Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

April 26, 2010

A Universe Of Humanity

READ: Acts 28:16-31
Paul . . . received all who came to him. -Acts 28:30

During the 1920s and 30s, photographer August Sander set out to portray a cross-section of German society. Through his lens he saw factory workers and financiers, actresses and housewives, Nazis and Jews. Even though his published collection contains only people in and around his hometown of Cologne, he captured what David Propson, writing in The Wall Street Journal, called "a universe of humanity in his restricted sphere."

That phrase strikes me as an apt description of our lives and the people we meet day by day. Wherever we live, we cross paths with people from many backgrounds and beliefs.

For years, the apostle Paul traveled and preached before being imprisoned in Rome. There he continued to touch people with the gospel because he cared about them and wanted them to know Jesus Christ. The book of Acts concludes with Paul confined in Rome, living under guard in a rented house, where he "received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 28:30-31).

Instead of focusing on his restrictions, Paul saw opportunities. That's the key for us as well. There is a universe of humanity within our reach today.  - David C. McCasland

You are called with a holy calling
The light of the world to be,
To lift up the lamp of the gospel
That others the light may see. -Anon.

The gospel is a priceless gift that's offered free to everyone.
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Stop Blaming and Rise Up

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in  that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me"  (John 5:6-7).

This guy was basically saying, "It's not my fault.  I'm in this condition because of what someone else won't do for me, and because of what someone else has done to me."

Think about it, "I have no man to put me in."  Paraphrased that says, "I'm stuck because of what someone won't do for me."  Or, "While I'm coming, another steps down before me," which paraphrased says, "I'm stuck because of what someone else has done to me."  Either way, "It is not my fault."

After making up our minds that we want to be free, the next step is to stop shifting the blame to others.

A friend of mine migrated from Mexico to the U.S. many years ago.  He didn't understand the culture or the language and seemed to be hopelessly locked into a dead end job.

His employer took advantage of him and it seemed like he had no way out.  But instead of blaming others for his situation (which would have been easy for him to do), he decided to get unstuck and do something with his life.

It took several years, but today he has several businesses and is quite wealthy.

Do not get caught in the trap of blaming others.  Instead, make the decision to rise up (something we will be talking about in our next devotional.) 
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Read: Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children. - Ephesians 5:1

TODAY IN THE WORD
Charlie is a stubborn toddler. His mother attempts to persuade him that he is a big boy now. He has a big boy bed, a big boy chair, and a big boy toothbrush. Yet Charlie refuses to wear big boy underpants. Despite the news that big boys don't wear diapers, Charlie won't live into his new identity. We are often like Charlie, straddling two lives, what Paul calls the "old self" and "new self."
The first contrast in our text is between "Gentiles" (vv. 17-19) and Christ followers (vv. 20-24). The unbelievers are separated from God due to their hardened hearts. Those who know Christ are dramatically different. They are sensitive to God, not controlled by worldly indulgences, nor typified by impurity.

Two additional contrasts are introduced. First, the imagery of clothing is the backdrop for the language of "put off" and "put on." Second, the author compares the "old" and "new" self. As a result of knowing Christ, we throw off the old self and stop "living as the Gentiles do." Before we change into the metaphorical clothes of our new self, we must first "be made new" by God (v. 23). The ball is back in our court in verse 24; we are exhorted to "put on the new self," and represent God's holiness and righteousness.

Paul gives examples of what it looks like to put off the old self and put on the new self (vv. 25-32). One is to "put off" stealing and instead "put on" the practice of productive work. The fruit of labor enables generosity, and this reflects the image of God. Another example is to "put off" the hardness of heart that prevents you from reconciling with others. Instead, "put on" kindness, compassion, and forgiveness and thus resemble Christ.

Ephesians 5:1-2 explain how this attitude connects with God's love. Jesus loves us so much He surrendered His life on the cross, that we may be God's "dearly loved children." Transformed by our adoption, we imitate God in self-giving love.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul's fundamental understanding is that we have been transformed in Christ, and now we actively resist sinful behavior. Did you observe his emphasis on what comes out of our mouths? Look again at verses 25, 29, 31 and 32. Our words greatly affect our relationships. Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart and your speech (cf. Ps. 139:23-34). You may also wish to study the topic further in James 3:3-12 and Matthew 12:33-37.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

April 27, 2010

For The Sake Of His Name

READ: 1 Samuel 12:19-25
I will never leave you nor forsake you. -Hebrews 13:5

The ancient Israelites gathered at Gilgal for the coronation of Saul as their first king (1 Sam. 11:15). The Lord was not pleased that His people had asked for a king, yet on this occasion Samuel uttered these words: "The Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people" (12:22).

