Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 9, 2009

A Life Remembered

READ: Psalm 139:1-16
That we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. -2 Corinthians 1:4

Daddy, help me." Those were the last words Dianne and Gary Cronin heard their daughter say as she struggled to breathe. Kristin, 14 years old, died suddenly-just 2 days after saying she didn't feel well. A strep infection attacked her body on Thursday. By Saturday, she was pleading with her daddy to help her.

Before Kristin died, I was scheduled to speak at her family's church in Soldotna, Alaska. In God's timing, I stood before the congregation the day after her funeral.

Kristin was one of those vivacious teens who loved Jesus and lived for Him-and whose sudden death leaves us with a million questions.

Because I went through a similar loss of my own teenage daughter a few years ago, I was able to offer some advice to this stunned and grieving church. First, I said, we must recognize God's sovereignty. Psalm 139:16 reminds us that Kristin's life was the exact length God intended. Second, I asked the church never to forget her family. Whether it's 2 months or 5 years later, the family will never "get over" losing Kristin. They will never stop needing Christians who care and remember.

In times like this, don't forget that God is in control and that He wants us to be a comfort to others.  - Dave Branon

When we sustain a heartbreaking loss,
When grief overwhelms our soul,
The Savior who gave Himself on the cross
Reminds us that He's in control. -D. De Haan


In every desert of despair God has an oasis of comfort.

Fitting into God's "Foolishness"

In 1 Corinthians 1:21, Paul gives us an interesting insight into how you and I please God.

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

God's methods are astounding.  To bring men and women into His family through the foolishness of preaching!  When people hear the gospel preached and believe it, God is pleased.

Now how is the gospel preached?  Through your life and mine.  Every one of us has been entrusted by God with some gift to communicate the gospel.  Perhaps you have been entrusted by God with unusual wealth.  Or maybe a marvelous singing voice, or the ability to communicate, or perhaps the skill to assimilate facts.

Whatever it is, God has put something in each of us that somehow fits into His great master plan of winning this lost world to Jesus Christ.

God has chosen to use these weak, fallible vessels to share the simple gospel message that the world is separated from Him because of sin.  In His mercy, God reached down to the human race when He sent His own Son, Who willingly gave up His life on the cross and died for our sins.  The price was paid.  God's eternal justice was satisfied.  And the Holy Spirit raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

That is the message our world so desperately needs to hear today!  God is pleased when you share that "foolishness."  So however God has gifted you, use that gift today to present a living Jesus to our dying world!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: Micah 5:1-5a
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. - Micah 5:4

TODAY IN THE WORD
Long before Micah ministered, God made a special promise to King David. He said that He Himself would establish a house for David and that his son (Solomon) would be king after him and would build a temple to honor the Lord. Furthermore: "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever" (2 Sam. 7:16). This covenant was a tremendous encouragement to the people of Israel, especially as they faced tough times and saw their country fracture. The prophet Micah alluded to this covenant in today's passage.
In verse 4, "He" is the coming Messiah, whom we know is Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. Following a reminder of the coming judgment (v. 1), verse 2 jumps ahead in time-to the Lord, time is not a primary factor (2 Peter 3:-to the birth of the Messiah. That His "origins are from of old" is a hint that His existence extends beyond a human lifespan. Despite the fact that the Messiah is a strong redeemer who comes to rescue His people, His arrival is mysteriously described as unexpected. Who would imagine a king being born in a small town like Bethlehem? The religious leaders of Jesus' day certainly didn't, even though they also interpreted Micah's words as literally indicating the Messiah's birthplace (Matt. 2:1-6).

God's plan is compared again to giving birth (v. 3). Everyone can see the signs that a baby is coming, but the identity of the newcomer remains hidden until the key moment. In the same way, God's plan to send His Son was both revealed and hidden by the prophets. And the fact that His advent would involve two comings was both revealed and hidden as well. When the labor pains of history are complete, all the world will see and worship the Shepherd who is also the King (vv. 4-5a). He will rule in the strength and majesty of God, because He is God!
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In six months, we'll be celebrating the first coming of Christ. Today, spend some time reflecting on the Second Coming of our Lord. All around our world we can find examples of heartache. But we also have hope because we know that the Messiah will come to judge sin and ensure eternal peace. Some music that we associate with the first coming of Jesus actually has great resonance with His Second Coming; read or sing through "Joy to the World" or "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" as you pray, "Come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20).

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PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!
.

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 9, 2009

Risk
READ: Proverbs 6:16-19
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. -1 Peter 5:6

When our children were young, one of our favorite board games was Risk. World conquest was the objective. Each player mobilized his troops to take possession of countries and continents. It always amused me that the person who initially was leading the game seldom won. The reason is obvious. When other players sensed his mounting pride, they would join together against him.

Whether consciously or subconsciously, it is easy to dislike powerful people who have proud looks. Their very countenance seems to encourage others to throw obstacles in their paths or to be silent objectors.

In today's Bible reading, we are told that God hates seven things. Tellingly, the first is pride. When someone overvalues himself by undervaluing others, he inevitably reveals it with his proud look. Puffed up in self-conceit, he may also devise evil and sow discord. No wonder God hates proud looks.

