Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 11, 2009

God's Masterpieces
READ: Ephesians 2:1-10
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:10

The Grand Rapids Art Museum has over 5,000 works of art, including 3,500 prints, drawings, and photographs; 1,000 works of design; and 700 paintings and sculptures. As I read about the new museum and anticipated visiting, I couldn't help but think about God's "museum."

God is an artist, and His creation is unspeakably magnificent. But it is not His greatest work! God's greatest work is His redemption of us. When we were still dead in our sins, He made us alive in His Son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:1,5). Paul reminded the Ephesians that they were God's "workmanship," or poiema (v.10), a Greek term that means "poem" or "work of art." God's art museum is the church, filled with millions of marvelous works-His people.

Being God's work of art, Paul said, should result in something from us. We are not supposed to sit silently in the museum of fellowship. Rather, we are to show God's love in practical ways through our good works. Jesus said these good works glorify our heavenly Father (Matt. 5:16).

God did not re-create us in His Son to be museum pieces. He redeemed us so that our good works would showcase the brilliant colors of His redemption and grace, and draw a world in darkness to the light of His love.  - Marvin Williams

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer,
With His blood He purchased me;
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free. -Bliss

They witness best who witness with their lives.

Have You Dug a Pit for Others?

In order to get out of the pits, you need to make sure you haven't dug any pits for others.  Psalm 7:14-16 tells us,

Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.  He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made.  His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.

Then there is Psalm 9:15-16,

The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.  The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

Finally, Psalm 57:6,

They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.

When people dig a pit for somebody else, they end up falling into it themselves.  In fact, Proverbs 26:27 says it most directly,

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

Pretty plain, isn't it?  If you are asking God to get you out of a pit, you need to take time to consider if it is a pit of your own construction.  If you have done something to get someone else in trouble-even if you think you are justified in doing it because that person has hurt you-you need to repent.  Until there is repentance, God will not intervene.

God is not going to get you out of your pit while you have a shovel in your hand.   

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: 1 John 3:1-3
Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. - Romans 5:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Searching desperately for Sohrab, Amir visited a dilapidated orphanage in war-ravaged Afghanistan. Barefoot children in frayed sweaters played among steel-framed beds without mattresses. The orphanage director explained that there is "little shelter, almost no food, no clothes, and no clean water." Taliban leaders visited regularly to exploit the children in exchange for money; if he denied them one child, they would take ten. Yet the orphanage director continued to sacrifice everything to care for the children. When this scene from The Kite Runner ends, a tiny ray of hope flickers that one day redemption and healing will come to the children. Similar hope of renewal fills our passage today.
Chapter 3 erupts with celebration (v. 1). God, Creator and King, calls us His children; He is our Father. We are adopted into His family. The word lavished evokes images of royal hospitality extended toward a pauper. The Father's love is abundant, expansive, and immeasurable.

John illuminates the identity of God's children. Those who receive Jesus and believe in His name inherit this birthright (see John 1:12), not by natural birth, but through spiritual rebirth. Paul teaches that the Spirit testifies to our adoption and we are co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 4:6-7). God's children are united with Christ: just as the unbelieving world did not recognize Jesus as sent from God, it will not recognize us (v. 1).

Notice the present and future indicators (v. 2). We are now God's children; at Christ's return, we will be like Him in His purity, "for we shall see him as he is"-not as in His earthly ministry, not even by faith as we do now, but in the fullness of His heavenly glory (v. 3). The hope of becoming like Christ in the future ignites our desire to become like Him in the present. In response to God's love and this future hope, we obey Christ's commands and trust that presently God is transforming us into Christ's likeness through the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today, in response to God's lavish love for you in Christ, spend time in prayerful adoration and thanksgiving. Meditate on the Father's love for you, focusing on these passages: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 124:1-8; Luke 15:11-32. If you feel like expressing your thoughts, you could write a poem or song of gratitude as you bask in the Father's love. Or sing "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" or another worship song that expresses your praise for God's love.

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PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 12, 2009

Pioneer Of The Pioneers

READ: 2 Corinthians 5:12-21
I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation. -Romans 15:20

In the early 19th century, US President Thomas Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase, stretching the borders of the fledgling republic "from sea to shining sea."

The problem, however, was that no one really knew what was in that vast expanse of land. Maps would be needed, with clear instructions for the pioneers who would travel to the Pacific. Explorers Lewis and Clark became, in effect, the pioneers of the pioneers-preparing the way for the most massive land migration in US history. They cut a new trail that others would follow.

The apostle Paul's commitment to ministry was framed by a similar priority. In Romans 15:20, he wrote, "I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation." He wanted his efforts in ministry to cut a new trail-and others followed. Timothy, Titus, Mark, and Silas are just a few who followed the trail that Paul blazed.

Today that commitment is seen in Jesus' followers who take the message of the Savior to the uttermost parts of the world. As we pray today, let's ask for God's blessing on His Word as we, His "ambassadors," cut a new trail in our generation (2 Cor. 5:20).  - Bill Crowder

Be this our common enterprise:
That truth be preached and prayer arise,
That each may seek the other's good
And live and love as Jesus would! -Brewster
© 1967, Singspiration.


God gave you a message to share; don't keep it to yourself.

Are You Rebelling Against Authority?

If you are in the pits, you need to make sure you are not in rebellion against God's established authority, or aligned with those who are.

