Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct. 8, 2009

Understand One Another

READ: Proverbs 16:16-22
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. -Proverbs 20:5

One of the best ways for a man to love his wife is to understand her. Peter explains that it is imperative for a husband to "dwell with [his wife] with understanding" (1 Peter 3:7).

This principle works both ways. Husbands want to be understood as well. Actually, we all do. Everyone, married or not, longs to be understood by others at the deepest possible level. We're born with that need, and we never seem to outgrow it.

It's feeble avoidance to say we can't understand one another. We can and we must. It takes time-time spent in one another's presence asking questions, listening intently, then asking again. It's as simple and as difficult as that. No one, of course, can fully plumb the mystery of another person's heart, but we can learn something new every day. The wise man of Proverbs called understanding "a wellspring of life" (16:22), a deep source of wisdom to all who seek it.

Again, I say, understanding takes time-one of the most precious gifts we can give to others. How we choose to spend our time is the surest indicator of how much we care for those we love.

Ask the Lord today to give you the grace to take the time to understand the important people in your life.  - David H. Roper

To those whose lives we touch in life,
To whom our love we would impart,
The greatest gift that we can give
May be an understanding heart. -Branon

Listening is an open door to understanding.

The Source of Your Success

There is no question we live in one of the most prosperous of ages.  And many Christians today live in tremendous prosperity.

It is pretty easy to look at all we have accomplished, and the wealth we have accumulated, and feel pretty good about ourselves.

Today, I want you to read Psalm 44:1-3.  It contains a powerful truth and reminder,

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old:  You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.   For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.

Any good thing that you and I possess is the result of God's hand and nothing less.  It is not because we are something special or because we are so intelligent.

When everything is said and done, we are not going to be able to point to our own arm or our own intelligence or our own ability.  We will only be able to stand back and say, "Look what the Lord has done."

If you are prosperous today, I want you to know that it is the result of God's hand and God's arm working on your behalf.

As you look to the future, if you are going to experience the fullness of what He has for you, it will indeed be the result of the power of His Spirit working in your life.  Not your ingenuity, not your human striving, not the power of your flesh, but the power of His Spirit.

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: Psalm 96
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. - Psalm 96:3

TODAY IN THE WORD
World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma organized the Silk Road Project as a way for different cultures to share their musical traditions. Centuries ago, the 5,000-mile-long Silk Road connected Europe and Asia, allowing not only trade but also art and culture to move and mingle. Ma recruited musicians from around the world to create an orchestra that would retrace that route, explore a variety of music, play original and established works, and promote community-based cultural and educational arts events. Said Ma: "I think every member of the ensemble feels that they're better at their own tradition after they've opened up into something else."
From something old comes something new. We find the same in today's reading-from the ancient, timeless themes of God's love and faithfulness, the psalmist leads the congregation in singing a new song before the Lord. How can the songs be new when the themes are old? Because, though the truths remain the same, they can and must be framed in new artistic forms, incarnated in fresh "packaging" for different cultures and different generations.

What are good topics for praise? God's name, salvation, glory, marvelous deeds, greatness, creation, majesty, strength, holiness, sovereignty, judgment, justice, righteousness, and truth are all mentioned in this relatively brief psalm. What actions are involved in praise? The verbs here include singing, declaring, coming into His courts (presence), bringing an offering, rejoicing, being jubilant, fearing, trembling, and spreading the word to the nations (v. 10).

Praise that brings glory to God is both new and old, as described above. It is universal, with all nations and all creation joining in. It sees God for who He is and worships Him alone (vv. 4-5). This praise is public, with God's character being proclaimed far and wide. It is reverent and awe-inspired as well as full of joy and gladness (vv. 9-13). And this praise is ongoing, offered to the Lord day after day as a habit of the heart (v. 2).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If we were writing this psalm, it's unlikely that we would center the final verse around justice and judgment (v. 13). To some modern ears, these difficult concepts sound harsh- occasions for theological analysis, perhaps, but not for joyful praise and worship. But the fact is that we should be rejoicing in God's justice as much as we rejoice in His love. Love, righteousness, truth, and justice all go hand-in-hand, and each of them should be part of how we glorify the Lord.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct. 9, 2009

Déjà Vu All Over Again
READ: John 21:1-14
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. -John 21:1

Baseball legend Yogi Berra is known for his oft-repeated quips like, "It ain't over till it's over" and "It's like déjà vu all over again!"

I wonder if the disciples felt déjà vu when they saw Jesus standing by the shore (John 21). Discouraged and distracted by their own needs in the shadow of Peter's denial and their desertion of Jesus, they had abandoned their calling to follow Jesus and returned to their previous occupation-fishing.

Then, after a fruitless night of fishing, a voice from the shore called out, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some" (John 21:6). When they did, the nets were so full that they couldn't be dragged in. No doubt their minds raced back to their first encounter with Jesus-when He showed up on the shore of their careers and, after another miraculous catch of fish, called them to leave their nets and follow Him (Luke 5:1-11).

Like the disciples, we may want to return to our own agendas when we get discouraged in our walk with Jesus. But then Jesus shows up again on the shore of our lives to extend forgiveness and to draw us back to those moments when He first called us.

It's like déjà vu all over again!  - Joe Stowell

Son of the living God! Oh, call us
Once and again to follow Thee;
And give us strength, whate'er befall us,
Thy true disciples still to be. -Martin

Jesus calls us to follow Him- and repeats His call when necessary.

