Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, November 12

God's Amazing Love

For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:12

Recommended Reading
Hebrews 12:1-13 [ http://iz3.me/swt12zwXd1A1 ]

Most Bible readers know that the story of Joseph and the family of Jacob moving to Egypt takes up the last major section of Genesis: chapters 37-50. We meet Joseph as a teenager in Genesis 37 and see him buried at the end of his life in Egypt in Genesis 50. The story flows smoothly except for one part: Genesis 38. If you connect the last verse of Genesis 37 with the first verse of Genesis 39, the story flows beautifully. But Genesis 38 has nothing to do with Joseph and appears to be just a snapshot of Jacob's family in Canaan.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/twt12zwXd1A1 ]

Since God inspired the writing of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21), we know that Genesis 38 is there for a reason. And the reason is this: It explains why God sent Joseph to Egypt to prepare a place for Jacob's family to live in isolation from the world. It reveals the serious moral compromises Jacob's family was making in Canaan that could have ruined the future of Abraham's descendants. It proves that God loves His people enough to protect and preserve them through drastic measures if needed.

And God loves us that much as well. He loves us enough to do what we may be unwilling to do ourselves to protect our spiritual life.

God loves us too much to allow us to stay the way we are.
Unknown

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 4–5 [ http://iz3.me/uwt12zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, November 13

10,000 Lures

.. . . [ Potiphar's wife ] caught [ Joseph ] by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside."
Genesis 39:12

Recommended Reading
James 4:7-8 [ http://iz3.me/vH522zwXd1A1 ]

Singer-songwriter Kate Campbell sings about temptations: "There's vices and voodoo always enticing you, from the day that you're born til the day you leave this world. The devil's got a line for you for sure and 10,000 lures. . . . He's a master of disguise, he'll reel you in with power, roaming to and fro seeking whom he may devour." 1

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/wH522zwXd1A1 ]

One of the devil's "10,000 lures" he cast toward Joseph in Egypt was the wife of Joseph's master, Potiphar. But Joseph refused to take the bait. He had been absolutely loyal to Potiphar and had gained his complete trust. Not only did Joseph refuse to dishonor God by yielding to sin, he also refused to dishonor the trust Potiphar had extended toward him (Genesis 39:8-9). He was willing to do whatever it took to remain pure in the sight of both God and man. And God blessed Joseph's commitment.

The first thing to be aware of is what both the songwriter and Scripture writer have said: There will always be enticements to sin. Committing to resist the lure is the first step toward not being caught.

Temptation has its source not in the outer lure but in the inner lust.
D. Edmund Hiebert

1 Kate Campbell and Mark Narmore ©1999 Large River Music (BMI) / Starstruck Angel Music, Inc. / Mitchelltown Music (BMI)

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 6-7 [ http://iz3.me/xH522zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Friday, November 14

NO Power

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
Proverbs 1:10

Recommended Reading
Matthew 26:36-41 [ http://iz3.me/LjE22zwXd1A1 ]

Temptation has been around since the days of Adam and Eve, but it's never been as virulent as today. Sexual temptation, especially, has been intensified by technology, and it tends to reach people earlier in life. Still, we read in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that no temptation has overtaken us except what is common to humanity; and God is faithful to provide pathways of escape. He did this for Joseph in Genesis 39. When tempted by Potiphar's wife, Joseph was able to say "No" because he had established his convictions before the crisis. His moral principles were set in advance, so Joseph instinctively resisted the lure of lust.

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/NjE22zwXd1A1 ]

Temptation has many guises, but God gives power over temptation. Our greatest weapons are: (1) a preset determination to obey God; (2) memorized Scripture on needed topics; and (3) prayer. Jesus told us to watch and pray so we don't fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41).

Don't wait until the moment of crisis. Plan ahead, hide God's Word in your heart, and pray in advance for victory, holiness, and a life pleasing to God.

Are you protecting yourself, your family, and your church from falling into temptation through active prayer to the Father?
Henry and Norman Blackaby, in Experiencing Prayer with Jesus

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 8-9 [ http://iz3.me/OjE22zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, November 15 & 16

Gratuity Not Included: Friends

The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.
Ruth 2:12

Recommended Reading
Ruth 4:13-17 [ http://iz3.me/HkM22zwXd1A1 ]

Aristotle made the following observation about friendship: "My best friend is the man who in wishing me well wishes it for my sake."

Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ http://iz3.me/KkM22zwXd1A1 ]

The Bible often exhorts us to care for one another. In the book of Ruth, for example, Boaz extended kindness toward Ruth; and she thanked him in return, saying, "What have I done to deserve such kindness? ... I am only a foreigner."

'"Yes, I know,' Boaz replied. 'But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law. . . May the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done'" (Ruth 2:10-12, NLT). This story has gratitude all around -- Ruth to Naomi, Boaz to Ruth, Ruth to Boaz -- and is a great example to us.

Do you have a friendship that needs tending? Mulch it with thanksgiving.

For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, / Friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; / Christ, our God, to Thee we raise this our Sacrifice of grateful praise.

Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, in the hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth"

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 10-13 [ http://iz3.me/LkM22zwXd1A1 ]

[Judy Harder]

Monday, November 17

Call the Repairman!

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
2 Chronicles 16:9

Recommended Reading
2 Chronicles 16:1-10 [ http://iz3.me/UVP22zwXd1A1 ]

Quick, call the repairman! Something's wrong with our TV sets. Suddenly all over the world they're exploding in radioactive levels of profanity and toxic sewage, contaminating houses and homes like leaking reactors. It's so bad, even Time Magazine posed the question, "Is there an epidemic of nudity on prime-time TV?"1

Listen to Today's Radio Message [ http://iz3.me/VVP22zwXd1A1 ]

As we lament the proliferation of immorality all around us, we're tempted to despair. But it helps to consider the greatest heroes of the Bible. They too lived in declining societies, and they lamented the falling standards of their day. Even in the book of Genesis, the heroes of the faith -- men like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Joseph -- faced the challenge of living godly lives in a shifting culture and amid collapsing standards of morality.

When culture changes around us, God's standard of living does not. Even when we're engulfed by evil, the eyes of the Lord range to and fro throughout all the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

It's not the repairman we need. It's the Redeemer.

[ God ] . . . constantly scans, east to west, north to south, seeking loyal hearts. Why? In order to show Himself strong by working in our lives.
Bruce Wilkinson

1Gary Susman, "Is There an Epidemic of Nudity on Prime-Time TV?"  TIME , June 10, 2013.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 14–15 [ http://iz3.me/WVP22zwXd1A1 ]