In Numbers 16 there is an instructive story of Korah and his followers.  They openly confronted Moses and Aaron, and challenged whether they were really God's ordained leaders. 

Moses and Aaron were flawed and fallible just like every one of us, but Korah wanted to usurp authority that did not belong to him.

God had placed Moses and Aaron in their position of authority, but Korah tried to undermine that authority and lead people against them.

Look at the result of Korah's rebellion.  Moses is speaking in verses 30 and 31,

"But if the LORD creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD."  Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

Notice that it was not just Korah who was destroyed.  All those who were aligned with him also went into the pit.

I don't think the ground is going to open up under you if you rebel against the authority that God has set up.  But you may find yourself in an emotional, physical, or financial pit that you cannot get out of until you get the rebellion out of you.

If you are in a pit today, check your heart and make sure you are not in rebellion against God's ordained authority.   

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: 1 John 3:4-6
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. - John 15:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Repentance is not simply being sorry for something you did. Repentance is being sorry that you are the kind of person who does what you did. Following Jesus is not simply about forgiveness; it is also about transformation, becoming like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). Yesterday we celebrated the Father's lavish love for us in Christ, but the author of 1 John does not leave us to cruise on autopilot. Our adoption into God's family comes with an imperative: we cannot live in Christ and continue to live in sin (v. 6).
Verse 4 parallels verse 3 from yesterday's passage. Both verses begin with "Everyone": everyone who is a child of God is moving along a trajectory of purity, becoming like Christ who is pure (v. 3); everyone who sins is on a trajectory of rebellion against God (v. 4). To sin is to break God's law. John explains that at its root, sin is a refusal to submit to God's lawful standards. It is a selfish flouting of God's moral guidelines, a refusal to live in accordance with love (2:3-11).

Verse 5 reminds us that Jesus is completely without sin (cf. 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22; Heb. 4:15). In order to live in Jesus, we who are sinful must be purified. Thus, verse 5 also reminds us that Jesus Christ came to take away our sins. Notice first that whereas verses 1 through 3 speak of Christ's Second Coming, here "appeared" refers to His Incarnation or first coming (v. 5).

Now, what does it mean to say that Jesus takes away our sins? It means that He has forgiven us and rescued us from spiritual death, the ultimate consequence of sin. Considering the exhortation in verse 6, it also means that Christ has freed us from the bondage of sin, so that we have the ability to become more like Him. We are empowered through the Spirit to discontinue our life characterized by sinful behavior and rebellion against God. If we live in Jesus, we cannot persist in ongoing sinfulness. We might still sin, but our response will be repentance and gratitude for forgiveness.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We must be vigilant against persistent, indwelling sin. Spend time in reflection, using the following prayer: "Merciful Father, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbor as myself. Please forgive me, transform me into the likeness of your Son, and incline my heart to walk in your ways." Close by rejoicing in God's redemption (Rom. 8:1-4).


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 13, 2009

He Watches Me
READ: Matthew 10:16-31
Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. -Matthew 10:31

One Sunday morning at church, we sang "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" as a congregational hymn. It was a rare opportunity to give voice to a song usually performed by a soloist.

During the first chorus, I noticed a friend who was weeping so hard that he couldn't sing. Knowing a bit of what he had been through recently, I recognized his tears as ones of joy at realizing that, no matter what our situation, God sees, knows, and cares for us.

Jesus said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:29-31). The Lord spoke these words to His 12 disciples as He sent them out to teach, heal, and bear witness of Him to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (v.6). He told them that even though they would face persecution for His sake, they should not be afraid, even of death (vv.22-26).

When threatening circumstances press us to lose hope, we can find encouragement in the words of this song: "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free. For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." We are under His watchful care.  - David C. McCasland

If God sees the sparrow's fall,
Paints the lilies short and tall,
Gives the skies their azure hue,
Will He not then care for you? -Anon.


When you put your cares in God's hands, He puts His peace in your heart.

Are You Obeying God's Warnings?

The third thing you should check in your life, if indeed you are in the pits, is to make sure you have obeyed God's warnings.

God does warn us, but we must listen to those warnings.  As Job 33:14-18 says,

For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it.  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.  In order to turn man from his deed, and conceal pride from man, He keeps back his soul from the Pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

God always tries to warn us to keep us out of the pits and to keep our lives from danger.  And He speaks in many different ways.  Sometimes, as we read here, God will speak to us even through a dream.

As I look at my own life, I can see that I have fallen into pits at various times because I did not listen to God's warnings.  There have been times I have been too busy to perceive the fact that God was talking to me.  It wasn't that God wasn't warning me.  He was.  I just had a bunch of other things going on in my life and was not taking time to listen to Him.

He is always faithful to warn us.   It's just that we are not always faithful to listen.  So if you find yourself in a pit today because you did not heed God's warning, just say, "God, I'm sorry."  Repent.  God will forgive you.  And you will be in the position to receive His deliverance.   

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: 1 John 3:7-10
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. - 1 John 3:8

TODAY IN THE WORD
"She called me chip o' block," the toddler cried, describing the affront by her cousin. The child's tears quickly dried as her aunt explained that "chip off the old block" in this case meant that the little girl resembled her mother, a compliment and not an insult. We all reflect our parents in some way, whether our physical appearance, personality, or preferences. In today's passage, children of God are compared with children of the devil, and the identifying markers are found in actions.
The author again warns of the deceivers that were referenced in 2:18-29 and gives another litmus test to distinguish these faulty trail guides. Verse 7 parallels verse 8. The letter repeats some earlier themes: John encourages us to do what is right, including walking in the light (1:7), obeying his word (2:4-6), and loving one another (2:9-11). When we do these, we are righteous, reflecting Christ, the Righteous One (2:1).