Gaining the Victory

We live in a society of addictions, of bondage to so many things.  Maybe you are in bondage to cigarettes, or alcohol, or pornography, or anger, or any number of other things.

Whatever the condition that has you in bondage today, God's hand and God's arm can lift you up and untangle you and set you free.  In Psalm 98:1 we are told,

His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.

We find repeatedly throughout the Old Testament how, through God's mighty hand and His outstretched arm, He redeemed His people out of slavery and out of bondage.

Now here is the question.  Does it just sort of randomly happen?  Do we have to wait and see if we are one of the lucky ones God will choose to extend His mighty arm to help?  Or, is there anything that we can do to cooperate with God to see His arm extended in our behalf?

The answer is yes, we can, and we must cooperate with God.

In Isaiah 51:5 God tells us,

"My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands will wait upon Me, and on My arm they will trust."

The way we cooperate with God is to trust in His arm; not in our own arm, but in His.  If you want to see God's mighty arm move on your behalf, then trust Him alone!  Do not trust your intelligence, your ingenuity, your education, your status in life, your wealth, or any other thing.

Trust in God alone.  And you will have the victory.

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: Philippians 2:5-11
Every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent movie by Iranian director Nader Talebzadeh, The Messiah, depicts the life of Christ from a Muslim perspective. In this version, Jesus is not the Son of God, but a "beautiful prophet." He was not crucified, but ascended to heaven on the night of the Last Supper. The person who was actually crucified was His betrayer. A miracle-worker and teacher, Jesus is said to have prophesied many times the coming of the final prophet, Mohammad.
As a gesture of respect for Christian tradition, Talebzadeh included alternate endings for the movie, one from the Koran and one from the Bible. Nonetheless, Christians committed to truth know that the Christ in his movie is a lie. Jesus was indeed the Son of God who brought redemption, and His death and resurrection were the turning point of history.

As seen in today's reading, it was all part of God's master plan of redemption. In this passage, glory and glorifying come into the picture in verses 10 and 11, when God exalts His risen Son and every knee bows and every tongue confesses "that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (see Rev. 16:1-9). As believers, we've got an early start on this glorious activity!

Who is Christ? He is the Son of God who obeyed His Father perfectly, humbling Himself by being born as a human being and coming to earth to die for the sins of the world. He gave up the heights of heaven for the depths of death.

We can hardly grasp what He did for us-the enormous gap between His rightful glory and His guilt-bearing mission of redemption. Where are we in this picture? None of this depends on us. God the Father and God the Son are the ones who do it; we are involved "only" as worshipers. That is, we cannot add to the reality or truth of God's plan, but we do have the privilege of confessing and declaring the glory of it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Those with power tend to flaunt it-it's just human nature (Luke 22:24-27). The more they have, the more they strut and preen, so to speak. Yet Jesus, "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation" (Col. 1:15), with legions of angels at His command, chose to walk around in human flesh, getting tired and hungry and insulted and misunderstood-for us. His incredible love and humility should call forth the same from us as we follow Him each day.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals October 10, 2009

Sorry About The Tears
READ: John 11:32-44
[Jesus] groaned in the spirit and was troubled. -John 11:33

My friend was making a major change in her life-she was leaving her employer of 50 years for a new venture. She cried when she said her goodbyes. And as she did, she frequently said, "Sorry about the tears."

Why do we sometimes feel the need to apologize for crying? Perhaps we look at tears as showing a weakness in our character or a vulnerability we don't like. Maybe we're uncomfortable or think our tears are making others uncomfortable.

Our emotions, however, are God-given. They're a characteristic of our having been made in God's image (Gen. 1:27). He grieves. In Genesis 6:6-7, He was sorrowful and angry about His people's sin and the separation it caused between Him and them. Jesus, God in the flesh, joined His friends Mary and Martha in grieving over the loss of their brother Lazarus (John 11:28-44). "He groaned in the spirit and was troubled" (v.33). He "wept" (v.35). "Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb" (v.38). I doubt that He apologized.

Someday when we get to heaven, there will be no more sorrow or separation or pain, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev. 21:4). In the meantime, the tears may flow. No apologies needed.  - Anne Cetas

He knows our burdens and our crosses,
Those things that hurt, our trials and losses,
He cares for every soul that cries,
God wipes the tears from weeping eyes. -Brandt

If you doubt that Jesus cares, remember His tears.

T-R-U-S-T 

In our last devotional, we talked about the need to trust God.  You may wonder, what does trust really mean?  Let me help you understand by using the word T-R-U-S-T as an acronym.

"T" stands for trust...which means that if you are going to trust Him, you have to take Him at His word.  Even if it seems like it is not true, you take Him at His word.  If we will take Him at His word, He will guide us through the course of life and bring us across the finish line safely.

"R" stands for rest.  The Bible tells us to rest in the Lord.  1 Peter 5:7 says, Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Do not worry.  Worry is like a rocking chair.  It gives you something to do, but you don't get anywhere.

"U" stands for understanding.  Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  Sometimes things just won't make sense to your understanding.

"S" stands for speech.  Our speech is an expression of our faith.  In Mark 11, Jesus said, "Have faith in God."  And then the very next thing Jesus said is, "Whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."  Our faith in God is expressed through our speech.

The final "T" stands for thanksgiving.  We offer thanks to God in advance.  Philippians 4:6 says, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  When we offer thanks to God, it is an expression of our faith.

That's T-R-U-S-T!

