Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

July 16,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Concept of Divine Control

. . . how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! -Matthew 7:11

Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for those people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God's control over everything, which means that a disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.

Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, "My heavenly Father knows all about this!" This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?

Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God's will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. "Ask, and it will be given to you . . ." (Matthew 7:7  ).
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Avoiding the Pit

Over the last few days, we have looked at what it takes to get out of the pits-what to do when life seems to be turned upside down.     

There is one pit, though, that every person is headed for except for the grace and provision of God.  Some of the most marvelous verses of Scripture are found in Psalm 49:6-9.  These verses point us to the one and only way to avoid the pit for eternity.

Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him-for the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever-that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.

These are powerful words for our day and age.  It is so easy for many to believe that their wealth, their power, and their goodness will someday be enough to save them.

But the only way to have eternal life and not see the pit of eternal destruction is to realize that you can do nothing and pay no amount to redeem your own soul.  Why?  Because the price of your soul is very costly-more than you could ever pay.

The purchase price was the shed blood of the Son of God upon Calvary's cross.  Only through embracing His sacrifice can your soul be ransomed.  No good works can do it.  No personal sacrifice can do it.  The price has been paid.

I trust you have accepted God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  If so, praise Him today for rescuing you from the pit of hell and for paying that high price for you.
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Read: Isaiah 11:1-10
The Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. - Isaiah 11:10

TODAY IN THE WORD
Picture a disarmed rifle converted into a working guitar. Colombian musician and peace activist, Cesar Lopez, envisioned this after a deadly terrorist attack in Bógota in 2003. One of his escopetarras is displayed at the United Nations' permanent exhibition on disarmament in New York as a symbol of peace for the whole world. Lopez explains: "The fact that a weapon is transformed in such a radical way speaks of the possibility the whole planet has to change, even if it seems absurd." Today's passage points us to the reality of the new creation where agents of violence will become representatives of peace.
The Lord makes clear His displeasure with rulers who tolerate and perpetuate injustice (Isa. 10:1-4). Yet there is hope for God's people. The prophet Isaiah tells of a small group who will survive His judgment, destruction, and exile (10:20-23). The "stump" is symbolic of this remnant of survivors (11:1). Isaiah prophesies that from the remnant of David's descendants, God will raise up someone to reclaim the throne of King David to restore justice and righteousness (vv. 1-5). This new king will not rule like the unfaithful kings of old. Rather, by the Spirit's wisdom and power He will rule with justice and righteousness on behalf of the poor and needy, and He will not tolerate the wicked.

The result of this new king's rule is described in verses 6 through 8: a leopard stretched out with a goat resting peacefully on the leopard's belly, a toddler playing near a cobra's nest without danger of harm. Once dangerous predators are at peace with former prey, and the safety of a little child is mentioned twice. Remember the predators we have read about this month who overburden their employees and deprive workers their wages, who mistreat the weak in society and ignore injustice? Imagine their weapons of oppression being disarmed and replaced with attitudes and behaviors that protect the helpless. This is the kind of total transformation effected by the new Davidic king.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Verse 9 explains the grounds for such dramatic changes: "The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord." The anointing of the Spirit generates knowledge and fear of the Lord in the new king (v. 2). Then, King Jesus gives us the gift of His Spirit to dwell in us, to teach us His grace and truth, and to empower us to live for Him. As you grow to know God more deeply each day, one suggestion is to read Revelation: The Glorified Christ by Woodrow Kroll.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 17,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Miracle of Belief

My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom . . . -1 Corinthians 2:4


Paul was a scholar and an orator of the highest degree; he was not speaking here out of a deep sense of humility, but was saying that when he preached the gospel, he would veil the power of God if he impressed people with the excellency of his speech. Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the effectiveness of redemption, not by impressive speech, nor by wooing and persuading, but only by the sheer unaided power of God. The creative power of redemption comes through the preaching of the gospel, but never because of the personality of the preacher.

Real and effective fasting by a preacher is not fasting from food, but fasting from eloquence, from impressive diction, and from everything else that might hinder the gospel of God being presented. The preacher is there as the representative of God- ". . . as though God were pleading through us . . ." (2 Corinthians 5:20). He is there to present the gospel of God. If it is only because of my preaching that people desire to be better, they will never get close to Jesus Christ. Anything that flatters me in my preaching of the gospel will result in making me a traitor to Jesus, and I prevent the creative power of His redemption from doing its work.

"And I, if I am lifted up. . . , will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32).
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Falling into Crisis

In 1 Kings we have the story of the prophet Elijah.  In chapter 18, we see a great victory over the priests of Baal, an incredible victory that demonstrated the power of the one true God for all to see.

In the next chapter, we see Elijah on the run (1 Kings 19:1-3),

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.  Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."  And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

How could Elijah, a prophet of God who had been used in such a powerful way, now be on the run?  (He eventually even became suicidal.)  While there are a number of things we could look at, I want to give you one truth today to consider.

After any great spiritual victory, it is always wise to keep your armor on.  Over and over, there are examples of tremendous trials and temptations after great victories.

King David, after God had supernaturally spoken to him, fell morally, and committed adultery with Bathsheba.  Or there is Samson who, after God used him to bring great deliverance, got messed up with Delilah.  Then there is Jesus who, after being with the Father on the mount of transfiguration, came to the bottom of the mountain and was met by a demon-possessed boy.

