Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

May 27, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Life To Know Him
. . . tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high -Luke 24:49

The disciples had to tarry, staying in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost, not only for their own preparation but because they had to wait until the Lord was actually glorified. And as soon as He was glorified, what happened? "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear" ( Acts 2:33 ). The statement in John 7:39 - ". . . for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified"- does not pertain to us. The Holy Spirit has been given; the Lord is glorified- our waiting is not dependent on the providence of God, but on our own spiritual fitness.

The Holy Spirit's influence and power were at work before Pentecost, but He was not here. Once our Lord was glorified in His ascension, the Holy Spirit came into the world, and He has been here ever since. We have to receive the revealed truth that He is here. The attitude of receiving and welcoming the Holy Spirit into our lives is to be the continual attitude of a believer. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive reviving life from our ascended Lord.

It is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit that changes people, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into their lives through the Holy Spirit. We all too often separate things that the New Testament never separates. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience apart from Jesus Christ- it is the evidence of the ascended Christ.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit does not make you think of time or eternity- it is one amazing glorious now. "This is eternal life, that they may know You . . ." ( John 17:3 ). Begin to know Him now, and never finish.
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Taking Responsibility

In the devotional yesterday, we saw how it is okay when we experience loss to weep and to grieve.  I want to point you to verse 6 of that same passage to learn another important lesson related to experiencing loss.  1 Samuel 30:6 says,

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.  But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him.  David was not only grieving for the loss of his own family, but he was now being blamed for the whole thing.  In fact, they were blaming him to the point that they wanted to take his life.

When you experience troubles, do not be someone who always wants to blame others.  I know that it is human nature to want to point the finger and to lash out at somebody else when we are in trouble or when we have experienced loss.

In fact, I think blaming others is just part of our fallen fleshly DNA.  Just take a look at what Adam and Eve did in the garden when they messed up.  When God turned up and asked what happened, Adam said, "Well, it's the woman that You gave me.  She gave me from the tree, and I ate."

And when God asked Eve what happened, she replied, "Well, it was the serpent.  It was the snake."

So Adam blamed his wife, and blamed God who gave him his wife, and Eve blamed the snake.  Neither Adam nor Eve took personal responsibility.  It was somebody else's fault.

If the problems you are experiencing today are your fault, take responsibility, and do not blame others. 
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Read: 2 Timothy 1:1-12
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power. - 2 Timothy 1:7

TODAY IN THE WORD
All of the characters in the classic book and film The Wizard of Oz were in desperate need of help. Dorothy wanted to go back to her home in Kansas. The scarecrow wanted a brain. The tin man wanted a heart. The Cowardly Lion desperately wants to be brave. In one scene, Dorothy scolds the awkward trembling beast: "My goodness what a fuss you're making! Why you're nothing but a great big coward!" The Lion cries, "You're right. I am a coward. I haven't any courage at all. I even scare myself!"
Sometimes we, too, haven't any courage at all. In the face of difficulty or opposition, our courage flounders, and we retreat into ourselves. How do we find a way to be brave in the face of danger? In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he reminds the young man that he remembers him in his prayers night and day (1:3). What an encouragement the prayers of others are to troubled and fearful hearts!

He tells Timothy to "fan into flame" the gift of God so that he has a spirit not of "timidity" but of "power" (vv. 6-7). Paul instructs Timothy not to be fearful of testifying about God or ashamed of Paul being in prison (v. . Instead, Timothy is to join forces with Paul in "suffering for the gospel by the power of God" (v. 9).

The end purpose of our journey is what gives us courage. We know the end of the story! We know that God will prevail! Ours is a God who "destroyed death" (v. 10). Even the grave could not conquer our Lord and Savior. This victory gives us great courage. We do not need to be fearful, even in the face of the grave. Verse 12 has been set to music as a hymn: "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." We can trust in God. He has promised to keep us. We are brave in and through Him.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What is your greatest fear? Many of us have fears of things like heights, public speaking, or mice. Other fears attack us deeply in the core of our being, like fear of failure, losing our job, rejection, or being alone. Today's passage reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear. In Him we can be free from being consumed and paralyzed by fear. Pray today that God will take your fear and replace it with a spirit of courage.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional
May 28, 2010


Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
Unquestion Revelation
In that day you will ask Me nothing -John 16:23


When is "that day"? It is when the ascended Lord makes you one with the Father. "In that day" you will be one with the Father just as Jesus is, and He said, "In that day you will ask Me nothing." Until the resurrection life of Jesus is fully exhibited in you, you have questions about many things. Then after a while you find that all your questions are gone- you don't seem to have any left to ask. You have come to the point of total reliance on the resurrection life of Jesus, which brings you into complete oneness with the purpose of God. Are you living that life now? If not, why aren't you?

