Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

May 7, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers


Building For Eternity

Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it . . . -Luke 14:28

Our Lord was not referring here to a cost which we have to count, but to a cost which He has already counted. The cost was those thirty years in Nazareth, those three years of popularity, scandal, and hatred, the unfathomable agony He experienced in Gethsemane, and the assault upon Him at Calvary- the central point upon which all of time and eternity turn. Jesus Christ has counted the cost. In the final analysis, people are not going to laugh at Him and say, "This man began to build and was not able to finish" ( Luke 14:30  ).

The conditions of discipleship given to us by our Lord in verses 26, 27, and 33 mean that the men and women He is going to use in His mighty building enterprises are those in whom He has done everything. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple " (Luke 14:26  ). This verse teaches us that the only men and women our Lord will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately, and with great devotion- those who have a love for Him that goes far beyond any of the closest relationships on earth. The conditions are strict, but they are glorious.

All that we build is going to be inspected by God. When God inspects us with His searching and refining fire, will He detect that we have built enterprises of our own on the foundation of Jesus? (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ). We are living in a time of tremendous enterprises, a time when we are trying to work for God, and that is where the trap is. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus, as the Master Builder, takes us over so that He may direct and control us completely for His enterprises and His building plans; and no one has any right to demand where he will be put to work.
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Procrastination Is a Sin

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17

Are you one of those people who believes, "Put off until tomorrow what you could do today"? This is one of those times when the fingers pointing back at me outnumber the one that's pointing to you!  What am I talking about? Procrastination.

Did you know that procrastination is a sin?

I say that because sin is not merely doing wrong, it is failing to do what you ought to do.

Procrastination and disobedience are just different shades of the same sin.

I heard a quote once that said it well:

When you have a job to do, begin this very hour.   

You supply the will, God supplies the power.

That is the "will-power" we need to instantly obey!

Has a certain task been hounding you? Confess your procrastination as sin. And act now; don't hesitate.

Yesterday is gone.   
Tomorrow may never come.   
Today is the day!
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Read: Isaiah 44:1-28
This is what the Lord says-he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you. - Isaiah 44:24

TODAY IN THE WORD
Abby Johnson joined Planned Parenthood because she believed that the organization was helping women at a critical time of need. The 29-year-old progressed to become a director of a local Texas chapter of the organization. But last year she was asked to assist in an ultra-sound and viewed first-hand an abortion. "I had never seen an abortion happen on an ultrasound," she said. Johnson said the experience changed her forever. "I just thought, 'What am I doing?'" she said. And then, she thought, "Never again." At the point she saw a living, breathing, heart-beating baby alive in the womb, Johnson was convinced that abortion was something she could no longer support.
Today's passage is an important one. Not only does it state that God knew and created us in the womb, but the chapter outlines His purpose for our lives. God says not only that He knew and created us, but also that He is eternal. "I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God (v. 6). He asks, "Who then is like me?" The answer, of course, is no one.

God is eternal and all-powerful. He is the Creator. We are His creation. That gives us a value, a worth that cannot be denied. We are purposefully made, purposefully created. He reminds us in verse 21: "Remember these things . . . I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you."

We are made by the God who does not make mistakes. He knows us. He has promised not to forget us. This gives us reason to rejoice. Verse 23 articulates this joy: "Sing for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done this." Verse 24 directs this joy toward the Creator, "the Lord who has made all things."

When we look for our purpose, it is helpful to remember that God is our personal Creator. He has signed His name to our life. He designed us the way we are. And He has the power to carry us to the end of our lives (vv. 25-28).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A work of art is more valuable when it is signed. The signature of the artist helps to protect against forgery or misidentification. As a child of the Creator of the universe, you need not live as a forgery, or think you are unworthy of the blessings of the Lord. Spend time today thanking God for His signature upon your life. If you are tempted to relegate yourself to a dustbin of uselessness, pray through the verses in today's reading again and praise the God who made you, who loves you, and has declared your value.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 8, 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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Choose to Love

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust'" (Matthew 5:43-45).

These are not suggestions to be considered, they are commands to be obeyed.  "A pretty tall order," you say.  Perhaps, but definitely within the realm of possibility.

Jesus would never tell us to do something we could not do.  That would be unjust. We can bless, we can do good, we can pray for and forgive those who have wronged us.

When people say, "I can't forgive," that generally means, "I won't forgive."  The ability to love, bless and forgive is within us-because God is within us.  Learn to let His nature of love dominate you.  Choose to love.  Let what God has put on the inside come out.