We too are God's "own special people" if we have trusted Jesus as Savior (1 Peter 2:9). He will not forsake us even though He knows we will fail Him. He knows what we are like-sinful, weak, and frail. He knew it before He called us and drew us to Himself. The certainty of our salvation rests not in ourselves but on the character of God (1 John 5:20). He will keep us to the end.

This does not give us an excuse to continue in sin. Paul said, "Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Rom. 6:2). Our choices do reflect on God's reputation, our witness in the world, and our fellowship with Him. But God will never reject His people, those who are truly His. The Lord cannot and will not forsake His own (Heb. 13:5).

We can rest assured. What God saves, He keeps-for the sake of His great name!  - David H. Roper

"Able to keep!" how sure is the word!
He is my Keeper, Savior, and Lord.
"Never shall perish," one of His sheep,
Glory to God! He is able to keep. -Anon.

Lives rooted in God's unchanging grace can never be uprooted.
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Experience the Abundant Life

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Do you know what is wrong with many of us? We are trying to get out of trouble rather than get into righteousness.

We are so focused on the defensive side of Christianity that we forget about offensive, positive approach.

Wouldn't you like to get up and stay up?   
Wouldn't you like to experience the abundant life our Lord talks about?
Jesus came to give us eternal life. He came to give us the abundant life. We need to do like the old song says and "Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative."

Why don't you determine today that you are going to get right with God and stay right with God? Determine that you're going to take steps that lead to a life of obedience.
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Read: Luke 7:36-50
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. - Psalm 29:2

TODAY IN THE WORD
Imagine the scene of today's reading. Jesus was the honored guest in the home of Simon the Pharisee, a devout Jewish leader. Suddenly, an uninvited woman of disrepute entered the scene clutching a jar of extremely expensive perfume. Everyone watched with bated breath. The so-called sinful woman stood at Jesus' feet sobbing. Her tears were plentiful enough to wet Jesus' feet. As if this episode was not already astonishing, the woman let down her hair to dry his feet. We can almost hear the audience gasp; a woman in the first century only showed her hair in the privacy of her own family. Then, the scandalous woman kissed Jesus' feet and poured her costly perfume on them. What follows are two dramatically different interpretations of her behavior.
The spotlight falls on Simon, the stately host. We hear a voiceover of Simon's inner thoughts (v. 39). According to the Pharisee, Jesus should know this woman's awful reputation and the disgrace of associating with her. Though Simon may not have realized it at first, Jesus knew his private judgments and responded with a parable (vv. 41-43). The story of the debt collector has two main points. First, neither borrower has the ability to pay off his debt. Second, the one with the larger debt cancelled will be more grateful. Interestingly, Jesus frames the gratitude in terms of love, which knits the parable together with His following comments about the woman.

Jesus' question to Simon in verse 44 probes beyond the surface. Jesus was not simply asking if his host's physical eyes were functioning; He discerned Simon's spiritual eyes. Moreover, Jesus starkly contrasted the respectable Pharisee with the "sinful" woman and turned expectation upside down. Whereas Simon interpreted the woman's actions as disgraceful, Jesus regarded them as loving (v. 47). Then He referenced the parable to make two complementary points: the indebted woman loved Jesus abundantly and was forgiven because of it; she loved lavishly because she recognized that she had been released of such an insurmountable debt.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What would it be like for you to worship God extravagantly? Are you restrained by the expectations of others? Is your love of God stifled by guilt and inability to receive His forgiving love? Reflect on these questions. Next, take account of the debt of sin you cannot repay and God's costly sacrifice to satisfy it. Let your recognition increase your gratitude for salvation in Christ. Join the songwriter of Jesus Paid It All: "Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead."

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

April 28, 2010

For The Sake Of His Name

READ: 1 Samuel 12:19-25
I will never leave you nor forsake you. -Hebrews 13:5

The ancient Israelites gathered at Gilgal for the coronation of Saul as their first king (1 Sam. 11:15). The Lord was not pleased that His people had asked for a king, yet on this occasion Samuel uttered these words: "The Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people" (12:22).

We too are God's "own special people" if we have trusted Jesus as Savior (1 Peter 2:9). He will not forsake us even though He knows we will fail Him. He knows what we are like-sinful, weak, and frail. He knew it before He called us and drew us to Himself. The certainty of our salvation rests not in ourselves but on the character of God (1 John 5:20). He will keep us to the end.

This does not give us an excuse to continue in sin. Paul said, "Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Rom. 6:2). Our choices do reflect on God's reputation, our witness in the world, and our fellowship with Him. But God will never reject His people, those who are truly His. The Lord cannot and will not forsake His own (Heb. 13:5).

We can rest assured. What God saves, He keeps-for the sake of His great name!  - David H. Roper

"Able to keep!" how sure is the word!
He is my Keeper, Savior, and Lord.
"Never shall perish," one of His sheep,
Glory to God! He is able to keep. -Anon.