The contrast is doing what is sinful. There are no neutral origins; sinful actions are "of the devil." The echo of Genesis 3 and 4 recalls Satan's sin, lying about what God said to Adam and Eve and then crouching at Cain's door (cf. John 8:42-46). Followers of Jesus live under the influence of the Holy Spirit abiding in them. Those who do not follow Christ live under the influence of the Evil One and are seduced by him.

Do not miss the powerful ending of verse 8. Jesus came to take away our sins (v. 5) and to destroy the devil's work (v. . God came in the flesh to undo the work of the Evil One. Christ did not come only to stop the Devil from killing, stealing, and destroying, but also to adopt us into a new family-to redeem us from being the devil's children to being God's children. Our adoption was a rescue mission. Through Christ's death and resurrection, we have been given new birth from God and freedom from sin. This is why "no one born of God will continue to sin" (v. 9).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Verse 7 sounds a warning. What leads you astray? Is it people (false teachers, deceivers, or divisive people) or things (consumerism, sexual misconduct, media, gossip, laziness, or lies)? Be vigilant; pray for protection from the Evil One. Christian musicians, Casting Crowns, capture how easily we can slip away from following Christ in their song "Slow Fade": "It's a slow fade, when you give yourself away, when black and white turn to gray; thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid; People never crumble in a day."

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
~

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 14, 2009

First Church Of The Lampstand
READ: Revelation 1:10-2:5
Repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand. - Revelation 2:5

I love it when churches have names like "King of Glory Lutheran Church" or "Alpha and Omega Missionary Baptist Church." If the church in Ephesus were still around, maybe we'd call them something nifty like "First Church of the Lampstand."

We often miss the significance of John's glorious vision in Revelation 1 of Jesus standing among the seven golden lampstands. These weren't just decorative candelabras but substantial sources of light. How significant, then, that the lampstands represent the seven churches who were called to bring the light of Jesus into a very dark world.

We live in a dark world that desperately needs the candlepower of Christ shining through us. Let's be careful, then, not to repeat the mistake of the Ephesians who "left [their] first love" (Rev. 2:4). Although praised for doing many things well, they had failed to keep Jesus in first place.

It's easy to let things crowd Jesus out until soon we're doing "church work" for all the wrong reasons. What then? We lose our impact. Jesus warned, "Repent and do the first works, or else I will . . . remove your lampstand from its place" (v.5). We can't afford to let that happen. Keep Jesus in first place so that His light will continue to shine brightly in this dark world.  - Joe Stowell

Lord, help us always put You first
In everything we say and do
So that Your light will shine through us
And show the world their need of You. -Sper

Works that are done out of love for Jesus shine brightest in a dark world.

The Pit of Immorality

In the last several devotionals, we have discovered a variety of ways to get out of the pits.  Today, I want you to focus on something that is an increasing problem in the Church today.  Immorality.

Solomon tells us in Proverbs 22:14,

The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; he who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there.

And he says in Proverbs 23:27,

For a harlot is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well.

Immorality is a deep pit.  A pit that is difficult to get out of once you have gotten yourself into it.  Not only do you get physically involved with another, there is an emotional entanglement that is not that easy to get out of.

Solomon also says immorality is a narrow well.  It is binding, restrictive, and it suffocates your spiritual life.  If you are seeking God for deliverance while continuing to engage in immoral behavior, your effort is fruitless.

If you are in the pits today because of an immoral relationship, you must cut off that relationship before seeking God's deliverance.  If you will ask God for help after you have repented and cut off that relationship, He will help you beyond anything you could imagine.

God is a merciful God.  And He has the ability to work something for good even in a situation like this.  If you are truly repentant and broken, God can do something good.

God is the only One who can break something and make it more valuable.  I break things, and they lose their value.  But when God breaks something, it becomes more valuable.

If you are in an immoral relationship, stop it, repent, and He will forgive you, and bring you out of your pit.   

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: 1 John 3:11-18
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. - 1 John 3:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
The end of yesterday's passage anticipates the whole of today's study. Doing what is right generally is manifested in loving one another specifically. Genuine love for fellow believers is one of the identifying marks of God's children. Today's text depicts what loving one another is not (vv. 12-15), and then describes what loving one another is (vv. 16-18). Today we'll explore the remarkable contrast.
The opposite of loving one another is hatred, for which Cain is the prototype (see Gen. 4:1-25). The brewing jealousy in Cain's heart bloomed into murder. The author is not talking about "other people." We are not off the hook of this exhortation. The readers of 1 John 3 are to reflect on the murderous thoughts and intents of their own hearts.

v At first, verse 13 might seem misplaced, but Jesus' message to His disciples in the Upper Room clarifies the connection. Jesus' exhortation to love one another (John 15:9-17) is followed immediately by the lesson that the world will hate His followers (15:18-25). In order to face the inevitable hostilities and persecution of unbelievers, Jesus' followers must love one another.

Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on the cross is the prototype of loving one another and provides the absolute contrast to Cain. Hatred results in the death of others; love results in the death of self, the laying down of one's life (v. 16). Eternal life is not an infinite extension of life as we know it; it is new, resurrection life in Jesus. Our lives become newly defined by Christ and His love-we are not only reconciled to God, but also to one another (vv. 14-15).