"In that day" there may be any number of things still hidden to your understanding, but they will not come between your heart and God. "In that day you will ask Me nothing"- you will not need to ask, because you will be certain that God will reveal things in accordance with His will. The faith and peace of John 14:1 has become the real attitude of your heart, and there are no more questions to be asked. If anything is a mystery to you and is coming between you and God, never look for the explanation in your mind, but look for it in your spirit, your true inner nature- that is where the problem is. Once your inner spiritual nature is willing to submit to the life of Jesus, your understanding will be perfectly clear, and you will come to the place where there is no distance between the Father and you, His child, because the Lord has made you one. "In that day you will ask Me nothing."

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Strengthen Yourself

For today's devotional, I would like you to read 1 Samuel 30:6 again as it contains another truth I want you to see,

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.  But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Notice that this verse begins by saying, David was greatly distressed, but it ends this way,  But David strengthened himself in the Lord.

It is all right to weep, but when you are done, you need to strengthen yourself.  It is all right to grieve, it is all right to express those emotions, but when you are done, you need to strengthen yourself in the Lord.

You need to connect with God in whatever way you find is best for you.  If it is lifting your hands and worshiping Him, then that is what you should do.

If it is getting into His Word (which I would suggest for everyone) and spending time feeding your spirit, then do that.  If it is reminding yourself about how God has helped you in the past, you need to do that.

Personally I believe that is what David was doing when the Bible says he "strengthened himself in the Lord."  I think David was reminding himself about:

·        How God delivered him from the lion and the bear;

·        How God delivered Goliath into his hands; and

·        How God delivered him when Saul tried to kill him.

I am confident David was thinking, "You know, God hasn't delivered me so miraculously in my past to get to this point and to let go of my hand and abandon me.  I know He is going to help me now."

David was strengthening himself in the Lord, and you need to learn to do the same thing.



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Read: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2:1

TODAY IN THE WORD
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger became the governor of California, and even before he was known as an action-film hero, he was renowned for his extraordinary strength and body building. Schwarzenegger began weight training at age 15. When he was just 22, he won the title of Mr. Universe and then went on to capture top billing at the Mr. Olympia contest seven times. The Arnold Strongman Classic, a contest named for him, continues each year in Columbus, Ohio. Who will be the strongest this year?
Today's verse instructs us to "be strong" (2 Tim. 2:1). This strength doesn't come from pumping iron. It's not even an emotional stoicism, trying to appear unmoved. This type of strength is again connected to the grace we find in Jesus. Only in knowing our position as recipients of God's grace can we find strength to withstand persecution.

Verse 3 puts it another way, exhorting us to "endure hardship" (v. 3). Life in Jesus does not mean that we will exist without trouble. We will be enduring hard times and difficult situations. Our response to these is emphasized here. Paul compares the believer to a "good soldier." Our goal is not to please those around us but only our "commanding officer" (v. 4). The same principle extends to athletes. During competition, the focus is not on the competition but on the crown (v. 5). We endure hardship because our eyes are not on the current situation-but on the end goal.

Our focus should be to "remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead" (v. . Because Jesus endured the cross and God raised Him from the dead, we know that even our times of trouble can lead to God's deliverance. Therefore, says Paul, "I endure everything," even imprisonment for the sake of the gospel (v. 10). In another passage, Paul describes this irony of discovering true strength in our times of greatest weakness. "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:10 ). When our lives are embedded in Christ, we are made strong.



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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage shows how God's idea of strength is flipped upside down from traditional expectations. We do not need to prove that anyone else is weaker. We do not trust in our bulging muscles or our stiff upper lip. Instead, we are to keep our focus on the reality of what Christ has done and what God will do in our lives. No matter what type of challenge you are facing right now, pray that God will give you strength, endurance, and an eternal focus.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotional

May 29, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Untroubled Relationship
In that day you will ask in My name . . . for the Father Himself loves you . . . -John 16:26-27

In that day you will ask in My name . . . ," that is, in My nature. Not "You will use My name as some magic word," but-"You will be so intimate with Me that you will be one with Me." "That day" is not a day in the next life, but a day meant for here and now. ". . . for the Father Himself loves you . . ."- the Father's love is evidence that our union with Jesus is complete and absolute. Our Lord does not mean that our lives will be free from external difficulties and uncertainties, but that just as He knew the Father's heart and mind, we too can be lifted by Him into heavenly places through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so that He can reveal the teachings of God to us.

". . . whatever you ask the Father in My name . . ." (John 16:23). "That day" is a day of peace and an untroubled relationship between God and His saint. Just as Jesus stood unblemished and pure in the presence of His Father, we too by the mighty power and effectiveness of the baptism of the Holy Spirit can be lifted into that relationship-". . . that they may be one just as We are one . . ." (John 17:22).