Proud and powerful people may think they can disregard others' displeasure, but they cannot disregard God's opposition. Peter reminds us not to trust in ourselves but in the One who will exalt us "in due time" (1 Peter 5:6). As we submit to Him, we avoid the risk that pride brings to our character and we become thankful, humble servants of God.  - Albert Lee

Naught have I gotten but what I received;
Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed;
Boasting excluded, pride I abase;
I'm only a sinner saved by grace! -Gray

No one can glorify self and Christ at the same time.

Pleasing God...Even in Your Sorrow

In Psalm 69, David shares his innermost thoughts as he cries out to God, afflicted, sorrowful, beaten down, and distressed.  David felt like he was sinking in floodwaters, caught in the quicksand of difficulties.

If you are like me, I am sure you have been there too.  In fact, you may feel like you are there right now.  Floodwaters of trouble have come into your life.  You are treading water, and it seems like you are about to go down for the third time.

For most of us, our response is to get down and depressed, to feel sorry for ourselves.  And to hope we will receive comfort and encouragement from those around us.

David's reaction was different. And a model for how we should respond to those times of sorrow and trouble in a way that pleases God.  In verses 30 and 31 of Psalm 69 he states,

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.  This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull.

You know, anyone can sing when the sun is shining.  It is easy to praise God and shout the victory when things are going your way.  But to praise God when the chips are down...that brings pleasure to God.

To worship God, to magnify Him and to thank Him even when it looks like you are not going to make it, that pleases the heart of God.  It shows Him something about you.  It demonstrates that you have faith in Him, and it opens a way for Him to work in your life.

If your life feels full of sorrow and trouble, begin to praise God, and watch God work!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: Micah 5:5b-15
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. - Deuteronomy 20:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Revelation 18 celebrates the fall of Babylon in the end times. Though at one time it will be the wonder of the world and the seat of all earthly power, Babylon will be brought low: "Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!" (v. 10). The powerful will be rendered helpless, the wealthy will be ruined, and the mockers of God will be completely defeated. "Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you" (v. 20).
Today's reading offers another vivid picture of God's victory in history (vv. 9-15). Part of this passage focuses on the day that Assyria, the conqueror of Israel, will itself be defeated. Other parts have the Messiah in view, including both of His advents and the millennial kingdom. So time is fluid here and sometimes we're not sure which point in history the prophet has in mind. But the themes of God's triumphant holiness and justice hold it all together. Not only are enemies destroyed, so are witchcraft, idolatry, and disobedience. Those who have committed the blasphemous absurdity of bowing down to "gods" they themselves made will come under the righteous wrath of their Maker.

Two word pictures help us to understand God's victory (vv. 7-8). First, the animal simile seems clear enough: The faithful remnant will be "like a lion among the beasts of the forest," that is, God's people will be the king of the jungle, so to speak. They will have nothing to fear from their enemies. Second, the nature simile is less obvious but has a parallel point: The remnant will be "like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind." God's sovereign plan and dew both occur on their own timetables, irrespective of human plans and actions. And like dew, God's plan is inevitable and inescapable- who can fight against it?
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In response to today's reading, perhaps you could plan a special worship time for yourself, your family, or a small group of friends with the theme "God's victory." Try to include a good mix of hymns and choruses, including both familiar and unfamiliar songs. Scripture readings, responsive prayers and liturgies, and a time for personal testimonies might also be part of the plan. Let "shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "˜The Lord's right hand has done mighty things!'" (Ps. 118:15).


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!
.

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 10, 2009

Land Of Eternal Spring
I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken. -Psalm 37:25

The former president of Columbia Bible College in South Carolina, J. Robertson McQuilkin, pointed out that God has a wise purpose in letting us grow old and weak:

"I think God has planned the strength and beauty of youth to be physical. But the strength and beauty of age is spiritual. We gradually lose the strength and beauty that is temporary so we'll be sure to concentrate on the strength and beauty which is forever. And so we'll be eager to leave the temporary, deteriorating part of us and be truly homesick for our eternal home. If we stayed young and strong and beautiful, we might never want to leave."

When we are young, happily occupied with all our relationships and activities, we may not long for our celestial Home. But as time passes, we may find ourselves without family and friends, afflicted with dim vision and hearing difficulties, no longer able to relish food, or troubled by sleeplessness.

Here's the advice I give myself: Be grateful that, as the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:17, "God . . . gives us richly all things to enjoy" in life's summer and autumn. And rejoice too that with the onset of life's winter we can anticipate that we'll soon be living in the land of eternal spring.  - Vernon C. Grounds

There's a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way,
To prepare us a dwelling-place there. -Bennett


The promise of heaven is our eternal hope.

Fearing God
In Psalm 147:10-11, David gives us insight into two things that please God-two things that may seem disconnected from each other. 

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.  The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.

First, God delights in those who fear Him, those who have a reverential respect and awe for Him.  Second, God is pleased with those who hope in His mercy.

In today's devotional, I want to focus on what it means to truly fear God.  And, in tomorrow's devotional, we will look at what it means to hope in mercy, and how these two are connected.

Scripture constantly admonishes us to fear God.  But how do you do that?  I believe the Bible gives us at least four ways:

Through a hatred of evil.  Proverbs 8:13 says, The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
Through radical obedience.  To fear the Lord means to radically obey Him, as Abraham did in Genesis 22 when he was willing to sacrifice his son.
With an awareness that God is always watching you.  Scripture makes it clear there is nowhere you can go that God does not see.
With the knowledge that one day you will have to stand before God as your Judge.  Jesus even tells us that one day, when we stand before Him, we will have to give an account of every idle word we have spoken.
Pray today that God will help you live your life by these four principles.  Because God delights in those who fear Him.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!