Sometimes we are the most vulnerable after the highest and brightest times we have with God.  So today, let me encourage you to always keep your armor on (see Ephesians 6:11).
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Read: Luke 1:46-55
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. - Isaiah 9:6

TODAY IN THE WORD
Probably every mother has a story of how she realized that she was going to have a child. Rebecca knew when she felt dizzy at the park; Lillian knew when the nausea hit; Stacy knew when the social worker called with the news that the birth mother had selected her to adopt her daughter. But imagine if an angel told you that you would miraculously conceive, your baby would be the long-awaited Davidic king, and your cousin affirmed this revelation through blessing (Luke 1:26-45)! This was Mary's experience, and today's reading is her response to the remarkable news.
The famous title of Mary's Song, Magnificat, originates from the first word of the Latin version of this passage: magnify. "My soul magnifies the Lord!" Mary sings. Her response is praise, and the remainder of her song explains why (vv. 47-55).

Notice throughout Mary's song, the primary actor is God. For who He is and what He does, the Lord is worthy of praise. Mary rehearses God's mercy to her personally (vv. 48-49). She highlights the contrast: the Mighty One, holy and exalted, is mindful of one inconsequential young woman. God's activity reverses her situation; Mary goes from humble servant to blessed forever by all generations.

Verse 50 connects the two sections of her song, and then Mary shifts to proclaim God's mercy to Abraham's descendants (vv. 51-55). "Mighty deeds" and "outstretched arm" echo back to God's rescue of His people out of Egypt. Mary recognizes God as deliverer, and she knows the news of her baby is news of God's deliverance. God's redemption turns things upside down. Notice what happens to the proud, the rulers, and the rich compared to the humble and the hungry (vv. 51-53). The end of Mary's song ties Gabriel's announcement to God's ancient covenant with Abraham and his descendants. God will be faithful to His promises; He will be merciful (vv. 54-55). Mary understands that the birth of her baby Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises of redemption. Jesus is the new king we read about yesterday.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The structure of verses 52 and 53 draws our attention to them. God's action toward the rulers and rich is mentioned first and last, with His mercy toward the humble and hungry announced in the middle. In Jesus, God is transforming people and social structures that exalt self-absorption and wealth to the exclusion and at the expense of the poor. God humbles the proud to reveal their need of Him and to soften their hearts toward others. Allow God to humble you so that He can then fill you with good things.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 18,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Mystery of Believing

He said, "Who are You, Lord? -Acts 9:5

Through the miracle of redemption, Saul of Tarsus was instantly changed from a strong-willed and forceful Pharisee into a humble and devoted bondservant of the Lord Jesus.

There is nothing miraculous or mysterious about the things we can explain. We control what we are able to explain, consequently it is only natural to seek an explanation for everything. It is not natural to obey, yet it is not necessarily sinful to disobey. There can be no real disobedience, nor any moral virtue in obedience, unless a person recognizes the higher authority of the one giving the orders. If this recognition does not exist, even the one giving the orders may view the other person's disobedience as freedom. If one rules another by saying, "You must do this," and, "You will do that," he breaks the human spirit, making it unfit for God. A person is simply a slave for obeying, unless behind his obedience is the recognition of a holy God.

Many people begin coming to God once they stop being religious, because there is only one master of the human heart- Jesus Christ, not religion. But "Woe is me" if after seeing Him I still will not obey ( Isaiah 6:5 , also see Isaiah 6:1 ). Jesus will never insist that I obey, but if I don't,I have already begun to sign the death certificate of the Son of God in my soul. When I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and say, "I will not obey," He will never insist. But when I do this, I am backing away from the recreating power of His redemption. It makes no difference to God's grace what an abomination I am, if I will only come to the light. But "Woe is me" if I refuse the light (seeJohn 3:19-21  ).
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Have You Dug a Pit for Others?

In order to get out of the pits, you need to make sure you haven't dug any pits for others.  Psalm 7:14-16 tells us,

Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.  He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made.  His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.

Then there is Psalm 9:15-16,

The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.  The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

Finally, Psalm 57:6,

They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.

When people dig a pit for somebody else, they end up falling into it themselves.  In fact, Proverbs 26:27 says it most directly,

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

Pretty plain, isn't it?  If you are asking God to get you out of a pit, you need to take time to consider if it is a pit of your own construction.  If you have done something to get someone else in trouble-even if you think you are justified in doing it because that person has hurt you-you need to repent.  Until there is repentance, God will not intervene.

God is not going to get you out of your pit while you have a shovel in your hand.   
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Read: Luke 4:14-30
I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. - Isaiah 42:1

TODAY IN THE WORD
When American Idol winner, David Cook, returned to his hometown, 10,000 tickets sold out instantly, buttons and t-shirts adorned hysterical fans, and the city buzzed with excitement. David took center stage at his former high school where admirers gathered to pay homage to their hometown hero. In every sense of the show's title, David is the American idol of Blue Springs, Missouri. In our reading today, when Jesus stepped into the limelight in his old neighborhood, the locals were not as welcoming.
After 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus traveled to the region of Galilee and began teaching in the synagogue. His fame spread quickly, and the general public praised Him (v. 15). When Jesus arrived in His hometown, He visited the synagogue on the Sabbath. He stood up, took the scroll, and unrolled it (vv. 16-17). Later, the actions are exactly reversed: Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back, and sat down (v. 20). This detail highlights what happens in between: Jesus reads from Isaiah 61:1-3. Jesus declared that He has come to announce good news to the poor, imprisoned, blind, and oppressed. His message is freedom and release for those held in all kinds of bondage, and all this will be accomplished through the Spirit's anointing. When He said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing," Jesus claimed that He is the answer to God's ancient promise. At first, the crowd seems accepting and astonished by their hometown boy (v. 22). Jesus, however, challenged their approval (v. 23).