The world needs to see real love-the kind of unconditional love that brought us into God's family.  And they need to see it in us.  If we really are the children of God, then His nature should be displayed in us and through us.  The most outstanding feature of God's nature is love.  God is love.

One last thing.  When you choose to love and forgive those who have wronged you, you set a prisoner free.  The prisoner is you. 
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Read: Matthew 10:26-32; 1 Corinthians 13:11-13
Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. - Matthew 10:30

TODAY IN THE WORD
Chandria Murphy was in a state of panic when she discovered her diamond engagement ring was missing. Murphy had stopped to help her mother at her local business giving chair massages to tired shoppers. In order to assist with a last-minute client, Murphy took off her ring and placed it on a table. In the craziness of the day, she forgot it. The next day, she hurried back, but the ring was gone. She checked with security and placed an ad in the paper. Amazingly, the next day Jim Baroch found the ring while shopping. He saw Murphy's ad and returned it to the rightful owner. How relieved Murphy must have been to have such a valuable treasure found at last!
Did you know that God sees you as a treasure? In our reading from Matthew today, Jesus was addressing the disciples' fears. He acknowledged their concerns that people might treat His followers badly. In fact, Christians might find themselves attacked or put in life-threatening situations. Jesus counseled them, "So do not be afraid of them" (v. 26). On the surface, this advice does not make sense; of course we would be afraid of potential threats!

But the reason we can avoid fear comes from the value that God ascribes to us as His children. He compares us to sparrows. Although they are not worth much financially, "not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of the Father" (v. 29). Our worth is even greater. God knows us, He cares about us, and He will not let eternal harm befall us. This makes us supremely valuable.

God knows us intimately and fully. First Corinthians 13 describes not only God's love for us, but also how our love should be extended to others. The verses at the end of this passage show not only God's love for us but also His knowledge of us. "Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (v. 12). No part of our life is hidden; God knows us and values us.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The more you value a relationship, the more you know about a person. For example, do you know the one food that your spouse or best friend hates? Do you know his or her favorite movie? Can you identify their pet peeves? On the contrary, it would be very difficult to answer these questions for someone you've just met or an acquaintance you see once in a while. We can have confidence knowing that our God knows us so intimately-and He loves and values us very much.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 9, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Taking the Next Step

. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses -2 Corinthians 6:4

When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more of the grace of God, and a much greater awareness of drawing upon Him, to take that next step, than it does to preach the gospel.

Every Christian must experience the essence of the incarnation by bringing the next step down into flesh-and-blood reality and by working it out with his hands. We lose interest and give up when we have no vision, no encouragement, and no improvement, but only experience our everyday life with its trivial tasks. The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is steady perseverance, even when the work cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage you. Never allow yourself to think that some tasks are beneath your dignity or too insignificant for you to do, and remind yourself of the example of Christ inJohn 13:1-17 .
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Pursue Hospitality

Romans 12:9-14 says,

Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is evil.  Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

At the end of verse 13, Paul says we are to be "given to hospitality."  The word given is the Greek word translated "pursue" everywhere else in the New Testament.  This could be translated "pursuing hospitality."

Hospitality is actually a compound word in the Greek language.  The first part of the word means to be fond of.  The second part means guests.  So hospitality means to be friendly to strangers, to open your heart and open your home to others.

The Scripture is very strong when it says we are to pursue hospitality.  It is one of the greatest ways in all the world to demonstrate the love of God to people who are in need.

I remember like it was yesterday a time I was preaching at a church.  It was over 20 years ago, when I was a newlywed.  After the service was done, Janet and I were standing around not knowing what to do.  No one was speaking to us and the church had made no provision for our lodging or meals.

Just then an elderly couple came up to us and invited us to their home for lunch, which we gratefully accepted.

And you know what?  I don't remember what I preached that day, but to this day I remember eating roast in that couple's home.  I remember their graciousness, their hospitable spirit, and how much they made us feel welcome.
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Read: Romans 5:1-11; John 3:16
But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8


TODAY IN THE WORD
The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. The white marble structure in India was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife and queen Mumtz Mahal. She died during childbirth at age 39. Some say her dying request was for her husband to build a beautiful mausoleum in honor of their love. The Taj Mahal took 22 years and 20,000 workers to construct at a cost of 32 million rupees. But for a gift of love, no time, labor, or cost was too much.
Remarkable love often results in remarkable sacrifice. The emperor loved his dying wife so much and grieved so greatly after her death that he wanted to pay tribute to her with something tangible. In an even more magnificent way, God did the same for you. Today's passage outlines the gospel story that you may have heard many times before. As you read, focus on this expression of divine love.