". . . He will give you" (John 16:23). Jesus said that because of His name God will recognize and respond to our prayers. What a great challenge and invitation-to pray in His name! Through the resurrection and ascension power of Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit He has sent, we can be lifted into such a relationship. Once in that wonderful position, having been placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in Jesus' name-in His nature. This is a gift granted to us through the Holy Spirit, and Jesus said, ". . . whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." The sovereign character of Jesus Christ is tested and proved by His own statements.
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Inquire of the Lord

1 Samuel 30:8 tells us what David did next as He sought to deal with the troubles that besieged him.  After grieving and strengthening himself in the Lord, here is what he did,

So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop?  Shall I overtake them?"  And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."

David inquired of the Lord.

There is a story in the book of Joshua that shows the importance of inquiring of God, of seeking His guidance, no matter how things may seem.

The nation of Israel had entered the Promised Land and they were gaining great victories.  One day a group of Gibeonites showed up.  They had bags full of old moldy bread, their sandals were worn out, their water skins were cracked and old, and their clothing was old and worn.

They told Joshua and the leaders that they had come from a country far, far away.  They went on to tell them they had heard about the great things God was doing through Israel, and they wanted to make sure they would not be attacked.  So they had traveled from afar to make a covenant so that when Israel eventually reached them in the future, they wouldn't attack the Gibeonites. 

The Bible says specifically that Joshua and the men did not inquire of the Lord.  Rather, they looked at the people's provisions...the moldy bread, the old sandals, the old water skins...and they made a covenant with them.

It turns out they were the next door neighbors and Israel had been deceived.  And it caused huge problems in Israel's future.

I am telling you, things are not always as they appear.  It pays to inquire of the Lord when you are going through difficult times.  He will lead you. 
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Read: Romans 8:28-38
If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31

TODAY IN THE WORD
The Victory Lap or "lap of honor" is the extra lap a winning race car driver takes around the track in celebration of his victory. The Victory Lap is a time when the driver can drive at a slower speed, allowing the fans to celebrate and greet and congratulate the winner. Recent changes in race regulations have limited what a Formula One driver can do during that lap. The new rule states that all cars must proceed directly to the end point without distraction or assistance. Even that last lap has one focus: the prize waiting at the end.
Many of the passages in this month's study have focused on the struggles we face in this life as we live out the daily Christian life. And we may often feel less than victorious. Today's passage focuses on the victory lap we have as believers. Romans 8:28 has a description of our calling. Those called by God know that He will work all things together for good. We know that we will be conformed to Christ's likeness (v. 29). God can redeem each experience in our lives to mold us into His image for His glory.

This kind of thinking transforms the way we think and live. Paul asks: "If God is for us who can be against us?" (v. 31). Ultimately, our victory doesn't depend on our own endurance or ingenuity. Our victory depends on who God is and what He will do. We are God's chosen children and nothing can separate us from God's love (v. 35).

Whatever we face in the midst of the race of life, we can be assured that we will be victorious in the end. Verse 37 says that we are "more than conquerors." Notice the use of the word "more"-we go beyond just being victorious. This is a type of ultimate victory that promises not only making it through the final days of life on this earth but also guarantees us a place by our Father in Heaven. This type of thinking will transform the way we view ourselves and our daily lives.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps one of Satan's greatest tricks is to get us so focused on ourselves, our weaknesses and insecurities, that we take our eyes off our Savior. There is an old hymn that asks us to "turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face." Will you turn your eyes on Jesus today? Will you set aside your search for self and replace it with the knowledge that in Christ you are made glorious? We are perfected in Him. We are completed in Him. In Him, we are victorious!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 30, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

"Yes- But . . .!"
Lord, I will follow You, but . . . -Luke 9:61

Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the true point of testing, until you are determined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say, "Yes, but- suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?" Or we say, "Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn't go against my common sense, but don't ask me to take a step in the dark."

Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.

By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ's statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis- only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God.
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Global Harvest

In Mark 16:15 Jesus said,

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

In Matthew 13:38 He said,

"The field is the world..."

We need to lift up our eyes upon the harvest field "of the world."

It may sound crazy, but God is expecting us to do something about the salvation of the whole world!

In James chapter five, we are told that God is like a farmer waiting patiently for the precious fruit "of the earth."  The implication there is that the Lord is coming, but there is a great global harvest coming first.

Here are some things you can do to be a part of reaching the world for Christ:

·        Pray - Matthew 9:37-38 says, Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

·        Give - Generously support ministries that are reaching the lost.  Make the mission outreaches of your own church a priority.

·        Go - Jesus' command to go is to all believers.  At the very least, take a short term missions trip to share the Good News with others.

Remember, the only things we will take to heaven with us are the precious souls we have brought to Christ.   
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Read: Jude 17-24
Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. - Jude 20

TODAY IN THE WORD
Cartoon characters like Pinocchio or Fred Flintstone are sometimes pictured with an imaginary friend hovering over their shoulder. In many episodes, Jiminy Cricket or the Great Gazoo would scold Pinocchio or Fred, warning them against making the wrong choice, or urging them to take a particular action.
Sometimes we might wish that we had a little conscience sitting on our shoulder, reminding us to stay on our diet or be honest on our taxes or hold our tongue. We don't have Jiminy Cricket, but we have something even better-we have the Holy Spirit living within us and we have the Word of God to instruct us. Today's passage is from the book of Jude, which is a single chapter filled with both caution and encouragement to those living in the faith at a time when others have abandoned it. Jude cautions that believers should "remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold" (v. 17).