Jesus recounted two incriminating stories from the time of the prophets Elijah and Elisha (vv. 24-27; cf. 1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 5:1-19). He cautioned their American Idol-like enthusiasm, suggesting that when they understood His deeper message and mission He might lose their votes. Will they be implicated when Jesus sets the captives free? Their praise and amazement quickly turned to fury (v. 28). The townspeople drove Jesus to the edge of town ready to kill Him, but Jesus escaped unhindered (vv. 29-30).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus announces freedom from all things that hold us captive: sin, disease, loneliness, mental illness, injustice, death. The Spirit of the Lord upon Jesus seals the liberation with power and authority, and this same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives in us (Rom. 8:11). You or someone you love may be imprisoned right now-physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Today, hear the great news of total emancipation in Jesus Christ. Cry out to Him for healing and restoration and trust His Spirit in you for complete redemption.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 19,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Submission of the Believer

Our Lord never insists on having authority over us. He never says, "You will submit to me." No, He leaves us perfectly free to choose- so free, in fact, that we can spit in His face or we can put Him to death, as others have done; and yet He will never say a word. But once His life has been created in me through His redemption, I instantly recognize His right to absolute authority over me. It is a complete and effective domination, in which I acknowledge that "You are worthy, O Lord . . ." ( Revelation 4:11  ). It is simply the unworthiness within me that refuses to bow down or to submit to one who is worthy. When I meet someone who is more holy than myself, and I don't recognize his worthiness, nor obey his instructions for me, it is a sign of my own unworthiness being revealed. God teaches us by using these people who are a little better than we are; not better intellectually, but more holy. And He continues to do so until we willingly submit. Then the whole attitude of our life is one of obedience to Him.

If our Lord insisted on our obedience, He would simply become a taskmaster and cease to have any real authority. He never insists on obedience, but when we truly see Him we will instantly obey Him. Then He is easily Lord of our life, and we live in adoration of Him from morning till night. The level of my growth in grace is revealed by the way I look at obedience. We should have a much higher view of the word obedience, rescuing it from the mire of the world. Obedience is only possible between people who are equals in their relationship to each other; like the relationship between father and son, not that between master and servant. Jesus showed this relationship by saying, "I and My Father are one" ( John 10:30 ). ". . . though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered" ( Hebrews 5:8  ). The Son was obedient as our Redeemer, because He was the Son, not in order to become God's Son.
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Are You Rebelling Against Authority?

If you are in the pits, you need to make sure you are not in rebellion against God's established authority, or aligned with those who are.

In Numbers 16 there is an instructive story of Korah and his followers.  They openly confronted Moses and Aaron, and challenged whether they were really God's ordained leaders. 

Moses and Aaron were flawed and fallible just like every one of us, but Korah wanted to usurp authority that did not belong to him.

God had placed Moses and Aaron in their position of authority, but Korah tried to undermine that authority and lead people against them.

Look at the result of Korah's rebellion.  Moses is speaking in verses 30 and 31,

"But if the LORD creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD."  Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

Notice that it was not just Korah who was destroyed.  All those who were aligned with him also went into the pit.

I don't think the ground is going to open up under you if you rebel against the authority that God has set up.  But you may find yourself in an emotional, physical, or financial pit that you cannot get out of until you get the rebellion out of you.

If you are in a pit today, check your heart and make sure you are not in rebellion against God's ordained authority.
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Read: Luke 5:12-14
He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. - Luke 4:18

TODAY IN THE WORD
The Home for Joy, a Christian ministry in Bangladesh, provides food, shelter, and job training for women who have been socially and economically ostracized either because of severe scarring from acid attacks or rape. Rejected for marriage, these women are vulnerable and impoverished in a cultural context where social and economic protection from men is required. Resources and support from The Home for Joy has provided healing and restoration to 28 women over the past ten years.
Jesus encountered a man covered with leprosy, a term that refers to various skin diseases considered highly infectious in the ancient world. According to Leviticus 13, if the priest identified something as a skin disease, the person was thereafter unclean. "He must live alone; he must live outside the camp" (Lev. 13:46). Thus, the leprous man of Luke 5 was completely isolated spiritually from his community. Prohibited from all interaction with others, the man was socially and economically secluded as well. He was most likely poverty-stricken.

The leprous man demonstrated humility, dependence, reverence, and belief in Jesus' healing power. He called out, "Lord," affirming even more than he actually knew about Jesus (vv. 12, 17). Jesus responded remarkably by touching the "unclean" man. Without reservation or fear of contamination, Jesus crossed traditional boundaries to heal this man.

Yet today's text is more than a story of Jesus' physical healing. It is a story of justice. Jesus pronounced the man "clean" and thus restored him spiritually, socially, and economically. This is indeed "good news to the poor" (4:18).

