Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

July 06,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Visions Become Reality
 
The parched ground shall become a pool . . . -Isaiah 35:7

We always have a vision of something before it actually becomes real to us. When we realize that the vision is real, but is not yet real in us, Satan comes to us with his temptations, and we are inclined to say that there is no point in even trying to continue. Instead of the vision becoming real to us, we have entered into a valley of humiliation.

Life is not as idle ore,
But iron dug from central gloom,
And battered by the shocks of doom
To shape and use.

God gives us a vision, and then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of that vision. It is in the valley that so many of us give up and faint. Every God-given vision will become real if we will only have patience. Just think of the enormous amount of free time God has! He is never in a hurry. Yet we are always in such a frantic hurry. While still in the light of the glory of the vision, we go right out to do things, but the vision is not yet real in us. God has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and floods to batter us into shape, until we get to the point where He can trust us with the reality of the vision. Ever since God gave us the vision, He has been at work. He is getting us into the shape of the goal He has for us, and yet over and over again we try to escape from the Sculptor's hand in an effort to batter ourselves into the shape of our own goal.

The vision that God gives is not some unattainable castle in the sky, but a vision of what God wants you to be down here. Allow the Potter to put you on His wheel and whirl you around as He desires. Then as surely as God is God, and you are you, you will turn out as an exact likeness of the vision. But don't lose heart in the process. If you have ever had a vision from God, you may try as you will to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never allow it.
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Exercising the Muscle of Faith

Yesterday we looked at the importance of God's Word to strengthen our faith.  Yet there is something more we need to do to see our faith grow.  We must use it.

In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul says this about faith,

Fight the good fight of faith.

Faith is made for conflict.  It does not grow without conflict.  It does not grow without pressure.  You need to use it.

Remember our illustration of the body builders and how a proper diet is essential to building muscle mass?  Well, they will also tell you that it is not enough to drink protein shakes and eat tuna fish, you have to work those muscles if they are going to grow.  They work those weights every day in order to build their muscles.

The same thing is true when it comes to faith.  Faith is a muscle that you have to use.  It is not enough just to listen to your Bible teaching CDs all day long.  Hearing alone is not enough to develop faith.  You must use your faith muscle.

That is what the fight of faith is all about.  You exercise your faith when you are standing in the midst of your storm, and you are assailed by temptations and every kind of trial that tells you you're not going to make it, that you are going down with the ship.

As you stand in the midst of your storm, and the wind is howling around you, and the lightning is flashing, and the waves are breaking over the bow of your little ship, stand up and say, "I believe God, that it is going to be just as it was told me."  That is where the fight of faith comes in.

No matter what you may be going through today, exercise that muscle of faith.  Trust God to do just as He has promised. 
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Read: Exodus 3:1-10
But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. - Psalm 10:14

TODAY IN THE WORD
According to International Justice Mission, "Bonded slavery is the continual labor of individuals forced to work by mental or physical threat." Bonded slaves are forced to work long hours for scant or no wages, often in poor conditions, and they are frequently beaten and abused. In 2009, an estimated 27 million women, children, and men all over the world today are held as bonded slaves, child soldiers, and in sexual servitude.
Does the Bible have anything relevant to say about this? Absolutely yes. Yesterday we considered Joseph, one man who faced injustice, and God's work in his life. Today's passage introduces the story of a whole group of God's people who experienced both slavery and God's salvation.

The Israelites of today's passage were held in slavery by their Egyptian oppressors, much like modern-day bonded slaves. The beginning of the book of Exodus notes that the Egyptians began to feel threatened by the number of Joseph's descendants. A new Egyptian king, who did not know about Joseph, enslaved them under brutal working conditions. He even ordered that all Hebrew males be killed at birth (Exodus 1). Moses was one Israelite baby who escaped death and enslavement and was even reared in the royal palace. As an adult, however, Moses witnessed the bondage of his people and killed an Egyptian oppressor, which forced him to flee to Midian (Exodus 2). Despite these events, God heard the cries of the Israelites and remembered His covenant of love with them (Ex. 2:23-25).

God appeared to Moses "in flames of fire from within a bush" (v. 2). He declared that He was not blind nor deaf to the suffering of the Israelites (v. 7). He did not ignore their misery, enslavement, and suffering at the hands of the oppressive Egyptians. He said twice that "now" is the time He will act (vv. 9-10). What will God do in the face of this injustice? It is not enough simply to free them from this situation. He also promised to reestablish them (v. . Amazingly, God recruits Moses to join His rescue mission (v. 10).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The claims that we read in the Psalms are not simply good-sounding rhetoric. God does not forget the helpless. He listens to the cry of the afflicted and calls the wicked to account (Ps. 10:12-18). He also invites everyday people, like Moses and like you, to join His rescue mission. God's people are joining His mission today to abolish modern-day slavery. If you are interested in learning more and getting involved, consider the work of Christian organizations like International Justice Mission, World Vision, and Not for Sale.
 
GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 07,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 
Visions Become Reality

The parched ground shall become a pool . . . -Isaiah 35:7


We always have a vision of something before it actually becomes real to us. When we realize that the vision is real, but is not yet real in us, Satan comes to us with his temptations, and we are inclined to say that there is no point in even trying to continue. Instead of the vision becoming real to us, we have entered into a valley of humiliation.