As in Jude's day, "scoffers" and others will live out their "ungodly desires" (v. 18). We are not to follow these types of people. The way to combat these negative, blasphemous voices is to "build yourselves up" (v. 20). Note that this is not a by-your-bootstraps spirituality. This is not about personal positive mantras or giving ourselves an ego boost. We are to become deeply rooted in our "holy faith" (v. 20). The more the scoffers increase around us, the more earnestly we must pursue the truth of God's Word.

Verse 22 tells us practical ways to do this. We are to be "merciful" and to "snatch others from the fire"-to be rescuers of the perishing. Finally, Jude ends with a beautiful doxology that is a wonderful way to culminate this study. Only God is able to "keep us from falling." Through God's power, we will be presented before Him "without fault and with great joy" (v. 24). What an amazing promise. By persevering in this present time of conflict, we will be made perfect in the end!
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We began this study looking at our identity as it is found in Christ. We have found that our focus needs to be not on ourselves but upon Christ. Make a list today of the attributes of Christ that you would most like to see reflected in your own life. At the top of the list write these words: "MORE HIM; LESS ME." Pray today that God will help to change your focus, and that day by day you would begin to look more like your Savior.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

May 31, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
   
Put God First
Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . .for He knew what was in man -John 2:24-25

Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God's grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be- absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God.

Put God's Will First. "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God" (Hebrews 10:9).

A person's obedience is to what he sees to be a need- our Lord's obedience was to the will of His Father. The rallying cry today is, "We must get to work! The heathen are dying without God. We must go and tell them about Him." But we must first make sure that God's "needs" and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus said, ". . . tarry . . . until you are endued with power from on high" ( Luke 24:49  ). The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the "needs" of God and His will. Once God's "needs" in us have been met, He will open the way for us to accomplish His will, meeting His "needs" elsewhere.

Put God's Son First. "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me" ( Matthew 18:5  ).

God came as a baby, giving and entrusting Himself to me. He expects my personal life to be a "Bethlehem." Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God's ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.
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The Signpost of a Provoked Heart

Without a doubt, God has plans for you.  Your life is no accident.  You have a purpose.  In today's devotional, we will discover an important key to help you understand your calling.         

Let's look first at Acts 17:16-17,

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.  Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.

The word provoked literally means that his spirit was deeply troubled, his spirit was grieved within him. 

That gives us the first step in understanding your purpose.  What grieves your heart?  Paul was grieved about this city wholly given over to idols.  And the next verse begins with the word therefore.  He did something about it. 

Generally, the things that grieve you in your heart are things that God has gifted you to change.  They point you to your purpose.

For instance, in Job 30:25, Job said, "Has not my soul grieved for the poor?"  If you read Job's story, a big part of his ministry had to do with helping the poor.  It was tied to what caused his heart to grieve.

Then there was David who was grieved and provoked as Goliath was taunting the Israelites.  Why?  David was called to be a leader and a warrior in Israel.  It was a signpost pointing to his calling.

What is it that provokes you in your heart?  Whatever it is, do something about it. 
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Read: Hebrews 12:1-1
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. - 1 John 5:5

TODAY IN THE WORD
Runners training for a marathon spend weeks and months in preparation for the race. They eat the right foods, go to bed early, and endure grueling training regimens in order to prepare both body and spirit for the challenge ahead. What motivates a runner to run a marathon? Martine Costello, in an interview with CNN Money had this answer: "It's a challenge that we take on, with just our hearts and the body God gave us. We run because if we can make it through 26.2 miles, everything else will seem easy. Marathons offer a moment in time when an average person can feel like Michael Jordan and do something extraordinary."
"An average person doing something extraordinary" is a wonderful description of who we can be in Christ. Today's passage places us in the thick of the race that is our Christian journey. We are not alone, but are "surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses" (v. 1). The writer encourages us to finish the race well and to "run with perseverance." We are not to be consumed by endless introspection or accept the self-help mentality touted by the world, but rather to "fix our eyes on Jesus" (v. 2).

In this race, Jesus is our example. He endured struggle and scorn and shame. Yet He completed His calling. We will also endure struggle as we walk with Jesus (v. 4). We are asked here to see some of this "hardship" as discipline (v. 7). We are not promised an easy life but a purposeful one. We are children of God, and thus will be both rewarded and disciplined by a Heavenly and loving Father (v. 10). This is God's way of molding us into His image.