Verses 17 and 18 apply the call to lay down our lives in very practical terms. We are invited to love generously, expending our resources to relieve the needs of others (cf. Deut. 15:7-9; James 2:15-16). This cannot be reduced to a metaphor for spiritual poverty. The passage is talking about material needs, and love ought to manifest "with actions and in truth" (v. 18).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The resounding message of today's text is that "we should love one another" (v. 11), "not with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth" (v. 18). The early church embodied Christ's love toward one another (see Acts 2:42-46). Is there a brother or sister in Christ you know who is in need? Pray and ask God how He is leading you to embody His love, and begin praying for Christ's generous, sacrificial love to characterize you more and more.
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PRAY, PRAY, PRAY

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 15, 2009

Love Is For Losers?
READ: 1 Corinthians 13
Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. -1 Corinthians 13:13

You can learn a lot about a person by what his or her T-shirt says. Recently, one of these messages caught my attention as I walked through a local shopping mall. A young woman wore a bright red T-shirt that said, "Love Is for Losers." Maybe she thought it was clever or provocative, even funny. Or perhaps she had been hurt by a relationship and had pulled away from others rather than risk being hurt again. Either way, the T-shirt got me thinking.

Is love for losers? The fact is, when we love, we take risks. People could very well hurt us, disappoint us, or even leave us. Love can lead to loss.

The Bible, though, challenges us to higher ground in loving others. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul describes what it means to live out God's kind of love. The person who exercises godly love doesn't do so for personal benefit or gain but rather "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (13:7). Why? Because godly love endures beyond life's hurts by pulling us relentlessly toward the never-diminishing care of the Father.

So, perhaps love is for losers-for it is in times of loss and disappointment that we need God the most. Even in our struggles, we know that "love never fails."  - Bill Crowder

Unfailing is God's matchless love,
So kind, so pure, so true;
And those who draw upon that love
Show love in what they do. -D. De Haan


God's love never fails.

The Pit of Pride

The fifth and the final reason your life may be in the pits is pride.  We always need to check our hearts for pride.

In Isaiah 14:13-15 we read,

For you have said in your heart:  "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High."  Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

This passage records God's rebuke of Satan when he was kicked out of heaven.  Satan was talking real big with pride oozing from every word that he said.

But God said, "That's what you think.  I'm going to throw you down to the pit."  And because of the pride in his heart, Satan will indeed be thrown down to a pit for all eternity (read Revelation 20!).

Pride is a dangerous thing.  In fact, so dangerous we are told in 1 Timothy 3:6 to not put a novice into a leadership role in the Church, lest being puffed up with pride, he or she falls into the same condemnation as the devil.

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride is a weird thing.  It's like bad breath.  Everybody seems to know you have it before you do!  But pride will not only get you into a pit, it will destroy you.

I want to challenge you today.  If your life is in the pits, check to see if it is because of your pride.  If so, humble yourself, otherwise you are not going to get out!   

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: 1 John 3:19-24
God is greater than our hearts. - 1 John 3:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
The narrator of Edgar Allan Poe's story, The Tell-Tale Heart, murders his neighbor and hides the body under the floorboards. During police questioning, the narrator hears a faint noise growing progressively louder. He determines it is the heartbeat of the neighbor, still alive under the floorboards. Overcome by guilt and fear, he confesses to the murder and insists they remove the floorboards immediately, later realizing that the haunting sound was his own condemning heartbeat. Poe's gothic tale colorfully depicts the reality of our conscience-stricken hearts, which are also in view in today's passage.
John's message provides confidence for those times when our hearts condemn us with guilt, self-doubt, and self-recrimination. According to the context, condemnation arises from what others might say (v. 7) or even from lies within. Examples include instances when our thoughts suggest that a sacrifice of love for a fellow believer in need is unnecessary and avoidable, or when we believe lies that genuine love can exist without a costly surrender of life or material goods (vv. 17-18). God is greater than these thoughts, and His Spirit persuades our spirit that our sacrifice is required and good (vv. 20, 24).

When our hearts are at rest and we have confidence before God, we receive from God whatever we ask (vv. 21-22). Notice the word because; this is not a carte blanche for us to turn God into our personal vending machine. When we live in the path of God's commands, then we receive what we pray in accordance with His will and desire (cf. John 14:12-14).

The two commands referenced in verse 23 are to believe in the name of Jesus and to love one another. Belief in God's Son is belief in His saving work on the cross and in His resurrection. This belief requires total commitment and obedience to Him. These commands are inseparable: no valid faith exists apart from obedience, and obedience cannot exist apart from faith (see 1:6; 2:9-11). Finally, today's passage highlights another role of the Spirit; He is the guarantor that God in Christ abides in us (v. 24).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We are often persuaded by the selfishness in our hearts. We object to lavish generosity and costly demonstrations of helping our brothers and sisters in need. The confidence in our text today is found beyond ourselves. Instead, it is only in God and in His compassion and generosity, demonstrated most lavishly in the sacrificial gift of His Son. Through His Spirit, God transforms us to be generous and compassionate like himself. Consider reading Randy Alcorn's challenging book, The Treasure Principle for more insights into generosity.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 16, 2009

One Passion
READ: Luke 14:25-35
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. -Luke 14:26

Nechayev, a 19th-century disciple of Karl Marx who had a role in the assassination of Czar Alexander II, wrote: "The revolutionary man . . . has no personal interests, no business affairs, no emotions, no attachments, no property, and no name. Everything in him is wholly absorbed in the single thought and the single passion for revolution." Although his motives and goals were wrong, Nechayev's statement shows the singlemindedness of commitment.