Let's look at the context of our verse for today. The beginning of Romans 5 describes the result of our justification. Because we are justified, we have "peace" (v. 1) with God. Because we are justified, we have "gained access" to God and have the "hope of the glory of God" (v. 2). Because we are justified, we can "rejoice in our sufferings" (v. 3).

The last part may give us pause. Why does our justification allow us to rejoice even when we are suffering? The passage continues to answer that question. Suffering allows us to become more conformed to the image of Christ. Suffering has by-products; it produces perseverance, character, and hope.

We have hope. Why? Because our justification before God was a supreme act of love. It shows how valuable we are to God, even in our sinful and corrupt state. God's gift for us was not earned. He loves us unconditionally. His love was proven by the sacrifice of His Son, a gift to justify us. The evidence of His love is not a marble structure, but it is seen in the way our lives reflect His character.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Love impacts our hearts, minds and bodies. For some, it may be difficult to accept that God could love us in this way. We think we have to prove ourselves or do something worthy. The truth is, nothing we do could possibly be impressive enough. God demonstrated His love to us while were still sinners. Thank God for His indescribable gift, and if you have not yet accepted His love by trusting in the gift of His Son Jesus to justify you and save you from your sins, will you do so today?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 10, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Discipline of Hearing

Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops -Matthew 10:27

Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and God puts us into "the shadow of His hand" until we learn to hear Him (Isaiah 49:2 ). "Whatever I tell you in the dark. . ."- pay attention when God puts you into darkness, and keep your mouth closed while you are there. Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood- darkness is the time to listen. Don't talk to other people about it; don't read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.

After every time of darkness, we should experience a mixture of delight and humiliation. If there is only delight, I question whether we have really heard God at all. We should experience delight for having heard God speak, but mostly humiliation for having taken so long to hear Him! Then we will exclaim, "How slow I have been to listen and understand what God has been telling me!" And yet God has been saying it for days and even weeks. But once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart- a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now.
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Choose to Love

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust'" (Matthew 5:43-45).

These are not suggestions to be considered, they are commands to be obeyed.  "A pretty tall order," you say.  Perhaps, but definitely within the realm of possibility.

Jesus would never tell us to do something we could not do.  That would be unjust. We can bless, we can do good, we can pray for and forgive those who have wronged us.

When people say, "I can't forgive," that generally means, "I won't forgive."  The ability to love, bless and forgive is within us-because God is within us.  Learn to let His nature of love dominate you.  Choose to love.  Let what God has put on the inside come out.

The world needs to see real love-the kind of unconditional love that brought us into God's family.  And they need to see it in us.  If we really are the children of God, then His nature should be displayed in us and through us.  The most outstanding feature of God's nature is love.  God is love.

One last thing.  When you choose to love and forgive those who have wronged you, you set a prisoner free.  The prisoner is you. 
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Read: Romans 5:1-11; John 3:16
But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8


TODAY IN THE WORD
The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. The white marble structure in India was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife and queen Mumtz Mahal. She died during childbirth at age 39. Some say her dying request was for her husband to build a beautiful mausoleum in honor of their love. The Taj Mahal took 22 years and 20,000 workers to construct at a cost of 32 million rupees. But for a gift of love, no time, labor, or cost was too much.
Remarkable love often results in remarkable sacrifice. The emperor loved his dying wife so much and grieved so greatly after her death that he wanted to pay tribute to her with something tangible. In an even more magnificent way, God did the same for you. Today's passage outlines the gospel story that you may have heard many times before. As you read, focus on this expression of divine love.

Let's look at the context of our verse for today. The beginning of Romans 5 describes the result of our justification. Because we are justified, we have "peace" (v. 1) with God. Because we are justified, we have "gained access" to God and have the "hope of the glory of God" (v. 2). Because we are justified, we can "rejoice in our sufferings" (v. 3).

The last part may give us pause. Why does our justification allow us to rejoice even when we are suffering? The passage continues to answer that question. Suffering allows us to become more conformed to the image of Christ. Suffering has by-products; it produces perseverance, character, and hope.