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: Daniel 4:28-37
Everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. - Daniel 4:37

TODAY IN THE WORD
"Pride is a vice," said eighteenth-century writer Samuel Johnson, "which pride itself inclines every man to find in others, and to overlook in himself." Another anonymous saying warns: "Temper gets you into trouble. Pride keeps you there." Author and Christian apologist C. S. Lewis observed: "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you."
These observations describe well the sin for which Nebuchadnezzar was judged in Daniel 4. He ruled Babylon, the military superpower and leading culture of its day, and was therefore the most powerful man on earth. When his pride grew, God sent him a dream as a warning. The dream was about a strong tree that got chopped down. Even an emperor should not imagine he is beyond the reach of God's justice and power, for the Lord has a habit of humbling the proud (James 4:6).

This warning was even more specific: Nebuchadnezzar would not just be defeated in battle or suffer a political setback-he would be personally shamed and humiliated. Daniel explicitly told the king that the purpose would be to demonstrate God's sovereignty over all human kingdoms (v. 17). Although God had shown mercy by putting Daniel in position to interpret the dream and urge a repentant response, everything happened exactly as foretold. Nebuchadnezzar made a prideful statement about his own power and glory (v. 30), triggering judgment. For seven years-too long to keep it hushed up-he was out of his mind and lived like an animal.

The king was released from this embarrassing affliction only when he publicly acknowledged the one true God's eternality, power, righteousness, justice, and supremacy. Nebuchadnezzar brought glory to God for who He is and what He has done. Sin seeks glory for self, but worship gives glory to whom it is due.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you think you're beyond God's reach? Think again! "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). He can take away any part of your life, and He can give it back again, not arbitrarily but as part of His divine plan. How should we respond? Like Job: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21). 

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals October 11, 2009

Speaking The Truth
READ: 2 Chron. 24:15-22
He sent prophets to them, . . . but they would not listen. -2 Chronicles 24:19

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a respected small-town lawyer in the segregated South during the 1930s. When he takes on a case that pits an innocent black man against two dishonest white people, Atticus knows he will face terrible prejudice from the jury. But his conscience compels him to speak the truth boldly in the face of opposition.

The Old Testament prophets were often sent to preach the truth to a stubborn people. "[God] sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen" (2 Chron. 24:19). Their message often resulted in persecution and sometimes even death (Heb. 11:32-38).

During Christ's ministry on earth, His message also resulted in angry opposition (Luke 4:21-30). Yet, in the sovereignty of God, the terrible miscarriage of justice that sentenced Jesus to death on the cross purchased our redemption. Now, as representatives of the risen Christ in this world, we are to promote reconciliation, justice, and integrity (Mic. 6:8; 2 Cor. 5:18-21). And in so doing, this may mean speaking the truth in the face of opposition. This is the charge to every believer until that day when Christ sets all things right (Rev. 20:11-15).  - Dennis Fisher

The life that counts must toil and fight,
Must hate the wrong and love the right;
Must stand for truth, by day, by night-
This is the life that counts. -Anon.

It's better to declare the truth and be rejected than to withhold the truth just to be accepted.
 
The Power of Humility

One of the greatest dangers of the Christian life is spiritual arrogance. 

When pride wells up in our heart, it can absolutely take our spiritual legs out from under us, and keep the strong arm of the Lord from being revealed in our lives.

In 1 Peter 5:6, we are given the antidote to pride.  It says,

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

It is unfortunate, but there are some who emphasize the message of faith that at times do so with a touch of arrogance rather than humility.  The result is that it has really turned some people off to the whole message of faith.

Our faith always needs to be coupled with humility.

There are only two people in the Bible Jesus said had great faith.  One of them was the Roman centurion whom we find in Luke 7.  When you study his story, you find that because of his good works, the elders of the Jews said he deserved Jesus' help.  But the centurion had a far different view of himself.  He said he was not worthy for Jesus to enter under his roof.

The other person that Jesus said had great faith was the woman with the possessed daughter in Matthew 15.  Two elements stand out about her as we read her story.  She was persistent and she was humble.

Great faith cannot be divorced from great humility.  Humility is a necessary ingredient for the soil of our heart, without which a healthy faith cannot grow. 

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: Revelation 19:1-9
Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! - Revelation 19:9

TODAY IN THE WORD
Dating and courtship are a rough business in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan. Many marriages in that country are a result of a traditional though illegal custom called ala kachuu, or "grab and run." Sometimes this is a mutually agreed upon elopement, but more often it is a kind of kidnapping. The woman is abducted and taken to the man's home. By the next morning, she is a "ruined woman" unless she marries him. Surveys indicate that currently at least a third of Kyrgyz brides are wed in this manner.
Thank God that the Wedding Supper of the Lamb will be an entirely different kind of event! As seen in today's reading, it is a celebratory feast. God will condemn and destroy the "great prostitute" Babylon, then the Lamb and Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, will officially take His bride, the church (v. 7). The "wedding DJ" will be the Holy Spirit, the favorite musical theme will be: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God" (v. 1). Judging by these verses, it will be a pretty noisy wedding! There's "the roar of a great multitude" and shouting "like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder." We might picture a stadium full of cheering fans roaring as the clock winds down on a championship victory.

