Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 9, 2009

Unanswered Prayers
READ: Luke 7:1-10
[Jesus said], "I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" -Luke 7:9

An explanation we often hear for "unanswered" prayers is that we don't have enough faith. But Jesus said in Luke 17:6 that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea and it will obey us. In other words, the effectiveness of our prayers depends not on how much faith we have but on whether we even have faith.

Luke tells of a Roman centurion with "great faith" (7:9). His faith was expressed first as an appeal to Jesus to heal his dying servant. Then it was expressed as an acknowledgment that Jesus could heal his servant anytime, anywhere. The centurion did not ask Jesus to do things his way.

Faith has been described as "trusting God's heart and trusting God's power." Some prayers that seem to go unanswered are simply instances in which God has lovingly overruled our wishes. He knows that what we have asked for is not best. Or it may be that our timing is not His timing, or He has some far greater purpose in mind. Let us remember, even Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father, "Nevertheless not My will, but Yours" (Luke 22:42).

Do we have the centurion's great faith-a faith that trusts God to do His work, in His way?  - C. P. Hia

Unanswered prayers are answered still
As part of God's great master plan;
They help to carry out His will
To demonstrate God's love for man. -D. De Haan

God's answers are wiser than our prayers.

Looking to the Master

In 2 Kings 6:5, we read the second in our series of seven principles to regain our spiritual edge.  It is the response of the man who lost his cutting edge,

But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master!  For it was borrowed."

When this man lost his ax head and it fell into the water, he cried out and said, "Alas, master!"  He went to the prophet.

The prophet was God's representative in that day.  He was the mouthpiece of God.  If you wanted to hear from God, you went to the prophet, and the prophet would give a word from God.

Today, thank goodness, we have direct access to God as individuals.  We can go directly to the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Master.  And that is the second principle to regaining your spiritual edge.  You need to realize the only One who can restore your edge once it is lost, is the Lord Jesus Himself.

You need to get your eyes off of men and get your eyes on the Master.  Some people make a great mistake because they have their eyes on men.  You will always be disappointed if your eyes are on men instead of on the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is only One who can help you regain your spiritual edge, and that is Jesus Christ.  No man or woman can take His place.

So today, put your eyes on the Master.  Cry out to Him to help you regain your spiritual edge.

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 Kings 5:1-18

The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. - 1 Kings 5:12

TODAY IN THE WORD
The word fulcrum has two interestingly related meanings. Most basically, a fulcrum is a point on which a lever pivots. In anatomical references, however, the fulcrum is the connective tissue supporting the eye. Without a proper fulcrum, things either go out of balance, or one cannot see.
Without properly understanding the fulcrum in today's passage, we would be left with an imbalanced reading and an inability to see the theological point. Placed in the center of the chapter, verse 12 reads: "The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him." Everything else balances around that verse. Although some scholars question Solomon's alliance with Hiram (vv. 1-12) and his choice of labor acquisition (vv. 13-18), Scripture summarizes Solomon's activity with a focus on God's gift of wisdom.

What, then, does Scripture teach us through Solomon's wisdom concerning the temple preparations? First, Solomon's project was wisely grounded in the peace of God (vv. 4-5). He did not claim credit for himself, but recognized that building success was only possible in the context of peace from God.

Second, Solomon's idea for a temple was founded on God's promise to David. Earlier, God had promised that David's son would sit on the throne and "build a house for my Name" (2 Sam. 7:13). Solomon's construction project wasn't grounded in his own vision.

Finally, Solomon's project was directed to the purposes of God. Notice who was enlisted to help with the construction of God's holy house: the king of Tyre (v. 10), Sidonian loggers (v. 6), and Gebalite craftsmen (v. 18). In other words, Gentiles were an integral part of the building of God's house, foreshadowing the words of Jesus: "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations" (Mark 11:17; cf. Isa. 56:7). Though starting with Israel, God's kingdom would eventually include non-Jews as well. Today's passage hints at the expansive purpose of God for His people.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Solomon's preparations for building God's house were centered on God's peace, God's promise, and God's purpose. Without them, his project was doomed to failure. There's a lesson here for all Christian ministries trying to "build" programs and visions. The words of the psalmist echo this message: "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain" (Ps. 127:1). Spend time praying for your church and other ministries you support, that they would be grounded in God's peace and promise, and guided by God's purpose.

GOD BLESS!`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 9, 2009

Comforted To Comfort
READ: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
[God] comforts us . . . that we may be able to comfort [others] with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. -2 Corinthians 1:4

While speaking to a group of Christian athletes, I asked them how they normally responded to hardships. Their responses included fear, anger, self-pity, aggression, despair, abusive behavior, apathy, and turning to God. I encouraged them to trust that God would comfort them and then use them to comfort others.

Just as I encouraged those athletes, Paul encouraged a group of believers in a town called Corinth. He reminded them that afflictions were inevitable for the follower of Jesus. Many were being persecuted, imprisoned, and oppressed-all because of their relationship with Jesus. Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that in the midst of their trouble God was their source of help. He would come to their side and help them to have godly responses. Then Paul gave one of the reasons God allowed suffering and brought divine comfort-so that the Corinthians might have the empathy to enter into other people's sorrow and comfort them (2 Cor. 1:4).

When we suffer, let us remember that God will bring comfort to us through His Word, by the Holy Spirit, and through fellow believers. God does not comfort us so that we'll be comfortable; we are comforted by God so that we might be comforters.  - Marvin Williams

When you receive God's comfort,
Be sure to pass it on,
Then give to God the glory
From whom the comfort's drawn. -Hess

When God permits trials, He also provides comfort.