We have hope. Why? Because our justification before God was a supreme act of love. It shows how valuable we are to God, even in our sinful and corrupt state. God's gift for us was not earned. He loves us unconditionally. His love was proven by the sacrifice of His Son, a gift to justify us. The evidence of His love is not a marble structure, but it is seen in the way our lives reflect His character.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Love impacts our hearts, minds and bodies. For some, it may be difficult to accept that God could love us in this way. We think we have to prove ourselves or do something worthy. The truth is, nothing we do could possibly be impressive enough. God demonstrated His love to us while we were still sinners. Thank God for His indescribable gift, and if you have not yet accepted His love by trusting in the gift of His Son Jesus to justify you and save you from your sins, will you do so today?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 11, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

"Love One Another"

. . . add to your . . . brotherly kindness love -2 Peter 1:5, 7

Love is an indefinite thing to most of us; we don't know what we mean when we talk about love. Love is the loftiest preference of one person for another, and spiritually Jesus demands that this sovereign preference be for Himself (see Luke 14:26 ). Initially, when "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" ( Romans 5:5 ), it is easy to put Jesus first. But then we must practice the things mentioned in 2 Peter 1 to see them worked out in our lives.

The first thing God does is forcibly remove any insincerity, pride, and vanity from my life. And the Holy Spirit reveals to me that God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, ". . . love one another as I have loved you" ( John 15:12 ). He is saying, "I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you." This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable- it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated.

"The Lord . . . is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish . . ." ( 2 Peter 3:9 ). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way. I may get irritated because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God! Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through Me? Neither natural love nor God's divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.
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The Love of Money

In 1 Timothy 6:9-11, Paul gives us a critical insight,

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

I want you to notice:  Before Paul tells us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness, he says we must first flee the love of money.  You have to be willing to flee the wrong things before you can pursue the right things, because you cannot go in two directions at once.

If you are pursuing riches, and the gaining of wealth and the achievement of success have become your number one priorities, pushing everything else, including God, to the side, then you are pursuing the wrong thing.

You may be thinking, "Well, that's great for some people, but that doesn't apply to me."  You need to understand that you can be eaten up with the love of money and not have a dime in your pocket.  All of us are subject to such a temptation and such a trap.

It's fascinating that Paul uses the word "drown" here.  I live by the Pacific Ocean, and generally people who drown do so because, (a) they overestimate their own abilities as a swimmer; or (b) they underestimate the power of the ocean.

If you overestimate your ability to be free from this type of a temptation, or you underestimate the power of this type of a temptation, you are setting yourself up for disaster.

Flee the wrong and pursue the right.  Stay on course with God. 
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Read: 1 Peter 2:4-9; Colossians 3:1-4
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house. - 1 Peter 2:5

TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the world's most famous gems is the Hope Diamond. The story goes that a French merchant purchased an enormous 112-3/16-carat diamond. The diamond, most likely from India, was described as having a "beautiful violet" color. The merchant sold the diamond to King Louis XIV of France in 1668. Many of its owners experienced bad luck and even death, which led to the association of the gem with its unfortunate legend. Over the years, the diamond passed through the hands of royalty and wealthy businessmen, and along the way, it was recut and shaped to its present 45.52 carats. Although now a fraction of its original weight, the diamond is still a magnificent treasure on permanent display in the Smithsonian.
Precious stones do not go unnoticed. They are valued, displayed, treasured, and fought over. They are used as a tribute to one's love when placed in an engagement or anniversary band. So it is noticeable that God compares us, as well as His Son, to living stones "chosen by God and precious to him" (1 Peter 2:4).

In Colossians, our value is linked to Christ. Paul explains that since we have been raised with Christ into a new life (v. 1), our focus should not be on things here on earth, but on eternal things. Our new life, says Paul, is "hidden with Christ in God" (v. 3). To be hidden means that our own selfish desires are submitted to Christ. We are invisible, so that Christ can become visible in our lives.

The word hidden also carries with it the idea of protection. When a gem is very valuable, it is often hidden to protect it from theft or destruction. Our lives, our very identity, is hidden safely in Christ. No one can take or destroy what is safely hidden with God. Scripture tells us that our one gem becomes part of a larger dwelling, "a spiritual house" offering sacrifices acceptable to God. Together, our precious gem becomes transformed into something immensely valuable to our Creator.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our lives and our identities are hidden in Christ-protected and being transformed to be more like Him. Spend time in prayer today asking the Holy Spirit to show you any areas where you are tempted to shine your own light or promote your own identity. Sometimes we do this out of fear or in order to feel in control. Ask the Lord to help you remember that when you are hidden in Christ, you are safe and fully loved.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 12, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
The Habit of Having No Habits

If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful . . . -2 Peter 1:8


When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives.

Your god may be your little Christian habit- the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, "I can't do that right now; this is my time alone with God." No, this is your time alone with your habit. There is a quality that is still lacking in you. Identify your shortcoming and then look for opportunities to work into your life that missing quality.