Life is not as idle ore,
But iron dug from central gloom,
And battered by the shocks of doom
To shape and use.

God gives us a vision, and then He takes us down to the valley to batter us into the shape of that vision. It is in the valley that so many of us give up and faint. Every God-given vision will become real if we will only have patience. Just think of the enormous amount of free time God has! He is never in a hurry. Yet we are always in such a frantic hurry. While still in the light of the glory of the vision, we go right out to do things, but the vision is not yet real in us. God has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and floods to batter us into shape, until we get to the point where He can trust us with the reality of the vision. Ever since God gave us the vision, He has been at work. He is getting us into the shape of the goal He has for us, and yet over and over again we try to escape from the Sculptor's hand in an effort to batter ourselves into the shape of our own goal.

The vision that God gives is not some unattainable castle in the sky, but a vision of what God wants you to be down here. Allow the Potter to put you on His wheel and whirl you around as He desires. Then as surely as God is God, and you are you, you will turn out as an exact likeness of the vision. But don't lose heart in the process. If you have ever had a vision from God, you may try as you will to be satisfied on a lower level, but God will never allow it.
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The Slippery Spiritual Slope

The slippery slope to spiritual decline is one that is almost imperceptible.  One day you are on fire for God, and then before you know it, you are dull and lethargic.

How does spiritual decline happen?  I think there are at least four ways:

Through neglect.  If you neglect a garden, the weeds grow.  If you don't water the garden, it will eventually dry up.  Sometimes we get into a state where we need to be revived due to neglect.
Through the storms of life.  Life can sometimes beat you up.  Some people have been so beaten up that they are just worn down; and when you couple that with neglect, it is a recipe for spiritual disaster.
Through the influence of wrong company or wrong relationships.                        1 Corinthians 15:33 says, Do not be deceived.  Evil company corrupts good habits. ." And the very next word is awake.  Awake to righteousness, and do not sin.  Do not be deceived.  Evil company, bad company, corrupts good habits.
Through willful disobedience.  I don't know anyone who hasn't been guilty at one time or another of willful disobedience.  And when that is not repented of, when it is not taken care of, it brings us into a state of spiritual decline that can be very dangerous.
So what do you do if you find yourself in spiritual decline?  Let me leave you with this verse, Hosea 6:1,

Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

The same Spirit that convicts also comforts.  If you are convicted, repent.  Repentance is an inward change of heart resulting in an outward change of direction.  Return to the Lord and let Him heal you and bind you up.
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Read: Exodus 21:2-11; 22:21-27; 23:1-11
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. - Proverbs 29:7

TODAY IN THE WORD
When the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai, God declared: "If you obey me fully and keep my covenant, you will be for me . . . and a holy nation" (vv. 3-6). God's rescued people needed to live as a testament to Him before the nations, a calling contingent upon their obedience to God and faithfulness to His covenant. To illustrate this, God outlines a steadfast life. The Ten Commandments identify general instructions regarding love for God (Ex. 20:2-11) and neighbor (20:12-17). The Book of the Law follows the Commandments (Ex. 20:22-23:33) and outlines righteous living in various settings and relationships. Our texts today are situated within this Book of the Law.
Exodus 21:2-11 addresses treatment of Hebrew servants. For ancient Israel, indebted labor allowed people to escape poverty and destitution as a means of economic debt recovery. A Hebrew male became a servant because of bankrupt parents, personal indigence, or to make restitution for theft. A Hebrew female became a servant if her father was unable to supply a sufficient dowry. Old Testament law ensured that these servants were not abused, oppressed, or deprived of justice. God instituted provisions for them to be released from debt "without paying anything" (21:2, 11).

Exodus 22:21-27 prohibits mistreatment of vulnerable people. Foreigners lacked support from family; widows and orphans lacked protection from husband and father. God advocates directly for them as their compassionate protector and defender (22:23-24, 27). He expects the same from His people. Exodus 23:1-11 forbids various forms of injustice such as false testimony, denying legal rights to the poor, and taking bribes.

There are two theological reasons for obedience. First, the Israelites know what it is like to be victims of injustice and oppression, so they must treat others justly out of empathy and common humanity (22:21; 23:9). Second, the Lord is compassionate and just (22:27; 23:6), and God's people are to imitate Him.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One counter-cultural teaching of Jesus is love of enemies (Matt. 5:44-48). Here Jesus is consistent with the Old Testament. Consider Exodus 23:4-5, for example. If you find what is valuable to your enemy, return it to him. Care about the interests of those who hate you. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. In this way, we reflect our Savior: "While we were still sinners, [God's enemies], Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:. 

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 08,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Will To Be Faithful

. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . -Joshua 24:15

A person's will is embodied in the actions of the whole person. I cannot give up my will- I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I must will to receive God's Spirit. When God gives me a vision of truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you.

". . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. . . ." Your choice must be a deliberate determination- it is not something into which you will automatically drift. And everything else in your life will be held in temporary suspension until you make a decision. The proposal is between you and God- do not "confer with flesh and blood" about it ( Galatians 1:16  ). With every new proposal, the people around us seem to become more and more isolated, and that is where the tension develops. God allows the opinion of His other saints to matter to you, and yet you become less and less certain that others really understand the step you are taking. You have no business trying to find out where God is leading- the only thing God will explain to you is Himself.