Read: Micah 6:1-8
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

TODAY IN THE WORD
God designed marriage to be an illustration and expression of His covenant faithfulness. As Gary Thomas wrote in Discipleship Journal : "The Bible uses marital metaphors to describe the story of God's relationship with Israel and Jesus' relationship with the church. Understanding these analogies is crucial, as they will help us construct the foundation upon which a truly Christian marriage is built . . . God's love for Israel and Christ's love for the church show us how our marriages can be transforming relationships of delight and reconciliation."
Faithfulness and love are at the heart of both marriage and our walk with the Lord. In His covenant with Israel, God was always faithful in unconditional love even when His people were not. Within the flow of history, He would act justly and judge Israel's sin in order to teach all nations about Himself and His worthiness to be worshiped. But in the end He would keep His promises and carry out His eternal plan of redemption regardless of His people's failures.

To grasp today's reading, let's imagine a courtroom. The Lord accused Israel and Judah of forsaking Him and of being unfaithful to the covenant (vv. 1-5). The evidence against them was overwhelming. He had rescued them from slavery in Egypt, made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai, provided godly leaders like Moses and Aaron, compelled the reluctant Balaam to prophesy a great future for them (Numbers 22-24), and in general shepherded and cared for them throughout four decades of desert wanderings.

To such an amazing and loving Lord, what kind of response would have been appropriate (vv. 6-8)? Not what they were doing! Perhaps they thought they could "keep the covenant" with quantity rather than quality. Their many sacrifices meant nothing because their hearts were empty and their obedience lacking (compare Rom. 12:1). Instead, they should have been acting justly, loving mercy (or kindness, ESV), and walking humbly with their God.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you have never memorized Micah 6:8, make time to do so today. It's three-part "formula" for obeying God-acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly-can be a good way to remain focused on spiritual essentials. Scripture memorization is about genuinely committing words to heart and nourishing your soul with God's truth. Then you will say with the psalmist, "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times" (Ps. 119:20).


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 11, 2009

Religious Nuts
READ: Matthew 10:16-22
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. -Colossians 4:6

I have a friend who was invited to a dinner party where he was seated next to a belligerent unbeliever who delighted in taunting Christians.

Throughout the evening, the man baited Matt mercilessly about the evils of Christendom throughout the ages. With each insult, my friend calmly replied, "That's an interesting point of view." And then he asked a question that revealed genuine interest in the man and deflected the discussion away from the issue that divided them.

As the two were walking out the door at the end of the evening, the man fired a final jab, at which point Matt put his arm around the other man's shoulders and chuckled. "My friend," he said, "all night long you've been trying to talk to me about religion. Are you a religious nut?"

The man's animosity dissolved in a burst of laughter and then in sobriety, for he was indeed a religious nut. All human beings are. We're insatiably and incurably religious-hounded by the relentless love of God, though we may try to keep Him away. Matt's kindness and deft humor awakened this man's heart so that he could be receptive to the gospel.

We are to be "wise as serpents" (Matt. 10:16) when dealing with non-Christians, speaking to them "with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:6).  - David H. Roper

You have called us, Lord, to witness-
Called to speak the truth in love;
O how much we need Your guidance
And Your wisdom from above. -D. De Haan


As the "salt of the earth," Christians can make others thirsty for the Water of Life.

Hoping in God's Mercy

In our last devotional, Psalm 147:10-11 showed us how important fearing God is to pleasing Him. 

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.  The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.

In today's devotional, I want to look at the second thing that pleases God, according to this psalm, those who hope in God's mercy.

You have to wonder why the Lord put those two things together, the fear of Him and hoping in His mercy.  At first blush, they do not seem to go together, but they do.

They show how God truly understands our nature.  That even those who reverence Him, and truly fear Him, and try to live for Him, sometimes fall short.  And in those moments of failure, they need the mercy of God.

In fact, we are told in the Book of Proverbs that the righteous man falls seven times, but gets up again.

You know, I love God, and I do my best to serve Him and walk with Him.  But I'm super grateful for His mercy!  Thank God He is a merciful God!  Because there are times when I so desperately need it, And I am sure you do, too!

My friend, if you have stumbled and today feel like you are a million miles away from God, do not despair.  God finds pleasure in those who hope in His mercy.  He is delighted when you ask for His mercy.  He will not be angry.

Remember, only the guilty need mercy.  And God finds pleasure when in your guilt you call out to Him, and hope in His mercy.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: Micah 6:9-16
Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? - Micah 6:11

TODAY IN THE WORD
The worst weather disaster in American history was a hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900. Galveston is an island and leading commercial port city on the Gulf of Mexico. When the hurricane struck, storm tides between eight and sixteen feet completely covered the island, destroying homes and businesses and killing an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people (out of a total population of 40,000). Though U.S. Weather Service meteorologist Isaac Cline rode his horse up and down the beach to deliver urgent warnings, most people gave no heed and ended up paying with their lives.
No doubt Micah knew how Cline felt. He, too, was charged with delivering a message of impending disaster. He, too, met closed ears and hard hearts. God had long endured Judah's unfaithfulness and disobedience, and now judgment was imminent. In the context of the prophet's call to repentance (v. 9), the nation's sins are catalogued in verses 10-12: Their treasures were "ill-gotten," or obtained through crooked means. "Dishonest scales" and "false weights" were representative of unfair business practices. Violent rich men used their power to exploit the poor. This was not the kind of society God had in mind! He was righteously angry with this web of injustice and deceit.