Love means that there are no visible habits- that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. If you are consciously aware of your own holiness, you place limitations on yourself from doing certain things- things God is not restricting you from at all. This means there is a missing quality that needs to be added to your life. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there someplace where you are not at home with God? Then allow God to work through whatever that particular circumstance may be until you increase in Him, adding His qualities. Your life will then become the simple life of a child.
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The Main Pursuit

Ezekiel 33:30-32 provides some pretty direct and challenging words from God,

"As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, 'Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.'  So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.  Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them."

I think, for some people, church is almost like going to a concert, especially if the preacher is flashy and the music is great.  They are not listening with a view to imbibe God's truth and then put it into practice in their lives.

What is the reason for this disconnect?  People are pursuing something else in their hearts.  Sure, they are showing up at church, they are listening, they are even saying "amen" at the right time, but they are not applying God's truth to their lives.  Why?  Because they are pursuing something else in their heart.

This is the same thing that Paul talked to Timothy about in yesterday's devotional.  Remember?  Like Ezekiel, he said, Their hearts pursue their own gain.

It is very simple:  If your focus is on the pursuit of things, your focus will never be on the One who has created all things.  It really boils down to this one question:  What is the main pursuit of your life?

If it is not God, then your life is going in the wrong direction! 
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Read: Philippians 2:1-13
Shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. - Philippians 2:15-16

TODAY IN THE WORD
Many visitors to Los Angeles make their way to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On Hollywood Boulevard, embedded in the sidewalk, are more than 2,000 stars engraved with the names of celebrities from music, television, and theater. The first eight stars were dedicated in 1958. The celebrities, real and fictional, who have had a star placed in their honor include former President Ronald Reagan, Mickey Mouse, John Wayne, and Diana Ross.
It is ironic that these stars are on the ground, in a place where ordinary human beings can walk on top of them. In today's passage, God clearly explains the value He places upon our lives. He immortalizes us not on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but as stars in the universe, held high for all to see. Our value in Christ extends far beyond mortal fame. By humbling ourselves to God, we are truly exalted.

The Philippians passage is an oft-quoted favorite. It describes the example we have in Christ who, "being in very nature God" (2:6), humbled Himself by taking on the "nature of a servant" (v. 7). Jesus Christ did not claim all His rights and privileges on earth. Instead, He was born as a baby of humble means. His arrival was not heralded in newspapers or photographed by the paparazzi.

The significance of His humility is noted in verse 9. "Therefore"-because of this-we read that "God exalted him to the highest place" (v. 9). God gave Him the "name that is above every name" (v. 9). No name-no person-is higher than Jesus Christ.

What does this mean for us? It gives us extraordinary, immeasurable value. It places us in a place of honor. Through Christ's transformation, we become "blameless and pure" (v. 15). Through His love, we will "shine like stars in the universe." We can never view our lives as insignificant. As children of God, chosen and redeemed by the Son of God, we have immeasurable value and will be given a position of high honor.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Before you go to bed tonight, step outside and take a look at the stars. If the night is not too cloudy, you will see a vast array of tiny dots of light. For millennia, people have charted their path according to the stars, using them to guide ships and continental treks. As you gaze at God's creation, realize that your life, too, is a star shining for all to see. Can others look to you for an example of how to live? Does your life reflect the glory of God and lead others on a path toward Him?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 13, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Habit of Keeping a Clear Conscience
. . . strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men -Acts 24:16

God's commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us. Consequently, to our human nature in which God's Son has been formed (see Galatians 4:19  ), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey.

Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God's standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God's perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God's Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly "prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" ( Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23  ).

God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God . . ." ( Ephesians 4:30  ). He does not speak with a voice like thunder- His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don't ask, "Why can't I do this?" You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is- drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.
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Sowing Righteousness

The Bible says in Galatians 6:7,

Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

And in Proverbs 11:18 it says,

The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

The Bible teaches the law of the harvest, that what you sow, you will also reap.  If you treat others fairly and uprightly, it will come back to you.

We live in a world that doesn't put much stock in integrity, fairness, uprightness, and righteousness.  We must be careful to not give in to that influence.  We need to be different.

How?  By not cutting corners.  By putting in an honest day's work.  By giving people what they pay for and more.  If you will pursue righteousness, it will come back to you.

You may remember a story back in the eighties about an armored car that crashed in Columbus, Ohio.  Two million dollars in cash spilled out on the highway, and the motorists helped the armored car company gather all of its money.