Lives rooted in God's unchanging grace can never be uprooted.
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April 22

More Blessed to Give than to Receive

"...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

Unhappiness comes from mirrors. Happiness comes from windows.

If you want to be miserable, then think about yourself first...

what you want,   
what people are saying about you,   
what you ought to have done for you,   
how down you feel,   
how good you feel.
Just focus on yourself. Feeling good yet? If you are, then something is wrong. Selfishness and happiness just don't go hand in hand.

If you're thinking it's better to receive than to give, then you'll never be happy. You'll never experience the blessing of giving that Jesus taught.

Hold out your hand and make a fist for at least one minute. Now relax. Which feels better-the clinched fist or the relaxed and flexible hand?

Imagine that your spirit is tight like that fist and think of how severely that can quench His work in your life. Now relax and submit your spirit to the One who truly blesses. 

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Read: Psalm 51:1-19
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. - Psalm 51:1

TODAY IN THE WORD
Second Samuel 11 records King David's infamous adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah. Chapter 12 narrates the prophet Nathan's rebuke of David and the king's confession. Today's psalm is attributed to King David as his prayer following these sins.
David opens his prayer of repentance with a plea based on God's declaration in Exodus 34. Three words bind verse 1 to Exodus 34:6: "mercy," "love," and "compassion." Treat me according to who You said You are, David appeals. In other words, be gracious to me, Lord, not because of who I am, but because of who You are. David's petition that God would completely cleanse him from his sin continues through verse 9. This opening section of Psalm 51 includes two peculiar acknowledgments by David. First, David admits that his sin was an offense against the Lord (v. 4). Seemingly, David's offense was primarily against his neighbors. "Only" in verse 4 means "ultimately" more than it does "exclusively." To sin against our neighbor is to sin against the Lord. Second, David recognizes that he was sinful at birth (v. 5). Notice that the words David uses in his request (vv. 1-2); "blot out," "wash," and "cleanse" are repeated in reverse order in verses 7 through 9, indicating closure and completeness of the first section of his prayer.

The second portion of Psalm 51 includes David's request for renewal and acceptable sacrifice (vv. 10-17). "Heart" and "spirit" occur six times, emphasizing the theme of verse 6. David's prayer is that God would "create" in him a new heart, one that is pure and repentant. The essence of David's request is not simply hope for forgiveness for a particular transgression, but rather an appeal for God to make him the kind of person who is holy.

The final section of today's passage illuminates the communal effects of David's personal restoration (vv. 18-19). Repentance and heart renovation have ripple effects. If the king is renewed, Jerusalem will also be built up, and the people will follow his example, bringing the Lord "righteous sacrifices."
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 51 clarifies that sin is an offense against God. Rather than employing either efforts of self-improvement or drowning in his remorse, David reached to God's unfailing love for restoration. We know from 2 Samuel 12:13 that God forgave and established David. Jeremiah also records God's promise to forgive us and give us new hearts that follow him (Jer. 31:33-34). Consider using Psalm 51 as a guide for a prayer of repentance in your own life. Pray this prayer today and begin to experience God's forgiveness, healing, and love.
 
GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 29, 2010

For The Sake Of His Name

READ: 1 Samuel 12:19-25
I will never leave you nor forsake you. -Hebrews 13:5

The ancient Israelites gathered at Gilgal for the coronation of Saul as their first king (1 Sam. 11:15). The Lord was not pleased that His people had asked for a king, yet on this occasion Samuel uttered these words: "The Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people" (12:22).

We too are God's "own special people" if we have trusted Jesus as Savior (1 Peter 2:9). He will not forsake us even though He knows we will fail Him. He knows what we are like-sinful, weak, and frail. He knew it before He called us and drew us to Himself. The certainty of our salvation rests not in ourselves but on the character of God (1 John 5:20). He will keep us to the end.

This does not give us an excuse to continue in sin. Paul said, "Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Rom. 6:2). Our choices do reflect on God's reputation, our witness in the world, and our fellowship with Him. But God will never reject His people, those who are truly His. The Lord cannot and will not forsake His own (Heb. 13:5).

We can rest assured. What God saves, He keeps-for the sake of His great name!  - David H. Roper

"Able to keep!" how sure is the word!
He is my Keeper, Savior, and Lord.
"Never shall perish," one of His sheep,
Glory to God! He is able to keep. -Anon.

Lives rooted in God's unchanging grace can never be uprooted.
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The Sweetheart of Your Life

"For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh." Matthew 19:5

Today's message is for the men...If you don't love your wife now more than you loved her when you got married, you probably love her a lot less. Sir, I want you to learn to flirt - but not with any other woman - just with the girl you married!

Keep that flirtation going all throughout your life.

Never call the waitress "sweetheart."  She's not your sweetheart. You have only one sweetheart. Never call someone else "dear." She's not your dear.

