Love Worth Finding

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 6

Keeping the Sabbath Holy

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Exodus 20:8

Is it okay to watch television on Sunday? Is it okay to go to a ball game on Sunday? Is it okay to eat out on Sunday? Is it okay to read the newspaper on Sunday? Can I play softball on Sunday? Can I go out on a boat on Sunday? Can I go to the store if we're out of milk on Sunday?

Good questions. I hear them all the time, but do you know what's wrong with these questions? You're asking the wrong man. It's not my day — it's the Lord's day. Ask Him.

Ask God, "How can I honor You on the Lord's Day, so that at the end of the day I can know that it was indeed Your day?"

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 7

Completing the Course God Has for You   

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7

When Jesus came to the end of His life, He said, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4).

He stayed on the track, and so did Paul. They accomplished what God had set out for them to do.

Every man has a race that he must run. Every woman has a race set before her. God knows the course. And everything God commands of you, He will empower you to do. Whether you're nine or ninety, young or old, rich or poor, God has a plan for your life! God has a race He wants you to run!

What is the race God has set before you? Thank God for the power to finish the course.

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 8

More Than Fair-Weather Christianity

"If we believe not, yet He abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself."  2 Timothy 2:13

Are you a fair-weather Christian? There are some who, if their children get sick, will stop tithing. If they get a bad report from the doctor, they stop praising. If somebody hurts their feelings, they stop going to church.

You can tell the commitment level of a Christian by their "fair weather" gauge.

The test is, when everything goes wrong or doesn't add up, what will you do?

I'll give you some hints. Keep giving. Keep praying. Keep praising. Keep witnessing. Keep worshipping. Don't fail to be faithful.

Think of three things you can do today to bring the light of God's Son to someone who may be struggling with his or her faith. Then go do it!

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 9

His Name Is Holy

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy." Isaiah 57:15

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

We all know that profanity is one way that you can take God's name in vain, but I'll tell you another way, and that's in frivolous talk.

That is, just taking the name of God carelessly or lightly. Ephesians 5:4 mentions "foolish jesting." What does that mean? God's name is holy. We are never, ever to use His name unless we are serious. Now if you use humor to illustrate something, that's fine, but it's repugnant to use the Holy name of God frivolously.

Begin the day by meditating on the holiness of God.

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 10

Dealing With Doubt in the Midst of Trials

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15

When something bad happens to us, we may respond with, "What did I do? I must have done something terrible." Then we proceed down the trail of morbid introspection or what I call "navel gazing." We look down and into ourselves. We take ourselves apart piece by piece, examining and re-examining ourselves. Then we put ourselves back together trying to figure out what we did wrong.

It may be that you have done absolutely nothing wrong, but God is simply testing your faith. You see, if we don't understand this, we may get discouraged.

The seeds of doubt and discouragement sprout in the soil of ignorance.

Claim the promises of 1 Peter 1:3-9 for strength in the midst of your trial.

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 11

Tempted, But Not Beyond What We Can Bear

"For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:14

A factory mechanic builds a truck. He knows the chassis of that truck and knows the load it can carry. In the same way, God knows your frame and He knows the load that you can carry.

God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able. Nothing comes to you but that which comes through God. Even what Satan does, he can only do as God allows it. And so you can say the temptation was so strong that you could not overcome it, but it won't be true. God will provide a way of escape.

When you are tempted today (notice I didn't say "if" but "when"), ask God to provide a way of escape. Then, trust His way and obey.

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 12

Strengthening Your Wings

"How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." 2 Corinthians 8:2

A man watched a butterfly trying to emerge from a cocoon. Thinking that he would help, the man took his penknife and slit the side of the cocoon, and the butterfly flopped out. It lay there for a while, feebly beating its wings, then collapsed and died.

"How tragic," you say, and you are right, because God had a plan for that butterfly. The struggle to break free built the strength he would need to fly. God doesn't want you to live weakly and to die feebly. He wants you to grow and mature.

Find the wings in your trial today.

Strengthen them by the promises in God's Word.

Venture on new heights of freedom in Christ today.

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 13

At the End of Your Rope

"Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant... let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." Isaiah 50:10

I have always been amazed at the advice worldly people give to someone who is hurting. "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!" Can you see someone dangling over a cliff, holding on to a rope, and trying to tie a knot? It takes two hands to do that!

The first thing we need to remember is "don't demand to understand." There are just some things in life you and I will never understand. When God allows darkness to overshadow your life, don't set about lighting your own fire. That's a recipe for heartache. Trust that His light will come and wait for it. He will come. Believe it.

There's someone out there who is hurting today and needs more than a pat answer of encouragement. Give them the light of Christ.

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 14

Light of Hope in a Dark World

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."  Isaiah 9:2

Imagine being in a cave without a flashlight. Can you see any shadows? You cannot even see your hand! Shadows are only visible in the presence of light.

Regardless of how dark, how large, how absolutely ominous a shadow appears, it is only there because there is light. David says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Why? Because "Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

Jesus has taken the sting out of sin and the fear out of the grave. He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to give us confidence that He will always be with us and watch over us.

There are many today who are grieving because of a loss—the loss of a loved one, a job, a wayward child.  Pray for them. Send them a note of hope and include 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

[Judy Harder]

JUNE 15

Loving Chastisement of the Father

"For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." Hebrews 12:6

As a child, did you ever get a spanking you didn't deserve? Maybe now and then your dad or mom would just be in a "spanking mood," and they'd spank everyone they could get their hands on?

Talk about being indignant! There is nothing worse to a child than to realize "I got spanked, and I didn't deserve it."

You know what's funny? At that point, we never stop to think about all the times we deserved a spanking and didn't get one. Our Father is mercifully loving and graciously wise to give us what we need at all times in our lives. Sometimes we need His hand of love in comfort, and sometimes we need His hand of love in discipline.

Thank God that His hand of mercy extends to you when you don't deserve it and that His hand of discipline extends to you when you do.