Taking Responsibility

Today we are on the third key to regaining your cutting edge.  The first was to admit you have lost your edge, and the second was to put your eyes on the Master.  The third is to take responsibility if you have lost your spiritual edge.     

I want to take you back to 2 Kings 6:5,

But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master!  For it was borrowed."

It is important to understand that ax heads do not just fall off.  They fall off because they are not properly maintained.

I have spent endless hours chopping wood, and I have owned a number of fine axes in my time.  But in all the years I have chopped firewood, I have never had an ax head fly off.

The only reason an ax head would fly off is if the one using the ax has not been taking care of it.  This must have been the case for the guy in 2 Kings 6 who lost the ax head.  He was responsible to make sure the ax head would stay on.

The point is this:  If you have lost your cutting edge, you need to take responsibility.  If it is something that you did, or neglected to do, repent.  Take responsibility and stop blaming other people.

As much as you might like to point the finger at the last church you went to, or your spouse, or your boss, or whatever it might be, no one can take your cutting edge away from you.  Only you can cause it to be lost.

Stop blaming others, and take responsibility if you have lost your edge.  It is a necessary step toward regaining your spiritual sharpness.

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 Kings 6:1-38
One thing I ask of the Lord . . . to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. - Psalm 27:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
A young married couple spent two hours being led through a home. All manner of details about the home's construction were pointed out to them: the style of house, the type of shingles on the roof, the kind of windows installed, and the way the appliances worked. Normally, the couple would be uninterested in such details, but this was different: they were preparing to buy this home.
It is tempting to pass over today's text with a yawn of indifference. Details about cubits, construction materials, and floor plans do not normally excite us. But consider for a moment whose house is being described! Although it's a dense chapter, we can learn two important lessons about our God from these verses.

First, Scripture's description of the temple reveals God's glory. Compared to the earlier Mosaic tabernacle, the temple was vast in design. Whereas the tabernacle was roughly 675 square feet (see Exodus 26), the temple was 2,700 square feet (v. 2): four times as big! And while the tabernacle was mostly curtains and dirt floor, the temple was covered in costly material. Scripture is careful to give us a full description of the beauty of the temple. The floors, walls, and ceilings were covered with cedar, pine, and gold; the temple was decorated with gold-covered cherubim, and the walls were carved with images of cherubim, palm trees, and flowers. In short, the description of the temple tells us that God loves beauty and design. He is a God of splendor and glory.

Second, God used the temple to reveal His purpose: "As for this temple you are building . . . I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel" (vv. 11-13). God intended to dwell with His people, foreshadowing that day when He would take up residence with us in the fullest way possible: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (John 1:14). Although God cannot be contained by our finite space, that does not stop Him from drawing near with His radiant presence.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In light of God's splendor and glory, many psalms call for a response such as Psalm 96:9: "Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness." Psalm 27:4, in particular, reflects on the longing "to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." Keeping in mind today's reading about the temple, read one of these psalms in full, asking God that you might catch a glimpse of the worship-inspiring beauty of His majesty.

GOD BLESS!
` 

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 10, 2009

How To Become Rich
READ: Luke 12:13-21
Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. -Luke 12:15

I find it interesting that Jesus taught more about money than anything else. And He wasn't trying to ratchet up the treasury. As far as we know, He never even asked for an offering. The reason He taught extensively on the subject is that nothing clogs our spiritual arteries more quickly than money-either working to have a lot of it or wishing that we had.

Think of the man who brazenly asked Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me" (Luke 12:13). Amazing! He had an opportunity to "go deep" with Jesus, but instead he wanted deep pockets.

Jesus responded with a stunning, counterintuitive statement: "Beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (v.15). He then went on to tell the parable of a rich man who was wildly successful from a worldly standpoint-having so many crops that he had to keep building bigger barns-but who, in God's eyes, was actually a "fool." Not because he was rich, but because he was not rich toward God.

You'll hear a lot of advice about how to become rich. But only Jesus tells it to us straight. It's not about the money. It's about the richness of our relationship with Him and the joy of turning our greed into generosity.  - Joe Stowell

The riches of this world are vain,
They vanish in a day;
But sweet the treasures of God's love-
They never pass away. -Bosch

Learning how to be rich toward God yields eternal dividends.

Where Did it Fall?

The fourth key to regaining your cutting edge is found in verse 6 of 2 Kings 6,

So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?"  And he showed him the place.  So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.

The words I want you to focus on are, Where did it fall?  That is quite a question.  And look at the response,  And he showed him the place.

That is the fourth key, to know where you lost your cutting edge.  Unless you go back to that place, you cannot retrieve it; and unless you are willing to deal with whatever issue caused you to lose your cutting edge, you will never regain it.

Did you notice that the man knew right where he lost his cutting edge?  If you will be honest, you can probably point right to the time you lost, or began to lose, your edge spiritually.

Perhaps it was when you became offended because of what someone did.  Or maybe it was when you started watching too much television, or when you began hanging around with a certain person.

If when asked, "Where did it fall?" you cannot immediately point to the place, take some time to commune with your own heart and be still.  It won't be long before your answer comes.

This is essential because if you are to regain your edge, you need to start where you lost 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: 1 Kings 7:1-51
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. - Psalm 29:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
A man was driving along a number of unfamiliar roads on a long trip one evening. Due to the lack of explicit signage and his wandering thoughts, the man suddenly realized that he was not on the right road. Somewhere along the way, he had missed a turn and now needed to backtrack to find the missed road.
Scripture does not always provide explicit signage for turns in the text either! Today's passage begins with a description of Solomon's house, but then moves into a fuller description of the temple furnishings. The switch in verse 13 is not wholly obvious, however, until verses 40 and 45, which indicate that the entire preceding description was really about "the temple of the Lord." What do we learn from these two sections of chapter 7?