Jesus wanted true commitment from His disciples. In Luke 14, we read that large crowds joined Him as He traveled toward Jerusalem (v.25). Perhaps these casual followers considered themselves to be His true disciples, but Jesus taught that following Him was more than just knowing facts about Him. He explained what it really meant to be His disciple when He defined the cost of discipleship: Nothing, not love for father or mother or even one's own life, was to take precedence over loyalty to Jesus (vv.26-33). His disciples (then and now) must acknowledge that if God is to be primary in their lives, possessions and even social relationships have to be secondary.

Jesus calls His followers to be absorbed in a single, exclusive thought and passion-Him.  - Marvin Williams

Set us afire, Lord, stir us we pray!
While the world perishes, we go our way
Purposeless, passionless, day after day;
Set us afire, Lord, stir us we pray! -Cushman

Our love for Jesus is the key to spiritual passion.

Avoiding the Pit

Over the last few days, we have looked at what it takes to get out of the pits-what to do when life seems to be turned upside down.     

There is one pit, though, that every person is headed for except for the grace and provision of God.  Some of the most marvelous verses of Scripture are found in Psalm 49:6-9.  These verses point us to the one and only way to avoid the pit for eternity.

Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him-for the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever-that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.

These are powerful words for our day and age.  It is so easy for many to believe that their wealth, their power, and their goodness will someday be enough to save them.

But the only way to have eternal life and not see the pit of eternal destruction is to realize that you can do nothing and pay no amount to redeem your own soul.  Why?  Because the price of your soul is very costly-more than you could ever pay.

The purchase price was the shed blood of the Son of God upon Calvary's cross.  Only through embracing His sacrifice can your soul be ransomed.  No good works can do it.  No personal sacrifice can do it.  The price has been paid.

I trust you have accepted God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  If so, praise Him today for rescuing you from the pit of hell and for paying that high price for you.

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: 1 John 4:1-3
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. - 1 John 4:1

TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the greatest struggles the early church faced was the threat posed by the Gnostic heresy. Charismatic teachers, such as Valentinus and Ptolemy, claimed access to secret knowledge, which they would share with only a few select "spiritual people." Given their belief that matter and the body are evil, some Gnostics denied that Jesus was truly human. Gnosticism not only threatened to divide Christians into two classes, but also endangered the doctrine of the humanity of Jesus.
Yesterday's passage ended with our confident assurance of knowing that Christ lives in us through the Spirit He gave us (3:24). In today's text, the author brings to our attention the many others who claim to have God's Spirit indwelling them, but in fact are "false prophets." We are urged to exercise discernment each time we encounter people who claim to speak in the name of God (4:1). John gives a straightforward measurement for testing the spirits and evaluating their messages carefully. The content of their teaching will determine whether they are truth or falsehood. The criterion of examination is spelled out in verse 2.

False prophets at first appear to be genuinely from God (cf. Matt. 7:15), but God had warned His people long before that many would try to distort God's Word, dilute the truth, and urge people to go after other gods (see Deut. 13:1-8). A proper belief regarding Jesus' Incarnation was the issue at hand for the original recipients of 1 John. To "acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" affirms His humanity (v. 2). Belief that Jesus is not only fully God but also fully human is essential to our salvation as well as our transformation to become more like Him. Early church leaders fought relentlessly against those who would teach otherwise. The spirit of the antichrist is a spirit of deception and lies. In our context, the spirit of the antichrist deceives people by denying the truth about Jesus (v. 3).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul urged Timothy: "Watch your life and doctrine closely . . . if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim. 4:16). Whether you are a spiritual teacher, mentor, or student, you must be thoughtful and "test the spirits." Consider the influences and teachers in your life. Do you utilize spiritual discernment as you listen to their messages? The Bible is the ultimate litmus test to measure the content of what you hear and read. Be attentive to the Spirit so that you will not be led astray.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 17, 2009

Behind The Building
READ: 1 Peter 4:8-11
Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. -1 Corinthians 15:58

Where we were working was hot, dirty, and it smelled bad. We had traveled thousands of miles to do some work projects, and on this day we were painting the back of a classroom building at a school for the deaf. The only people who would ever see this part of the building would be the guy who cut the grass and any unfortunate person who would have to work on the septic pit.

Yet, as the young adults diligently painted away, one of the girls, Melissa, put it in perspective by saying, "Nobody will ever come back here to see this, but God will see it. So let's make it look nice." And so we did.

Sometimes we sit at our desk and think no one sees our work. Or we stand at a line assembling item after endless item. Perhaps we take care of crying babies in the church nursery. Or we live the best Christian life we can-without anyone noticing.

Often our work is "behind the building." But if that is what God has called us to do, we need to work with all our heart. As part of our calling to love others deeply (1 Peter 4:, offer hospitality (v.9), and use our gifts to serve others (v.10), our task is to work with God's strength to bring praise and glory to God, not ourselves. The important thing is that God likes what He sees.  - Dave Branon

Though others may not observe us
And see how we serve God today,
Our job as servants of Jesus
Is to please Him in every way. -Branon


No service for Christ goes unnoticed by Him.