Openly declare to Him, "I will be faithful." But remember that as soon as you choose to be faithful to Jesus Christ, "You are witnesses against yourselves . . ." ( Joshua 24:22 ). Don't consult with other Christians, but simply and freely declare before Him, "I will serve You." Will to be faithful- and give other people credit for being faithful too.
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Patience in Repentance

In yesterday's devotional, I mentioned Hosea 6:1 as a challenge to repent if indeed God is convicting you. 

Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

God is indeed a God of compassion Who wants you to return to Him.  That is the nature of His grace!

It's not unusual to truly repent of a sin, to seek to return to God and walk with Him, but not feel anything right away.  And perhaps, to get discouraged. 

The verse that follows Hosea 6:1 gives us a good word as a clear encouragement.  Here is what Hosea 6:2 says,

After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.

You need to understand that the evidence of revival may not be perceivable right away.  That is why I believe Hosea says, After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up.

You need to be careful not to say, "Well, Lord, you have until lunchtime today to do something.  And if it doesn't happen by then, I'm out."

God wants you to stick with your commitment to repent.  He wants to know you are serious in your desire to walk with Him.

Remember the words of Zechariah 1:3, "Return to Me," says the Lord of hosts, and "I will return to you."  Returning to God is something you can do.  But only God can do God's part.

If you will return to Him, He will return to you.
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Read: Exodus 11:1-10
Blessed are you, O Israel . . . a people saved by the Lord. - Deuteronomy 33:29

TODAY IN THE WORD
The AIDS virus has ravaged sub-Saharan Africa. It has orphaned 15 million children and shortened life expectancy in some countries to a mere 37 years. In countries like Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, AIDS is believed to affect 15 to 20 percent of the adult population. The AIDS crisis is a modern-day plague of death.
In the next few days, we'll read about the tenth and final plague visited upon Egypt. It, too, is a plague of death. The Israelites would be spared, but the firstborn of every Egyptian family and herd would die as night fell.

We can't help but think about the innocent children who suffered under this plague. What's more, Pharaoh, the evil man behind the melodrama of the last several chapters, lost a son, yet his own life was preserved. How do we reconcile what we know of God's goodness and justice with the tenth plague?

This death knell might be more horrific than what we would prefer to find in the Bible. Think back to Genesis: Adam and Eve died for transgressing God's command, the generation of Noah died in the Flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah were obliterated because of their sin. Why are the pages of Scripture stained with blood?

It isn't because God takes pleasure in anyone's death (cf. Ezek. 18:23). It is because death is the ultimate reality of fallen humanity: for the Egyptians on the night of the Passover, and for every human being. God had not created humanity to experience death, but the consequence of sin has brought upon each of us its curse (cf. Rom. 3:23).

The Passover story doesn't just include death; we miss the whole picture if that is all we see. Passover also proclaims life for the people of God. It reveals gospel truth. At the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message about God rescuing us from spiritual death. The Passover foreshadows this message and adds an important word to our spiritual vocabulary: salvation.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We don't all have dramatic testimonies of God saving us from drugs, alcohol, or crime, especially if we professed our faith in Christ at an early age. But it's still true that we've been saved. Think of some of the synonyms for saved: rescued, delivered, liberated, set free. Reflect on how God has rescued you. From what have you been delivered and liberated? Do you live as one set free? "Jesus saves" may sound like a worn-out revival phrase, but it captures what's true of us as Christians.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 09,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

 

Will You Examine Yourself?


Joshua said to the people, 'You cannot serve the Lord . . .' -Joshua 24:19


Do you have even the slightest reliance on anything or anyone other than God? Is there a remnant of reliance left on any natural quality within you, or on any particular set of circumstances? Are you relying on yourself in any manner whatsoever regarding this new proposal or plan which God has placed before you? Will you examine yourself by asking these probing questions? It really is true to say, "I cannot live a holy life," but you can decide to let Jesus Christ make you holy. "You cannot serve the Lord . . ."- but you can place yourself in the proper position where God's almighty power will flow through you. Is your relationship with God sufficient for you to expect Him to exhibit His wonderful life in you?

"The people said to Joshua, 'No, but we will serve the Lord!" ( Joshua 24:21 ). This is not an impulsive action, but a deliberate commitment. We tend to say, "But God could never have called me to this. I'm too unworthy. It can't mean me." It does mean you, and the more weak and feeble you are, the better. The person who is still relying and trusting in anything within himself is the last person to even come close to saying, "I will serve the Lord."

We say, "Oh, if only I really could believe!" The question is, "Will I believe?" No wonder Jesus Christ placed such emphasis on the sin of unbelief. "He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief" ( Matthew 13:58 ). If we really believed that God meant what He said, just imagine what we would be like! Do I really dare to let God be to me all that He says He will be?
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In the Pits?

There are times when each of us are in the pits, when life just seems to be upside down and nothing seems to be going right.

As you read the Psalms, you realize King David often felt this way.  Take Psalm 88 for example.  In verses 2-6 he says,

Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.  For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave.  I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength, adrift among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, and who are cut off from Your hand.  You have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths.

Pretty descriptive of how you and I can sometimes feel, when our soul is full of troubles...like one who has no strength...adrift among the dead...whom You [God] remember no more.