Jesus commanded the man to accord with the Levitical laws for cleansing and reentry into community life (Lev. 14:1-32), "as a testimony" to the priest (v. 14). First, a visit to the priest would confirm the healing and allow reintegration into spiritual, social, and economic life, much of which revolved around the temple. Second, the visit would testify to the power of the Lord at work.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Following the healing of the leprous man, Jesus steals away for private prayer (5:16). Jesus often set aside time for prayer and communion with the Father. The fruit of this time is intimacy with His Father, alignment with God's mission, and strength for demanding ministry. One way we cultivate our relationship with our heavenly Father and have our strength renewed is through Bible study and prayer. In addition to your time with Today in the Word, pursue private time in prayer to the Lord.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 20,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Dependent on God's Presence

Those who wait on the Lord . . . shall walk and not faint -Isaiah 40:31

There is no thrill for us in walking, yet it is the test for all of our steady and enduring qualities. To "walk and not faint" is the highest stretch possible as a measure of strength. The word walk is used in the Bible to express the character of a person- ". . . John . . . looking at Jesus as He walked. . . said, 'Behold the Lamb of God!' " ( John 1:35-36 ). There is nothing abstract or obscure in the Bible; everything is vivid and real. God does not say, "Be spiritual," but He says, "Walk before Me. . ." ( Genesis 17:1  ).

When we are in an unhealthy condition either physically or emotionally, we always look for thrills in life. In our physical life this leads to our efforts to counterfeit the work of the Holy Spirit; in our emotional life it leads to obsessions and to the destruction of our morality; and in our spiritual life, if we insist on pursuing only thrills, on mounting up "with wings like eagles" ( Isaiah 40:31  ), it will result in the destruction of our spirituality.

Having the reality of God's presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but is only dependent on our determination to keep the Lord before us continually. Our problems arise when we refuse to place our trust in the reality of His presence. The experience the psalmist speaks of- "We will not fear, even though . . ." ( Psalm 46:2  )- will be ours once we are grounded on the truth of the reality of God's presence, not just a simple awareness of it, but an understanding of the reality of it. Then we will exclaim, "He has been here all the time!" At critical moments in our lives it is necessary to ask God for guidance, but it should be unnecessary to be constantly saying, "Oh, Lord, direct me in this, and in that." Of course He will, and in fact, He is doing it already! If our everyday decisions are not according to His will, He will press through them, bringing restraint to our spirit. Then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.
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Lightening the Load

When we get into the storms of life, it is often difficult to know what to do.  It can feel like the noise of our troubles drowns out everything else. 

In Acts 27 we find the apostle Paul caught in the midst of a horrible storm.  The ship was being tossed all over the place, and the situation was becoming quite serious.

Embedded in this story is a spiritual truth that can guide you and me when we get caught in the storms of life.  It is found in verses 18-19,

And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.  On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.

Notice that when the storm got bad and threatened to capsize the ship, they lightened the load.

Sometimes in a storm you need to throw some things overboard.  In fact, it is a great time to evaluate any baggage that you are carrying in your life.  There are some things that may not be a sin to you, but they are a weight to you.

One of the things you need to carefully evaluate is your relationships.  There are some relationships you need to cut loose because they are hanging you up, holding you back, and they are hindering you from getting to where God wants you to go.

Or maybe it's something as simple as too much TV.  Watching TV may not be a sin, but it can sure be a weight!  It can sure be a hindrance to you hearing from God, especially when you are in a time of crisis.

If you really want to hear from God and get yourself unstuck, lighten your ship.
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Read: Luke 8:42-48
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners. - Luke 4:18

TODAY IN THE WORD
My mood has become as hard as my surroundings and as lifeless and empty. It seems nothing can move me. . . . I realize the isolation, pain and heartache that must grip so many other women that live here-all of us seeing the same scene day after day. "Here" for poet Rhonda Leland is Valley State Prison for Women in central California, and her experience is shared by "many other women" who live imprisoned physically, spiritually, and socially.
We meet one such woman in Luke 8. She lived in a particular kind of prison, since she suffered from chronic bleeding for 12 years. In first-century Palestine, this meant that she was "unclean," and like the leprous man from yesterday's reading, she was cut off from society spiritually, socially, and economically.

Picture Jesus and His disciples walking through the streets of the town, surrounded by such a large crowd that Jesus was nearly crushed (v. 42). Luke points out one unnamed woman from among the multitude. Her condition elicits our compassion: continuous, incurable hemorrhaging (v. 43). Like the leprous man, she seemed to recognize Jesus' power. Perhaps the news of Him had spread. Unlike the leprous man, the woman tried to remain incognito-but not for long. Her courageous touch of Jesus' cloak healed her immediately, and Jesus knew power had left Him (vv. 44, 46).

Jesus is more than a magic healer. He is the long-awaited King and Savior of the whole world. By asking the woman to identify herself, Jesus invited her into a personal encounter with Himself. Though no one answered, and Peter thought the question wholly nonsensical, Jesus persisted. Compelled by fear and faith, the woman fell at Jesus' feet and disclosed her identity and intentions (v. 47). Jesus' response proclaimed freedom for the imprisoned woman (v. 48; Luke 4:18). The woman once unnamed is now called "Daughter." Jesus not only healed her body, but He also brought her back into the community of God and into relationship with Him. He turns her "isolation, pain, and heartache" into true freedom and peace.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you have eyes like Peter or like Jesus? In the crowds surrounding you-family, coworkers, neighbors, church community, friends, and even strangers-there are people suffering in their own kinds of prisons. Ask God to open your eyes to see them. Invite the Holy Spirit to minister to them through you, to show you how to proclaim the freedom of Christ into their lives. One idea is to invite a friend to study the Gospel of Luke with you. The John MacArthur Luke Bible study guide is a great resource.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 21,  2010
 
Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

The Doorway to the Kingdom

Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . -Matthew 5:3

Beware of thinking of our Lord as only a teacher. If Jesus Christ is only a teacher, then all He can do is frustrate me by setting a standard before me I cannot attain. What is the point of presenting me with such a lofty ideal if I cannot possibly come close to reaching it? I would be happier if I never knew it. What good is there in telling me to be what I can never be- to be "pure in heart" ( Matthew 5:8 ), to do more than my duty, or to be completely devoted to God? I must know Jesus Christ as my Savior before His teaching has any meaning for me other than that of a lofty ideal which only leads to despair. But when I am born again by the Spirit of God, I know that Jesus Christ did not come only to teach- He came to make me what He teaches I should be. The redemption means that Jesus Christ can place within anyone the same nature that ruled His own life, and all the standards God gives us are based on that nature.