But, when it was all said and done, only $400,000 of the $2 million made its way back to the armored car company.  $1.6 million ended up in the pockets of the people who stopped along the highway to "help."

I'm sure they had every excuse under the sun.  Some probably even said, "Well, I've been praying for God to meet my needs, and it was a miracle!"  No, it was not a miracle.  They were thieves!

You cannot make an excuse for that kind of thing.  And yet that is the way the world thinks.  There should be a difference between us and the world.  We need to pursue uprightness, integrity, honesty, and godly character.  They need to be hallmarks of our lives. 
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Read: 1 John 3:1-24
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us! - 1 John 3:16


TODAY IN THE WORD
Online dating has changed the way millions of men and women approach romance. Instead of spotting your potential loved one across a crowded room, people now scroll through a variety of potential candidates on a computer screen. The single person looking for love enters his or her personal data into a computerized Web site or online dating program. The program will screen those characteristics, finding the closest matches. Web sites like e-Harmony and Match.com claim that their techniques have produced hundreds of thousands of marriages and long-term relationships. No wonder they are popular! Don't we all hunger to find our one true love?
Everyone wants to feel loved in a special and intimate way. A good deal of our self worth comes from knowing that someone knows us and loves us. Famed psychologist Abraham Maslow described our need for love as an important platform in his pyramid, the Hierarchy of Needs. We all need to be loved.

In today's passage, John describes the way God loves us. Chapter 3 emphasizes the type of love God gives us. It is not stingy or reserved. It is "great" and "lavish" (v. 1). This is an effusive love, an over-the-top type of love. God's love toward us is amazing. We also know that we are His children, and we are not yet in our final state.

The second part of verse 2 is important. God's love promises to transform us. When God appears, we will be made like Him. His love will "purify" us (v. 3). This purity excludes sin. John warns us to keep in mind the final transformation that God promises to us as His children to motivate our behavior now. We are not to be like those who do not know Him. We are to love others, as God has loved us (v. 10).

God's dramatic love for us required great sacrifice (v. 16). Our love for others should mimic His sacrifice. Our words and our actions should be marked and transformed by love (v. 18). How great a love God has given us!
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
All of us are searching for love. Sometimes, though, we look for it in the wrong places. We may even start to feel bad about ourselves because we are not loved as we think we should be. Whether you are single or married, an adult or a child, you know how important it is to experience love. Today, take time to thank God for the lavish way He loves you, and look for opportunities to extend this extravagant, sacrificial love to others in your life.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 14, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
The Habit of Enjoying Adversity
. . . that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body -2 Corinthians 4:10


We have to develop godly habits to express what God's grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that "the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of "myself" that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, "Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this." Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.

You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30 ). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God's sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to "supply all your need" ( Philippians 4:19 ).

Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.
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The Reward of Godliness

In today's devotional, I want to draw your attention to the importance of the pursuit of godliness.  Let's look at 1 Timothy 6:6,

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

What an incredible truth.  Godliness coupled with contentment is great gain.  Not just gain, GREAT gain!

Over and over in Scripture, God highlights the importance and reward of godliness.  For instance, it says in Psalm 4:3, That the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly.  2 Peter says the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations.  Those are great rewards!

But there is more.  Look at 1 Timothy 4:7-8,

But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.  For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

It could not be more clear!  There is profit in godliness, and that profit is not only in this life, but in the life that is to come.  Godliness is going to pay off in both this life and into eternity! 

So it makes sense to make this pursuit of godliness a priority!  Even if people want to kick you every time you do something that is right, you need to stay with it. 

Determine today to make godliness an everyday pursuit.  If you do, you will reap the rewards of godliness, great gain and profit, not just in this life, but for eternity.
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Read: Psalm 139:1-10
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. - Psalm 139:8


TODAY IN THE WORD
A medical imaging method using X-rays is called "full body scan" or computed tomography. This type of full-body X-ray is used to scan the entire body looking for potential health problems. While not fully supported by everybody in the medical community or the FDA, these full body scans seem appealing to someone worried about his or her health. What better way to prevent illness than to be able to peer inside one's body, to look under the skin, and to see everything that is happening? If doctors were able to know the inner working of our bodies, wouldn't that be to our advantage?
The Bible speaks of an even better, intimate knowledge of who we are inside and out, not just physically but also spiritually. Today and tomorrow, we will look at Psalm 139. This song of praise focuses on the way God knows and loves us.