When you are in the pits, it can often seem like there is no way out.  Your soul is full of trouble, you are despondent, you are overwhelmed by the problems of life, you can almost feel like something has died inside of you, and you might feel totally cut off from God, like He has somehow forgotten you.

What I want you to see in today's Scripture is that you are not alone.  Every one of us has gone through these difficult days.  Even King David!

God knows your struggles.  Like David, take time today to share with God all that is on your heart, and in the next few days, I will show you how you can get out of the pits!
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Read: Deuteronomy 10:12-22; 24:10-22
The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them. - Hosea 14:9

TODAY IN THE WORD
While speaking to a group of business school students at a prominent American university, a retired executive described that there is no such thing as business ethics. Rather, he continued, there are simply ethical people in business. The successful businessman explained how following Jesus had transformed his relationships with others in all aspects of his life, including business. In our passage today, justice in one's business and personal life reflects a right relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 is Moses' passionate plea that the Israelites would wholeheartedly love and obey God. Moses reminds the people that God is the sovereign creator who forged a special relationship with them. To "walk in all his ways" is not primarily about compulsion. It is about a loving response to God in the context of their covenant relationship with Him (vv. 12-13). God's people are called to "circumcise" their hearts, to renounce hardheartedness in exchange for hearts that reflect His love, mercy, and forgiveness (vv. 16-22). Once again, God's love for the disadvantaged in society is highlighted (vv. 18-19). Moses reminds them that they know what it is like to be a foreigner in Egypt, and they know what it is like to experience the Lord's salvation and protection. Therefore, love those who are "aliens" among you, sojourners, immigrants, and refugees.

Deuteronomy 24:10-22 describes specific ways in which God's people are instructed to emulate His love for vulnerable people in the community. The passage is concerned with the poor who need loans and live paycheck to paycheck hoping to stay afloat (vv. 10-15). It also considers the refugee, immigrant, orphan, and widow who have no social safety net to rely upon for provision and protection (vv. 17-22). The instructions to care for these people reflect God's patience, compassion, and generosity, and they preserve people's dignity and prevent exploitation. Caring for the poor and weak is pleasing in God's sight and embodies what it means to be "righteous" (v. 13). In fact, neglecting this kind of care is called sin in verse 15.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
From a worldly perspective, the behavior advocated in today's reading is risky and even laughable. Walking in God's ways requires trust and cultivating a generous, compassionate heart like His. Let the Holy Spirit search your heart and expose any fears you may have that keep you from living justly in your business and personal life. Renounce whatever prevents you from recognizing God as faithful and trustworthy (10:16-17). Ask God to reveal specific ways you can reflect His love, mercy, and forgiveness to vulnerable people.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 10,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Spiritually Lazy Saint

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . -Hebrews 10:24-25

We are all capable of being spiritually lazy saints. We want to stay off the rough roads of life, and our primary objective is to secure a peaceful retreat from the world. The ideas put forth in these verses from Hebrews 10 are those of stirring up one another and of keeping ourselves together. Both of these require initiative- our willingness to take the first step toward Christ-realization, not the initiative toward self-realization. To live a distant, withdrawn, and secluded life is diametrically opposed to spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.

The true test of our spirituality occurs when we come up against injustice, degradation, ingratitude, and turmoil, all of which have the tendency to make us spiritually lazy. While being tested, we want to use prayer and Bible reading for the purpose of finding a quiet retreat. We use God only for the sake of getting peace and joy. We seek only our enjoyment of Jesus Christ, not a true realization of Him. This is the first step in the wrong direction. All these things we are seeking are simply effects, and yet we try to make them causes.

"Yes, I think it is right," Peter said, ". . . to stir you up by reminding you . . ." (2 Peter 1:13 ). It is a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by someone being used of God to stir us up- someone who is full of spiritual activity. Simple active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work can actually be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The real danger in spiritual laziness is that we do not want to be stirred up- all we want to hear about is a spiritual retirement from the world. Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of retirement- He says, "Go and tell My brethren . . ." (Matthew 28:10 ).
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Waiting on God

To get out of a pit, it's really not complicated.  Psalm 40:1-2 tells us the first step,

I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

The first step in getting out of the pit of despair is to cry out to God.  He will hear your cry, and He will bring you up and out.

But His answer is not always instant.  Notice David said, I waited patiently for the Lord.  The answer to his cry wasn't apparent for a while.  If you've spent a long time getting yourself into a mess, it may take some time for your deliverance. 

A number of years back I went hunting with a friend.  I was to fly on a little plane into a meadow about 20 miles into the wilderness where he was going to meet me.

For a variety of reasons, I ended up being six hours late to the drop-off point.  My friend wasn't there, so for 20 minutes the pilot of that little plane tried to convince me not to stay.  He said there were mountain lions, grizzly bears, packs of wolves...I would get eaten alive!

He finally left, and at about two in the morning I heard a noise.  It wasn't a grizzly bear; it was my friend with the horses! 

I think the devil is like that airplane pilot.  He is always trying to talk us into quitting and giving up.  But we can miss the greatest blessings in our lives when we are not patient.