The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount produces a sense of despair in the natural man- exactly what Jesus means for it to do. As long as we have some self-righteous idea that we can carry out our Lord's teaching, God will allow us to continue until we expose our own ignorance by stumbling over some obstacle in our way. Only then are we willing to come to Him as paupers and receive from Him. "Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . ." This is the first principle in the kingdom of God. The underlying foundation of Jesus Christ's kingdom is poverty, not possessions; not making decisions for Jesus, but having such a sense of absolute futility that we finally admit, "Lord, I cannot even begin to do it." Then Jesus says, "Blessed are you . . ." ( Matthew 5:11  ). This is the doorway to the kingdom, and yet it takes us so long to believe that we are actually poor! The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work.
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Rest

In the last several devotionals, we have looked at how we respond to the storms of life.  Today and tomorrow we will look at two more principles for handling life when the storms hit.

Today, I want to go back to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19.  In verses 5-6 we read,

Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat."  Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water.  So he ate and drank, and lay down again.

Notice that in the midst of his crisis, Elijah rested and ate.  He took care of his body. 

Some of the crises you experience come because you are sleep deprived and you don't eat right.  And you know what?  Your body, your soul, and your spirit are all tied together.  What you do to one affects the other two.  It affects the whole.

We are intricately woven together.  And the wisest thing you can do when you get into a crisis is just give your body a rest, because it affects every other part of your life.

When you are exhausted and physically weak, it is easy for everything to be blown out of proportion.  When you are tired, it can look like your whole world is falling apart when it really is not.  It is like Mark Twain said, "I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened."

You and I do need to rest.  If you are in the midst of a storm today, make sure not to neglect the rest you need.
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Read: Luke 13:10-17
He has sent me . . . to release the oppressed. - Luke 4:18

TODAY IN THE WORD
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus can be found in the places to worship God, whether temple or synagogue. In today's passage, we see Him again teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath (v. 10). As we've seen the past few days, Jesus carried out His promise to release the oppressed and once more faced opposition.
The first person introduced in the congregation was likely the most marginalized: a disabled woman (v. 11). Her physical condition, "crippled," also describes her social and spiritual position. Jesus saw this woman who was usually invisible to others; He invited her to Himself. As with the leprous man and the bleeding woman, Jesus' touch brought healing.

Notice that Jesus said, "You are set free from your infirmity" (v. 12). Liberation is not the typical way to express physical healing. Yet Luke has already told us that the woman was "crippled by a spirit," and Jesus confirmed that she was under satanic bondage (v. 16). Luke makes a connection between this instance of physical infirmity and the influence of Satan. For this woman, physical healing could not be separated from her spiritual freedom. When she was healed and set free, her physical and spiritual postures transformed instantly (v. 13).

One job of the synagogue ruler was to maintain faithfulness to the Mosaic Law in the teaching and actions in the synagogue. According to this person, Jesus violated Deuteronomy 5:13. In front of the assembly, he challenged Jesus' authority to heal. But Jesus is Lord, full of all power and authority in heaven and on earth (v. 15). In response to this charge, Jesus shamed His opponents and confirmed His authority to interpret the Law and fulfill God's redemptive purposes (vv. 15-17). As He argued: If you can free an animal on the Sabbath, how much more a "daughter of Abraham"? Jesus emphasized her inclusion in the community of God. If you can liberate an animal bound for a few hours, how much more this woman bound by Satan for 18 years! Jesus made clear that God's purposes are to release the oppressed, and it is a misinterpretation of the Law to deny salvation on the Sabbath.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus challenged the practices and power structures of His day. Like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace; like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie ten Boom who resisted Nazi decrees; like John Perkins who withstood segregation, throughout history God's people have been known for courageously opposing laws, systems, and power brokers that did not comport with God's purposes in the world. If you need encouragement to stand for the Lord in the face of injustice, read a biography of one of these brave Christians.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 22,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Sanctification (1)

This is the will of God, your sanctification. . . -1 Thessalonians 4:3

The Death Side. In sanctification God has to deal with us on the death side as well as on the life side. Sanctification requires our coming to the place of death, but many of us spend so much time there that we become morbid. There is always a tremendous battle before sanctification is realized- something within us pushing with resentment against the demands of Christ. When the Holy Spirit begins to show us what sanctification means, the struggle starts immediately. Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate . . . his own life . . . he cannot be My disciple" ( Luke 14:26  ).

In the process of sanctification, the Spirit of God will strip me down until there is nothing left but myself, and that is the place of death. Am I willing to be myself and nothing more? Am I willing to have no friends, no father, no brother, and no self-interest- simply to be ready for death? That is the condition required for sanctification. No wonder Jesus said, "I did not come to bring peace but a sword" ( Matthew 10:34  ). This is where the battle comes, and where so many of us falter. We refuse to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ on this point. We say, "But this is so strict. Surely He does not require that of me." Our Lord is strict, and He does require that of us.