As the author reminds us, we are to "throw off everything that hinders us" (v. 1). As we complete this study on finding our identity in Christ, we must throw off the temptation to define ourselves by our own past, present, or future. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we will finish the race victorious.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Anyone who has ever tried to run knows that it is not easy. The initial excitement that comes with a new pair of gym shoes can quickly be extinguished by a gut-wrenching side ache. Yet, consistent training makes running increasingly satisfying. As you run the race of your Christian life, keep your focus not on your daily aches and insecurities, but on who you are in Christ and how He is shaping you. Run the race with perseverance-you are guaranteed a victorious finish!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

June 01, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Dilemma of Obedience
Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision -1 Samuel 3:15

God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, "I wonder if that is God's voice?" Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him "with a strong hand," that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?

Get into the habit of saying, "Speak, Lord," and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, "Speak, Lord," and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline- it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, "Speak, Lord." Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.

Should I tell my "Eli" what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, "I must shield 'Eli,' " who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli- he had to decide that for himself. God's message to you may hurt your "Eli," buttrying to prevent suffering in another's life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone's right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30 ).

Never ask another person's advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. ". . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . ." (Galatians 1:16 ).
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The Place of Blessing

In Genesis 12:1-3 we read,

Now the LORD had said to Abram:  "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.  I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Notice how God says to Abram, "Abram, I'm going to bless you, and you will be a blessing."  But here is what I want you to see:  Abram's being a blessing was tied to being in God's purpose.  He could only become a great blessing if he followed God's calling.

You will never be the blessing God intends for you to be if you are not flowing in your purpose.

Was there risk involved for Abram?  You bet!  He had to leave everything that was familiar to him, all of his security, everything that was comfortable and familiar.

He left Ur of the Chaldeans, which history tells us was one of the most highly developed cities of the ancient world.  They had cobblestone streets, an underground sewage system, and it was a place of world trade.

Abram left all of that and went out on an adventure by faith, pursuing the purpose that God had for his life.  And in pursuing that purpose, God blessed him, and he became a blessing.

But think about this.  What if he had stayed back?  What if he had said, "I'm secure here; I have it made; I have a nice house and everything I need.  I think I will stay put."  We would not even know his name.

Pursue your purpose.  That is the place of God's blessing. 
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Read: Ezekiel 1:1-3
The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. - Ezekiel 1:1
 
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bible scholar Richard Patterson has pointed out the numerous literary forms and genres present in Old Testament prophecy. His list includes announcements of judgment (typically revolving around human sin and God's justice), kingdom oracles (including themes of redemption, restoration, and blessing), instructional accounts (exhorting hearers to repentance and worship), prayers, hymns or psalms, satire, laments, and vision reports. In the book of Ezekiel, these literary forms and genres create a rich "kaleidoscope of material" that challenges interpreters to be diligent and alert about how language is used.
As we begin this month's book study of Ezekiel, we need to heed Patterson's admonition. Ezekiel is an exciting and complex book in which settings and literary genres shift rapidly. Chapters 15 through 18, for example, are instructional accounts. Chapters 25 through 32 are announcements of judgment. Chapter 37 is a kingdom oracle. Careful handling of God's Word will, as always, yield the best results (2 Tim. 2:15).

Like Jeremiah and Zechariah, Ezekiel was a priest in addition to being a prophet. His name means "God strengthens." Based on his literary style and wide knowledge of history, culture, and politics, he seems to have been well educated. Along with a cohort of fellow Israelites, he was exiled to Babylon in 597 B.C. He received his prophetic call in 593 B.C. at the age of 30. In chapters 1 through 24, he preached mainly about the coming destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, which took place in 586 B.C. Following that event, he continued prophesying for another fifteen years. In chapters 25 through 32 he brought messages of judgment to other nations. The final main section of the book, chapters 33 through 48, is a word of hope and promise for the humbled people of God. The book's main themes include judgment, repentance, worship, and God's sovereignty and glory. A refrain repeated often is "then they will know that I am the Lord."
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ezekiel received his prophetic calling at age 30, which was also when a priest usually began his ministry. But at that time, he had already been in exile four years. Imagine the despair he must have felt-far from his homeland, far from the temple, far from the place where he had anticipated serving the Lord. He must have wondered what purpose God had for him now. If you're in a place of doubt and despair, take courage, God does indeed have a plan for you.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

June 02, 2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Staggering Question
He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' -Ezekiel 37:3

Can a sinner be turned into a saint? Can a twisted life be made right? There is only one appropriate answer- "O Lord God, You know" ( Ezekiel 37:3  ). Never forge ahead with your religious common sense and say, "Oh, yes, with just a little more Bible reading, devotional time, and prayer, I see how it can be done."

It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we see the activity and mistake panic for inspiration. That is why we see so few fellow workers with God, yet so many people working for God. We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do? The degree of hopelessness I have for others comes from never realizing that God has done anything for me. Is my own personal experience such a wonderful realization of God's power and might that I can never have a sense of hopelessness for anyone else I see? Has any spiritual work been accomplished in me at all? The degree of panic activity in my life is equal to the degree of my lack of personal spiritual experience.