There is one who needs to know beyond a shadow of any doubt that she is your sweetheart, she is your darling, and she is number one.

Develop that love and keep it growing.

Are you a husband or dating someone? Let me ask you a question, then. When was the last time you bought your wife or girlfriend flowers or her favorite perfume or wrote her a love note? Stop right now and think of how you're going to show her that she's the only sweetheart in your life!
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Read: Romans 8:28-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? - Romans 8:35

TODAY IN THE WORD
Fear can be a force of both action and paralysis. All around us, fear proliferates. Fear of cancer, flying, extremists, and an international pandemic; fear of crime, failure, and economic turmoil; fear of people of other ethnicities, fear of loneliness or being truly known, fear of the end of the Mayan calendar, and fear of death. Our passage today anchors our hearts in God's love and dissipates our fears.
Verse 28 continues the point Paul introduces in verse 17: we share in both Christ's suffering and His glory. God's purpose is the overarching theme of verses 28 through 30, which is our conformity to Christlikeness. God's foreknowledge and pre-determined purpose for us is an outworking of His love and grace. Before any thought or action on our part to reach for God, He reaches for us to redeem us and call us to something so much greater, reflecting His Son, Jesus. This does not, however, exclude our cooperation with God or our loving obedience.

Paul asks in effect, If what I just said is true, then what is the result? (v. 31). Answer: if we are on God's side, then we will not be defeated. How do we know "God is for us?" Paul recounts that God gave His only Son for us to demonstrate the measure of His commitment to His love and purpose for us. Moreover, Christ was raised to life and now intercedes for us in "our present sufferings" (v. 34; 8:18).

Verses 35 and 39 are bookends to Paul's next section proclaiming that no influence or adversity-nothing-can detach us from God's unshakable love in Christ. In fact, in the same power that raised Christ from the dead, "we are more than conquerors" (v. 37). Notice the connection between God's love for us and the promise of victory over suffering and trials. The love of God in Christ overcomes hardship, persecution, and powers that war against us; it gives hope of triumph in the midst of suffering; and it is seen most clearly "in Christ Jesus our Lord" (v. 39).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The path to Christlikeness is not easy street. Sin brings suffering into our lives, and Jesus teaches that we will experience loss and persecution for following Him (Mark 10:30; John 15:20). Paul also reports oppression and trials for preaching Christ (2 Cor. 11:23-28). You can encourage and pray for Christians around the world who suffer persecution; and you can find personal comfort in adversity, being confident that nothing can separate you from God's love and that you will overcome in Christ.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

April 30, 2010

The Search For Satisfaction
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May 1, 2010 - by Joe Stowell
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Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Isaiah 55:1-6
Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? -Isaiah 55:2

Bible in a year:
1 Kings 10-11; Luke 21:20-38
When it comes to jigsaw puzzles, we all know that to enjoy a satisfying outcome you need all the pieces. In many ways, life is like that. We spend our days putting it together, hoping to create a complete picture out of all the scattered parts.

Yet sometimes it seems like a piece is missing. Perhaps we've been pursuing the wrong pieces to the puzzle. Even though we may know that life without God at the center is a life that has lost the most important piece, do we live as though He isn't particularly relevant? And even though we may attend church regularly, is He the throbbing center of our lives? Sometimes we grow accustomed to feeling distant from God. This makes it easier to sin, complicating the sense that something important is missing.

But no matter how far we may drift from God, He wants us near. He appealed to His people through the prophet Isaiah: "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance" (Isa. 55:2).

If something is missing in your life, remember that God is the only One who can fully and abundantly satisfy you. Let Him complete the picture of your life.

The God-shaped void within our heart
Cannot be filled by treasure;
It's only God who satisfies
In ways we cannot measure. -Sper

There's a longing in every heart that only Jesus can satisfy.
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Praying in Secret

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:6

What did our Lord mean when He said, "Enter into your closet to pray"? The word "closet" simply means a place where you can shut the door on the world and open the windows to heaven.

As you study the life of Jesus, you'll discover that Jesus sought times to be alone. Sometimes He would go to a mountain top, sometimes into the wilderness, and sometimes into a garden. It is the secret place that is the sacred place.

The mark of your prayer life is not really how well you pray in public but in private.

When you enter your closet to pray,

spend some time in silence   
clear your mind   
listen for His Words of edification, encouragement, and exhortation.
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Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again. - Ecclesiastes 1:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
New appliances in the 1950s promised housewives a new identity. A new washer or dryer, mint-green electric stove, or upright vacuum cleaner would define her as competent and accomplished-and in addition, make her happy. The allure of these shiny new household objects was short-lived. Beneath the glitz of a new Frigidaire was merely the reality of daily work. Laundry still needed to be washed, another meal to be cooked, a dirty floor to be cleaned. The cycle of work was endless.
Our study this month will examine the ways that we define our identity and find meaning and value in our lives. As we study some of the promises of the world to bring meaning to our lives, we'll also see what God's Word says about our worth and true identity.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read a record of this profound search for the meaning of life. Why am I here? What pleasure is there in this life? Is life "meaningless" (1:2), or is there a purpose under heaven?