Cry out to God, He will answer you.  Period!  But be prepared to exercise patience.
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Read: 1 Kings 10:1-12
Give your servant a discerning heart . . . to distinguish between right and wrong. - 1 Kings 3:9

TODAY IN THE WORD
Giles Foden's novel, The Last King of Scotland, portrays the gruesome injustices of Uganda's former dictator, Idi Amin, infamous for political and economic atrocities and horrific ethnic persecution during his eight-year reign. Amin is only one among innumerable human rulers who epitomize the absolute opposite of God's will for a king.
We learned from Exodus and Deuteronomy that God's people were expected to reflect His righteousness, justice, and care for vulnerable people in society. After the generation of Israelites who entered the Promised Land died, God raised up judges to govern the people who had become increasingly disobedient and idolatrous (Judges 2:10-17). Yet, God's people did not maintain justice and righteousness as He commanded, nor did their leaders (21:25); the Israelites eventually requested a king to reign over them (1 Samuel . The Lord appointed Saul to be the first king, then David, and then David's son, Solomon. Solomon is Israel's king referenced in today's reading. When the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's wisdom and fame, she visited him. Though a foreigner, she clearly understood God's purposes for Israel's king.

By the fruit she saw-Solomon's wisdom, wealth, and fame-the Queen of Sheba recognized that the God of Israel delighted in Solomon. Let's consider two things she said to King Solomon. First, she connected God's eternal love for Israel with Solomon's ascent to the throne. The reference to God's eternal love echoes back to Yahweh's original covenant with His people (cf. Deut. 7:9; 1 Chron. 17:22). God has not given up on His people. Because of His faithful love for them, He appointed a king who reflected His love. Second, the Queen noted God's purposes for anointing Solomon as king. The role of Israel's king was to demonstrate and administer God's justice and righteousness. In a way, God was renewing and reestablishing the role of Adam in the Garden as God's vice-regent on earth (Gen. 1:26-28); He was raising up a leader to lead His wayward people in His ways.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Idi Amin ruled in Uganda in the 1970s, and unjust rulers persist in the world today. The apostle Paul instructs us to intercede in prayer for kings and all those in authority (1 Tim. 2:2). In your prayer time today, pray for global leaders to maintain God's justice and righteousness. Pray particularly for those who work against God's will, that God would rescue the people under their harsh rule and that they themselves would come to know the light and life of Jesus Christ.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 11,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Spiritually Vigorous Saint

. . . that I may know Him . . . -Philippians 3:10

A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the glorification of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we may be doing- even eating, drinking, or washing disciples' feet- we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial task. "Jesus, knowing . . . that He had come from God and was going to God, . . . took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples' feet . . ." ( John 13:3-5 ).

The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is "that I may know Him . . ." Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am not here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.
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The Vital Sign of Spiritual Insight

In the Old Testament, we find the story of Ezra and a large group of Israelites who returned to Jerusalem to reestablish the temple and the worship of God. In the midst of this incredible effort, Ezra prays a powerful prayer, as recorded in Ezra 9:8,

"And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage."

Ezra prays that their eyes would be enlightened spiritually.  It is reminiscent of Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1, when he prayed that the eyes of the Ephesians would be enlightened, spiritually opened.

One vital sign of the need for revival is when we are spiritually dull and insensitive to God's promptings, and the Holy Spirit's direction and creativity.

Perhaps you can remember something creative that once operated in your life, but sadly, it has waned.  It has declined.  It has gone dormant.

It shouldn't be that way!  The Holy Spirit wants to prompt you and guide you and give you knowledge and creativity.  But when you are living in a spiritual fog, and you have become accustomed to living in that fog, you can be assured you have become spiritually dull.

That is when you need to be revived.  And when you are, there is an enlightening of the eyes.  There is a renewed sense and an awareness of the prompting, and the wooing, and the guiding of God's Spirit.  That is what comes with revival.

When you are spiritually revived, you will be sensitive to God's Spirit, and you will gain from Him supernatural insight and enlightenment.
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Read: Psalm 72:1-20
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead for the case of the widow. - Isaiah 1:17

TODAY IN THE WORD
In the fall of 2009, Kushan, his wife, and seven others enslaved by bonded labor in a rice mill in India were freed through the tireless advocacy and work of International Justice Mission (IJM), a Christian-based human rights agency that secures justice for those oppressed through bonded labor, sexual slavery, and child trafficking. Our text today motivates Christians, like IJM staff, who courageously answer God's call to pursue justice and righteousness until Jesus comes again.
Verse 20 indicates that David wrote this psalm for his son, Solomon. David makes three main petitions on behalf of Solomon, who is next in line to inherit the throne. First, David asks God to equip Solomon to rule with justice and righteousness (vv. 1-3). Second, David requests protection and deference from enemies and other nations (vv. 8-11). Third, David desires a long life for Solomon filled with God's favor and blessing (vv. 5, 15, 17). David fully acknowledges God's sovereignty, goodness, and glory (vv. 18-19).

He describes what ruling with justice and righteousness entails (v. 4). The king protects victims and guarantees justice for them; he rescues helpless children from exploitation and harm; his justice and righteousness disarm and disable the oppressors in society. Verse 12 begins with For, here meaning "because." The reason that the kings of other nations revere and serve the king of Israel and that his enemies are humbled before him is precisely because he defends the afflicted and delivers the oppressed (vv. 12-14).