Micah's description of the coming judgment is hyperbolic, that is, exaggerated for the literary purpose of making the point clearer and more urgent (vv. 13-15). The people would eat and yet remain hungry, store up and yet have nothing, plant without harvesting, press olives without getting any olive oil, and crush grapes without getting any wine. In short, the fruit of their labor would be given over to their conquerors. These verses convey images of being shamed and brought low, of ruin and destruction. Such consequences are to be expected when the God's people, following the bad example of such wicked kings as Omri and Ahab, worshiped idols instead of the one true God (v. 16).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The importance of spiritual faithfulness is clearly shown in today's reading. But just as in the case of Israel, we are surrounded with temptations to turn aside from God's path. In these battles, the truth of Scripture is our best ally. Write three helpful verses on index cards and carry them with you this week. Choose verses specific to temptations you face often, for example, Job 31:1 for lust, Luke 12:15 for greed, or Proverbs 16:18 for pride.

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PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 12, 2009

A Fair Trade
READ: Psalm 119:161-168
I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. -Psalm 119:162

Scott and Mary Crickmore poured 15 years of their lives into helping to translate the New Testament in the Maasina dialect. It was for the Fulani tribe in the West African nation of Mali.

After the initial draft, Mary visited nearby villages and read it to people. She sat in huts with a group of men or women listening to them discuss what they understood. That helped her to make sure the words they were using in the translation were accurate and clear.

Some people would think that the Crickmores' sacrifice was too great-giving up their comfortable lifestyle, changing their diet to mush and rice, and living in less-than-ideal circumstances for those 15 years. But the Crickmores say it was "a fair trade," because now the Fulani people have the Word of God in a language they can read.

The psalmist delighted in God's Word. He stood in awe of it, rejoiced over it, loved it, and obeyed it (Ps. 119:161-168). He found great peace and hope in the Word.

The Fulani people are now able to discover the "great treasure" (v.162) of God's Word. Would you agree with the Crickmores that any effort and sacrifice to get the Bible to others is "a fair trade"?  - Anne Cetas

The Bible brings great hope and peace,
Beyond all earthly measure;
So we must share it with all those
Who don't possess this treasure. -Sper


One measure of our love for God is what we're willing to do to share His Word with others.

Rejoicing in God's Mercy

We all are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son.  After he had wasted his inheritance, he came to his senses and returned home, hoping he could just be a servant to his father.

His father wouldn't even consider it.  He put the best robe on him, put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, and then had the fatted calf killed for a party.  The father delighted in showing mercy to his son!

But what about the older brother?  He stood outside the party and wouldn't come in to celebrate.  He was so angry!  He had never messed up and yet his father had never thrown him a party!

Sometimes, if we are not careful, we can have the attitude of that older son.  We can look at the lives of others and think, "That is not fair.  I know he's been messing up, and God is blessing him.  What's up with that?  I haven't been as bad as him!"

We need to remember that God delights in showing mercy to the guilty when, from a sincere heart, they seek that mercy.  He delights when you and I ask for His mercy when we have blown it.

Micah 6:7-8 says,

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil?  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

God delights in showing mercy.  So be a person of mercy, and rejoice when God shows mercy to someone who needs it.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: Micah 7:1-7
I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. - Micah 7:7

TODAY IN THE WORD
In his famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," theologian Jonathan Edwards said: "Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may cry now with some encouragement of obtaining mercy; but when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain . . . you will be a vessel of wrath fitted to destruction; and there will be no other use of this vessel but only to be filled full of wrath: God will be so far from pitying you when you cry to him, that "˜tis said he will only laugh and mock, Prov. 1:25-32."
The glory of God's mercy is matched only by the fearsomeness of His judgment. And though His justice is a beautiful thing, judgment on sin is a necessity to be grieved, for it represents the doom that people bring on themselves by rebelling against God. That's why the tone of today's reading is a sad one. Micah was the speaker in these verses, and the "misery" (v. 1) was his. He felt like a man on an empty quest-godliness was "out of season." He got no pleasure from delivering bad news, even though his words were true and even though he did so in obedience to the Lord.

Micah brought dark news because he lived in dark days (vv. 2-6). They were characterized by a lack of righteous individuals. Generally, people acted in violent, greedy, and self-seeking ways. Close relationships meant nothing-friends and neighbors were not to be trusted. Family responsibilities were turned on their heads, as brother hunted brother and sons dishonored their fathers. Leaders didn't serve the people but rather were corrupted by bribes and power. Nothing was as it should have been. Sin and disorder often go hand in hand, and these people would reap what they had sown. Despite all, Micah did find one reason for hope-God Himself! (v. 7).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jonathan Edwards, quoted in today's illustration, was a profound Christian thinker who is part of a rich tradition. The works of many classic Christian writers are available free at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Web site, www.ccel.org. You can subscribe to a free e-newsletter that highlights historical writers from the impressive archives. There are various "discussion rooms" and part of the CCEL is devoted to hymns. This resource can add much to your knowledge and understanding of Christian history and theology.