Falling into Crisis

In 1 Kings we have the story of the prophet Elijah.  In chapter 18, we see a great victory over the priests of Baal, an incredible victory that demonstrated the power of the one true God for all to see.

In the next chapter, we see Elijah on the run (1 Kings 19:1-3),

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.  Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."  And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

How could Elijah, a prophet of God who had been used in such a powerful way, now be on the run?  (He eventually even became suicidal.)  While there are a number of things we could look at, I want to give you one truth today to consider.

After any great spiritual victory, it is always wise to keep your armor on.  Over and over, there are examples of tremendous trials and temptations after great victories.

King David, after God had supernaturally spoken to him, fell morally, and committed adultery with Bathsheba.  Or there is Samson who, after God used him to bring great deliverance, got messed up with Delilah.  Then there is Jesus who, after being with the Father on the mount of transfiguration, came to the bottom of the mountain and was met by a demon-possessed boy.

Sometimes we are the most vulnerable after the highest and brightest times we have with God.  So today, let me encourage you to always keep your armor on (see Ephesians 6:11).   

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: 1 John 4:4-6
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world! - John 16:33

TODAY IN THE WORD
The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus devoted much of his philosophy to the problem of death. His answer was to deny the existence of an afterlife. He argued that humans need never fear punishment nor anticipate reward from the divine after death. As Christians, we confidently reject Epicurus's answer to the problem of death, for Christ has overcome death through His resurrection. As today's passage teaches, in Christ we are also overcomers.
"Them" and "in the world" require us to review 1 John 4:1-3 in order to understand today's text (v. 4). John refers to "many false prophets" (v. 1). He confirms that his readers are God's children, and that through His Spirit they overcome false teachers by rejecting heretical teaching. "World" in verse 5 refers again to the unbelieving world and its accompanying values, attitudes, and actions (cf. 2:15-17). Just as the world does not know us because it did not know Jesus (1 John 3:1), so also the false prophets "from the world" are known by the world (v. 5). Audiences approve when their values, attitudes, and actions are validated. As Paul declared, "to suit their own desires" many will follow false teachers to hear "what their itching ears want to hear" (2 Tim. 4:3).

"You" of verse 5 changes to "we" and "us" in verse 6. John refers to himself alongside other true teachers, his fellow Apostles. At first, his statement may seem brash if not altogether arrogant (v. 6). The basis of his authority, however, is not his personal gifts, capabilities, or charisma. Rather, his authority is founded in his relationship with Jesus, the One he has known from the beginning, whom the eyewitnesses have heard, seen, and touched (1 John 1:1-3). John confidently makes this claim because persistent acceptance of the gospel of Jesus Christ confirms those who are from God. Likewise, persistent rejection of the gospel identifies those who are not from God. John concludes by reiterating that the Spirit bears witness to the truth about Jesus Christ (v. 6).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In this life, many people, circumstances, and influences threaten to destroy our relationship with God. Whether you or someone you love is being attacked, experiencing such times of despair and feeling separated from God, cling to the confident assurance of Romans 8:31-39: "We are more than conquerors through him who loved us . . . neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 18, 2009

When The Ground Shakes
READ: Psalm 18:1-6
In my distress, I called upon the Lord. -Psalm 18:6

Several days after a devastating earthquake in the San Francisco area, a young boy was seen rocking and swaying on the school playground. His principal asked him if he was okay, and the boy nodded yes and said, "I am moving like the earth, so if there's another earthquake I won't feel it." He wanted to prepare himself for another shaking of the ground.

Sometimes after a trauma, we brace ourselves for what might be coming next. If we've had a phone call that brought bad news, every time the phone rings we feel panicky and wonder, What has happened now?

The "ground was shaking" for the psalmist David after King Saul tried to kill him (1 Sam. 19:10). He ran and hid. He thought death was next and told his friend Jonathan, "There is but a step between me and death" (20:3). He wrote, "The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid" (Ps. 18:4).

David cried to the Lord in his distress (v.6) and found that He was a stabilizer, One he could trust would always be with him. He said, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; . . . my stronghold" (v.2). The Lord will be that for us also when the ground shakes under us.  - Anne Cetas

The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm. -Charlesworth


To survive the storms of life, be anchored to the Rock of Ages.

The Power of Zero

Perhaps you are in a very stressful time in your life right now, and you feel you can't go on.  I want you to know that you are not alone.  In fact, some of the greatest men and women of God have gone through what you are going through right now.

One of those individuals is the prophet Elijah whom I mentioned in yesterday's devotional.  After a great spiritual victory over the priests of Baal, we find him on the run, wondering whether life is even worth it.

We catch the story in 1 Kings 19:4-6,

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree.  And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough!  Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"  Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat."  Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water.  So he ate and drank, and lay down again.

Elijah had reached that "zero" place in his life.  There was nothing left.  He had given it all and the tank was empty.

Maybe that describes you right now, you are on the verge of quitting.  You figure, "I've had enough.  I'm done.  Enough pressures, enough hassles, I cannot ride this thing out anymore.  My strength is gone!"

Well, did you notice that when Elijah was at the end of his strength, that was when God intervened?  Being out of strength, being at zero, is not a bad place to be. If you will look to God, He is prepared to meet you in your moment of need.