"Behold, O My people, I will open your graves . . ." ( Ezekiel 37:12 ). When God wants to show you what human nature is like separated from Himself, He shows it to you in yourself. If the Spirit of God has ever given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He will only do this when His Spirit is at work in you), then you know that in reality there is no criminal half as bad as you yourself could be without His grace. My "grave" has been opened by God and "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells" ( Romans 7:18  ). God's Spirit continually reveals to His children what human nature is like apart from His grace.
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Through Kindness and Love

In Romans 12:20 we read a startling truth,

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

Our natural inclination is to hate our enemies, isn't it?  But the Bible gives us a very different perspective and direction.  We are to care for and love our enemies.  In fact, some of the greatest antagonists to the gospel have been won through love.

We once had a neighbor next to our church building who was very set against us and very vocal against the church.  He would voice his opinion in meetings at the city hall and, on occasion, he would even accost people as they were walking to church.  He would shout things at them and harass them a bit from his front yard.

Well, we had one of our pastors go out of his way to show this guy love.  He would compliment this man on how well he took care of his lawn, and he began to build a relationship with him.  Then one day he actually led the man to Christ!

That same man who would yell at the church members as they walked by his house came into our auditorium and repented before me with tears in his eyes and apologized.  He said he had lashed out because he was afraid.  But now he had come to Christ, and he had been saved.

It is a glorious thing.  He was won to the Lord through kindness and through love.

Think about God.  I am so glad that He did not judge us and let the hammer fall on us because of our sins.  Instead He extended kindness and mercy to us.

Win your enemy to Christ by showing him kindness and loving him today! 
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Read: Ezekiel 1:4-28
When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. - Ezekiel 1:28


TODAY IN THE WORD
Industrial scientists have been working recently to create "sheets of light." Plastic panels are coated with chemicals known as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which light up when an electric current is run through them. Their light is soft and diffuse, unlike the bright light from normal incandescent bulbs. These plastic sheets are flexible and can be placed nearly anywhere. They might one day make lamps and light fixtures obsolete, and they are already being used in televisions and electronic gadget displays. One analyst predicts that by the year 2015 about $6 billion worth of OLEDs will be sold.
Brilliant light is one of the central images in Ezekiel's awe-inspiring vision of heaven. This vivid and dramatic vision was a prelude to and divine validation of his prophetic call in chapter 2, and no doubt a turning point in his spiritual life. The symbolic descriptions here can be generally divided into three parts: the four living creatures or cherubim (vv. 4-14), the wheels (vv. 15-21), and the throne of God (vv. 22-28). Overall, the images convey God's power, purity, eternality, sovereignty, holiness, wisdom, mystery, and majesty.

As impressive as the cherubim are, it is notable that a glittering "expanse" separates them from God's throne in the vision. His person and glory are inexpressibly greater than anything in the created realm. Encouragingly, He appears as "a figure like that of a man" (v. 26). The language here is full of qualifiers and comparisons as Ezekiel struggled to express what he saw-a man made of glowing metal and fire, "brilliant light," a rainbow in the clouds (cf. Rev. 4:3). He could not apprehend God directly, of course-as a priest, he would have known that would mean death-only an "appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord" (v. 28). Still, it was more than enough to put him facedown on the ground in reverence and holy fear. Though conquest and exile were testing the faith of Israel, God remained God.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's reading also reminds us of the incredible origins of God's Word. This Book that we hold so lightly in our hands and sometimes take for granted did not just roll off a printing press somewhere-it came directly from the awesome place and Person described in Ezekiel's vision! No wonder the psalmist exclaimed, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! . . . Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Ps. 119:103, 105).

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

June 03,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
 
Are You Obsessed by Something?
Who is the man that fears the Lord? -Psalm 25:12

Are you obsessed by something? You will probably say, "No, by nothing," but all of us are obsessed by something- usually by ourselves, or, if we are Christians, by our own experience of the Christian life. But the psalmist says that we are to be obsessed by God. The abiding awareness of the Christian life is to be God Himself, not just thoughts about Him. The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God. A child's awareness is so absorbed in his mother that although he is not consciously thinking of her, when a problem arises, the abiding relationship is that with the mother. In that same way, we are to "live and move and have our being" in God ( Acts 17:28  ), looking at everything in relation to Him, because our abiding awareness of Him continually pushes itself to the forefront of our lives.

If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives- not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.

"He himself shall dwell in prosperity . . ." ( Psalm 25:13 ). God will cause us to "dwell in prosperity," keeping us at ease, even in the midst of tribulation, misunderstanding, and slander, if our "life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). We rob ourselves of the miraculous, revealed truth of this abiding companionship with God. "God is our refuge . . ." ( Psalm 46:1  ). Nothing can break through His shelter of protection.
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Aiming at God's Pleasure

In John, chapter 8, Jesus made a statement that I wish I could make.  He said, "I always do those things that please the Father."  Wouldn't it be great if we could all say that? 