The search for life's meaning plays a key role in our search for identity. Some people find identity in their career, hoping to be fulfilled as a doctor, a teacher, or a lawyer. They might conclude, I am good at football-so I will be a football star. What happens to the star's identity when what he does is no longer an option? If a teacher has no class to teach, or if a doctor has retired from practice, can he or she maintain an identity?

Ecclesiastes aptly describes the cycle of life with its repetition and continuity. "Generations come and generations go" (v. 4). Even a great king or the richest man on earth is but one player in the rolling tide of generations. Even when you achieve wealth or glory or fame, life can seem meaningless.

Finding our identity in a career is building a life on a shaky foundation. Jobs end. Skills decline. And subsequent generations may never remember our accomplishments. We need to look elsewhere for the ultimate source of our identity and worth.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's one of the most frequently asked questions: What do you do? Our culture tempts us to equate our identity and value with what we do for a living. Career accomplishments or the size of our paycheck are barometers of our success. But as Ecclesiastes reminds us, in the scope of the universe, this could be meaningless. During your time of prayer today, ask the Lord to show you the way that He values your life and desires to shape your identity, and ask for an eternal perspective.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 2, 2010

Recession Proof
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May 2, 2010 - by Cindy Hess Kasper
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Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: 1 Chron. 29:10-13
All that is in heaven and in earth is Yours. -1 Chronicles 29:11
Bible in a year:

In his sermon titled "What Is the Recession For?" pastor John Piper suggests that when the economy plummets, God has His own purposes. Some of them might be:

1. To expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.

2. To wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world, where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.

3. To relocate the roots of our joy in His grace rather than in our goods, in His mercy rather than in our money, in His worth rather than in our wealth.

4. To advance His saving mission in the world-the spread of the gospel and the growth of His church-precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it.

5. To bring His church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.

What else does God want to teach us in difficult times? That nothing is impossible with Him (Luke 1:37). That He who owns "the cattle on a thousand hills" (Ps. 50:10) is not limited by an economic downturn. That God hasn't placed a moratorium on the Great Commission nor abandoned us (Matt. 28:20). Let's not put our hopes on worldly prosperity, but on the One who owns it all!

When difficulties come our way,
God uses them to show
That when we put our trust in Him
His goodness we will know. -Sper

When all you have is God, you have all you need.
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Making Your Bible Come Alive

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

Why is it that sometimes when we read the Bible we leave our common sense at the door? You don't just pick up a book, open it at random, and start reading in the middle of a paragraph. The book wouldn't make any sense.

In order to understand and get the full appreciation for the book, we read it sequentially and in paragraphs or units.

When you read the Bible, read for quality not quantity. Don't see how much of the Bible you can read. See how much of the Bible you can assimilate and apply! Maybe what you need to do is spend a week studying one verse.

In your Bible reading today, stop and ask yourself:

      "What is God telling ME?"

Not "what does this say?"

But "what is God saying to me?"

Then seek to put that into practice today.
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Read: Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. - Ecclesiastes 12:1

TODAY IN THE WORD
In the popular game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? the host asks the contestant progressively more difficult questions. The first questions have obvious answers, and it is fairly simple to pick the correct answer from the four options. But as the prize gets larger, the questions get more difficult.
If you've ever played along with the show, you may feel fairly confident about your own intelligence-until it passes the $32,000 mark. At that point, the questions get much more specific and the field of knowledge begins to narrow. Even a well-educated person realizes he may not know everything there is to know. The game is not as easy as it initially appeared.

The ending of the book of Ecclesiastes shows that this game of life is not as easy as first thought. Chapter 11 begins with the command, "Cast your bread upon the waters" (v. 1). The chapter continues to echo the overall theme of Ecclesiastes-life occurs in the cycle of history. What has been learned at the end of this journey?

Even our best-laid plans can go awry. Our job is not to figure out what lies ahead, but rather to do the task at hand: "you do not know the path of the wind" (v. 5). There is so much we do not know. Scripture cautions against relying on our own knowledge, intelligence, or understanding. "You cannot understand the work of God" (v. 5).

Though we cannot know the future, we are still advised to take certain actions: "let not your hands be idle" (v. 6). No matter how old we become, we should "enjoy" each year (v. . "Be happy" when we are young and "let your heart give you joy" (v. 9).