A king who reigns like this will be "like showers watering the earth" (v. 6). His justice and righteousness will nourish the whole world and bring forth new life. David affirms that only God can empower a king to lead like Him (v. 18), and when he does, the world will witness God's presence and glory (v. 19). Caring for the needs that concern the heart of God will direct others to His saving power.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The king is to defend and deliver "the afflicted who have no one to help" (vv. 4, 12). God's people also share this responsibility. Learn more about the International Justice Mission and hear stories of bringing justice in the name of Jesus to the enslaved and oppressed: www.ijm.org. The Web site suggests ways to get involved, to become more educated about what Scripture says about injustice as well as be informed about injustice in the world today.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 12,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Spiritually Self-Seeking Church

. . . till we all come . . . to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . . -Ephesians 4:13

Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be. This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption. The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization. The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose- that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.

Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ- ". . . that I may know Him. . ." ( Philippians 3:10  ). To fulfill God's perfect design for me requires my total surrender- complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?
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The Vital Sign of Pride

Pride and self-sufficiency are unmistakable signs of a heart that is in desperate need of reviving.  Isaiah 57:15 tells us,

For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:  "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

To have a contrite heart literally means you break easily.  Even at the thought of grieving God's Spirit you break and repent very quickly.  It means you walk softly in your heart before God. 

God says He will revive those with a humble spirit and a contrite heart.  But one of the great dangers among Christians today-especially for those living in the western world with all of its abundance-is a belief that we don't need anything.

More than ever we need to read the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:17,

"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."

How can you be miserable and naked and not know it?   It's obvious that Jesus is speaking of their inward, spiritual condition.  Apparently, their outward wealth blinded them to their inward poverty.   They fell into the trap of pride, which is one of the inherent dangers that comes with prosperity.  As Christians living in a very prosperous western world, we need to heed this word!

At Disneyland there is a ride with cool little cars.  I remember once seeing a little boy on the ride with his dad, and his feet didn't even reach the pedals!  But Junior thought he was driving, oblivious to the fact that Daddy was actually driving the car and making it go.

We need to remember that our feet don't even reach the pedals, and that Daddy, our God, is the One who makes this thing go.  We need to maintain a humble heart.
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Read: Isaiah 1:1-23
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. - Titus 1:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
The prophet Isaiah received visions from the Lord during the reigns of four kings of Judah (approximately 740-698 B.C.). His visions are recorded in the book of Isaiah. Presumably, Isaiah 1 was written after the Assyrians ravaged the countryside of Judah, leaving only Jerusalem standing in 701 B.C. (vv. 7-9). By this point in Judah's history, those in power had developed a system of heavy economic burdens imposed upon the weak. Vulnerable people were denied justice and the religious practices of the day legitimized and perpetuated the injustices.
As we read Isaiah 1, we become like observers in a court of law. Today's reading is the Lord's indictment upon Judah. Pay attention to the emotions and tone of the passage: anger, displeasure, hostility, and intense frustration. Judah is sinful and estranged from God. They have rebelled against their Father (v. 2); they are shamefully compared with animals (v. 3); they instinctively do evil and have completely turned against the LORD (v. 4). The "survivors" were the only hope of redemption from this sober situation (v. 9).

Why is the Lord so outraged with His people? Let's look at verses 10 through 17. The people of Judah think they're fulfilling worship; but the Lord charges them with hypocritical worship (vv. 13-14). Their sacrifices, prayers, and rituals are meaningless to God because their behavior does not match up. Their "evil deeds" are identified as injustice, exploitation of the oppressed, and denying support to those without social safety nets (vv. 16-17). God does not mince words. This behavior disgusts Him, reflects a sinful heart, and results in hollow worship.

It is not simply that seeking justice is a bonus to worship. Rather, pleasing worship is impossible apart from seeking justice. God calls for repentance and change and warns of the consequences of further disobedience (vv. 18-23).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's reading is a solemn reminder that God looks beyond church attendance and daily prayer. We cannot claim to worship God and then ignore-or participate in the oppression of-the vulnerable members of our society. True worship reflects His heart by seeking justice on their behalf. As you reflect on Isaiah 1, repent for ways that you and your Christian community might be like Judah. Ask God to reveal injustice in your midst and align your heart with His through tangible action.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 13,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Price of the Vision

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord . . . -Isaiah 6:1

Our soul's personal history with God is often an account of the death of our heroes. Over and over again God has to remove our friends to put Himself in their place, and that is when we falter, fail, and become discouraged. Let me think about this personally- when the person died who represented for me all that God was, did I give up on everything in life? Did I become ill or disheartened? Or did I do as Isaiah did and see the Lord?

My vision of God is dependent upon the condition of my character. My character determines whether or not truth can even be revealed to me. Before I can say, "I saw the Lord," there must be something in my character that conforms to the likeness of God. Until I am born again and really begin to see the kingdom of God, I only see from the perspective of my own biases. What I need is God's surgical procedure- His use of external circumstances to bring about internal purification.

Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face to face with God and no one else is taken into account whatsoever. Your prayer will then be, "In all the world there is no one but You, dear God; there is no one but You."

Keep paying the price. Let God see that you are willing to live up to the vision.
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Are You Obeying God's Warnings?

The third thing you should check in your life, if indeed you are in the pits, is to make sure you have obeyed God's warnings.