It's interesting that the pinnacle event of history is a Wedding. Throughout Scripture, God is pictured as a husband and His people as a wife, although that wife is sometimes spiritually unfaithful (as in the book of Hosea). At this feast, she wears a special wedding dress made of fine linen, symbolizing righteous acts, which has been "given her to wear" (v. . She didn't earn it, for salvation is God's gift. Even so, the bride has taken care to make herself ready, which is to say, believers need to do the good deeds God has prepared for us to do (Eph. 2:10). Then we'll be ready to join in the chorus of glory!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Marriage is not just a metaphor. Our marriages are to be living illustrations of God's love (see Eph. 5:25). Many resources are available for those of us who need help along the way. You might be interested in reading The Marriage You've Always Wanted, by Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages. Two other good recent books are by John Piper: This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence and Velvet Steel: The Joy of Being Married to You: Selections from the Poems of John Piper.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals October 12, 2009

www.thegospelhiway.org  (In case you wish to look up more from this site, here is the address for them. Forgive me
www.fellowship-katy.org             for not  listing it.  This is a special program and I benefit from it, and I know you will too. )

Go Beyond Reading

READ: Colossians 3:12-17
As the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness . . . longsuffering. -Colossians 3:12

Pastor, where are the Our Daily Bread devotionals?" The words came harshly-almost in anger. The latest edition had not yet been placed in the rack outside the church auditorium. This led at least one reader to confront the pastor about their absence. Although it was not his responsibility to distribute the booklets, he felt terrible about the way this parishioner had reprimanded him for not making sure the devotional guides were there on time.

When I heard this, I was struck by the irony of this situation. Devotional booklets are meant to encourage Christian growth and godly grace. And as followers of Christ who read devotional materials, we hope we are moving toward spiritual maturity that leads to "tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering"-qualities Paul says we should "put on" (Col. 3:12).

Our spiritual disciplines-reading God's Word along with accompanying study or devotional materials, prayer, and worshiping together-should not be ends in themselves. Instead, those actions are means to becoming more Christlike, more godly, more Spirit-led. Our spiritual practice should lead to having the "Word of Christ dwell in [us] richly" (3:16). That will show in everything we do and say.  - Dave Branon

I want my heart to be in tune with God,
In every stage of life may it ring true;
I want my thoughts and words to honor Him,
Exalting Him in everything I do. -Hess

Bible study is not merely to inform us- it's meant to transform us.

The Face of God

The psalmist says in Psalm 30:7,

You hid Your face, and I was troubled.

One thing we should never want to experience is for God to hide His face, because the face of God represents His favor, friendship, and fellowship.

Now there is only one thing that causes God to hide His face from us.  It is found in Isaiah 59:1-2,

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

Sin is the one thing that causes God's face to be hidden.  The Bible says we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, which means the sin of mankind had hidden God's face.

But that is not the end of the story, thank goodness!  In Isaiah 50:6 we are told,

"I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting."

Because Jesus did not hide His face from shame and spitting, because He took your place and died for your sins, God's face can shine upon you.

He could have hidden His face; He could have avoided the whole crucifixion, but He didn't.  He bore a shame that was not His as God the Father laid the sin of the world on Him.

Because Jesus did not hide His face, the face of God need not be hidden from any of us.  The light of God's countenance can shine upon every one of us, and we can indeed be the friends of God. 

Thank you, Jesus, for what you did!

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: Romans 4:18-25
He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. - Romans 4:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a recent graduation address, Wheaton College president Duane Litfin spoke of discipleship: "These hard words [Luke 14:26-27] are designed to remind us that serving Christ costs us everything. Compared to our allegiance to Him, all other allegiances, no matter how important, pale into the background. They're like stars in the daytime, outshone by a far brighter thing. When you set out to follow Jesus Christ, there was no fallback plan, no parachute clause-all other bridges were burned. In fact, Jesus says, without that, you cannot be His disciple. Nothing less will do. No half-heartedness, no competing allegiances. With Jesus, it's all or nothing."
Faithful discipleship brings glory to God. Our key verse today describes Abraham's commitment to obedience to God. Specifically, he believed God would give him a son, just as He said He would. From a human perspective, such faith was "against all hope" and reason, for Abraham was 100 years old, "his body was as good as dead," and "Sarah's womb was also dead" (vv. 18-19). He knew and faced these facts, but as discouraging as they were, they didn't weaken his faith in God as a sure promise keeper (v. 21).

Abraham was even "strengthened in his faith" by God Himself. Saying he "gave glory to God" means that he thanked God ahead of time for keeping His promise. When God keeps any promise, but especially one that is humanly impossible, we see clearly why He deserves all our praise and glory.

In what he did, Abraham modeled discipleship. The lives of all who follow the Lord should through faith bring God glory, just as Abraham did by trusting Him completely. Furthermore, our faith is a gift of God. Just as He strengthened Abraham's faith, He strengthens ours-we cannot boast in it. As Dr. Litfin said: "No halfheartedness, no competing allegiances. With Jesus, it's all or nothing."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To believe God will keep His promises is to give Him glory. Reason says, "Sit back; wait and see; the proof is in the pudding." But faith says, "Take a stand, take a risk, follow Christ into the unknown, for He has said He will never leave you or forsake you" (see Heb. 13:5-6). Whatever you do, God will keep His promises and His name will be glorified, but you have a choice about how to respond to this spiritual truth. Choose faith!

GOD BLESS!


www.thegospelhiway.org
www.fellowship-katy.org

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals October 13, 2009

Details, Details
READ: Philemon 1:4-16
In everything give thanks. -1 Thessalonians 5:18

Details make a difference. Ask the man from Germany who planned to visit his fiancée for Christmas but ended up in snowy Sidney, Montana, instead of sunny Sydney, Australia.