First, note the emphasis of the chapter. Scripture allots the first twelve verses to Solomon's palace, but spends the next thirty-nine verses on the temple. Although starting with Solomon, it is as if the narrator could not help but shift our attention back to the splendor and glory of God in the temple. Solomon's palace was splendid indeed, but God's splendor is where the true focus lies in today's text.

Second, some scholars have suggested that this text presents a negative image of Solomon. He spends twice as long to build a palace twice as big as the temple (vv. 1-2). True-yet Scripture never comments on these facts in a negative way. The glory of Solomon's palace seems to suggest an even greater glory for Solomon's God. Moreover, notice the similarities between temple and palace, both in the three-part structure (vv. 3-8) and in the materials used for each (vv. 9-12). This similarity shows that Solomon's reign was connected with divine sanction. The king's house was like God's house, and the connection between kingly glory and divine splendor and approval is underscored. As is so often the case, God chooses to use His servant to reflect His own glory.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's reading teaches us about the centrality of God's glory, but also about the way our own "glory" can point others to God's majesty. Make a list of your own talents, abilities, and accomplishments in life, recalling some of the "glory" you may have experienced from others as a result. Now take time throughout the day either to thank God that He glorifies Himself through us, or to use those gifts and abilities to point others to the source of true Glory.


GOD BLESS!`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 11, 2009

Untended Places
READ: Psalm 119:9-16
Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. -Psalm 119:11

Our family had just arrived at the lake cottage we had rented for a week of much-anticipated vacation when my wife discovered the unmistakable evidence of spiders and mice in the house. It wasn't that we had never encountered such things, but that we had expected the cottage to be cleaned and prepared for our stay there. Instead, the counters, cabinets, and beds were littered with the residue of infestation, requiring much cleaning before we settled in. It wasn't a bad house; it had just been left untended.

We might be guilty of dealing with our hearts the way that cottage was managed. Our "untended places" can become breeding grounds for infestations of wrong thinking, poor attitudes, or sinful behavior-creating problems that require significant attention to correct. The wise path is to recognize our need to tend our hearts by staying in God's Word and embracing its truths.

In Psalm 119:11, King David recognized the danger of not building our lives on the Scriptures. He said, "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You."

With a focus on the Word, we can build strong spiritual lives that will help us avoid the dangers that inevitably grow in untended places.  - Bill Crowder

Give me, O Lord, a strong desire
To look within Your Word each day;
Help me to hide it in my heart,
Lest from its truth my feet would stray. -Branon

To grow spiritually strong, read the Word.

The Cross is Enough

Key number five to regaining your spiritual edge is also found in 2 Kings 6:6,

So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?"  And he showed him the place.  So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.

Why a stick?  What does a piece of wood have to do with it?

Please remember that this story is in here for our benefit, and every part of it is significant.  I believe this piece of wood is a type of, or points to, another piece of wood where something happened that is very significant to us.

I believe it points to the cross, that piece of wood where Christ was crucified for you and for me, and that God wants us to realize that Jesus' sacrifice at Calvary was enough to take care of all our problems, and restore us no matter our spiritual state.

It is enough to cleanse us and restore our spiritual edge.  In fact, it is the only thing that has the power to do it.

If you have lost your zeal for God and you have become spiritually dull, repent and say, "Jesus, I believe that Your work on the cross was enough to restore me."

If you apply what He did on that piece of wood, it is enough to restore you, no matter how far you have fallen away from where you should be.  He took your failure, and He nailed it to that cross.  He rose from the dead victorious on the third day, and He offers that victory to you!

If you have lost your cutting edge, the cross of Christ and the blood shed upon that cross are enough to take care of everything.

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 Kings 8:1-21
Praise be to the Lord . . . who with his own hand has fulfilled what he has promised with his own mouth. - 1 Kings 8:15

TODAY IN THE WORD
Whenever a public building project is begun, there is usually a ground-breaking ceremony to inaugurate the forthcoming labor. Likewise, once that building is completed-whether a library, a playground, or even a church building-another assembly is typically held: the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Speeches are made recognizing the financial donors and anticipating the benefits to the community. The ribbon is cut, and a celebratory party ensues.
The dedication of God's temple in 1 Kings 8 is something like a ribbon-cutting event, with one notable distinction: the occupant of the building shows up and steals the show! Scripture tells us that Solomon gathered the leaders of Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant into the temple (vv. 1-2). In fact, the ark's centrality is underscored by its eight references in just nine verses. This dedication party was ostensibly about the temple, but Scripture makes it clear that it was really about God's presence. Lest the reader wonder about this emphasis, the centerpiece of the passage describes the climax: the priests withdrew, the cloud descended, and "the glory of the Lord filled his temple" (vv. 10-11). So overwhelming was God's presence that "the priests could not perform their service" (v. 11). As promised, God had come in glory to dwell with His people.