In today's passage, David talks about God's knowledge of who he is. "You have searched me and you know me" (v. 1). To search implies effort. When something is lost, we search for it. We may retrace our steps, send out groups of people, and track clues. All of these things imply active engagement. God feels that way about us. He searches our heart. He knows us intimately.

God knows when we "sit" and "rise" (v. 2). God knows our "thoughts" and our "ways (v. 3). Even before we utter a word, God knows what we are going to say. This intimate knowledge is not oppressive, but freeing. Because God knows us intimately, we feel safe. "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me," exclaims David (v. 6).

He then uses expansive poetic imagery to prove how thorough and widespread God's love is for us. He says that if we go to the "heavens" or down to the "depths" (v. , God is aware of exactly where we are. The "darkness" and the "light" do not hide us. He knows us. The Creator of the universe has created us, knows us, searches us intimately, and still loves us profoundly.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Stretch out your hand and look at it closely. Examine your fingernails, your wrinkles, the veins on your hand. Do you have any freckles on your hand? Which one of your fingers is the longest? Turning over to look at your palms, examine the lines that criss-cross it. What shapes do they make? As you look at yourself this intimately and closely, know that God, your Creator, already knows these things about you and much more. Thank Him today for His knowledge of who you are. You are known and loved.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 15, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
The Habit of Rising to the Occasion
. . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling . . . -Ephesians 1:18


Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10  ). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.

You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must "work out your own salvation" which God has worked in you already ( Philippians 2:12  ). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it "out"? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.

God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly-"By my God I can leap over a wall" ( Psalm 18:29 ). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12  says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . ." Rise to the occasion-do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.

May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality-a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.
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Strengthening Your Faith

Romans 10:17 is the verse I would like for you to read today.  It says,

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.   

To fully understand this verse, you need to know that if you are saved, faith has already been deposited in your heart.  It is part of your spiritual DNA.  Romans 12:3 says that, God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.  Faith is something He has already given.

It is up to you to develop that faith.  It is up to you to do something with it.  How do you develop it?  You develop it first by hearing the Word of God.

The Bible-God's Word-is the food.  As you feed upon it, your faith will be strengthened.

You know those body builders, men and women who are constantly pumping weights?  Well, if you talk to any serious body builder, one of the first things they will refer to is diet.  You have to eat the right kind of diet if you are going to build muscle mass.  Usually, their diet is protein-rich.

They faithfully drink their protein shakes and eat their tuna fish sandwiches, which, when they are consumed and digested, become the raw materials that build muscle mass.

As you feed upon and digest God's Word, that truth becomes the raw material that will build faith.  It is faith food.

Most people who struggle with their faith are feeding on the wrong things.  Faith comes unconsciously when you feed upon God's Word. 

So today, if you feel like you are struggling in your faith, then change your diet.  Start feeding more on God's Word!
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Read: Psalm 139:11-24
For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. - Psalm 139:13


TODAY IN THE WORD
With the help of ultrasound imaging, scientists today know more than ever about the way life begins. For example, did you know that twenty days after conception, before most women know they are pregnant, the fetus has a beating heart? A doctor who performed the first blood transfusion to an unborn baby said, "By thirty days, the baby has a brain of unmistakable human proportions, eyes, ears, mouth, kidneys, liver, an umbilical cord, and a heart pumping blood he has made himself." Certainly, our lives are woven in miraculous ways.
But God has known you longer than anyone else, including your parents? In this psalm, David rejoices in the fact that God knows us eternally. As today's verse describes, God knew us while we were being formed in the womb. God created not just our human form: our eyes, lips, and heart. He created who we are, "our innermost being" (v. 13).

God saw who we would be before we were created. "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (v. 16). Not only did God know who you would become, and that you might inherit your father's eyes or your mother's ability to whistle, He actually knew what would happen to you in every moment of existence. Your life is held safely in His hand.

This type of foreknowledge invites troubling thoughts as well. David seems to wrestle with this idea, as he acknowledges that God's knowledge of who we were means that the amount of His thoughts are innumerable (v. 18). How can we conceive the mind of God?