Prepositions in our language seem like insignificant details, but they can make a big difference. The words "in" and "for" are an example.

The apostle Paul wrote, "In everything give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18). That doesn't mean we have to be thankful for everything. We need not be thankful for the bad choices someone makes, but we can be thankful in the circumstances because the Lord can use the resulting difficulties for good.

The letter to Philemon illustrates this idea. Paul was imprisoned with Onesimus, a runaway slave. He certainly didn't have to give thanks for his bad situation. Yet his letter is full of gratitude because he knew that God was using it for good. Onesimus had become something more than a slave; he was now a beloved brother in the Lord (v.16).

Knowing that God can use all things for good is more than enough reason to give thanks in everything. Giving thanks in difficult circumstances is a small detail that makes a big difference.  - Julie Ackerman Link

Father, thank You that in every trial, challenge, and difficulty, You are behind the scenes working things out for our good. Help us to see Your hand in everything. Amen.

God has not promised to keep us from life's storms, but He will keep us through them.

Showers of Blessings

In Ezekiel 34:26, God is speaking, and He says,

"I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing."

In this passage, God is certainly speaking of natural rain when He talks about the showers He will send.  Those are rains He promised to Israel which would water the land and cause it to increase and be fruitful and bring an abundant harvest.   

But, more than that, when God says there will be showers of blessing, He is talking about bringing blessings into the lives of His people.  The rain is symbolic of more than just the rain that falls to the earth.  It symbolizes the good things that God wants to bring into the lives of those who serve Him.

God wants to bring showers of blessings into your life.  Not just a blessing or two, but showers of blessings.  An abundance of blessings.

You may feel like you are in a season of drought rather than experiencing showers of blessings.  So over the next few devotionals, I will help you understand:

The three ways God brings blessing into the lives of people
The things that can cause a spiritual drought
How you can break such a drought in your life
For today, what I want you to begin to see is God's desire to rain blessings into your life.  If you are feeling a spiritual drought, I pray God will use the coming devotionals to help you break that drought, and experience the refreshing rains of His blessing.

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: Psalm 34:1-10
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. - Psalm 34:3

TODAY IN THE WORD
In God's Book: The Power and Pleasure of Praying the Psalms, campus pastor Ben Patterson portrays the psalms as lessons in prayer, "learning to desire the things God wants to give, and then asking him for them." He wrote: "The Psalms can help us pour out our hearts to God. All the joys, pleasures, hopes, fears, despairs, doubts, heartaches, terrors, and longings of which we are capable are mirrored, clarified, sanctified, and transformed in the Psalms, as are all the ways we may pray: supplication, intercession, praise, thanks, lament, and meditation."
Psalm 34 is one of these marvelous lessons in prayer and faith. The bottom line is much the same as in yesterday's devotion-trusting in the Lord brings Him glory. But notice the curious occasion: David wrote this psalm while on the run from Saul, after pretending to be insane before the Philistines in order to defuse their suspicions.

As with Abraham and the idea of two elderly people having a baby, this was a "messy," real-world story, not an inspirational wall poster with butterflies and waterfalls. Faith that brings God glory is often "messy" and real-world in the same way in our lives. We're called to trust Him in the midst of gritty, complicated, and difficult realities.

As verse 3 makes clear, God is glorified when we persist in faith in the midst of such realities and call others to do the same, exalting His name together.

In this psalm, David spoke specifically of faith that God saves and delivers (vv. 4-7). David knew this not only personally, since he was running from Saul, but also from history. The radiant face of Moses and the protective presence of the angel of the Lord reminded him of God's covenant love and faithfulness.

Ultimately, this kind of faith savors and delights in God (vv. 8-10). Trust is more about the relationship and His presence than about what He does for us, though actually the two cannot be separated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Imagine if you frequently read restaurant reviews, had a shelf full of cookbooks, and enjoyed looking at full-color photos of delicious dishes . . . but never actually ventured to cook or eat any of these meals for yourself. What a waste! In the same way, faith that knows many truths about God but never acts on them is bland and tasteless. The relationship isn't worth much. Want more of God? Take David's advice: "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (v. .


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals October 14, 2009

Olympic Extravaganza
READ: 1 Kings 10:4-10
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:16

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics on August 8, 2008, impressed the world. I saw it on TV as more than 90,000 people watched it live in the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing. It was inspiring to hear about China's 5,000 years of history and the inventions she had contributed to the world: paper-making, movable-type printing, the compass, and fireworks.

The Queen of Sheba was greatly impressed by what she saw during her visit with Solomon (1 Kings 10:4-5). The sights of Jerusalem so overwhelmed her that she exclaimed, "The half was not told me" (v.7). Above all, she was impressed with Solomon's wisdom (vv.6-7). She was convinced that the subjects of Solomon were happy because they continually stood before him and heard his wisdom (v.. She concluded by praising Solomon's Lord for making him king so he would "do justice and righteousness" (v.9).

Solomon's impact on his people made me wonder about our contribution to the world. We're not concerned about impressing others with our possessions or abilities, but we all should want to make a difference in the lives of people. What if there was one thing each of us did today that caused people to praise the Lord?  - C. P. Hia

This is the wish I always wish,
The prayer I always pray:
Lord, may my life help others
It touches on the way. -Anon.

Christians are windows through which Jesus can shine.