If the first half of today's reading is about God's glorious presence with His people, the second half focuses on God's character. Solomon's speech to the assembly emphasized God's fulfillment of His promises to David. Just as God had said that it would not be David, but David's son, who would "build the temple for my Name" (v. 19), so it had happened. Solomon summarized it simply, but accurately: "The Lord has kept the promise he made" (v. 20). God does what He says He will do; that is the thrust of Solomon's speech to Israel.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What promises of God do you struggle to believe? That He cares for you more than the sparrows (Matt. 6:26) and will turn all things to your good (Rom. 8:28)? That He will not abandon you (Heb. 13:5)? That He will one day come again in glory to claim His own (1 Thess. 4:13-18)? Take a hard, honest look at your own heart today to see where you might not be trusting in God's word of promise. Ask Him for forgiveness and for the grace to start living with trust in His faithfulness.


GOD BLESS!`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 12, 2009

How Honest Are You?
READ: Acts 5:1-11
Those who deal truthfully are [God's] delight. -Proverbs 12:22

Woman's Day magazine surveyed more than 2,000 people to check out their honesty level. When asked, "How honest are you?" 48 percent said very honest, 50 percent said somewhat honest, and the other 2 percent said not very honest.

Sixty-eight percent of respondents confessed that they had taken office supplies from their job for personal use. And 40 percent admitted that they would cheat on their taxes if they knew they wouldn't get caught.

Ananias and Sapphira must have thought they could get away with lying (Acts 5:1-11). But they quickly found out differently when Peter confronted them and told them that they had lied to the Holy Spirit. Immediately they were struck dead (vv.5,10).

The Lord's desire was to keep His new church pure so He could use the believers in the lives of others. As Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan says, "The church pure is the church powerful. . . . The only power [able to make] a church pure is that of the indwelling Spirit of God." The purity of the church led to their testimony spreading, and "believers were increasingly added to the Lord" (v.14).

Let's be the kind of people who "deal truthfully" (Prov. 12:22) so we can be used by the Lord.  - Anne Cetas

Lord, by Your Spirit grant that we
In word and deed may honest be;
All falsehood we would cast aside,
From You, O Lord, we cannot hide. -D. De Haan

There are no degrees of honesty.

A Miracle-Working God

Once again I want to take us back to 2 Kings 6:6, which provides for us the sixth key to regaining your cutting edge.

So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?"  And he showed him the place.  So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.

Perhaps you are wondering just what other principle for regaining your spiritual edge can come from this verse.  Well, there is one more, and it is critical to understand because it points to God's part in the process of restoration.

I want you to look at the words,"And he made the iron float."

I don't know about you, but I have never seen an iron ax head float.  Clearly this was a miracle.  God worked a miracle when the man did his part, looking to the master, taking responsibility, and going to the place where the ax head was lost.

You do your part; God does His part.  I like the King James Version as it says, ...the iron did swim.  It was against that ax head's nature to swim, but God made it swim.

God brings the restoration.  He brings the healing.  He brings back that sensitivity and usefulness to Him.  I pray that right now God is at work in your heart, and you are responding, making adjustments...regaining your cutting edge.

As you admit to those areas where you have lost your spiritual edge, God is going to restore it.  God's part is to make that ax head float once you have admitted where you have failed!

He can restore what has been lost, even if it takes His miracle power to do 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: 1 Kings 8:22-66
May your eyes be open to your servant's plea and to the plea of your people Israel. - 1 Kings 8:52

TODAY IN THE WORD
Eight years ago, on September 11, 2001, the nation was sent into shock and mourning with the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It was a day of fear and confusion for all Americans, and a time of profound sadness for families who lost loved ones. Around the country and the world, news videos captured countless assemblies of people joined in prayer for the nation and its families. On that day, and the days to follow, this nation lifted up its pleading cry to God.
Today's reading brings us to another assembly of people pleading to God for their country, but it was a celebratory rather than mournful occasion. And although no one should equate America with "God's nation," we can learn lessons about praying for a nation. Notice the kinds of things Solomon raised in his prayer for the people.

First, as already seen earlier, Solomon highlighted the recurring theme of God's faithfulness to His promises (vv. 22-26). Next, Solomon confessed the unworthiness of any people or nation to contain the creator God (vv. 27-30), and then he pleaded for true justice in the land (vv. 31-32). His prayer also asked that God's glory might be known throughout the world (vv. 41-43, 60), even as he requested God's assistance in conflict (vv. 44-45). All of these petitions should inform everyone's prayers for the people of their nation.

Yet, the clear emphasis in Solomon's prayer was the need for God's forgiveness. Such petitions occupied sixteen verses, and two separate spaces in his dedication prayer (vv. 33-40, 46-53). Scripture has taken pains to highlight this important aspect of our need for forgiveness. Note especially Solomon's three-fold assumption. God's people will sin: "For there is no one who does not sin" (v. 46); God's forgiveness, truly sought, will never fail (vv. 34, 36, 46-53); and renewed obedience is essential to being a forgiven child of God (vv. 56-61). This is truly a model of how to pray on behalf of others and ourselves.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's dedication prayer has much theology, but the chapter ends with an important reminder about practice as well. The whole scene was set in the context of a joyful worship celebration! Confronted with the glory of God's presence and the promise of forgiveness, Solomon offered an immense display of sacrificial gratitude. Offer God your own sacrifice of thanksgiving for His promise of forgiveness this week, in giving your time serving your church, providing financially to a gospel-centered ministry, or in some other way.


GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 13, 2009

Lateral Violence

READ: Matthew 20:20-28
Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. -Matthew 20:26

An intriguing article in Michigan Nurse magazine called attention to "nursing's dirty little secret"-the incivility and verbal abuse that occurs among some nurses. This peer-level bullying (also known as lateral violence) takes the form of back-stabbing, innuendo, infighting, sabotage, verbal affronts, failure to respect privacy, and others.