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PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!
.

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 13, 2009

Getting "In The Way"
READ: John 14:1-6
Jesus said . . . , "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." -John 14:6

The ancient Romans were known for their roads, which crisscrossed their empire with wide, heavily traveled highways. It's what Jesus' audience would have pictured when He claimed, "I am the way" in John 14:6.

While this verse indicates that He is the way to heaven, there's really more to His statement. Cutting through the underbrush of the dense jungle of our world, Jesus is our trail-guide who makes a new way for us to live. While many follow the way of the world by loving their friends and hating their enemies, Jesus carves out a new way: "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you" (Matt. 5:44). It's easy to judge and criticize others, but Jesus the Way-maker says to take the plank out of our own eye first (7:3-4). And He cuts a path for us to live with generosity instead of greed (Luke 12:13-34).

When Jesus said "I am the way," He was calling us to leave the old ways that lead to destruction and to follow Him in His new way for us to live. In fact, the word follow (Mark 8:34) literally means, "to be found in the way" with Him. You and I can make the choice to travel the familiar and ultimately destructive ways, or we can follow Him and be found in the way with the One who is the way!  - Joe Stowell

As people of the Lord we're called
To follow in His way;
And though the world won't understand,
They'll see Him on display. -Sper


We don't need to see the way if we're following the One who is the Way.

Becoming a Person of Mercy

Luke 6:38 tells us,

"Give, and it will be given to you:  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

It is not unusual to hear this verse used in connection with giving money to the Lord's work.  And while there is a principle concerning money embedded in this verse, Jesus was not talking about giving an offering when He made this statement.  That was not the subject under discussion.

In order to understand what He was really talking about, you need to read verses 35-37,

"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Jesus wanted to impress on us this truth:  If you give forgiveness, and you give love, and you give mercy, they come back to you in good measure, pressed down, shaken together. 

He wanted us to understand that by the same measure you and I give these things, it will come back to us.  But if you and I measure out judgment and condemnation, guess what gets measured back to us?

Make a commitment today to become a person of mercy, not seeking anything in return.  Become known as someone who reflects our God of mercy to a broken and needy world. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!



Read: Micah 7:8-13
Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. - Micah 7:8

TODAY IN THE WORD
Inner City Impact (ICI) is an urban ministry that since 1972 has reached out to at-risk Chicago youth. ICI's mission is "to present the living Christ, primarily to unchurched inner city children and youth, discipling and integrating them into a local church." The focus is on winning kids to Christ, grounding them in the Word, and building discipling relationships so they can grow in their faith. Ministry activities include Bible studies, after-school clubs, summer and winter camp adventures, sports, tutoring, mentoring, and leadership development.
ICI faithfully proclaims God's hope in places where hope is sorely needed. The prophet Micah had the same privilege. After grieving the coming judgment, he-as the prophets so often did-turned the focus from people to God. In today's reading the speaker is both Micah and the entire nation, and the first thing he/they have to say is, "I will rise" (vv. 8-10). Disaster is coming-but there will be a turning point in this downward plot movement, not due to luck or heroism but because of the Lord's loving plan. Responsibility for sin is acknowledged; it is because of His righteousness, not theirs, that darkness will turn to light and those who have fallen will get up. Based on their disobedient behavior, they have no right to expect God to turn from accuser to defender, but they expect it anyway based on His covenant faithfulness.

The fact that God's name will again be glorified leads into a second message, "The day will come" (vv. 11-13). There will be a day when the exiles return home and the walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt. There will be a day for spiritual renewal and revival. There will be a day when all nations go up to the mountain of the Lord to worship (4:2). There will be a day when justice is done and sins are punished. This is hope, not in the sense of wishful thinking, but as a sure certainty in the promises of God.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The prophets took no pleasure in speaking messages of judgment, but rather delighted in proclaiming the greatness of God and His redemptive plans. We are to proclaim the message of God in the same spirit. Though sin and the penalty of death are certainly part of the gospel message and must be communicated, the focus should be on life in Christ and His resurrection as our sure hope. Who in your life needs to hear the gospel? Pray for an opportunity to share it before the month is out.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!
.

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 15, 2009

Meditate On These Things
READ: Psalm 119:89-105
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. -Psalm 145:5

Some Christians get a little skeptical when you start talking about meditation-not seeing the huge distinction between biblical meditation and some types of mystical meditation. In mystical meditation, according to one explanation, "the rational mind is shifted into neutral . . . so that the psyche can take over." The focus is inward, and the aim is to "become one with God."

In contrast, biblical meditation focuses on the things of the Lord, and its purpose is to renew our minds (Rom. 12:2) so that we think and act more like Christ. Its objective is to reflect on what God has said and done (Ps. 77:12; 119:15-16,97) and on what He is like (48:9-14).

In Psalm 19:14, David wrote, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord." Other psalms reflect on God's love (48:9), His deeds (77:12), His law (119:97), and His testimonies (119:99).