The Blessing of God's Spiritual Influence

In the beginning of Isaiah 55, God invites His people to come to Him and fellowship with Him.  In verses 3 and 6 God says,

"Incline your ear, and come to Me.  Hear, and your soul shall live....  Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near."

In verses 10-11, we are told what happens to those who respond to this invitation, to God's call to come and seek Him and listen to Him,

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

In the same way rain brings blessing when it waters the earth (causing it to bring a bountiful harvest and fruitfulness into the lives of the people), so God's spiritual influence brings refreshment and fruitfulness to our lives.

What is God's spiritual influence?  It is the impact of His Word and His Spirit upon the hearts of His children. 

When you come to God, when you respond to His call to seek Him and incline your ear, He will speak to you.  And the effect His Word has when He speaks it into your life, into your heart, is the same effect that rain has on the earth.

His Word, as it penetrates your heart, will bring refreshment, enlightenment, and ultimately, fruitfulness.  It will bring revival into your heart causing spiritual growth and progress.

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: Jeremiah 13:15-25
Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. - Jeremiah 13:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
As he recounted in Discipleship Journal, Scott Morton once called a friend to complain about all the stress in his life. "Got a verse for you," the friend responded. "Oh great," thought Scott, "a Bible verse to patch up my shattered nerves." Aloud he said, "Go ahead. What's the verse?" "First John 1:9," his friend replied, referring to the well-known verse ex-horting believers to confess their sins. Shocked, Scott realized he'd been neglecting his relationship with God. The greatest barrier in this relationship is sin, but the solution of confession is always available.
Confessing sin brings God glory! At the start of today's reading, the prophet Jeremiah called the people to humble themselves and hear the word of the Lord (v. 15). The phrase "Give glory to the Lord your God" is a follow-up call to confession and repentance, for people cannot truly worship with unconfessed sin in their hearts. The main barrier to confession is pride. The consequences of failing to confess were first given in metaphorical terms-they would experience darkness rather than light, they would stumble rather than stand firm (v. 16).

It gave Jeremiah no pleasure to deliver this message. If the warning was fulfilled, he would "weep bitterly" (v. 17). The passage then goes on to make explicit the consequences of continuing pride and unrepentant hearts (vv. 18-25). God's people would be conquered and led into exile, a future they thought was impossible due to their status as "God's people." Their main sin was idolatry; their worship at high places was like sexual immorality. Your wicked actions are habitual, said the prophet: You "are accustomed to doing evil" (v. 23).

Confession and repentance include the idea of turning from sin to righteousness, and God is pleased to strengthen us to do it. This process is founded on His mercy, grace, and holiness at work in our lives, and His name is glorified when we confess our sins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
First John 1:9, mentioned in today's illustration, encourages us: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Though our sins might be different from those of the Israelites, and though military conquest and exile might not be at stake, the fact remains that sin has negative consequences in our lives while righteousness is how God created us to live. Confession is a wonderful way to restore a close relationship with Him.

GOD BLESS!

www.thegospelhiway.org  (In case you wish to look up more from this site, here is the address for them. Forgive me
www.fellowship-katy.org             for not  listing it.  This is a special program and I benefit from it, and I know you will too. )

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals October 15,2009

Be Still
READ: Psalm 46
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! -Psalm 46:10

As I sat in the dentist's chair, I braced myself for the drilling that would begin my root canal. I was ready for the worst, and my body language and facial expression exposed my sense of dread. The dentist looked at me and smiled, saying, "It's okay, Bill. Try to relax."

That isn't easy to do. It is actually very difficult to try (requiring effort and exertion) to relax (requiring an absence of effort and exertion). Try and relax just don't seem to fit together-not only in the dentist's chair, but in the spiritual realm as well.

Far too often I don't limit my efforts of resistance to visits at the dentist's office. In my relationship with Christ, I find myself not pressing for God's purposes but for my own interests. In those moments, the hardest thing for me to do is "try to relax" and genuinely trust God for the outcome of life's trials.

In Psalm 46:10, we read, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" In the moments when my heart is anxious, this verse reminds me to "be still, and know." Now, if I can only put that into practice and rest confidently in His care, I'll be at peace.  - Bill Crowder

Lord, we know that true rest can be found only in You. Help us to end our striving and to trust that You will provide. In Your loving arms we find rest. Amen.

God knows the future, so we are safe in His hands.

God's Plentiful Rain

Psalm 68:6-10 says,

God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.  O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, the earth shook; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.  You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, when it was weary.  Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.

When you read various Bible commentators, you will find they agree that this refers to a tremendous rain.  The language the psalmist uses refers back to the manna God provided for His children as they wandered in the wilderness.

God sustained them supernaturally.  He gave them supernatural provision.  He brought them out of bondage into prosperity, and He sent a plentiful rain symbolizing His extravagant blessing on their life.

God, out of His goodness, met the needs of those who previously had been poor.  And in the same way, He pours blessings into our life.  He sustains us, He takes care of us, and He meets our needs.

Take time today to praise Him for His provision and blessing in your life.

Now, if there is a drought in your life in any of these areas, there is a reason for it.  In the next few devotionals, I want to talk to you about some potential causes for that drought, and suggest some things you can do to cause the drought to break and bring the rain of God's blessing to fall in your life once again.