Not only is lateral violence occurring among nurses, it's a growing problem in a host of other work environments. This bullying always includes an imbalance of power, an intent to harm, and the threat of further aggression.

Of course, this would never occur in the church-or would it? Think about the personal interaction in deacon and elder boards, church office staffs, Bible-study groups, and youth ministries. Are they ever marked by the kinds of behavior that harm, denigrate, or intimidate others? And what about in our families?

When the disciples were jockeying for position in the coming kingdom, Jesus rebuked them and said, "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant" (Matt. 20:26). With that attitude in all our relationships, bullying will never be found among us.  - David C. Egner

Lord, may we have a servant's heart
In all we say and do
By placing others' needs above
What we want to pursue. -Sper

Only the one who serves is qualified to lead.

Take It!

The seventh and final key to regaining your cutting edge is found in verse 7 of 2 Kings 6, the passage we have been looking at over the last several days.  Here is what that verse says,

Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself."  So he reached out his hand and took it.

The sixth key was something that only God could do, and that is to make the ax head float; that is, to restore your cutting edge.

Now we see what we must do in response.  You and I must receive what God is offering.  Unless you take hold of what God is offering, your spiritual edge will never be restored. 

Perhaps over the last several days, as we have looked at how to restore your spiritual edge, God has been speaking to you.  Maybe you have come to realize that you are not where you should be in your relationship with God.

Maybe you have lost that sensitivity.  Maybe you have lost your cutting edge.  I am telling you, you can reach out and take what God is doing to restore your cutting edge.

I want to challenge you to take some time today to search your heart.  If you have lost your cutting edge, stop swinging an empty handle and just going through the motions. 

Be honest and admit you have lost that edge, determine where it fell, look to the Master, listen to His voice, take responsibility, know that the cross of Christ is completely sufficient to restore you, and then take hold of what God is doing to restore your edge.

God can work that miracle in your life if you will only do your part! 

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 Kings 9:1-28
If you or your sons turn away from me . . . and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land. - 1 Kings 9:6-7

TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Steve Farrar tells of a boyhood memory when he and his father visited the Grand Canyon. As they stood looking over the impressive ravine, young Steve suddenly grabbed the railing and swung his feet over the precipice. His alarmed father quickly grabbed his son, drew him back, and scolded him for his impulsive action.
While Steve's boyhood folly might be innocent, King Solomon had no excuse, for God gave clear instructions about living a godly life and avoiding apostasy. Having consecrated the temple and promised His presence, God then offered blessing and security for Solomon if he lived a life like David. Notice that the exhortation here is not for a sinless life, but a life with "integrity of heart and uprightness" (v. 4). A life pleasing to God is a life oriented toward Him, humble before His commands, and repentant over sin (see 2 Samuel 12; Psalm 51).

But the crux of God's exhortation came when He warned against "turning" from worship of God toward idolatry. The command is clear: stay true to your God. The consequences of disobedience are dire: Israel will be "cut off" from the land, the temple will be ruined, and Israel will become a "byword and an object of ridicule" (v. 7). Notice that as the king goes, so go the people. Here is a clarion call for a faithful leader of God's people. The future well-being of the people will be determined by the wisdom or folly of their king.

These warnings must be kept in mind as we come to the rest of the chapter. We learn of Solomon's continued kingly duties: his diplomatic activity (vv. 10-14), defensive building preparations (vv. 15-24), religious observance (v. 25), and commercial trade activity (vv. 26-28). Some scholars see hints of Solomon's demise in these verses; others argue that these are normal kingly activities. Either way, the earlier warnings loom over the entire chapter. Will Solomon pursue his kingly activities with a God-ward orientation? We will see as we continue our study.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We are reminded today of the interconnectedness of godly leadership and blessing for the people. Although God's exhortations are directed toward Solomon, the consequences of blessing or curse affect the people as a whole. Who are the leaders of your church and your government? (You can find your federal and state elected officials by entering your zip code here: www.congress.org.) Spend time praying for all of these leaders today, asking God to fill them with a love of truth, righteousness, and the strength to do His will.


GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 14, 2009

Mell's Smiley Face

READ: Romans 5:1-5
We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. -Romans 5:3

Some people think you shouldn't draw in your Bible, but I'm glad my daughter Melissa drew in hers. In the margin next to Romans 5, she used a green ink pen to draw a small, simple smiley face, and circled verse 3.

How could she have known that her family and friends would need this passage when she left us so suddenly in a car accident at age 17? How could she know that these verses would tell her story, while guiding our lives and the lives of others over the past 7 years?

Romans 5 begins by explaining our justification through faith, which gives us peace with God through Jesus (v.1). Melissa had that peace. And right now she is enjoying the fruits of her faith, as verse 2 describes: We "rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Imagine the smiley face she could draw now!

And then there's the rest of us-all of us left behind when loved ones precede us in death. Somehow, we "rejoice in our sufferings." Why? Our suffering brings perseverance, which brings character, which brings us hope (vv.3-4).

We feel helpless in times of tragedy, but we are never hopeless. God pours His love into our hearts-and with it the great hope of His glory. It's all part of God's mysterious yet marvelous plan.  - Dave Branon

For Further Study
If you have lost a loved one and want to learn more
about heaven, read the online publication Our Eternal Home at www.discoveryseries.org/rd911

God often digs wells of joy with the spade of sorrow.

Created for a Purpose

Many Christians today are not living the successful life God intends because they have missed the purpose for which they were born.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us,

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

If you are going to live successfully, you have to know what you are all about. Any tool that is used for something other than what it was created for will not be effective. And it is liable to get damaged.