Paul points us in that direction in 2 Corinthians 5:6-9,

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.  For we walk by faith, not by sight.

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Whether we are still in this earthly body or we are standing before the Lord in heaven, he says, "We make it our aim to be well pleasing to Him."

But you know what?  You cannot aim at a target that you can't see.  You can't make it your aim to be well pleasing to Him if you don't know what pleases Him.  And it is to your advantage to find out, as Paul points out in verse 10,

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

So let me ask you, what is your aim today?  Are you aiming at what pleases God?  My prayer is that you will come to truly know and understand what pleases God as you spend time each day with me in this devotional...and that you will make that your aim!
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Read: Ezekiel 2-3; Ezekiel 3:16-23
Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. - Ezekiel 3:17

TODAY IN THE WORD
When Jesus was a baby, there was a "righteous and devout" man living in Jerusalem named Simeon (Luke 2:21-35). Simeon was "waiting for the consolation of Israel," that is, the Messiah, and he had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would have the privilege of seeing Him before he died. "Moved by the Spirit" one day, he went to the temple and was led straight to the holy child. He took him in his arms and exclaimed: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
Like Simeon, Ezekiel was chosen by God to be a "watchman," one who sees what is coming and brings news or warning to everyone else. God commissioned him to bring words of warning to hardhearted people. Not only did God call him, He also equipped him for this task by giving him the words to say, as symbolized in the eating of the scroll (2:9-3:3). He further promised to make him "unyielding and hardened" (3:, that is, strong, courageous, and persistent. Interestingly, the word for "harden" is embedded in Ezekiel's name-"God strengthens" and "God hardens" have the same root. God was playfully reminding this "son of man" to live up to his name.

God was not promising Ezekiel a popular and fulfilling ministry. Being a watchman would be a challenging and thankless task. The Israelites were characterized in today's reading as rebellious, stubborn, obstinate, and unwilling to listen. Prophesying to them would be like walking among briers and thorns and scorpions (2:6). The message would be dominated by "words of lament and mourning and woe" (2:10). Even so, God charged the young priest to speak His words boldly, to give warning to the wicked, and to be faithful even if no one listened (3:27; cf. Luke 8:.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Another truth symbolized by Ezekiel's eating of the scroll was that he internalized God's words, taking them in, digesting them, and being nourished by them. The words at this time were sad ones. But because they were God's words, they "tasted as sweet as honey." As Jeremiah said: "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight" (Jer. 15:16). We can internalize God's words and be nourished by them as well through Bible study and memorization. Is God's Word your joy and heart's delight?

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

June 04,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Never-forsaking God

He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' -Hebrews 13:5

What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?' " ( Hebrews 13:5-6  ).

"I will never leave you . . ."- not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.

"I will never . . . forsake you." Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful- just the everyday activities of life- do I hear God's assurance even in these?

We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing- that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God's assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
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Making a Priority of Faith

When we talk about what pleases God, I think we must put faith at the top of the list.  Very simply, faith pleases God.

Hebrews 11-often called the faith chapter-makes it very clear how vital faith is to pleasing God.  In fact, Hebrews 11:6 tells us,

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Notice it doesn't say, "Without faith it is very difficult to please Him."  No, it is impossible to please God without faith.  You and I must learn to trust God if we are to bring a smile to the face of God.

Some people say, "Well, there is just too much teaching on faith."  I disagree.  Why?  Because it takes faith to please God.  Without it, we have no chance at all of pleasing Him.  In fact, Hebrews 10:38 states,

Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

That is pretty black and white, isn't it?  If you desire to please God, it starts with faith, trusting God completely. 

I challenge you today to ask yourself, "Do I really trust God with every part of my life?  Do I place my faith in Him moment by moment?  Or do I refuse to trust Him as I should?"

If this is an area of struggle for you, determine today to spend time in the Word of God.  For the Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God.  Ask God to speak to you through His Word.  Your faith and trust in Him will grow.  Our great God is worthy of your trust.
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Read: Ezekiel 4-5; Ezekiel 5:8-13
I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations. - Ezekiel 5:8


TODAY IN THE WORD
Last fall, the National Basketball Association (NBA) put its rule book online. Intended to educate fans, a new Web site features video clips from actual games that demonstrate such infractions as a charge, a discontinued dribble, or a second-degree flagrant foul. More than 100 NBA rule violations are defined and illustrated in this way. Said an NBA official: "It's very difficult, unless you've played the game at a very high level or better yet, officiated the game at a very high level, to understand the complexity of our rules simply by reading them."
Rules come with consequences, in sports and in life. By sinning, Israel had violated God's rules and covenant and would now bear the consequences. This was the message of judgment with which Ezekiel's ministry began.

