11:17  ).

Have we come to realize that our "body is the temple of the Holy Spirit"? If so, we must be careful to keep it undefiled for Him. We have to remember that our conscious life, even though only a small part of our total person, is to be regarded by us as a "temple of the Holy Spirit." He will be responsible for the unconscious part which we don't know, but we must pay careful attention to and guard the conscious part for which we are responsible.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 9, 2008

They Never Meet
READ: Psalm 103:6-14 You have cast all my sins behind Your back. -Isaiah 38:17

Did you know that the farthest point east and the farthest point west in the United States are both in Alaska? It's a geographical trick, actually. Pochnoi Point in the Aleutians is as far west as you can go and still be in the US. But if you travel a few miles farther west, you'll end up at Alaska's Amatignak Island. Because that spot is west of the 180th meridian separating the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, it is technically east of the rest of the US.

But you'll never find a spot where east and west are actually next to each other. In going west, you never "find" east. East goes on forever. West goes on forever. They never meet. You can't get farther from something than that.

What difference does this make? Just this: When you read in Scripture that your forgiven sins are separated from you "as far as the east is from the west" (Ps. 103:12), you are assured that they are an immeasurable distance away-gone forever. If that's not enough, try this: God says, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins" (Isa. 43:25).

Concerned about your sins? Through Jesus' death on the cross, God is able to say, "What sins?" But He will do that only if you put your faith in His Son.  - Dave Branon

"Oh, East is East, and West is West,
And never the twain shall meet."
So far has God removed our sins:
Salvation is complete. -Hess

We invite defeat when we remember what we should forget.

Lazarus
by Max Lucado

Marys need to remember that service is worship.

Marthas need to remember that worship is service.

And Lazarus? He needs to remember that not everyone can play the trumpet.

You see, as far as we know, Lazarus did nothing at the dinner. He saved his actions for outside the house. Read carefully John 12:9:

"A large crowd of Jews heard that Jesus was in Bethany. So they went there to see not only Jesus, but Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So the leading priests made plans to kill Lazarus, too. Because of Lazarus many Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus."

Wow! Because of Lazarus many Jews were "believing in Jesus." Lazarus has been given a trumpet. He has a testimony to give-and what a testimony he has!

"I was always a good fellow," he would say. "I paid my bills. I loved my sisters. I even enjoyed being around Jesus. But I wasn't one of the followers. I didn't get as close as Peter and James and those guys. I kept my distance. Nothing personal. I just didn't want to get carried away.

"But then I got sick. And then I died. I mean, I died dead.

"Nothing left. Stone-cold. No life. No breath. Nothing. I died to everything. I saw life from the tomb. And then Jesus called me from the grave. When he spoke, my heart beat and my soul stirred, and I was alive again. And I want you to know he can do the same for you."

God gave Martha a bass drum of service. God gave Mary a flute for praise. And God gave Lazarus a trumpet. And he stood on center stage and played it.

God still gives trumpets. God still calls people from the pits. God still gives pinch-me-I'm-dreaming, too-good-to-be-true testimonies. But not everyone has a dramatic testimony. Who wants a band full of trumpets?

Some convert the lost. Some encourage the saved. And some keep the movement in step. All are needed.

If God has called you to be a Lazarus, then testify. Remind the rest of us that we, too, have a story to tell. We, too, have neighbors who are lost. We, too, have died and been resurrected.

From
Cast of Characters
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) Max Lucado

Sacred Service I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . . -Colossians 1:24

The Christian worker has to be a sacred "go-between." He must be so closely identified with his Lord and the reality of His redemption that Christ can continually bring His creating life through him. I am not referring to the strength of one individual's personality being superimposed on another, but the real presence of Christ coming through every aspect of the worker's life. When we preach the historical facts of the life and death of our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words are made sacred. God uses these words, on the basis of His redemption, to create something in those who listen which otherwise could never have been created. If we simply preach the effects of redemption in the human life instead of the revealed, divine truth regarding Jesus Himself, the result is not new birth in those who listen. The result is a refined religious lifestyle, and the Spirit of God cannot witness to it because such preaching is in a realm other than His. We must make sure that we are living in such harmony with God that as we proclaim His truth He can create in others those things which He alone can do.