At times I have needed a hammer to pound in a nail, but I have been too lazy to go out in the garage to get one (don't get too self-righteous, you've done it too!).  So I have ended up using whatever I had handy, like a wrench.

Well, you can get the nail in, but you are not going to be very effective.  You are liable to dent the wall, and you are liable to damage the wrench.

Too many Christians today are not functioning or flowing in the thing they were created for, and consequently, they are not effective.  And sometimes they get hurt and damaged.

You do have a purpose.  In fact, the word in Ephesians 2:10 translated workmanship literally means you are handcrafted by God.  The Greek word is the same word we derive our English word poem from.

In other words, your life is not to be without order or symmetry or rhyme or reason.  God has some specific things mapped out for your life.  You are not an accident.  You are not excess baggage.  You have a purpose.

Ask God today to show you that purpose, and then develop the gifts God has given you to fulfill that purpose.

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 Kings 10:1-29
King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings. - 1 Kings 10:23

TODAY IN THE WORD
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, is one of the most impressive examples of Gothic architecture. Taking over 180 years to complete, it boasts two large towers, three organs (one of which holds 8,000 pipes), and a number of paintings, statues, and bells. Its most famous feature is its circular stained-glass window displaying 84 panes of brilliantly colored glass; the Rose Window has a dia-meter of 42 feet. None who see it leaves unimpressed.
First Kings 10 presents a biblical version of impressive splendor. From the Queen of Sheba's visit to the description of Solomon's kingdom, Scripture highlights the glory of Solomon's kingdom. What can we take away from today's display of grandeur?

First, consider the source of blessing. Solomon's kingdom was filled with spices, precious stones, an impressive throne, happy servants, and lots of gold (mentioned ten separate times)! All of this is given a positive spin. The Queen of Sheba remarked that all she had seen was a demonstration of God's "delight" and "love" for Solomon and Israel (v. 9). Scripture then follows with its own summary: "King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart" (vv. 23-24). Don't miss the emphasis here. Solomon's blessings come from God and the wisdom He gave. Even verse 1 implies that Solomon's fame was only in connection with "the name of the Lord." Any blessing we experience in life comes from our giving God.

Second, we are given a picture of God's eschatological kingdom. The present picture of Solomon's kingdom and the promised vision of God's eternal kingdom in Isaiah 60:1-7 overlap. Both portray a secure, joyful, and prosperous kingdom which will draw to it a multitude of nations praising the Lord. That kingdom has yet to be fully realized, but as Jesus Himself declared: "Now one greater than Solomon is here" (Matt. 12:42). Solomon is only a shadow of the splendor of God's kingdom.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus referenced Solomon's splendor on another occasion as well. When exhorting His disciples to seek the kingdom of God rather than worry about life, He pointed to the beauty of the lilies and remarked: "Not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Matt. 6:29). In a way, Solomon's impressive splendor reminds us that God cares for all our needs. Perhaps you struggle to trust God with your everyday needs. Make a commitment today to seek His kingdom, and let God take care of the rest.

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 15, 2009

Leaving A Legacy

READ: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
You shall teach them diligently to your children . . . when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way. -Deuteronomy 6:7

Recently my grandson Alex accompanied me as I ran errands. Unexpectedly he asked, "So, Grandpa, how did you receive Christ as your Savior?" Touched, I told him about my childhood conversion. Alex was still interested, so I described how his great-grandfather had come to faith. This included a brief overview of how he survived World War II, his initial resistance to the gospel, and how his life changed after becoming a Christian.

Later I was reminded of our conversation when I read a Bible passage that spoke of faith being passed down through the generations. In Deuteronomy, Moses instructed the Israelites to take to heart God's truths and share them with the next generation as a way of life: "These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (6:6-7).

Biblical parenting is not a guarantee of having godly offspring. But when we see spiritual interest in the next generation, we can cultivate vital conversations about God's Word. This can be one of a parent's, or grandparent's, greatest legacies.  - Dennis Fisher

God gives us children for a time,
To train them in His way,
To love them and to teach them how
To follow and obey. -Sper

The richest legacy a parent can leave a child is a godly example.

Keeping Your Focus

Yesterday we discovered that God does have a purpose for each of our lives.  Yet even once we discover our purpose, we must remain focused.  Luke 4:42-44 says,

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place.  And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."  And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

I want you to notice that statement of Jesus,  "For this purpose I have been sent."  Jesus knew His purpose.  He said, "I must preach the kingdom."  But notice the people tried to distract Him from that purpose.

I am sure the people meant well, but they were trying to divert Jesus from His purpose.  But Jesus knew His purpose; therefore, He did not stay.

People will innocently divert you from doing what God has called you to do.  It is only when you know your purpose that you will not be sidetracked, and you will not be distracted from what you are supposed to do.

The apostle Paul knew his purpose.  In fact, he said this in 1 Corinthians 9:26, "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step" (The Living Bible).  He was not about to get distracted from God's purpose for his life.

Our lives are not to be aimless, but they are to have purpose and direction, and we are to stay focused on that purpose, running straight at that goal.  Keep focused on the purpose for which God has created you.

Be able to say like Paul, "I am running straight to the goal with purpose in every step."