Following God's instructions, the newly commissioned prophet performed five symbolic actions (4:1-5:4), which he then interpreted (5:5-17). First, he created a model of Jerusalem and represented it as under siege in order to give warning of the city's impending doom (fulfilled in 2 Kings 25). Then he lay on his left side for the sins of Israel and on his right side for the sins of Judah, all the while preparing, rationing, and eating ritually unclean food to illustrate how God's people were defiling themselves. Finally, he shaved his hair and beard and burned the hair in order to show again the coming judgment. One third of the people would die from famine during the siege, one third would be killed by Babylonian soldiers, and one third would be exiled and scattered among the nations.

These actions, which took over a year to complete, were mortifying for Ezekiel. He probably became something of a public spectacle, not to mention that no one likes bearers of bad news. The loss of his beard was culturally humiliating. God was mindful of such things and graciously granted the prophet's request not to have to cook with human excrement (4:14-15).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Israel's idolatry had made God's name a mockery among the nations. Despite having God's law and God's love, the people had done worse evils than the pagan nations around them. Therefore, God's judgments were just and would restore His good name. "And when I have spent my wrath upon them," He said, "they will know that I the Lord have spoken in my zeal" (5:13). Similar phrases occur something like 65 times in this book. God wants His people to learn (or relearn) who He is!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

June 05,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers
   
God's Assurance

He Himself has said . . . . So we may boldly say . . . -Hebrews 13:5-6

My assurance is to be built upon God's assurance to me. God says, "I will never leave you," so that then I "may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear' " ( Hebrews 13:5-6  ). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God's words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God's assurance- they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God's assurance to us.

What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it- you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, "But 'The Lord is my helper' this very moment, even in my present circumstance." Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God's Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father's assurance, and then say with strong courage, "I will not fear." It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because "He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you . . . .' "

Human frailty is another thing that gets between God's words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God's assurance to us- "I will never. . . forsake you." Have we learned to sing after hearing God's keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, "The Lord is my helper," or are we yielding to fear?
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The Nature of Faith

In our last devotional, we talked about how important faith is to pleasing God.  It is not just important, it's essential, because without it, you and I cannot please God.

The natural question is, "What is faith?"

In Hebrews 11:1, the writer gives us the technical definition of biblical faith,

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith deals with unseen reality.  In fact, Weymouth's translation says, "Faith is a conviction of the reality of things we do not see."

You might think, "That's a nice definition, but what does that really mean?"  That is a good question.  And it is answered by the examples given in Hebrews 11, which show different ways people expressed their faith in God, because there is not just one way to demonstrate faith in God:

Abel shows us that faith is giving our best to God.  He deserves our first and our best.
Enoch shows us that faith is walking with God.  It is living a life in constant connection with God, even when you can't sense or feel Him.
Noah shows us that faith is making preparations as though Christ is coming back today, even when there is seemingly no evidence.
Abraham shows us that faith is obeying God, even though you may not know where He is leading you.
Sarah shows us that faith is receiving God's promise, even when public opinion says, "No way!"
Moses shows us that faith is living life in light of eternity, and allowing that focus to affect all of life's decisions.
Commit today to live this life of faith.  If you do, you will truly please God! 
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Read: Ezekiel 6-7; Ezekiel 6:1-10
You will know that I am the LORD. - Ezekiel 6:7


TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2006, Jacinta Marcial, an Otomi Indian and mother of six, was accused of kidnapping six Mexican police officers. Police had confronted street merchants about pirated CDs, and her picture had appeared on the margins of a newspaper photograph of the event. Despite the absurdity of the charges, she was found guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison. Last fall, after much pressure from international human rights organizations, the Mexican courts changed the verdict and set her free after three years of wrongful imprisonment. "As far as I am concerned, I forgive them," she said.
Injustice angers the Lord. Perfect justice is what He's all about. Ezekiel 6 uses the literary device of addressing the land, which is told that the idolatrous places of worship that have been built on it and defile it will be destroyed. Ezekiel 7 takes "the end has come" as its refrain and is a vigorous indictment of the nation's sin of idolatry.

Worshiping other gods was a direct violation of God's covenant with Israel. It amounted to mocking the Lord, and justice demanded that He respond. He is the only One worthy of worship, and those who act otherwise learn the hard way of His irresistible power and absolute sovereignty. The people's wickedness was brazen and God's wrath would be entirely just.

The principle of reaping what you sow is part of divine justice. "I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices," God said (7:3). For example, the people were proud of their jewelry and used it to make idols, much as their forebears had done with the golden calf at Mount Sinai. God made the punishment fit the crime-foreigners would loot the jewelry when they conquered Israel (7:20-22). Poetic justice! The Israelites should not blame the Babylonians but realize that God was the one executing judgment.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What about us? Do we also have "adulterous hearts" (6:9)? Is there anything we value more than the Lord? Good things we prize too highly, such as family or a professional career, might be idols. They might be sins we've rationalized, such as greed for money or gluttony. Let Ezekiel sound a warning trumpet for us as well-one way or another, God is going to teach us that He alone is Lord!


GOD BLESS!