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: Isaiah 6:1-8
See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. - Isaiah 6:7

TODAY IN THE WORD
One day in 1956, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. received news that his Montgomery, Alabama, home had been bombed. He returned home and found his family safe, but violence was in the air. A crowd was gathering; rage was rising. From the front porch, King spoke these words: "If you have weapons, take them home; if you do not have them, please do not seek to get them. We cannot solve this problem through retaliatory violence. We must meet violence with nonviolence. Remember the words of Jesus: "˜He who lives by the sword will perish by the sword' . . . Jesus still cries out in words that echo across the centuries: "˜Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; pray for them that despitefully use you.' This is what we must live by. We must meet hate with love."
Forgiveness can be both strong and painful, as Isaiah also discovered in today's reading. This classic passage on the calling and commissioning of the prophet teaches us that while sin brings shame, confession of sin is cause for rejoicing because of the greatness of God's forgiveness. From the perspective of our month's topic of glorifying God, this happened to Isaiah in a context where, not by accident, God's glory is paramount. The images are stunning and awe-inspiring-a throne in heaven, the temple, the train of God's robe filling the temple, thunder, smoke, and angels proclaiming His holiness: "The whole earth is full of his glory" (v. 3).

Seeing a glorious vision of the glory of God in which God was being glorified, Isaiah was immediately overwhelmed with a sense of his personal sin and the nation's sinfulness (v. 5). God offered forgiveness in the form of a hot coal touched to the prophet's lips, a symbol of his calling (v. 7; cf. Jer. 1:9; Dan. 10:16). Divine forgiveness is a powerful, painful, cleansing reality, and the first step in His plans to use us for His purposes (v. .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In your daily devotions, one of your main goals is no doubt simply to meet with God, to sense His presence as you begin your day. But there's nothing simple about it! All it took to spur Isaiah's agonized cry, "Woe is me!" (v. 5), was a realistic sense of God's presence. We're not suggesting you cry, "Woe is me!" over your morning coffee, but you could praise God and ask Him to reveal to you more fully the purifying effect of His presence in your life.

GOD BLESS!


www.thegospelhiway.org  (In case you wish to look up more from this site, here is the address for them. Forgive me
www.fellowship-katy.org             for not  listing it.  This is a special program and I benefit from it, and I know you will too. )

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals October 16, 2009

Conflict Resolution
READ: Philippians 4:1-9
I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. -Philippians 4:2

Today is observed in many countries as International Conflict Resolution Day. Its purpose is to encourage people to use mediation and arbitration rather than the legal system to settle their differences. Because we as followers of Christ are not immune to conflict, we need to learn how to resolve our disagreements in ways that honor the Lord.

It has been said that "church fights are the worst fights," perhaps because they break out among people who profess to believe in unity and love. Many Christians have been so hurt by a fellow believer that they walk away from the church and never return.

Euodia and Syntyche are mentioned by name in the Bible and urged to resolve their differences: "Be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4:2). Instead of leaving them alone to settle their dispute, Paul appealed to a trusted fellow worker to "help these women who labored with me in the gospel" (v.3). In this same context, Paul urged the Philippians to bring their requests to God, noting that prayer brings the peace of God (v.7) and a sense of His abiding presence (v.9).

Fractured relationships in a Christian community are a community responsibility. In the midst of hurts and differences, we can encourage, listen, and pray.  - David C. McCasland

For Further Study
For biblical advice on reconciling relationships, read What Do You Do With A Broken Relationship? on the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/q0703

Forgiveness is the glue that repairs broken relationships.

The Number One Cause for Spiritual Drought

By far the Scriptures teach that the number one cause for spiritual drought is sin.  And the number one cure for drought, according to the Scriptures, is repentance.

In 2 Chronicles 6:26-27, King Solomon is clear in this prayer,

When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

Notice that the heavens were shut up, there was no rain, because of sin.  But when the people confessed God's name and turned and repented, Solomon prayed, "God, hear and open the heavens once again and send rain."

This prayer is particularly significant because Solomon is praying at the dedication of the temple.  Scripture declares to us in 2 Corinthians 6:16, You are the temple of the living God.

The Old Testament temple was just a type and a shadow pointing to better things-to the era in which God would no longer dwell in buildings made with mortar and stone, but take up residence in human hearts.

That's you and me!  As 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are not our own.  We have been bought with a price, and God's expectation is that we glorify Him in our bodies.  You and I are God's temple.

If there is sin in your life, turn from it and turn to God, so that you can experience the refreshing rain of God's blessing in your life.

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

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read: Joshua 7
My son, give glory to the Lord . . . Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me. - Joshua 7:19

TODAY IN THE WORD
In the beginning days of the early church, Barnabas sold some land and gave the money to the Apostles. Perhaps noticing how much praise he'd received for his sacrificial generosity, a couple named Ananias and Sapphira decided to do the same . . . almost. They kept part of the money for themselves, but told Peter they were donating the full price from their land sale. God knew, of course, and for lying to Him they were both struck dead. "Great fear seized the whole church," as well it should have (Acts 4:32-5:11). Lying to the Lord is a blasphemous and terrible thing.
Telling the truth, by contrast, brings Him glory. We see this clearly in the story of Achan. During the epic victory at Jericho, Achan had stolen a robe, silver, and gold and hidden them for himself. Since he was a soldier on the winning side, why were these things not considered spoils of war? Because they had been dedicated to the Lord (v. 11), who had given Israel the victory in a miraculous way. When Achan stole these items, he was actually trying to steal glory from God! When the Israelites suffered defeat at Ai, he had to have known that his actions were the reason, yet he didn't step forward. When Joshua, at the Lord's command, ordered a national consecration and assembly, Achan again had to have known that his sin was the reason, yet again he didn't step forward. Not even when the narrowing process was taking place, from tribe to clan to family, did he step forward. Only when Joshua charged him directly did Achan confess.