Fill your mind with Scripture and focus on the Lord's commands and promises and goodness. And remember this: Whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, "if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:.  - Cindy Hess Kasper

Of all God's creatures, only man
Can worship, meditate, and plan;
The gift of thought sets him apart
To love the Lord with all his heart. -D. De Haan


To become more like Christ, meditate on who He is.

Obedience and Respect

I am sure most Christian parents, at one time or another, have pointed their children to Colossians 3:20,

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Or to Ephesians 6:1-3,

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

These two character qualities of obeying and honoring parents are vital to pleasing God.  But it is important to understand that obedience has to do with an outward act, while honoring has to do with an inward attitude of the heart.

As parents, we all can remember those times when our children may have been outwardly obedient but were being inwardly disrespectful. You may have gotten them to sit down in the corner, but while they sat there, they were thinking, "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside!"

If you are a parent, it is critical for you to deal just as swiftly with a disrespectful attitude as it is with a disobedient act.  It is part of your God-given role of teaching your children obedience and respect for authority.

As your children learn how to obey and respect, you will not only bring them peace, they will experience God's blessing in their lives.

So as you work to raise your children to be the people God desires them to be, make a priority of teaching your children the qualities of respect for authority and obedience. Someday they will bless you for it!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!
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Read: Micah 7:14-20
You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us. - Micah 7:18-19

TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1960, Ruby Bridges was a six-year-old girl who crossed barriers of racism and prejudice to integrate an elementary school in New Orleans. So many white parents pulled their children out of the school that she was the only child in her class. Each day, she entered the school escorted by federal marshals past crowds of angry protesters. Her teacher once asked her what she said to them. Raised in a strong Christian home, she replied, "I was praying. I was praying for them. Please, God, try to forgive those people. Because even if they say those bad things, they don't know what they are doing." Four decades later, Ruby wrote: "The things people yelled at me didn't seem to touch me. Prayer was my protection."
Forgiveness is one of God's key attributes. He delights in pardoning and showing mercy, even on the heels of His righteous anger. As the book of Micah draws to a close in today's reading, the phrase "Shepherd your people" is at the same time a prayer and an affirmation, a yearning for the covenant relationship to be restored (v. 14). God answers this heartfelt cry, promising that He will, as in the days when He freed Israel from slavery in Egypt and brought His people to the Promised Land, show them His wonders (v. 15). When His sovereign plan has been fully revealed and accomplished, the nations will be ashamed of their doubt and disobedience (vv. 16-17). Like Job, they will put their hands over their mouths with nothing to say. They will be humbled and turn to the Lord in holy fear.

The last few verses of Micah powerfully remind us that it's all about God (vv. 18-20). He is the one true God, worthy to be worshiped. He delights in mercy and forgiveness, not at all like the wrongly stereotyped "God of the Old Testament." His righteous anger is followed by His loving compassion. He is eager to forgive, to "tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." He keeps His promises because faithfulness is His essential character.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Can you identify three "takeaways" from the book of Micah? A "takeaway" is a spiritual truth or principle that really spoke to you. It's somewhat objective, because it's God's truth, and it's somewhat subjective, because it made a significant impact on you at this point in your life. Jot down three "takeaways" in your notes or spiritual journal so that you can refer back later to see what God has shown you from this book. If you're not sure, take some time to read back through Micah and the devotions of the last two weeks.


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 16, 2009

Ongoing Encouragement
READ: Colossians 3:14-25
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. -Colossians 3:21

Father's Day is celebrated in many countries worldwide. Although the origins, activities, and actual day of observance differ widely, they all share the common thread of honoring fathers for their role as parents.

This year for Father's Day, I've decided to do something different. Instead of waiting to receive a card or phone call from my children, I'm sending words of appreciation to them and to my wife. After all, without them, I wouldn't be a dad.

Paul instructed fathers to be a positive part of their children's development rather than a source of anger and discouragement. He wrote, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (Col. 3:21). Both of these verses are embedded in passages about loving and honoring each other in family relationships.

The role of a father changes as children grow, but it doesn't end. Praise and encouragement are welcomed whether a child is 4 or 40. Prayer is always powerful. And it's never too soon to mend a broken relationship with a son or daughter.

Fathers, now is a good time to tell your children how much you love and appreciate them.  - David C. McCasland

Our children need encouragement,
Expressions of our love and care;
Appreciation, when expressed,
Accentuates the bond we share. -Sper

The greatest gift a father can give to his children is himself.

Embracing the Blessings of God

Ephesians 1:3 is a verse that is often misunderstood.  It tells us,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

I used to read that and wonder what in the world a spiritual blessing in a heavenly place in Christ really was!  I truly believed that I had been blessed with it, but I didn't have a clue what it meant. 

Then one day as I studied, I found out that the word spiritual literally means Holy Spirit-conferred.  The Amplified Bible helps clarify the meaning when it says, He has blessed us with every Holy Spirit-given blessing.

What it means, literally, is that the blessings you and I enjoy as believers in Jesus Christ come from heaven's vast resources.  And they have already been conferred on us.  Isn't that awesome?!

But there is something more.  These Holy Spirit-conferred blessings include any blessing and benefit we get from God, be it material, physical, emotional, or spiritual.

So, when God heals you, it is a blessing being conferred through the agency of His Spirit.  When God brings peace to your troubled heart, that is a blessing from the Holy Spirit.  And when God supernaturally supplies material needs, that is the Holy Spirit at work blessing you from the vast resources of heaven!