Am I willing to reduce myself down to simply "me"? Am I determined enough to strip myself of all that my friends think of me, and all that I think of myself? Am I willing and determined to hand over my simple naked self to God? Once I am, He will immediately sanctify me completely, and my life will be free from being determined and persistent toward anything except God (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24  ).

When I pray, "Lord, show me what sanctification means for me," He will show me. It means being made one with Jesus. Sanctification is not something Jesus puts in me- it is Himself in me (see 1 Corinthians 1:30  ).
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The Still Small Voice

In the last three devotionals, we have looked at principles on how we should respond when our life is in crisis.  The last principle is found in 1 Kings 19:11-12,

Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD."  And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

If your life is in crisis today, you need to remind yourself how God leads.  Do not look for it in outward, powerful manifestations-the strong wind, an earthquake, or fire.

Rather, listen for that "still small voice."

That is how Jesus speaks to us today.  Read carefully the words of John 16:13,

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

God has given you and me His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.  And, friend, when God leads you, it is going to be through the still small whisper of the Spirit in your heart.

Yet many people want more than that.  Some people think, "I'm in a desperate situation.  I need something more!"  You and I need nothing more, because through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have God on the inside.

So if God is going to guide you, He is going to do it from within...through that still small voice.
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Read: Matthew 25:31-46
Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. - Romans 12:13

TODAY IN THE WORD
Luke and Doris Musumba thumbed through the Schneider family guestbook, where the pages revealed their German hosts' constant care for visitors. The Musumbas are Kenyan missionaries, and the Schneiders are friends who built a small apartment in their home to host Christian workers and allow them to restore their energies. Today we turn our attention toward the New Testament's teaching on how generosity includes care for the vulnerable, a principle embodied in the Schneider family.
Jesus referred to Himself in our text today as "the Son of Man" (see Dan. 7:13-14). The connection with Daniel 7 is intentional: Jesus' glory is mentioned twice; "all the nations" are gathered before Him; He sits on His throne as sovereign King with all authority as final judge (vv. 31-34).

As the King and Judge, Jesus separates the crowd into two groups. The first is called blessed by the Father, heirs of God, and righteous (vv. 34, 37). Jesus invites them to receive the kingdom prepared for them. "For" indicates the reason for this particular judgment: they provided food, drink, shelter, and clothing for Him, they cared for Him when He was sick, and they visited Him in prison (vv. 35-36). The people are perplexed (vv. 37-39), so Jesus explains clearly: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (v. 40).

Bible scholars suggest Jesus is not referring to care of the poor, sick, and imprisoned generally (though that care is consistent with broader biblical values). Rather, the "brothers" are Jesus' disciples, messengers of His gospel (cf. Matt. 12:50; 28:10). His disciples faced great need for hospitality as they traveled to spread the good news. They experienced sickness (Phil. 2:27-30) and even imprisonment.

Gospel messengers are Jesus' representatives. How they are received illustrates how Jesus is embraced (cf. 10:40). Jesus continued this logic toward those on His left (v. 45). Those who ignore or reject His messengers on this side of the Day of Judgment reject Him, with eternal consequences.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus' messengers today include vocational ministers and missionaries. Many vocational "messengers" still depend on the hospitality and care of others. This month, learn more about the local and global missionaries that your church partners through prayer and financial support. Consider how you might serve them. Some ideas include hosting missionaries on furlough, meeting practical needs for their family or ministry, and sending them notes or e-mails of encouragement.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 23,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Sanctification (2)

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us . . . sanctification . . . -1 Corinthians 1:30

The Life Side. The mystery of sanctification is that the perfect qualities of Jesus Christ are imparted as a gift to me, not gradually, but instantly once I enter by faith into the realization that He "became for [me] . . . sanctification . . . ." Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life.

The most wonderful secret of living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. Sanctification is "Christ in you . . ." ( Colossians 1:27 ). It is His wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification- imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God's grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His Word?

Sanctification means the impartation of the holy qualities of Jesus Christ to me. It is the gift of His patience, love, holiness, faith, purity, and godliness that is exhibited in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy- it is drawing from Jesus the very holiness that was exhibited in Him, and that He now exhibits in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation. Imitation is something altogether different. The perfection of everything is in Jesus Christ, and the mystery of sanctification is that all the perfect qualities of Jesus are at my disposal. Consequently, I slowly but surely begin to live a life of inexpressible order, soundness, and holiness- ". . . kept by the power of God . . ." ( 1 Peter 1:5  ).
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PRAISE: The First Step in Effective Prayer

Praying consistently will change your life.  In fact, many of the blessings God wants you to enjoy will never be realized unless you pray.

I think all Christians know they are supposed to pray, and all Christians want to pray.  But many of God's people, if they are completely frank and transparent about the issue, would have to admit their prayer life is somewhere between mediocre and non-existent.

Over the next few devotionals, I want to share with you four simple points which I have put into an acronym:  P-R-A-Y.  If you can spell the word pray, hopefully you will be able to remember how to make your prayer life more effective, and you will be inspired to pray more consistently.

Psalm 100 helps us understand the first letter, "P", in the word P-R-A-Y, which stands for praise.  Psalm 100:1-4 states it well,

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!  Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.  Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Verse 2 tells us, Come before His presence with singing.  And in verse 4 notice the words "enter into."  In other words, praise is how you are to enter God's presence.  It is the best way to begin your prayer.