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 Kings 11:1-13
Solomon held fast to [his foreign wives] in love. - 1 Kings 11:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
The great nineteenth-century British preacher C. H. Spurgeon once said: "A stony heart may be turned to flesh, but turn a divided heart into whatsoever you please, so long as it is divided, all is ill. . . . A united heart is life to a man, but if the heart be cut in twain, in the highest, deepest, and most spiritual sense, he dies."
No better words summarize Solomon's downward turn recorded in 1 Kings 11. After all the praise, admiration, and grandeur of the first ten chapters, today's reading begins with an ominous "however" (v. 1). By explicitly disobeying God's commands about taking wives from the surrounding pagan regions (see Deut. 7:3-4), a slow change occurs. Solomon was turned "after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God" (v. 4).

In fact, the language of Scripture is carefully chosen. Verse 1 tells us that Solomon "loved many foreign women," and goes on to record that "Solomon held fast [literally "clung"] to them in love" (v. 2). These are the same Hebrew words used in Deuteronomy to prescribe the loyalty a human should have toward God. Deuteronomy 11:22, for example, calls for us "to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to hold fast to him" (see Deut. 6:5; 10:20).

Solomon did not simply wake up and decide out of the blue to do "evil in the eyes of the Lord" and build high places for foreign gods (vv. 6-8). Rather, his singular love for God was slowly replaced with other loves. A heart once devoted to the Lord had become a divided heart.

God's response underscores this change in Solomon. His anger was precisely because Solomon's heart "had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel" (v. 9). Although there was an element of mercy in the judgment against Solomon (vv. 12-13), Solomon's failure to heed God's explicit commands resulted in a divided heart and, eventually, a divided kingdom (vv. 10-11).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Of course, God gives us many loves and delights in life, but today's passage reminds us that when an earthly love replaces our love for God, and we find ourselves "clinging" to other things for our full satisfaction, we have erected an idol in our life. Make a list of the things you may be "clinging" to above God in your life, such as a job, human praise, or a hobby. Now take this list before God and ask Him to re-prioritize your life in a way that gives Him your entire heart.

GOD BLESS!
`

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 16, 2009

Letting Go

READ: Philippians 3:3-11
What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. -Philippians 3:7

It has been said that "one person's junk is another's treasure." When David Dudley tried to help his parents clear their house of "unnecessary items" before moving to a smaller home, he found it very difficult. He was often angered by his parents' refusal to part with things they had not used for decades. Finally, David's father helped him understand that even the worn-out, useless items were tied to close friends and important events. Clearing the clutter felt like throwing away their very lives.

A spiritual parallel to our reluctance to let go of the clutter in our homes may be our inability to clear our hearts of the attitudes that weigh us down.

For many years, Saul of Tarsus clung to the "righteousness" he had earned by obeying God's law. His pedigree and performance were prized possessions until he encountered Jesus in a blinding moment on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-8). Face to face with the risen Savior, he let go of his cherished self-effort and later wrote, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ" (Phil. 3:7).

When the Holy Spirit urges us to release our grip on any attitude that keeps us from following Christ, we find true freedom in letting go.  - David C. McCasland

Speak to us, Lord, till shamed by Thy great giving
Our hands unclasp to set our treasures free;
Our wills, our love, our dear ones, our possessions,
All gladly yielded, gracious Lord, to Thee. -Anon.

Through Christ we have the freedom to let go.

Living with Passion

I want to focus your attention today on two passages.  The first is Ecclesiastes 9:10,

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

The second passage is Colossians 3:23,

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.

Do you see the common theme?  God desires us to live our lives full out, with passion.  Whether you are a preacher, a writer, a teacher, or a singer, whatever you do, you are to do it with passion.  You are to throw yourself into it.

People are attracted to passion.  They want to see someone who is burning with a fiery zeal for whatever they do!

In my opinion, the greatest example of a passionate person is Jesus.  Remember the story when Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple?  That was a passionate act.  In fact, the end of that passage says, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

Zeal is just another word for passion.  "Passion for Your house has eaten Me up!"  Have you ever tried to imagine Jesus doing that?  I have a very clear image of what that must have been like.

He is whipping these guys and they are running, covering their heads.  He is throwing over these big tables and the disciples are watching with their mouths wide open, when they remember the verse, "Zeal (passion) for Your house has eaten Me up."

Let me ask you a question:  When is the last time you were eaten up with zeal for anything?  When is the last time you were utterly passionate about anything?

Don't just sleepwalk through life.  You need to decide you are going to live!

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 Kings 11:14-43
I will humble David's descendants for this, but not forever. - 1 Kings 11:39

TODAY IN THE WORD
The opening chapters of the book of Job give a unique glimpse into the heavenly court where Satan (literally "the adversary") received God's permission to test Job. The rest of the book details all the suffering, loss, and misery Job experienced at the direction of Satan. And although Job never learned why he had to suffer, Scripture makes it clear that not even Satan can act without God's permission.
This theme of God's sovereignty (even in adversity) lies at the heart of today's reading as well. This time another set of "adversaries" came on the scene. First, Scripture tells us expressly that God Himself raised up "Hadad the Edomite" (vv. 14-22) and "Rezon son of Eliada" (vv. 23-25) as "adversaries" who troubled the king "as long as Solomon lived" (v. 24). In addition to this outside turmoil, next came the Israelite "Jeroboam son of Nebat" who posed a serious threat to Solomon's throne. Although never designated an "adversary," Jeroboam's conversation with the prophet Ahijah makes it clear that God's hand was behind this troublemaker as well (vv. 29-39).

From Solomon's perspective, Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam were each the proverbial thorn in the flesh. These men all posed a significant threat to Solomon's kingdom, and Solomon even tried to kill Jeroboam (v. 40). Yet from the perspective of Scripture, God was still in control, using these ostensibly human activities to further His own purposes. Even in adversity, God remains sovereign.