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: 1 John 4:7-10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. - 1 John 4:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Like a child reaching to catch the stars, the religions of the world try to touch God. It is not so with Christianity. Missionary theologian Leslie Newbigin explains: "God's purpose for man is known not by the up-reach of human moral and intellectual striving, but by the down-reach of God's saving grace" in Jesus Christ. This is the message of today's passage, one of the most profound statements of God's love in the New Testament.
John returns to the theme of loving one another, illuminated in 3:11-24. "Dear friends" can also be translated "beloved ones" and is used repeatedly throughout this letter. This greeting anticipates the message of verses 7 through 21, the basis and power of our love. We love one another because we are loved by God first (vv. 7, 11, 19); we are His beloved ones.

In the Old Testament, God is known not merely by attributes, but ultimately by actions that reveal who He is. He is the God who made an everlasting covenant with Abraham, rescued His people from Egyptian bondage, and ushered His people into the Promised Land. Similarly here, we know what "God is love" means most precisely by God's action of sending His Son, which reveals the self-sacrificial nature of God and of His love (vv. 7-8).

Jesus Christ is the most tangible, powerful, and ultimate expression of God's great love (v. 9). Our knowledge of God's love is based upon His concrete, historical life, death, and resurrection. "One and only" emphasizes Jesus' uniqueness. He is not one among many, but God's one and only Son sent into the hostile, unbelieving world to give us life (v. 9; cf. John 17:3).

The quote from Newbigin echoes verse 10, which clarifies how Jesus secures life for us. Jesus is the "atoning sacrifice for our sins" (v. 10). His sacrificial death on the cross frees us from the obligation and consequence of our guilt before God because of sin. Jesus reckons with our sin that we might live with Him.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God's initiative and self-sacrifice to love and redeem us is at the heart of our passage today. God's love is not an abstraction but tangible in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. So also must followers of Jesus love one another not merely in emotion or attitude but through meaningful deeds (v. 8; cf. 3:17-18). How might you embody God's sacrificial love to your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers? Pray that you would be God's tangible expression of love as He reveals Himself to them in Jesus

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 19, 2009

A Donkey In Lion's Clothing
READ: Matthew 7:15-23
Beware of false prophets . . . in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. -Matthew 7:15

In the final book of C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle, a devious ape named Shift finds an old lion's skin and persuades a simpleminded donkey to put it on. Shift then claims that the disguised donkey is Aslan (the Lion who is the rightful king of Narnia) and forms an alliance with Narnia's enemies. Together they set out to control and enslave the subjects of Narnia. Young King Tirian, however, can't believe that Aslan would actually be involved with such brutal practices. So, with the help of the real Aslan, he defeats Shift and his counterfeit lion.

The Bible tells us that the devil is in the business of imitating God. His goal is "to be like the Most High" (Isa. 14:12-15). Through deception, Satan tries to replace Christ with a substitute. Jesus Himself warned us of false prophets and false christs: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many" (Matt. 24:4-5).

How can we tell the real Christ from the counterfeit? The only authentic Christ is the one described in Scripture. Anyone or anything that portrays a different Jesus than the One presented in the Bible is promoting "a donkey in lion's clothing."  - Dennis Fisher

Beware of anyone who claims
To speak directly from the Lord
If what he says does not agree
With everything that's in God's Word. -Sper


God's Word gives wisdom to discern what is false.

Your Weakness, God's Power

2 Corinthians 12:9 is a powerful reminder of God's provision for you and me when we reach the end of our strength.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

When Paul wrote these words, he was being harassed everywhere he went by an evil spirit that he referred to as "a thorn in the flesh."  It was a messenger sent from Satan to buffet him, to constantly harass him.

The constant harassment of this spirit finally got to him, and he begged God three times to take it away.  Paul was clearly at the end of his rope. 

But, even though Paul prayed for God's intervention three times, the spirit did not depart.  And God's response to Paul was the verse we read above.  His strength is made perfect in weakness.

What does perfect mean?  It means that His power comes to full maturity...it blossoms...it is fully expressed in our weakness.

What was Paul's response?  He went on to say in verses 9-10 of that same chapter,

Therefore most gladly I would rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions and distresses for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It seems that sometimes we have to get to the end of ourselves before we will look fully to God.  But when we do, we find that He is more than enough.  If you are there today or close to that point, take hold of God's strength.

Put your trust in Him.  He will bring you to the place of your breakthrough, and you will find the strength and direction you need.

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: 1 John 4:11-16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. - 1 John 4:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
Thirty years ago many people worked with typewriters, and if they used a computer at all it might be to play Oregon Trail on green-screen Apple computer at school. Today, nearly everyone depends on computers in some way, whether for occupation, communication, or education. We rarely second-guess how the technology works or even if it will. We tacitly know and rely on computers as a backbone for society. Our text today reveals a greater, eternal foundation which we know and rely upon, not merely for a smoothly operating society but for all eternity.
From the point when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden, God has made a way for His presence to dwell among His people, though in a limited sense (for example, the tabernacle and temple). Through Jesus, God has reconciled us to Himself so that He now dwells fully in us by His Spirit (see 1 Cor. 6:19). Loving one another is the sign that the invisible God lives in us and that His love is made complete in us (v. 12), for love for one another is the outgrowth of God's love for us (v. 11).

Verse 13 celebrates the reality of God dwelling in us through His gift of the Holy Spirit and serves as a hinge between verses 12 and 14: the Spirit effects our love for one another (v. 12), and the Spirit testifies to the truth about Jesus (v. 14). If we love one another, and if we believe in Jesus' true identity, God Himself lives in us. The indwelling of His Spirit provides the foundation for confidence in God's love (v. 16).