When you want to come to God, you start with thanksgiving.  You start with singing.  You start with praise.  Or, as The Message says, Enter with the password:  "Thank you!"

Today, and every day, make praise the starting point of every conversation with God!
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Read: Matthew 25:31-46
Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. - Romans 12:13

TODAY IN THE WORD
Luke and Doris Musumba thumbed through the Schneider family guestbook, where the pages revealed their German hosts' constant care for visitors. The Musumbas are Kenyan missionaries, and the Schneiders are friends who built a small apartment in their home to host Christian workers and allow them to restore their energies. Today we turn our attention toward the New Testament's teaching on how generosity includes care for the vulnerable, a principle embodied in the Schneider family.
Jesus referred to Himself in our text today as "the Son of Man" (see Dan. 7:13-14). The connection with Daniel 7 is intentional: Jesus' glory is mentioned twice; "all the nations" are gathered before Him; He sits on His throne as sovereign King with all authority as final judge (vv. 31-34).

As the King and Judge, Jesus separates the crowd into two groups. The first is called blessed by the Father, heirs of God, and righteous (vv. 34, 37). Jesus invites them to receive the kingdom prepared for them. "For" indicates the reason for this particular judgment: they provided food, drink, shelter, and clothing for Him, they cared for Him when He was sick, and they visited Him in prison (vv. 35-36). The people are perplexed (vv. 37-39), so Jesus explains clearly: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (v. 40).

Bible scholars suggest Jesus is not referring to care of the poor, sick, and imprisoned generally (though that care is consistent with broader biblical values). Rather, the "brothers" are Jesus' disciples, messengers of His gospel (cf. Matt. 12:50; 28:10). His disciples faced great need for hospitality as they traveled to spread the good news. They experienced sickness (Phil. 2:27-30) and even imprisonment.

Gospel messengers are Jesus' representatives. How they are received illustrates how Jesus is embraced (cf. 10:40). Jesus continued this logic toward those on His left (v. 45). Those who ignore or reject His messengers on this side of the Day of Judgment reject Him, with eternal consequences.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Jesus' messengers today include vocational ministers and missionaries. Many vocational "messengers" still depend on the hospitality and care of others. This month, learn more about the local and global missionaries that your church partners through prayer and financial support. Consider how you might serve them. Some ideas include hosting missionaries on furlough, meeting practical needs for their family or ministry, and sending them notes or e-mails of encouragement.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 24,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

His Nature and Our Motives

. . . unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven -Matthew 5:20

The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in his motives, having been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to place within anyone who would let Him a new heredity that would have a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is saying, "If you are My disciple, you must be right not only in your actions, but also in your motives, your aspirations, and in the deep recesses of the thoughts of your mind." Your motives must be so pure that God Almighty can see nothing to rebuke. Who can stand in the eternal light of God and have nothing for Him to rebuke? Only the Son of God, and Jesus Christ claims that through His redemption He can place within anyone His own nature and make that person as pure and as simple as a child. The purity that God demands is impossible unless I can be remade within, and that is exactly what Jesus has undertaken to do through His redemption.

No one can make himself pure by obeying laws. Jesus Christ does not give us rules and regulations- He gives us His teachings which are truths that can only be interpreted by His nature which He places within us. The great wonder of Jesus Christ's salvation is that He changes our heredity. He does not change human nature- He changes its source, and thereby its motives as well.
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REPENT: The Second Step in Effective Prayer

Yesterday we began to look at what makes for effective prayer by using the acronym P-R-A-Y.  The first step is praise.  Today, I want to focus on the second letter of our acronym, "R", which stands for repent.

By repentance in prayer, I mean taking the time before God to search your heart and repent of anything that has come between you and Him.  Psalm 19:12-13 expresses it well,

Who can understand his errors?  Cleanse me from secret faults.  Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.  Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Verse 12 begins with the question, "Who can understand his errors?"  The psalmist is telling us, "You will not always know when you do something wrong.  You will not always know when you get into an area that is not right."

What David is pointing to are the secret faults and presumptuous sins which can still have dominion over you-even though you may not be aware that what you did was wrong.

For example, sometimes we can allow attitudes to get into our hearts that we don't realize are inconsistent with God's character.  Or sometimes we can do and say things that are detrimental, not only to us, but to others, and not really understand the damage we have done.

How do you deal with these sins?  You come before God and say, "God, put the spotlight on anything in my life that has raised a barrier between You and me, and I will repent of it."

So when you pray, ask God to reveal any sin in your life you may be overlooking.  God will honor your heart of repentance.
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Read: James 5:1-6
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. - 1 Corinthians 10:24

TODAY IN THE WORD
The description "fair trade" indicates that workers have not been deprived of fair wages, safe working conditions, or economic opportunity. Many people associate fair trade with coffee, but other fair trade initiatives include items like chocolate, tea, sugar, flowers, rice, handcrafted goods, and sports balls. Did you know that Christians initiated the fair trade movement in 1946? Edna Ruth Byler, a Christian in business, was moved by the poverty and injustice she encountered in Puerto Rico and decided to reflect God's heart through her business practices. Other Christians joined Ms. Byler, and the practice of fair trade began. We've already seen that God cares about fair wages from Deuteronomy 24, Isaiah 58, and Jeremiah 22. Today's passage confirms that this is not simply an Old Testament value.
This text is a harsh rebuke of affluent people who misuse and abuse their wealth and power. Although it is a misinterpretation to apply James's message to all wealthy people, this sobering lesson about money, possessions, and love for our neighbor should provoke all of us to evaluate ourselves in light of Scripture. Verse 1 announces impending judgment. Verses 2 and 3 expose the fleeting worth of money and possessions. The bulk of James' message discloses reasons for such severe condemnation.