This leads to a second important lesson in today's reading: God's loving discipline. Second Samuel 7:14 stands as an important text behind our passage. There, God had promised to punish the king who turned from Him; 1 Kings 11 records this particular instance of God's faithfulness to His word. Yet in today's passage we also find God's offer of love and commitment that was promised in 2 Samuel 7:15-16. God will take away the kingdom, but not all of it (vv. 32-36), and not forever (v. 39). Don't miss the hidden promise: God's discipline of Solomon left room for the Davidic line to be restored one day. According to the royal genealogy of Matthew 1, that day has come.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes adversity stems from our own sin (as in today's passage), and sometimes not (as with Job). Either way, Scripture declares that God has not lost control. Perhaps you know someone who faces a life of difficulty and suffering. Without being glib or insensitive, comfort that person with today's lesson. Remind your loved one that even in difficult times, when God seems distant or removed, He has not forgotten us. His plan of love for us will still be completed, even through adversity. We can trust His faithfulness.

GOD BLESS!
` 

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 17, 2009

Things Said In Secret

READ: Ephesians 4:25-32
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious. -Ecclesiastes 10:12

Some say that anonymity is the last refuge for cowards. Judging from mail and comments I've read that have been submitted anonymously, I would agree. People hiding behind the screen of anonymity or a false identity feel the freedom to launch angry, hurtful tirades. Anonymity allows them to be unkind without having to take responsibility for their words.

Whenever I am tempted to write something anonymously because I don't want to be identified with my own words, I stop and reconsider. If I don't want my name attached to it, I probably shouldn't be saying it. Then I do one of two things: I either toss it out or I rewrite it in a way that makes it helpful rather than hurtful.

According to Ephesians, our words should edify and impart grace (4:29). If I'm unwilling to use my name, there's reason to believe that my motive is to hurt, not to help.

Whenever you're tempted to say something in secret-perhaps to a family member, co-worker, or your pastor-consider why you don't want your name to be identified with your words. After all, if you don't want to be identified with your words, God probably doesn't either. He is gracious and slow to anger (Ex. 34:6), and we should be the same.  - Julie Ackerman Link

O Lord, help us to turn aside
From words that spring from selfish pride,
For You would have Your children one
In praise and love for Your dear Son. -D. De Haan

Anonymity can be a coward's way of hiding behind hurtful words.
 
Contagious!

In yesterday's devotional, I challenged you to live life with passion.  Today I want to give you one other perspective on that. 

Take a look at 2 Corinthians 9:2 where Paul writes these words,

For I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.

Did you notice those last eight words, and your zeal has stirred up the majority?  Passion is contagious.

What do you think might happen if a community saw a church that was utterly on fire?  Where all the members in that church were passionate about their worship, passionate about their relationship with God, passionate about serving one another, passionate about real deal Christianity where the rubber meets the road?

I believe there is a divine attraction to that!  And I believe that it would transform a community.

Sadly, most communities witness just the opposite-compromise, apathy, and boredom-not passion.

Now, rather than complain, I want to challenge you to live life with real passion.  Go all out for God.  It only takes one person to ignite the fire of passion in others.

I heard the story of a man who came to hear D. L. Moody preach.  While sitting there the man next to him asked, "Do you come out here because you believe the things he's preaching?"

His response was, "No.  I come out because he believes it."

Passion is contagious!  Are people catching it from you?  Is your zeal for Christ stirring up those who come in contact with you?  If not, ask God to put that passion into your heart today and watch what happens!

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: 1 Kings 12:1-24
So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord. - 1 Kings 12:15

TODAY IN THE WORD
Every student of U.S. history examines the catastrophic Civil War. Historians analyze the causes, battle strategies, and legacies-but no one denies the impact of the Civil War on our history. Today, we are the United States, but that unity came at the terrible price of more than half a million dead soldiers and countless more displaced and injured people.
In today's passage, we read about another civil war as a national consequence of folly. Rehoboam took the throne after his father's death, but was quickly threatened by the return of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Jeroboam gathered a group of malcontents and demanded that the new king lighten the yoke of their civic burdens. What followed was a series of foolish choices by Rehoboam. First, he rejected the wiser counsel of his father's elders and followed the guidance of his peers. This led to the northern tribes breaking away from his leadership. Next, he sent his official Adoniram on a mission to secure the people's will by force, which only resulted in the death of Adoniram and the near escape of Rehoboam himself. Finally, Rehoboam mustered his armies "to make war against the house of Israel" (v. 21). He quickly found himself opposed by God Himself.

The theme of folly is strong in today's text, but it is not the only theme. Notice carefully both the underlying commentary of Scripture and then the way the passage ends. Although Rehoboam's foolishness was apparent, twice Scripture echoes this refrain: "This turn of events was from the Lord" (vv. 15, 24). Poor leadership? Certainly. But a God no longer in control? Absolutely not! God was still at work with His people.

Finally, note the hopeful ending. After all the poor choices by Rehoboam, he was faced with God's command not to fight his own people. The response: "So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered" (v. 24). Our chapter is filled with folly, but underneath still lie flickers of encouragement. God is still in control, and glimmers of wisdom still remain in Judah.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like Solomon's kingdom, Christ's church today is extremely divided. One set of data estimates over 33,000 different denominations! Much is at stake, theologically and practically, but we know Christ's will was for the unity of His body (see John 17). Spend time praying today first thanking God that He is still in control, and then asking Him to work in your life and the lives of church members around the world to submit to His Word, that Jesus' prayer for unity might be fulfilled.


GOD BLESS!
`