A true confession of Jesus' identity is indispensable (note 2:22-23; 4:1-3). Today's text expresses two truths about Jesus that must be acknowledged: He is Savior of the world (v. 14) and Son of God (v. 15). The emphasis is on Jesus as Savior because some among the original audience were claiming to be without sin, and they therefore didn't see their need for a Savior (cf. 1:16-2:2). "Son of God" recalls verses 9 and 10 from yesterday's text.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
First John is written to a community of Christ's followers, so let's not neglect application among the community of God's people. Often in local churches, right confession of truth might be present, yet accountability and reconciliation between people is lacking. Are there hostility, tension, power battles, unresolved issues, and unforgiven hurts among the body of Christ where you worship? Leaving sins unaddressed is not the way of God's love. Pray to be a minister of reconciliation and agent of God's love in your community.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!-
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals July 20, 2009

Till He Became Strong
READ: 2 Chronicles 26:3-15
His fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong. -2 Chronicles 26:15

In George MacDonald's fairy tale Lilith, giants live among normal people. These giants must conduct their daily affairs very carefully. When they sleep, their snoring is disruptive. When they turn over, houses may be crushed under their weight.

In the Bible, Uzziah became a "giant" of a man after becoming king at age 16. The keys to his success are recorded in 2 Chronicles 26. His father Amaziah set a good example for him (v.4). The prophet Zechariah instructed him (v.5). He had an army of fighting men and capable generals who helped him (vv.11-15). And God prospered him (v.5).

Clearly, King Uzziah became a "giant" through the Lord's blessing. But after attaining success, he grew careless and stumbled badly. The clue to his demise is found in the phrase "he was marvelously helped till he became strong" (v.15).

Those last four words serve as a dire warning to us all. Uzziah's "heart was lifted up, to his destruction" (v.16). He usurped the priestly duties and became leprous (vv.16-21).

We have all been marvelously helped-by our Lord God, by those He has given to set an example for us, and by those who serve alongside us. When we become strong, we must take heed, or we too will stumble.  - Albert Lee

When all goes well and I feel strong,
Oh, help me, Lord, to see
That I must place my confidence
In You and not in me. -Anon.


I have never met a man who has given me as much trouble as myself. -D. L. Moody

Lightening the Load

When we get into the storms of life, it is often difficult to know what to do.  It can feel like the noise of our troubles drowns out everything else. 

In Acts 27 we find the apostle Paul caught in the midst of a horrible storm.  The ship was being tossed all over the place, and the situation was becoming quite serious.

Embedded in this story is a spiritual truth that can guide you and me when we get caught in the storms of life.  It is found in verses 18-19,

And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.  On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.

Notice that when the storm got bad and threatened to capsize the ship, they lightened the load.

Sometimes in a storm you need to throw some things overboard.  In fact, it is a great time to evaluate any baggage that you are carrying in your life.  There are some things that may not be a sin to you, but they are a weight to you.

One of the things you need to carefully evaluate is your relationships.  There are some relationships you need to cut loose because they are hanging you up, holding you back, and they are hindering you from getting to where God wants you to go.

Or maybe it's something as simple as too much TV.  Watching TV may not be a sin, but it can sure be a weight!  It can sure be a hindrance to you hearing from God, especially when you are in a time of crisis.

If you really want to hear from God and get yourself unstuck, lighten your ship.

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: 1 John 4:17-18
We . . . are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory. - 2 Corinthians 3:18

TODAY IN THE WORD
The context of today's text is the day of judgment (v. 17). The term "day of judgment" refers to the time when there will be a final and eternal judgment by God of all people (cf. Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Cor. 5:10). Our passage today speaks about having confidence on the day of judgment.
In 1 John 2:28, the author refers to confidence at Christ's coming that results from our loving relationship with God. In our passage today, the basis for assurance on the day of judgment is more specific. We have confidence because "love is made complete among us" (v. 17) and we are "made perfect in love" (v. 18). What does that mean? The answer lies in the last words of verse 17: "because in this world we are like him." God's love is made complete in us as we become like His Son, Jesus, and we are "being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Cor. 3:18). Because God has loved us perfectly in Christ and made us like Him, perfect in love, we do not fear punishment on the day of judgment.

Fear is a curious word in the Bible. On one hand, Proverbs 9:10 teaches that "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom"; on the other hand, verse 18 in our passage states that "perfect love drives out fear." Though seemingly different, "fear" in these two contexts is connected. As one New Testament scholar put it, "To fear God is to revere him and give him due respect and honor. Fear of God is linked to love of God and obedience to his commandments."

Our passage today addresses the fear of God's punishment that will be meted out to unrighteous unbelievers. As Christians, we fear God, the judge of the whole world, and we give Him all the reverence, respect, glory, and honor due Him. But since He has freed us from the punishment of sin through Christ, we do not fear His condemnation.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many Christians live enslaved to fears. As Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, He addressed the topic of fear (Matt. 10:26-30). Similar to the disciples' evangelistic mission, fears can hinder us from sharing the gospel with friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. As Jesus instructed the Twelve, so also He exhorts us to throw off such fears for the sake of those who do not yet know Him. Today, pray for opportunities to courageously share the perfect love of God that drives out fear with those around you.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

GOD BLESS!-