The true key to meaning, suggests Ecclesiastes, is not exclusive investment in work or planning for the future. It is not found in ourselves or in endless self-analysis. The key is to focus on the Creator: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth" (12:1). We are to look for God who will satisfy the craving for meaning and purpose in our lives.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
An epitaph is the inscription that will be engraved on your gravestone. These few words will summarize who you are and what your life represented. What will your epitaph read? What has your life meant to others? What would you like it to say? It's never too late to "Remember your Creator" and make a choice to live a life with eternal purpose. As the words of a classic poem remind us, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 3, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
Vital Intercession
. . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . . -Ephesians 6:18


As we continue on in our intercession for others, we may find that our obedience to God in interceding is going to cost those for whom we intercede more than we ever thought. The danger in this is that we begin to intercede in sympathy with those whom God was gradually lifting up to a totally different level in direct answer to our prayers. Whenever we step back from our close identification with God's interest and concern for others and step into having emotional sympathy with them, the vital connection with God is gone. We have then put our sympathy and concern for them in the way, and this is a deliberate rebuke to God.

It is impossible for us to have living and vital intercession unless we are perfectly and completely sure of God. And the greatest destroyer of that confident relationship to God, so necessary for intercession, is our own personal sympathy and preconceived bias. Identification with God is the key to intercession, and whenever we stop being identified with Him it is because of our sympathy with others, not because of sin. It is not likely that sin will interfere with our intercessory relationship with God, but sympathy will. It is sympathy with ourselves or with others that makes us say, "I will not allow that thing to happen." And instantly we are out of that vital connection with God.

Vital intercession leaves you with neither the time nor the inclination to pray for your own "sad and pitiful self." You do not have to struggle to keep thoughts of yourself out, because they are not even there to be kept out of your thinking. You are completely and entirely identified with God's interests and concerns in other lives. God gives us discernment in the lives of others to call us to intercession for them, never so that we may find fault with them.
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Starting Your Day Out Right

"My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up." Psalm 5:3

Christianity is a love relationship. You cannot love someone that you do not know, and you cannot know someone that you don't spend quality time with.

To know Jesus is to love Him. 
To love Him is to trust Him. 
To trust Him is to obey Him. 
To obey Him is to be blessed.
It begins with a quality, daily communication with the Lord.

Why is it best to spend time with the Lord in the morning? Because you are getting ready to go on a road trip through life. You don't take the trip and then read the map, do you?

How are you starting your mornings? With a cup of coffee and the paper? Or with the pure milk of the Word and the light of His Presence?
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Read: Romans 6:1-11
Through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. - Romans 6:4

TODAY IN THE WORD
When an American citizen might face violent recrimination from testifying against a dangerous defendant, the federal witness security program will hide the person or family and provide a new identity. Those who participate in the program may be sent to a far-away city, given new identification cards, and even new names. They are required to create a new life story, to discard anything that might tie them to their old life, and to refrain from contact with anyone-including family members-from the past. It is as if they are reborn as a new person.
In Romans, we learn about the new identity we have as believers in Christ. When we are reborn in Christ, we die to ourselves. This is a good thing, not a bad thing! By dying to self, we discard all of those old ties and old habits that have troubled us and weighed us down. Paul explains, "We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (v. 2).

Paul compares this rebirth to baptism, which represents our death and resurrection in Christ. When we die to sin, we are figuratively burying it in the ground. Our new self is raised in Christ, as He was resurrected. By this, we, too, have "new life" (v. 4).

Why is this important to us as we seek our identity in Christ? It is important to distinguish between the natural, human, sinful struggles that we have and the new identity we have been given when we are raised in Christ. Through Christ, we are indeed a new creation. But dying to self is still a process. While we are on earth, we continually need to remind ourselves that our true identity is found in the salvation through Christ's resurrection, not in our own struggles and failings.

No longer can sin define us, because we are inhabited by the very Spirit of God Himself. The presence of the Holy Spirit is our new "identification card" guaranteeing that our past can never reclaim us. Our identity as the children of God is secure.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Complete this simple, fill-in-the-blank. I am ______; God is ________. Either by yourself or with your family or friends, make a list of your strug-gles to complete the sentence. For example, you might write, "I am lonely" or "I am worried." Then think of how God has fulfilled your specific need, for example: "God is faithful." Praise God that despite our ongoing struggles on this earth, He meets our needs and provides the definition for our eternal identity!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 4, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Vicarious Intercession


. . having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus . . . -Hebrews 10:19


Beware of thinking that intercession means bringing our own personal sympathies and concerns into the presence of God, and then demanding that He do whatever we ask. Our ability to approach God is due entirely to the vicarious, or substitutionary, identification of our Lord with sin. We have "boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus."