Why does God allow us to struggle? Why do we face enemies (vv. 19-22). Why do we wrestle with illness or depression? God knows this too, right? David concludes that God's ways are higher than ours. Even when we are tempted to question God's ways, we must rest in the knowledge that He undoubtedly knows us and what is best for us, far more than we can know ourselves (vv. 23-24).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many of our questions about our life's plan will remain unanswered until eternity. Thankfully, God has given us the examples recorded in Scripture to remind us that we are not alone, and that He is faithful. If you are struggling with events in your life, read through the books of Job and Psalms to see how God works to comfort and protect His children. Pray today that God will allow you to rest your anxious thoughts in Him. He knows you, your past and your future, and He is a good and loving God.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 16, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
The Habit of Recognizing God's Provision
. . . you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . -2 Peter 1:4

We are made "partakers of the divine nature," receiving and sharing God's own nature through His promises. Then we have to work that divine nature into our human nature by developing godly habits. The first habit to develop is the habit of recognizing God's provision for us. We say, however, "Oh, I can't afford it." One of the worst lies is wrapped up in that statement. We talk as if our heavenly Father has cut us off without a penny! We think it is a sign of true humility to say at the end of the day, "Well, I just barely got by today, but it was a severe struggle." And yet all of Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will reach to the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will only obey Him. Does it really matter that our circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn't they be! If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we remove God's riches from our lives and hinder others from entering into His provision. No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges- always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.
Before God becomes satisfied with us, He will take everything of our so-called wealth, until we learn that He is our Source; as the psalmist said, "All my springs are in You" (Psalm 87:7 ). If the majesty, grace, and power of God are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible. "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance . . ." ( 2 Corinthians 9:8  )- then learn to lavish the grace of God on others, generously giving of yourself. Be marked and identified with God's nature, and His blessing will flow through you all the time.
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The Qualities of Love

For the last number of devotionals, we have focused our attention on how love is such a vital quality to the Christian life.  We have seen that unless we love, any of the spiritual gifts are meaningless.

We have also seen that God has deposited His love in us already, and as a result, it is our responsibility to choose to express that love.  It is not something we can put on God's shoulders.  We must take on that obligation. 

So what do those qualities of love really look like?  I want to share with you 1 Corinthians 13 from theAmplified Bible, but I want to do it with a twist.  I want to make it personal and show how, if we choose to love as God has asked us to love, it will look.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 from the Amplified Bible...personalized (read it out loud),

I endure long, and I am patient and kind.  I am never envious or boil over with jealousy.  I am not boastful or vainglorious.  I do not display myself haughtily.  I am not conceited, arrogant, or inflated with pride.  I am not rude or unmannerly.  I do not act unbecomingly.  God's love in me does not insist on its own rights or its own way for I am not self-seeking.  I am not touchy or fretful or resentful.  I take no account of the evil done to me.  I do not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but I rejoice when right and truth prevail.  I bear up under anything and everything that comes, and I am ever ready to believe the best of every person.  My hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and I endure everything without weakening.  God's love in me never fails.

I challenge you to read this out loud to yourself every day for a month, and see if it does not change your life! 
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Read: Jeremiah 31:1-14
I have loved you with an everlasting love. - Jeremiah 31:3


TODAY IN THE WORD
In the classic movie Love Affair, a man and a woman fall in love while onboard a ship. They make an appointment to meet six months later atop the Empire State Building. In the meantime, tragedy strikes. The woman, Terry McKay, is struck by a car and told she might be crippled. The man, a French painter named Michel Marnet, goes to meet her, but she does not show up. While the two are separated, they never forget their love for one another. Finally, they meet by accident and Michel learns the real reason Terry did not keep their appointment. He assures her that their love is meant to be, and that he will stay with her whatever the diagnosis may be. The story struck such a chord that it has been remade several times, most notably as An Affair to Remember.
Most of us yearn for this type of never-ending, romantic love. We see in our today's passage in Jeremiah that God loves us exactly like that. The only difference is that unlike Michel, God already knows exactly who we are and what we are struggling with; nothing is hidden from Him.

The third verse is worth memorizing: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Here God speaks to His people who have been plagued with problems and doubt and disobedience. They have worshiped other gods. Yet, despite their sins, God makes this astounding pledge. He loves them. And He will "build them up again" (v. 4).

He describes the joy and life they will know again with "tambourines" and "vineyards" and "joy." He is their redeemer (v. 11). He will pay the price to buy them back from their oppressors and to restore them.

"Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well" (v. 13). This is a passage of hope for us. Ultimately due to His own redemptive work, God promises to restore us. The story does not end with times of trouble. His everlasting love will keep us to the end.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The wedding ring is often used to symbolize everlasting love. Do you realize that married or not, you have been promised a love like this? Write out the third verse and put it somewhere you will read it often this week. Remember that whether or not you wear a physical token of love, you have been promised God's eternal love. You have been bought with a price. You have been guaranteed a hopeful future. Your life is in the hands of One much greater than you. You are not alone.

GOD BLESS!