When we say, "What a wonderful personality, what a fascinating person, and what wonderful insight!" then what opportunity does the gospel of God have through all of that? It cannot get through, because the attraction is to the messenger and not the message. If a person attracts through his personality, that becomes his appeal. If, however, he is identified with the Lord Himself, then the appeal becomes what Jesus Christ can do. The danger is to glory in men, yet Jesus says we are to lift up only Him (see John 12:32  ).

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 10, 2008

Gossip-Free Zone READ: Proverbs 25:8-18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. -Proverbs 25:18

In some offices, you can get fired for gossiping. According to a 2002 survey, the average employee gossips 65 hours a year. One Chicago firm decided to become a "gossip-free zone." They require that employees never talk badly about co-workers behind their backs. If you're caught, you lose your job.

A ministry for people in the entertainment industry takes a refreshing alternative to gossip. They combat it with prayer. Instead of putting down famous people who get in trouble with bad choices, they encourage people to pray for them.

Among God's commands to His people is "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Ex. 20:16). While this may be talking primarily about lying at judicial proceedings, gossip could also be included in the command because it violates the law of love toward our neighbor. Proverbs uses strong language to describe this use of our words. It's like "a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow" against others (25:18).

Gossip feeds into our natural desires to feel superior to others and to belong or fit in, so combating it in our personal lives can be a challenge. But if we choose to love through prayer, our lives can be a gossip-free zone.  - Anne Cetas

Lord, forgive us for speaking carelessly
about others to make ourselves look better.
Help us to think before we speak. Teach us
to be loving with our words. Amen.

You can never justify gossip.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional
By Dr. Bill Bright

Before We Even Call
"I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking to Me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" (Isaiah 65:24).

Allenby's Bridge, which spans the Jordan River, was built to honor the man whom God used to lead the miraculous conquest of Jerusalem with the firing of a single gun.

Allenby recalled how, as a little boy when he use to lisp his evening prayers, he was taught to repeat after his mother the closing part of the prayer:

"And, O Lord, we will not forget They ancient people, Israel. Lord, hasten the day when Israel truly shall be thy people and shall be restored to They favor and to their land."

"I never knew then," Allenby said at a reception in London, "that God would give me the privilege of helping to answer my own childhood prayers."

Even more wonderful than that kind of divine providence is the truth expressed in Isaiah 65:24 (KJV): "Before they call I will answer." I have seen this promise fulfilled many times in the global program of Campus Crusade for Christ. Even during the time we have prayed for desperate needs - financial and otherwise - God was already laying it upon the hearts of His faithful people to respond.

What a great comfort to know that we serve that kind of God!

Bible Reading: Isaiah 65:18-25

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: Even as I pray for the needs of others and myself today, I will remember the power and faithfulness of God who has already begun to answer even before I ask

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Romans 12:15 NIV

Thoughts for Today
Are you trying to help someone with a problem? Developing certain qualities in your relationship will enable you to help your friend more effectively. We will be looking at some of those traits this week. One of these qualities is called empathy.

There is a difference between empathy and sympathy. With accurate empathy, we can correctly perceive the feelings of another person without being captured by that person's emotions. If we sympathize, we may actually feel what our friend feels, preventing us from being objective in a helping relationship since we are likely to be caught up in our hurting friend's emotions. The focus may become pity and prevent healing. Compassion and understanding assist the helper in perceiving the other person's feelings and experiences accurately.

Consider this
The key to accurate empathy is understanding the pain while remaining in a neutral position. As a helper, set your goal to feel with the hurting person instead of feeling what the individual feels.