But here is what I really want you to grasp.  Based on this verse, all those blessings have already been given.  They have been issued.  On God's side of the ledger, they are a done deal.  He has already signed them and sent them.

So praise God for...and embrace...His blessings in your life!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: Habakkuk 1:1-4
Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? - Habakkuk 1:3

TODAY IN THE WORD
The "problem of evil" is a philosophical dilemma that has troubled believers throughout history. It goes something like this: If God is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful, how can evil, suffering, disaster, and death exist in the world? If He is all-loving, wouldn't He want to end these things? And if He is all-knowing, wouldn't He know how? And if He is all-powerful, wouldn't He be able to do so? If He really is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful, how can we explain these things? But if He is not all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful, how can He be God?
The problem of evil is not only an issue raised by unbelievers, for we find people wrestling with it in the pages of Scripture as well. The prophet Habakkuk was one of them. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah whose book seems to have been written just before 605 b.c., the date of Babylon's first invasion of Judah (see Jeremiah 46). This short book feels more like a psalm than a prophecy because it revolves around a dialogue with God rather than a message for the nation. Habakkuk's name means "embracer," which various commentators have interpreted to indicate his love for God, his love for the people, or God's love for him (a man embraced by God).

Habakkuk poses his essential question early in this book: Why does evil go unpunished? (v. 3). From a human perspective, God appears to be not listening, not paying attention, or not doing anything (v. 2). The prophet feels forced to watch things that God should not be allowing or tolerating. The sin he sees is that of his own people, and like the psalmists his words reflect anger, grief, and a desire for justice. Yet justice is not being done and is even being perverted or twisted out of shape (v. 4). Is God paralyzed? How can people sow sin and not reap judgment? Morally and spiritually, things are the opposite of what they should be.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The perversion of justice deeply bothered the prophet Habakkuk, and it should bother us as well. One suggestion for making a difference against contemporary social injustice is to purchase a worship CD entitled CompassionArt: Creating Freedom from Poverty. Some of the biggest names in Christian songwriting participated in a spiritual retreat, during which they wrote the songs for this album, with 100 percent of the royalties going to help those in need. More information is available at http://www.compassionart.tv.


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 17, 2009

My Two Cents
READ: Acts 2:40-47
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. -Proverbs 3:27

Recently, our family had to change Internet cable services. Our former provider promised to send us a postage-paid box to mail their equipment back to them. We waited. No box came. I phoned. The promised box still did not arrive, but we did get a bill for the equipment!

Wanting to get this resolved, I decided to return it at my own expense. I sent several faxes asking if they received it-but no reply. Then I got a refund check of $.02 for the returned equipment! An experience like that can be frustrating. A simple transaction was complicated by poor communication.

Sadly, some people in our churches may encounter an impersonal response to their needs. Whether seeking marital counseling, childcare, guidance for a troubled teen, or a loving community, they come away feeling uncared for.

The first-century church was not perfect, but it faithfully helped others. The church at Jerusalem "divided [their goods] among all, as anyone had need" (Acts 2:45).

Good communication is the starting point for learning others' needs. This enables us to provide personal and practical help to people when they need it. Resources, both material and spiritual, can then be directed to each person as the object of God's personal love.  - Dennis Fisher

All who serve within the church
Should show by word and deed
A sensitivity to those
Who have a special need. -D. De Haan


God cares for you-care for others.

Enjoying the Fullness of Your Inheritance

In Galatians 4:1-5, the apostle Paul helps us understand what it means to be part of God's family,

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Adoption in Roman society was very different from adoption today.  When a flesh and blood son reached the age of maturity, he was "adopted" into his own family.  Until that time, he was considered a child, and he was under the tutelage of a household slave.

We are heirs because of adoption.  What does this mean?  It means that God is well pleased when we assume our place as mature sons of God, exercising our authority and enjoying the fullness of our inheritance.  But most Christians don't do this.

Not long ago, I learned about a particular website that can tell you if you have any money anywhere that you don't know about.  There are literally hundreds of millions of dollars sitting unused in trust funds or accounts that people don't know about.

A lot of Christians operate this way.  They have this incredible inheritance that belongs to them, this incredible authority that has been given to them, and they are unaware of it.  And, friend, that does not bring pleasure to God.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: Habakkuk 1:5-11
I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. - Habakkuk 1:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Conrad Maier-Sogheg made a lot of money, enough to deposit $10,000 per day to his bank account in Georgia. How did an unemployed man manage this? It turns out he was literally making money, printing his own bills from inside a rented storage unit. He used laser templates, special paper, and a variety of chemicals, including baby powder, to create his counterfeits. Said one police officer: "It's the best counterfeit scheme I have seen in my law enforcement career. The bills look and feel real." How was he caught? He failed to pay the rent on his storage unit, and when workers went to empty it out they discovered the scam.
"You may be sure that your sin will find you out," the Bible warns (Num. 32:23). Justice is inevitable. That's exactly how God answered Habakkuk's first question. He told him that justice was about to be done, that the nation's punishment for sin and covenant-breaking was imminent. It would not be allowed to continue indefinitely. This was not a prophecy of the distant future, for God told the prophet it would happen "in your days" (v. 5).