God does warn us, but we must listen to those warnings.  As Job 33:14-18 says,

For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it.  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.  In order to turn man from his deed, and conceal pride from man, He keeps back his soul from the Pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

God always tries to warn us to keep us out of the pits and to keep our lives from danger.  And He speaks in many different ways.  Sometimes, as we read here, God will speak to us even through a dream.

As I look at my own life, I can see that I have fallen into pits at various times because I did not listen to God's warnings.  There have been times I have been too busy to perceive the fact that God was talking to me.  It wasn't that God wasn't warning me.  He was.  I just had a bunch of other things going on in my life and was not taking time to listen to Him.

He is always faithful to warn us.   It's just that we are not always faithful to listen.  So if you find yourself in a pit today because you did not heed God's warning, just say, "God, I'm sorry."  Repent.  God will forgive you.  And you will be in the position to receive His deliverance. 
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Read: Isaiah 1:1-23
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. - Titus 1:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
The prophet Isaiah received visions from the Lord during the reigns of four kings of Judah (approximately 740-698 B.C.). His visions are recorded in the book of Isaiah. Presumably, Isaiah 1 was written after the Assyrians ravaged the countryside of Judah, leaving only Jerusalem standing in 701 B.C. (vv. 7-9). By this point in Judah's history, those in power had developed a system of heavy economic burdens imposed upon the weak. Vulnerable people were denied justice and the religious practices of the day legitimized and perpetuated the injustices.
As we read Isaiah 1, we become like observers in a court of law. Today's reading is the Lord's indictment upon Judah. Pay attention to the emotions and tone of the passage: anger, displeasure, hostility, and intense frustration. Judah is sinful and estranged from God. They have rebelled against their Father (v. 2); they are shamefully compared with animals (v. 3); they instinctively do evil and have completely turned against the LORD (v. 4). The "survivors" were the only hope of redemption from this sober situation (v. 9).

Why is the Lord so outraged with His people? Let's look at verses 10 through 17. The people of Judah think they're fulfilling worship; but the Lord charges them with hypocritical worship (vv. 13-14). Their sacrifices, prayers, and rituals are meaningless to God because their behavior does not match up. Their "evil deeds" are identified as injustice, exploitation of the oppressed, and denying support to those without social safety nets (vv. 16-17). God does not mince words. This behavior disgusts Him, reflects a sinful heart, and results in hollow worship.

It is not simply that seeking justice is a bonus to worship. Rather, pleasing worship is impossible apart from seeking justice. God calls for repentance and change and warns of the consequences of further disobedience (vv. 18-23).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's reading is a solemn reminder that God looks beyond church attendance and daily prayer. We cannot claim to worship God and then ignore-or participate in the oppression of-the vulnerable members of our society. True worship reflects His heart by seeking justice on their behalf. As you reflect on Isaiah 1, repent for ways that you and your Christian community might be like Judah. Ask God to reveal injustice in your midst and align your heart with His through tangible action.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 14,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile

I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also -Matthew 5:39

This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus- it is either in you or it is not. A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.

The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, "Do your duty," but is, in effect, "Do what is not your duty." It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things. We will not say, "Oh well, I just can't do any more, and I've been so misrepresented and misunderstood." Every time I insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow myself. That is the real meaning of filling "up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . ." ( Colossians 1:24 ). A disciple realizes that it is his Lord's honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor.

Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is- Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.
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The Pit of Immorality

In the last several devotionals, we have discovered a variety of ways to get out of the pits.  Today, I want you to focus on something that is an increasing problem in the Church today.  Immorality.

Solomon tells us in Proverbs 22:14,

The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; he who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there.

And he says in Proverbs 23:27,

For a harlot is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well.

Immorality is a deep pit.  A pit that is difficult to get out of once you have gotten yourself into it.  Not only do you get physically involved with another, there is an emotional entanglement that is not that easy to get out of.

Solomon also says immorality is a narrow well.  It is binding, restrictive, and it suffocates your spiritual life.  If you are seeking God for deliverance while continuing to engage in immoral behavior, your effort is fruitless.

If you are in the pits today because of an immoral relationship, you must cut off that relationship before seeking God's deliverance.  If you will ask God for help after you have repented and cut off that relationship, He will help you beyond anything you could imagine.

God is a merciful God.  And He has the ability to work something for good even in a situation like this.  If you are truly repentant and broken, God can do something good.

God is the only One who can break something and make it more valuable.  I break things, and they lose their value.  But when God breaks something, it becomes more valuable.

If you are in an immoral relationship, stop it, repent, and He will forgive you, and bring you out of your pit.   
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Read: Isaiah 58:1-12
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice . . . to set the oppressed free? - Isaiah 58:6

TODAY IN THE WORD
In Daniel's native country, a succession of deficient harvests launched a crisis in the subsistence farming economy in which his family and neighbors had lived for generations. Daniel was forced to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates to purchase seed and supplies for upcoming harvests. Unable to repay this debt, Daniel was driven to place his family in indentured service to lenders. Eventually, Daniel lost the land they depended on for survival and had farmed for decades. Daniel's experience was true in the days of Isaiah, and it continues to be a familiar scenario today for people from countries like Guatemala, Uganda, Vietnam, Mexico, and Nigeria who farm crops such as coffee and cocoa beans (for chocolate). Today's passage connects the fasting and worship of God's people to their call to undo the conditions that create situations like Daniel's.
Verse 2 initially seems like an ideal description of God's people, but verse 1 indicates that something was seriously wrong. The people noticed that God was unresponsive to what they passed off as sincere devotion to Him (v. 3). Like in yesterday's reading, God declared that their religious practices were unacceptable because their behavior belied the condition of their hearts. They couldn't fast and simultaneously mistreat their employees, argue with one another, and ignore injustice and oppression around them (v. 5). The LORD clarified the kind of fasting He desired: liberating people from what oppresses them, providing for those in need, and denying oneself for the sake of the vulnerable (vv. 6-7, 9-10).