Spiritual stubbornness is the most effective hindrance to intercession, because it is based on a sympathetic "understanding" of things we see in ourselves and others that we think needs no atonement. We have the idea that there are certain good and virtuous things in each of us that do not need to be based on the atonement by the Cross of Christ. Just the sluggishness and lack of interest produced by this kind of thinking makes us unable to intercede. We do not identify ourselves with God's interests and concerns for others, and we get irritated with Him. Yet we are always ready with our own ideas, and our intercession becomes only the glorification of our own natural sympathies. We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means a radical change of all of our sympathies and interests. Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God's interests in others for our natural sympathy with them.

Am I stubborn or substituted? Am I spoiled or complete in my relationship to God? Am I irritable or spiritual? Am I determined to have my own way or determined to be identified with Him?
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The Reason We Are Stressed

"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" Matthew 6:30

Do you know the reason we're stressed? Because we think our needs are not going to be met. We say, "Oh my goodness, I'm not going to have what I need!"

Jesus tells us not to worry about what you are going to eat. And don't worry about what you are going to wear. He's saying only one thing is important - His righteousness. These things don't even take significance until your deepest needs are met. You are to find your satisfaction in Him. If you don't find your satisfaction in Him, you're going to be stressed.

Are you stressed out about something today? Turn it over to Jesus and turn your focus to Him. Let Jesus meet your needs and transform your heart today.
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Read: Psalm 8:1-9
What is man that you are mindful of him? - Psalm 8:4

TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1893, an English professor went by train to Colorado to teach summer school. On her trip, 33-year-old Katharine Bates was inspired by many of the scenic views she saw, including the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the wheat fields of Kansas. She was particularly moved by the majestic view of the plains from atop Pike's Peak. On the top of that mountain, the words of a poem came to her and she quickly wrote them down. Today, we know the poem as the song, "America the Beautiful." Her description of the "purple mountains' majesty" still resonates with our feelings of glory and awe as we view God's creation today.
The psalmist in today's passage records a similar wonder at God's creation. Read the psalm through in its entirety, noting how it begins and ends with a praise to God, the Creator: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (vv. 1, 9). There is a contrast here between God and man. God is distinguished by "glory" (v. 1); worthy of "praise" and powerful (v. 2).

The psalmist wonders: Considering these attributes of God, how can He care for people like him? "What is man that you are mindful of him?" (v. 4). Further he asks, "the son of man that you care for him?" Not only did God create us-He cares for us!

God's creation was made with love and is given a place of honor and purpose. The text says that the son of man has been "crowned with glory and honor" and has been made "ruler over the works of your hands" (vv. 5, 6). This is a position of both significance and responsibility.

Isn't it incredible that the God of all creation could care for us in such an intimate, purposeful way? God has given us great gifts. He has given us the gift of His creation to enjoy and to rule. This demonstrates His love for us and the value He has given to us.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Music helps us to express the glory of God. If you can, listen to a few of those songs that describe the wonder of God's creation and His love for us. "America the Beautiful," "How Majestic Is Your Name," or "Lord of All Creation" are just a few suggestions. Of course, the classic hymn "How Great Thou Art" also reflects the awe we feel in God's presence. Thank Him for who He is and glory in the fact that He created us and loves us!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 5, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
Judgment and the Love of God

The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God . . . -1 Peter 4:17

The Christian servant must never forget that salvation is God's idea, not man's; therefore, it has an unfathomable depth. Salvation is the great thought of God, not an experience. Experience is simply the door through which salvation comes into the conscious level of our life so that we are aware of what has taken place on a much deeper level. Never preach the experience- preach the great thought of God behind the experience. When we preach, we are not simply proclaiming how people can be saved from hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying good news about God.

In the teachings of Jesus Christ the element of judgment is always brought out- it is the sign of the love of God. Never sympathize with someone who finds it difficult to get to God; God is not to blame. It is not for us to figure out the reason for the difficulty, but only to present the truth of God so that the Spirit of God will reveal what is wrong. The greatest test of the quality of our preaching is whether or not it brings everyone to judgment. When the truth is preached, the Spirit of God brings each person face to face with God Himself.

If Jesus ever commanded us to do something that He was unable to equip us to accomplish, He would be a liar. And if we make our own inability a stumbling block or an excuse not to be obedient, it means that we are telling God that there is something which He has not yet taken into account. Every element of our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God. The moment we recognize our complete weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God will exhibit His power.
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God's Omnipotence in Creation

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1

An eloquent preacher said, "God stepped from behind the curtain of nowhere and stood upon the platform of nothing and spoke a world into existence." God is the creator of all that your hand can touch, your eye can see, your ears can hear, and your nose can smell. If you see a watch, I hope you assume there's a watchmaker. And if you see the precise atomic flux of the universe, I hope you don't believe that happened by chance. The evolutionists believe that if you take billions of years and add time plus chance, that you can turn frogs into princes. In school they call that fairy tales. In the laboratory they call it science.