What was He going to do? He planned to raise up the Babylonians and use them to conquer Judah. This is stunning in at least two ways-spiritually, in that a pagan nation would be used to judge God's people, and politically, in that the mighty Assyrians were about to be displaced as a world superpower. The imagery relates mostly to hunting and prey. Like a leopard or vulture, the Babylonians would descend upon their hapless victims. They would be as irresistible as a desert wind, defeating even those seemingly secure in fortified cities. But God was under no illusion about the Babylonians. He knew they were idolators. He knew they would be "ruthless" and portrayed them as typical conquerors (vv. 6-7), that is, as proud lovers of power and domination who would be dreaded by others and "whose own strength is their god" (v. 11).

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When reading biblical prophecy, it is helpful to have handy a timeline or chronology of events. Otherwise, we can get lost in the various historical episodes that are presented as past, present, and future from the prophet's perspective. If your Bible has such a timeline among its resources, we encourage you to study it along with this month's devotionals. If not, or if you're looking for something more in-depth, you can obtain a reference such as The Chronology of the Old Testament (book and CD-ROM), by Dr. Floyd Nolen Jones.

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PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals June 18, 2009

Passionate Boldness
READ: Acts 4:5-13
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, . . . they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. -Acts 4:13

A young man was preaching to the passersby in Hounslow, on the outskirts of London, England. Most ignored him, a few ridiculed, and several stopped to listen. But regardless of the reaction of the people, he was undeterred. With a strong voice and clear resolve, he poured out his heart-not with the words of an angry prophet, but with deep concern for the men and women on that street. His eyes, facial expressions, and tone of voice revealed an attitude of compassion, not condemnation. In it all, he boldly shared the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 4, when the church was still new, Peter and John also boldly addressed the people of their generation. The response of the leaders of their day? "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus" (v.13). That boldness was not the fruit of ministerial training but of much time spent in the presence of the Master. As a result, they had become passionate about what concerned Christ-the eternal destiny of men and women.

That same passionate boldness was on the face of the young man in Hounslow. Do people see it in us?  - Bill Crowder

Will you be bold in your witness
By giving lost sinners God's Word?
Jesus will honor your service,
And sinners will surely be stirred. -Bosch

A Christian is an ambassador who speaks for the King of kings.

Blessed to Be a Blessing

Our capitalistic society is geared toward one purpose...people accumulating wealth.  While there is nothing wrong with material abundance, many Christians today have lost sight of why God has blessed them with prosperity.

They believe it is for their own good and benefit, but God's perspective is quite different.  For example, here is what the writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 13:16,

But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Now the phrase "to share" means to share with others.  One translation says, Share what you have.  Another version translates this, Be generous.  Another says, Contribute to the needy.

You see, God blesses us to make us a blessing!  That ought to be the main motivation for desiring and praying for God's blessing in our lives.  God told Abraham, "I'm going to bless you, and you will be a blessing."  God says the fringe benefit is that, "I will give you richly all things to enjoy."  But the main flow of God's purpose in blessing us is so we can help other people.

It is also the reason we should desire the inheritance that Christ has given to us, all of those Holy Spirit-conferred blessings, which we discussed on day 14.  Why?  Because we can't give what we don't have.  You can't bless someone if you don't have anything to bless them with!

God is well pleased to see us walk in our inheritance as sons, but He is also well pleased to see us share what He has blessed us with.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Habakkuk 2:2-11
Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin! - Habakkuk 2:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
A skeptic once asked a minister if he really believed the Bible. Yes, he was told. "Is there anything you can't explain?" was the next question. Yes again-the minister even showed him the question marks in the margins of his Bible. Surprised, the skeptic asked, "What do you do with all the things you can't explain?" "Very simple," the minister replied. "I do the same thing I'm doing with this fish I'm eating. I eat the meat and push all the bones to the side of the plate, and then let any fool that wants to choke over them."
Our finite minds cannot fully comprehend the ways of our infinite God. Even so, He communicates and reveals Himself in ways that we can understand. So God answered Habakkuk's second question, at least as far as the prophet could understand the answer. As we see today and tomorrow, He assured him that the evil instrument of Judah's punishment would in turn be punished and that the scales of justice would balance in the end. Babylon would fall.

God certainly agreed with Habakkuk's moral estimate of the Babylonians (vv. 4-5). They were proud and lusted for power. "He is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied." This didn't square with the principle that the righteous live by faith (or faithfulness), a truth quoted in the New Testament in several places (such as Rom. 1:17).

That's why God pronounced five woes on the Babylonians. The first (vv. 6-8) said that the plunderers would become the plundered-unjust gains must be paid for. The second (vv. 9-11) indicated that the plotters of ruin would themselves be ruined and that no one is beyond the reach of God's sovereign hand. These "woes" are statements of judgment as well as "taunt songs"-a literary form in which losers are mocked. The wicked will receive justice from the hand of God in His due time. The basic idea is, "They finally got their just desserts, they had it coming."
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Now that you've asked God your toughest questions (yesterday's "Today Along the Way"), the next step is another challenging assignment: Wait (v. 3). Wait patiently for His answer, whenever it comes, in whatever form it comes. Living by faith means waiting in hope for "that day" to arrive. As with the prophecies recorded by Habakkuk and others, it might be tomorrow, next year, next century, or even farther in the future. But God will answer, and our faith will be vindicated!

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!