The "rich people" are criticized for amassing wealth and storing it up (v. 3; cf. Luke 12:13-21). We are expected to live in light of Jesus' imminent return. The Landowners are accused of withholding wages from their employees (v. 4). They weren't paying their farmers fair wages. God heard the cries of these exploited workers, and His judgment followed.

The wealthy are further condemned for their self-indulgent, excessive lifestyles. The "day of slaughter" is an expression for the Day of Judgment (v. 5). James moved from "the last days" to judgment day. The self-indulgent lifestyle has prepared the rich for judgment, much like a cow is fattened up for slaughter. Without fair wages, workers are condemned to poverty and death. Thus, the final indictment is injustice and murder of innocent people (v. 6).
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Through our consumer choices, we all contribute to the wages people are paid all over the world. Perhaps you know little or are misinformed about fair trade practices. This month, take time to learn more. All of us also hear the world's daily messages about money: you need more, more, more, all targeted toward your own comfort, security, entertainment, or status. Without God's Word, we are devoid of His vision and values for our lives. Commit 

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

July 25,  2010

Daily Devotionals By Oswald Chambers

Am I Blessed Like This?

Blessed are . . . -Matthew 5:3-11

When we first read the statements of Jesus, they seem wonderfully simple and unstartling, and they sink unnoticed into our subconscious minds. For instance, the Beatitudes initially seem to be merely soothing and beautiful precepts for overly spiritual and seemingly useless people, but of very little practical use in the rigid, fast-paced workdays of the world in which we live. We soon find, however, that the Beatitudes contain the "dynamite" of the Holy Spirit. And they "explode" when the circumstances of our lives cause them to do so. When the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance one of the Beatitudes, we say, "What a startling statement that is!" Then we must decide whether or not we will accept the tremendous spiritual upheaval that will be produced in our circumstances if we obey His words. That is the way the Spirit of God works. We do not need to be born again to apply the Sermon on the Mount literally. The literal interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount is as easy as child's play. But the interpretation by the Spirit of God as He applies our Lord's statements to our circumstances is the strict and difficult work of a saint.

The teachings of Jesus are all out of proportion when compared to our natural way of looking at things, and they come to us initially with astonishing discomfort. We gradually have to conform our walk and conversation to the precepts of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit applies them to our circumstances. The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations- it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us.
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The Power of Zero

Perhaps you are in a very stressful time in your life right now, and you feel you can't go on.  I want you to know that you are not alone.  In fact, some of the greatest men and women of God have gone through what you are going through right now.

One of those individuals is the prophet Elijah whom I mentioned in yesterday's devotional.  After a great spiritual victory over the priests of Baal, we find him on the run, wondering whether life is even worth it.

We catch the story in 1 Kings 19:4-6,

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree.  And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough!  Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"  Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat."  Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water.  So he ate and drank, and lay down again.

Elijah had reached that "zero" place in his life.  There was nothing left.  He had given it all and the tank was empty.

Maybe that describes you right now, you are on the verge of quitting.  You figure, "I've had enough.  I'm done.  Enough pressures, enough hassles, I cannot ride this thing out anymore.  My strength is gone!"

Well, did you notice that when Elijah was at the end of his strength, that was when God intervened?  Being out of strength, being at zero, is not a bad place to be. If you will look to God, He is prepared to meet you in your moment of need.
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Read: 1 John 3:16-17
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

TODAY IN THE WORD
To celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2010, one church in Chicago is giving sacrificially to meet the needs of people in their community. They are sending 25 adults back to college, rescuing 25 families out of foreclosure, and liberating the needy among them from $2.5 million of oppressive debt. According to today's reading, these are examples of working out of God's love.
John first establishes that the supreme revelation of love is Jesus Christ laying down His life for us (v. 16). God's love in Christ is not simply something to admire. Before verse 16 ends, John says we ought also to imitate Christ by laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters. This month we have learned that we seek to live righteously because God is righteous; we fight for justice because God is just; and most fundamentally, we love because God first loved us, and our love ought to imitate God's love (cf. 1 John 4:19).

Just as God's love is revealed to us in the concrete sacrifice of Christ, so too God's love in us is demonstrated in concrete ways. John offers one such example in verse 17. "Material possessions" refer to the "ordinary things of life," as one Bible scholar explains. John's message is not for the wealthy alone, but for any Christian who has enough to live on. The needy "brother" is arguably a fellow Christian, since family imagery is only used to describe the community of God in the New Testament. If you have sufficient provision in life and encounter a disadvantaged brother or sister, and your heart is unmoved by compassion and mercy, John challenges whether the reality of God's love is in you.

The rhetorical question can be turned into a positive statement: If God's love is truly in you, then you will be moved with pity when you see a fellow Christian in need. In light of verse 16, this "pity" is God's love, and it will result in us laying down our lives for the needy brother or sister. Like God's love in Christ, we will love sacrificially and abundantly.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage teaches that God's love in us ought to be active. One tangible expression is sacrificial giving to serve fellow Christians in need. A beautiful picture of this attitude is the early church described in Acts 2:42-47. Often our lives are too full or isolated to truly know the needs of our brothers and sisters. The application of this Word today begins with knowing people well enough to know their needs. If you already know someone's need, ask God to guide you in ways to love them sacrificially.

GOD BLESS!