Even if you've never experienced the same hurts as your friend, with accurate empathy you can help. A helping relationship starts with the development of empathy.

Prayer
Father, I really want to help my hurting friend. And I'd like to develop stronger relationships with all my friends. Teach me to feel with them. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
Understanding the Times. This book by Dr. Jimmy Lee offers biblical strategies for ministry to our family and friends. Contemporary issues and needs faced by society are addressed with biblical principles that are timeless. Ideal for small group leaders and Sunday school teachers who want a better understanding of ministry in an addictive culture. The qualities described in this week's devotions are derived from Gary Sweeten's work in Apples of God I and II. We appreciate his contribution.   
 
PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to info@LivingFree.org.

Fellowship in the Gospel. . . fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ . . . -1 Thessalonians 3:2
After sanctification, it is difficult to state what your purpose in life is, because God has moved you into His purpose through the Holy Spirit. He is using you now for His purposes throughout the world as He used His Son for the purpose of our salvation. If you seek great things for yourself, thinking, "God has called me for this and for that," you barricade God from using you. As long as you maintain your own personal interests and ambitions, you cannot be completely aligned or identified with God's interests. This can only be accomplished by giving up all of your personal plans once and for all, and by allowing God to take you directly into His purpose for the world. Your understanding of your ways must also be surrendered, because they are now the ways of the Lord.

I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him. I should never say, "Lord, this causes me such heartache." To talk that way makes me a stumbling block. When I stop telling God what I want, He can freely work His will in me without any hindrance. He can crush me, exalt me, or do anything else He chooses. He simply asks me to have absolute faith in Him and His goodness. Self-pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it I cannot be used by God for His purpose in the world. Doing this creates for me my own cozy "world within the world," and God will not be allowed to move me from it because of my fear of being "frost-bitten."

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals November 11, 2008

No Greater Love  READ: John 15:9-17 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. -John 15:13

Melbourne, Australia, is home to the Shrine of Remembrance, a war memorial honoring those who died for their country. Built following World War I, it has since been expanded to honor those who served in subsequent conflicts.

It's a beautiful place, with reminders of courage and devotion, but the highlight of the shrine is a hall containing a carved stone that simply reads, "Greater Love Hath No Man." Every year on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:00 a.m., a mirror reflects the sun's light onto the stone to spotlight the word love. It is a poignant tribute to those who gave their lives.

We honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate price for freedom. Yet the words on that stone carry a far greater meaning. Jesus spoke them the night before He died on the cross for the sins of a needy world (John 15:13). His death was not for freedom from political tyranny but freedom from the penalty of sin. His death was not just to give us a better life, but to give us eternal life.

It is important to remember those who have given their lives for their country-but may we never forget to praise and honor the Christ who died for a dying world. Truly, there is no greater love than this.  - Bill Crowder

There is no greater love than that of Christ above,
That made Him stoop to earth, become a Man,
And by His death provide redemption's plan;
There is no greater love. -Peterson
© Renewal 1983, John W. Peterson Music Company.

The cross of Jesus is the supreme evidence of the love of God.

Today's Promise: A Daily Devotional

By Dr. Bill Bright

Living the Godly Life
"As God's messenger I give each of you God's warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you" (Romans 12:3).

A newly appointed director of affairs for our ministry came to me for counsel after being given his assignment. "Tell me," he inquired, "what are the biggest problems that I will encounter in my new area of responsibility?"

"Three major ones," I responded. "First, pride, the problem that causes Satan to seek a place of authority over God Himself, resulting in his expulsion from the heavenly kingdom. Since creation, man's greatest problem has been pride - thinking more highly of oneself than one ought to think.

"Your second problem will be materialism - the desire to accumulate wealth, to live the good life, to keep up with the Joneses with better houses, cars, clothes, and security.