If God's people began worshiping Him in this way, the result would be extraordinary. God promises that if you fight for justice and serve the poor, "then" your own healing will begin, the darkness of your looming enemies will end, and you will be protected by righteousness and glory. God will not forsake you; He will provide for you; you will be restored, and you will flourish (vv. 10-12).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To pretend that people like Daniel and their stories of injustice are not real, to convince ourselves that this is someone else's problem, or simply to wish that all the brokenness would just disappear are not acceptable responses if we follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior (see Luke 10:25-37). To learn how to act responsibly and wisely in a world marked by poverty and injustice, read When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 14,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

My Life's Spiritual Honor and Duty

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians . . . -Romans 1:14

Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent his life to express it. The greatest inspiration in Paul's life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that same sense of indebtedness to Christ regarding every unsaved soul? As a saint, my life's spiritual honor and duty is to fulfill my debt to Christ in relation to these lost souls. Every tiny bit of my life that has value I owe to the redemption of Jesus Christ. Am I doing anything to enable Him to bring His redemption into evident reality in the lives of others? I will only be able to do this as the Spirit of God works into me this sense of indebtedness.

I am not a superior person among other people- I am a bondservant of the Lord Jesus. Paul said, ". . . you are not your own . . . you were bought at a price . . ." ( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ). Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ and he said, in effect, "I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the gospel of Jesus; I am free only that I may be an absolute bondservant of His." That is the characteristic of a Christian's life once this level of spiritual honor and duty becomes real. Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life.
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The Pit of Pride

The fifth and the final reason your life may be in the pits is pride.  We always need to check our hearts for pride.

In Isaiah 14:13-15 we read,

For you have said in your heart:  "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High."  Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

This passage records God's rebuke of Satan when he was kicked out of heaven.  Satan was talking real big with pride oozing from every word that he said.

But God said, "That's what you think.  I'm going to throw you down to the pit."  And because of the pride in his heart, Satan will indeed be thrown down to a pit for all eternity (read Revelation 20!).

Pride is a dangerous thing.  In fact, so dangerous we are told in 1 Timothy 3:6 to not put a novice into a leadership role in the Church, lest being puffed up with pride, he or she falls into the same condemnation as the devil.

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride is a weird thing.  It's like bad breath.  Everybody seems to know you have it before you do!  But pride will not only get you into a pit, it will destroy you.

I want to challenge you today.  If your life is in the pits, check to see if it is because of your pride.  If so, humble yourself, otherwise you are not going to get out!
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Read: Jeremiah 22:1-17
"Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD. - Jeremiah 22:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1993, Baptist missionary Keith Grimes visited Kalingalinga, Zambia. He recruited their singing boys to tour the United States, naming them the Zambian Acappella Boys Choir and promising them salaries, health care, and education in return. The Choir toured churches and generated millions of dollars in donations-but it was a scam. Not one penny was given to any of the boys, and they were held in restrictive conditions under threat of deportation. Several local church members who attended concerts in Texas and Louisiana grew suspicious and requested criminal investigations. Finally in 2000, a judgment for nearly $1 million was handed down against the Grimes family for unpaid wages for 67 Zambian boys.
In today's text, benefitting from exploited labor clearly does not please God, and there are consequences for people who practice oppression. We have learned that God entrusted Israel's kings with maintaining His justice and righteousness, yet both Israel and her kings were better known for injustice and idolatry.

Today's passage records a direct message from the Lord to Jehoiakim, one of Judah's kings. Like his brother Shallum before him, he had disregarded the reforms of his father, Josiah (2 Kings 23:31-37). Jeremiah begins with a reminder: the one who sits on David's throne is to enact justice and righteousness; he is to rescue the maltreated and defend the innocent (vv. 2-3). Then he states a promise and a warning. If you are not the kind of king God desires, your palace-symbolic for your whole reign-will be destroyed (vv. 4-8). This is the consequence of ignoring the covenant made with their compassionate God (v. 9).

Verses 13 through 17 contrast two kinds of kings. One king pads his pockets through unjust means. He uses his countrymen like slaves (vv. 13-14). His eyes and heart are corrupt and greedy; he disregards the rights and health of his employees (v. 17). This is God's description of Jehoiakim. Josiah, on the other hand, understood that God is the provider who cares for those who obey Him. Josiah regarded the concerns of the poor and needy (vv. 15-16).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The power of the ancient king is now distributed into the hands of everyday people. The Zambian boys were released only after intervention from regular people sitting in church pews. Concerned Women for America encourages women across the country to advocate for just enforcement of laws to protect the thousands of women and children who are sexually trafficked in the United States every year. Our decisions and actions matter and can impact the lives of those held in bondage.

GOD BLESS!