God spoke your life into existence. His Word sustains your breath. His Word can silence your breath. Thank Him for your life today!
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Read: Genesis 1:26-2:25
So God created man in his own image . . . male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27

TODAY IN THE WORD
Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) is said to have painted more portraits of himself than any other artist before him. He began to paint self-portraits at age 13, and later used his own face on a number of other famous portraits. Near the end of his career he thought his face bore a similarity to Jesus Christ, and he used it in a religious engraving called the "Veil of Veronica."
Dürer saw a likeness between himself and Christ; he saw himself as a reflection of the Son of God. Dürer's art expressed a conviction that we ought to share: we are made in the image of God. We bear the reflection of God in our human bodies.

Today's passage is the well-known creation story. It is important, when considering our identity in Christ, to begin at the beginning. Why were we created? How did God fashion us? What was His motivation? In this Genesis passage, God had finished creating the animals and living creatures who inherit His perfect earth.God looked at His creation and declared it "good" (v. 25).

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule." (v. 26). Note there that God gives a unique vision for His creation of mankind. He chose to create humanity, not the animals or other objects, in "his own image" (v. 27).

What does it mean to be created in the "image" of God? It certainly has implications both physically and spiritually. If we are created in God's image, then we are to reflect His image in every facet of our being. All parts of our being-body, soul, spirit-were made for His purposes and His pleasure.

But this is a cautionary tale. Man and woman did not remain in the garden. Sin separated them from God. Nevertheless, that image of God, stamped upon them would continue. Sin could not erase the reality of being created in the image of God.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Pull out a coin from your coin purse or pocket. Whose image does it bear? Why? When we want to honor an individual, we put their image or name on a sign, statue, or even money. God has put his image on your life. What does that mean for you? Certainly it should ward off any tendency to cut ourselves down or to attack ourselves with negative thoughts and impulses. God respects us as His creation, worthy of bearing His image. Do you view yourself as worthy of respect?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 6, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
Liberty and the Standards of Jesus

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free . . . -Galatians 5:1


A spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand- "Believe this and that"; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39-40  ). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions. And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty- the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.

Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God's view. There is only one true liberty- the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.

Don't get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you- with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, "Go . . . and make disciples. . ." ( Matthew 28:19  ), not, "Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions."
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It's All about Jesus

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

The thing I love about the Old Testament is the thing I love about the New Testament. The Old Testament and the New Testament both are the inspired Word of God. Don't get the idea that the Old Testament has a message different from the New Testament. All of the Bible is about Jesus. If you read the Bible and you don't find Jesus, you better go reread it.

Somebody may ask if you have read the four gospels, and you can answer them, "I've read all sixty-six!"

From Genesis to Revelation,

It has the same villain - Satan.   
It has the same hero - Jesus.   
It has the same purpose - to present salvation in no other name but Jesus.
Read Isaiah 53. What are the prophecies that were fulfilled in the life of Christ?
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Read: Isaiah 45:5-12
It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. - Isaiah 45:12

TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2007, a New York woman was on a walk to get a morning cup of coffee when she saw a painting set out for the trash. Elizabeth Gibson told reporters, "It was a huge, powerful, and beautiful painting. I said to myself, 'It is wrong to be in the garbage.'" Gibson carried the painting home, unaware of its value. Researching online, she discovered that the painting was titled, "Tres Personajes," by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo, and had been stolen more than 20 years earlier. After returning the painting to its rightful owners, Gibson received a $15,000 reward. The painting was expected to earn as much as one million dollars at auction.
It was fortunate for the owners and for the art world that Gibson recognized the value of the painting. Without her careful eye, the beautiful and valuable creation might have been lost forever. It is sometimes easy for us to fail to recognize the value of creation. Certainly that is the case in today's passage, where the prophet bemoans man's tendency to demean the creation of God.

Part of recognizing our worth is the realization that a holy God will not make junk. God and His creation both deserve a place of honor-not set out for the trash but hung on a gallery wall. The passage begins by placing God in His rightful place of honor: "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God" (v. 5). Why is this important? Because a correct perception of God will impact the way we perceive ourselves.

If we recognize the strength and power of God, we will see how His love can and will support us (v. 5). We see God's power in creation (vv. 7, . We are warned that we, as the created being, should not argue with our Creator (v. . After all, who knows us better than God?

Finally, we are reminded that our true value lies in the fact that we are purposefully created by a Holy God. We are made by His own hands (v. 12), the same hands that created the stars and the heavens. Certainly, we have great value.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You may not have valuable artwork hanging on the walls of your home, and you might have to travel to an art museum in order to see a Renoir or a Van Gogh. At a museum, you will see works by great masters, as well as security guards. Why? Because it is important to guard things we treasure. What about your heart? How do you guard what God has created? Pray today that you will be careful with God's creation. Ask God to help you avoid thoughts that will seek to harm what He has so carefully and lovingly formed.

GOD BLESS!