Joshua's charge to tell the truth is interestingly phrased: "Give glory to the Lord . . . and give him the praise" (v. 19). Though Achan had been caught in a heinous sin and faced capital punishment and enduring infamy, it was still an occasion for praise at the national level because sin was being rooted out of God's holy people and the covenant was being honored.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do we have a price? Achan's seemed rather low. With God's glory, the covenant, military victory, and the Promised Land at stake, he sold his righteousness and integrity for a handful of valuables he could hide under his tent. In the choices we make every day, God's glory and the gospel witness are at stake, yet sometimes we trade them for lesser things-a pay raise? Our own convenience? Avoiding ridicule? Only God knows. And since He does know, why not always and uncompromisingly put His glory first?

GOD BLESS!

www.thegospelhiway.org  (In case you wish to look up more from this site, here is the address for them. Forgive me
www.fellowship-katy.org             for not  listing it.  This is a special program and I benefit from it, and I know you will too. )

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals October 17, 2009

The Defeat Of Death
READ: 1 Thess. 4:15-18
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. -1 Corinthians 15:57

Christian faith ought to make a difference in how we live from day to day. But the final test of our trust in the gospel is how we react in the face of death. When we attend a memorial service for a departed friend who loved the Lord Jesus, we gather to honor a believer whose stalwart trust has richly blessed the lives of those who knew him. The words spoken are more an expression of praise to God than a tribute to an admired fellow pilgrim. The service is a God-glorifying testimony to our Savior's victory over death and the grave (1 Cor. 15:54-57).

How different from the funeral service of Charles Bradlaugh, a belligerent British atheist. Writer Arthur Porritt recalls: "No prayer was said at the grave. Indeed, not a single word was uttered. The remains, placed in a light coffin, were lowered into the earth in a quite unceremonious fashion as if carrion were being hustled out of sight. . . . I came away heart-frozen. It only then dawned on me that loss of faith in the continuity of human personality after death gives death an appalling victory."

Christians, however, believe in a face-to-face fellowship with our Lord after death and the eventual resurrection of our bodies (1 Cor. 15:42-55; 1 Thess. 4:15-18). Does your faith rejoice in victory over death?  - Vernon C. Grounds

From earth's wide bounds and ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl stream in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost- Alleluia! Alleluia! -How

Because Christ is alive, we too shall live.

The Cure for the Drought Brought by Sin

In our last devotional, we talked about sin being the number one cause for spiritual drought.  The natural question is, "What is the cure, how do I end that drought?"

One word:  repentance.

In addition to the passage we read yesterday, 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 is clear and instructive,

"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

True repentance literally means an inward change of heart resulting in an outward change of direction.  If there is no outward change of direction, then it is not true repentance.

There is no real repentance even if you are feeling emotional and weeping over your sin.  That is not repentance.  Feeling sorry is not repentance.

Repentance is the change of heart that results in a change of lifestyle, a change of direction, a turning.  So I have a word for you:  If there is known sin in your life, repent.

King David gives us a great example in Psalm 32:4-5 when he said,

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.  I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.  I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD...."

If, because of sin, you are in a drought spiritually, repent.  If you do, your drought can be broken and you can experience the blessings of God.

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

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

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

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
God . . . made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 4:6

TODAY IN THE WORD
Several years ago, fishing in the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois, Tim Pruitt landed a 124-pound blue catfish. It took Pruitt more than half an hour to land the giant fish, which measured 58 inches long and 44 inches around. About as large as a sixth-grader, it broke the world record by two-and-a-half pounds and the state record by nearly twenty pounds. The huge catfish was kept alive, put on display at a Cabela's Outfitter store in Kansas City, and later returned to the river.
Jesus said, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt 4:19). As we also see in today's reading, God is glorified when we share the light of the gospel with those living in darkness. When Paul wrote, "we have this ministry," he meant all believers (v. 1; see 3:18) and the new covenant (see 3:6). That means we are all responsible for spreading the good news.

The basis for our calling is not our own abilities or effectiveness but God's mercy. Our evangelistic "method" is simple-"setting forth the truth plainly" (v. 2). We do not need deceptions, distortions, or marketing tricks.

In fact, we cannot "convert" anyone. That is the work of the Holy Spirit, with the ultimate choice between the individual and God. Because unbelievers are spiritually blind, the gospel is veiled or concealed from their understanding (vv. 3-4). In addition, Satan takes an active role in further blinding their hearts and minds to the "light of the gospel of the glory of Christ."

God's hand is needed for any evangelism to be successful. This is why our goal in witnessing can only be to "commend ourselves to every man's conscience" (v. 2). Therefore, while we're passionate about sharing the good news, we need not fret about unbelievers' unresponsiveness. It's not about us (v. 5). God is the source of spiritual light and power in our witness, and He is the One who gives life (v. 6).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you caught any fish lately? Have you been baiting your hook well? Do the fish even know you're there? These questions aren't really about fishing, of course, but about evangelism. While God is the only One who can awaken belief in spiritually dead hearts, we have been commanded to be part of this process by sharing the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20). God is pleased to use us as His children to tell others of the good news of salvation in Christ. What a privilege!


GOD BLESS!