"And the third problem will be sex, the temptation to immorality. Man's second greatest drive after self-perservation is sex. In the marriage bond, sex is one of the most beautiful of the God-given privileges. But out of marriage, it results in grieving and quenching the Spirit and, ultimately, in the discipline of God. Therefore, be faithful to the wife that God has given you and love her as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25).

"Keep yourself humble by God's power. Seek the simple life and be motivated and constrained by the love of God for the souls of men, rather than for the good things of this world."

This is my counsel to all of our staff. It is my message to all Christian leaders and to all who seek to live godly lives.

The highways and byways of the world are littered with men and women of great talent and ability who are no longer being used of God. The fire has gone out of their hearts; the smile is gone from their faces. They harvest no fruit for the kingdom. They have fallen, thinking more highly of themselves than they ought to think, after the example of Satan, the author of pride.

God's Word admonishes us to think soberly, wisely, prudently and modestly. The faith which we each have is a gift from God, measure by Him. That fact alone should produce in you and me a true, humility, changing any feeling of pride to one of gratitude. The truly humble person regards God as the source of all blessings.

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: When the temptation comes to think more highly of myself than I ought to think, with God's help I will remember that everything I have is a gift of His grace. I will humble myself before God and man and, by faith, live a supernatural, godly life, dedicated to the extension of His kingdom

Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Let us have real warm affection for one another as between brothers Romans 12:10 Phillips

Thoughts for Today
Yesterday we looked at the importance of developing the quality of empathy in order to more effectively help a loved one struggling with a problem. Another essential quality is warmth.

Genuine warmth is communicated more by our actions than by what we actually say. Speaking the right words will most likely be totally ineffective if our body language reflects condemnation or impatience or if we seem distracted or unfocused.

A caring tone of voice, eye contact, non-possessive touch, pleasant facial expressions, friendly gestures and a relaxed stance impart a sense of warmth and caring. A warm voice and a caring touch can bring peace and calmness to a brokenhearted person. Warmth communicates openness and lessens defensiveness.

Consider this
When planning to meet with a hurting friend, set aside time when you can focus and not feel rushed. Pray for him or her before you meet. Ask God to make you sensitive to the need. This preparation will help you show the warmth of caring. You won't just be saying words-your heart attitude will be reflected in body language that will help create an environment for encouragement and healing.

Prayer
Father, help me help my friend. May my heart be filled with your compassion and may my body language reflect the warmth of caring. In all ways, help me to demonstrate real warm affection. In Jesus' name 

These thoughts were drawn from
Understanding the Times. This book by Dr. Jimmy Lee offers biblical strategies for ministry to our family and friends. Contemporary issues and needs faced by society are addressed with biblical principles that are timeless. Ideal for small group leaders and Sunday school teachers who want a better understanding of ministry in an addictive culture. The qualities described in this week's devotions are derived from Gary Sweeten's work in Apples of God I and II. We appreciate his contribution.   

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The Supreme Climb  He said, 'Take now your son . . .' -Genesis 22:2

God's command is, "Take now," not later. It is incredible how we debate! We know something is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it immediately. If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later- it must be done now. And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it.

"So Abraham rose early in the morning . . . and went to the place of which God had told him" ( Genesis 22:3 ). Oh, the wonderful simplicity of Abraham! When God spoke, he did not "confer with flesh and blood" ( Galatians 1:16 ). Beware when you want to "confer with flesh and blood" or even your own thoughts, insights, or understandings- anything that is not based on your personal relationship with God. These are all things that compete with and hinder obedience to God.

Abraham did not choose what the sacrifice would be. Always guard against self-chosen service for God. Self-sacrifice may be a disease that impairs your service. If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; or even if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him. If the providential will of God means a hard and difficult time for you, go through it. But never decide the place of your own martyrdom, as if to say, "I will only go to there, but no farther." God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed. If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to blame Him or pass judgment on Him. You must go through the trial before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because by going through the trial you learn to know God better. God is working in us to reach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose become one

God Bless